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NCAA MEN'S REGIONAL SEMIFANLS & FINALS: MEMPHIS

March 29, 2009

Blake Griffin

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE

North Carolina Â– 72
Oklahoma- 60

THE MODERATOR: At this time, we'll get started with the Oklahoma news conference. We'll start with an opening statement from Coach Jeff Capel, and we'll take questions from the two student-athletes Blake Griffin, Taylor Griffin. Coach Capel?
COACH JEFF CAPEL: First of all, I want to congratulate North Carolina. They're a terrific basketball team, terrific program. They made plays today, and they beat us. I'm really, really proud of my team and for all that we've accomplished this year.
I hate that we didn't shoot the ball well tonight or this afternoon. I thought the game would have been a lot more interesting if we could have made some shots, and I thought we had some really good looks. But that's the way basketball goes sometimes. Unfortunately, it happened today.
Again, I can't say enough about the effort that our guys gave today and throughout the season. How hard they played. And just how together we were. And I think it especially showed in this tournament.
We have a locker room full of guys that are hurt. And we fully believed that we were going to win this basketball game today. But this is how life is sometimes. It doesn't happen the way you want it, and every opportunity is a chance to learn.
So that's the way it goes. I hate that our season had to end this way, especially for our seniors, especially for Taylor and Austin. I mean, those two kids, you know, they've endured so much during their time here at the University of Oklahoma.
And for them to stick with us, stick with the program, and to stick with me, and for them to have the kind of success they had in their last year really means a lot to me. I know it means a lot to them. And hopefully it means a lot to the people at the university of Oklahoma, fans, everyone involved.
I do ask one favor of all of you. I know it's probably a topic that you want to ask, but please do not ask Blake anything about the NBA. We'll get to that when we -- at the appropriate time. You know, he's hurting right now. I'm sure that's the furthest thing from his mind. So thanks.
THE MODERATOR: At this time, we'll open the floor for questions.

Q. Blake, did you ever feel that your team was in any kind of rhythm today? From the outside looking in, it appeared that there were times where it just was not clicking. Was that the case?
BLAKE GRIFFIN: I think North Carolina came out, I mean, they executed the whole game. I felt like we were in rhythm at times, it was just hard to stay in rhythm.
I mean, you could see at the end when we didn't give up, and we came back from 19 down or however many down. We didn't give up. We were in a rhythm. We were playing defense. So yes.

Q. Taylor, talk about, as the game went along, what you were trying to do to get an offense going and how frustrating was it that you just couldn't get that one shot early in the game enough or a couple of shots to get you going?
TAYLOR GRIFFIN: You know, I think that it just came down to just missing good shot opportunities. The shot opportunities were there. You know, we were just doing what we've been doing all season.
We've been pounding it inside. I let Blake do his thing. You know, get kick-outs from him when they're available. And we were getting good looks. It just wasn't falling.

Q. Guys, what did coach tell you at halftime? You got within nine right at halftime, but you never were able to get any closer the rest of the game at nine. What did the coach tell you at halftime?
TAYLOR GRIFFIN: Just basically keep doing what we're doing. It wasn't that we needed to change anything.
We did a pretty good job on defense. You know, North Carolina's probably the best offensive team in the nation. You know, so I don't think that that was a problem.
You know, he just kind of reiterated just keep doing what we're doing and keep shooting open shots. Hopefully, they'll fall.

Q. Blake, how hard was it to get some room to operate? As soon as you touched it anywhere, they doubled you. How hard was it just to get some room to make a quick move toward the basket?
BLAKE GRIFFIN: I mean, they did a good job defensively. You know, Coach Capel talked to me at halftime about getting a piece of the paint when I posted up. I tried to do that in the second half, and it was a little bit easier.
I mean, they did a good job, but it was something we've seen as a team all year.

Q. Guys, did this game feel different? It seemed like both teams kind of came out a little bit tense, little bit tight in the first three, four, five minutes.
TAYLOR GRIFFIN: I mean, I think the only thing different about it is that it was a game to go to the Final Four. I mean, you know, that's a pretty big game right there. I mean, that in and of itself.
But, you know, if you want to call us not hitting shots is us coming out tight, maybe that's what it was.
I feel good. I think I can speak for the rest of the team. We felt good. We felt like going into that game we were going to win that game. We had a chance to win that game.
Just like coach said, shots weren't falling.

Q. Blake, for you, your sophomore season, talk about how you think you've grown as a player. You've already won four player of the year awards. How have you improved as a player? Talk about this season for yourself.
BLAKE GRIFFIN: How have I improved as a player? I mean, last year I made it a point to get in the gym and really work and just try to outwork everybody and work on my overall game.
I think the area where I improved the most is just I hope it was trying to be a leader. You know, kind of setting an example for the rest of our guys. You know, I didn't do that as well at times as I would have liked to.
But just the mental part of it. You know, I think that's the part that I got better at.

Q. Taylor, can you talk about your experience about being able to play college basketball with your brother, just reflect on that if you would for us.
TAYLOR GRIFFIN: No, not right now.
THE MODERATOR: Why don't we come back to that.

Q. Blake, when you look at this game, are you guys fairly pleased with your defensive performance? Carolina, 72 points, generally score more than that. Was it an offensive letdown today?
BLAKE GRIFFIN: I mean, I'm not really sure. The thing that killed us was we couldn't get stops. I mean, we did play pretty good defense at times, but we just -- the thing that couldn't get us out of the hole was we couldn't get stops.
I wouldn't say we're pleased defensively. I wouldn't say we did a bad job though.

Q. Taylor, that was a team that starting the year was seen as a cut above everybody else. When you finally get a chance to see them up close, did you realize a little more just how talented they are?
TAYLOR GRIFFIN: You know, it's not hard to see how talented they are throughout the year. You know, I've always been impressed with them.
You know, they're as good as advertised, I think. You know, I just wish that we would have had -- you know, I think the effort was there on our part. It was just a matter of shots falling.
Besides that, you know, I think we were there. We were ready to compete with anyone at this point in the season.

Q. Blake, they got out to a 13-2 start. Can you just talk about what it's like when you have to claw your way back the entire game.
BLAKE GRIFFIN: It's hard. I mean, obviously, it puts you in a hole. I guess, it knocks you back on your heels a little bit so you kind of have to scramble to keep up.
You know, I thought we did a good job of not just breaking down at that point and kind of keep fighting, so to speak. And get it within nine at half and then get it down to 12 when they were up big in the second half.

Q. Blake, did you make a conscious effort to maybe go quicker when they were doubling, to try to beat the double?
BLAKE GRIFFIN: After I caught it a few times in the block and saw how they were doubling, how they were rotating, I tried to make my moves a little faster and pick my spots a little bit better.

Q. Blake, did North Carolina wear you down just a bit? I mean, they kept bringing different guys at you. There was Hansbrough, Zeller, and Davis over and over. Did they seem to keep bringing fresher bodies in to try to wear you out at least?
BLAKE GRIFFIN: No, I don't think so. That's something we faced as a team all year. Teams might not have as many guys like that, but it was -- I wouldn't say I felt worn down. They did do a good job defensively. I'm not saying they didn't.
THE MODERATOR: Thank you, guys. We'll continue with questions for head coach Jeff Capel.

Q. Have you ever been around a team as a player or coach, Jeff, where your guard play has been so inconsistent during the year?
COACH JEFF CAPEL: Well, you know, it has been at times. We've been really good at times. And we didn't make shots today.
You know, we did -- we had the tempo where we wanted it. To hold that team that's averaging 90-72. We had all of that where we wanted. The only thing we couldn't do was we could not make shots early in the game.
I do think we were a little bit tight. Sometimes you can want something so much that it -- you know, you're trying so hard, and I think that's what happened to us early in the game.
You know, Blake had a layup, and he missed it on a great drive. We had a couple of wide open shots that we just missed, and I think that and then Carolina executing and jumping out to a lead maybe knocked us back a little bit.
But I was proud of our guys for continuing to fight. To start the second half, you know, we ended the half well. To start the second half, we just couldn't get stops. We got our offense going. We were scoring. We just could not get stops.
And one of the things that Carolina's known for is being even more efficient in the second half, and they certainly were today.
So, again, I liked the tempo that we had. I thought we did a good enough job defensively although in the second half they did shoot 62%. But it came down to our inability to make shots. Carolina had something to do that, but we got some good looks and just missed them.

Q. Coach, I'd like to know before the game, considering the matchups that you obviously faced against with North Carolina. I'd like to know what did you designate specifically as the top priority? What was needed in order to win this game? What did you tell your team before the game?
COACH JEFF CAPEL: Transition defense. Carolina is so good. They're the most explosive offensive team in the country.
So we talked about transition defense. We've got to get back. We've got to get the ball under control, and we've got to fan out because they love to hit ahead. I thought we actually did a pretty good job with that.
The other thing was trying to control tempo. We didn't want to get into a track meet with North Carolina. We wanted to try to control tempo, and I thought we did a good job of that. Again, we just couldn't do enough offensively.
Defensively, we did enough to win. We just couldn't get it done offensively against them.

Q. Jeff, we were close enough to you where we were sitting that we heard you several times say, "Guys, we need to stop. We've got to get a stop." We know your teams start defensive first. Can you talk about what was going through your head as you tried to get your team defensively to come up with a stop against such a great offensive team.
COACH JEFF CAPEL: You know, that was all throughout the game, but we were especially trying to implore our guys to do that to start the second half.
It felt like we finally got the ball to go into the basket towards the end of that first half. And I felt like, if we could come out and get a few stops and then execute, that would put a little bit of game pressure on North Carolina.
I think they scored maybe their first four or five possessions. And each time out after that -- you know, when you're behind, it is tough to climb out of it, especially against such a great team like they are. And they're a great team. They're not a good team. They're a great team. And they're a great offensive team.
They have so many weapons. And, again, it wasn't lack of effort. Our guys played. They competed. I just think, if we could have made a few more threes, some of those baskets maybe would have put a little bit more pressure on them and would have made things a little bit more interesting.
But take nothing away from them. I don't mean that as any sign of disrespect. I have the ultimate respect for that program and wish them luck the rest of the way. They were terrific.

Q. Jeff, you've, over the course of the year, reflected on Blake's career. Can you reflect just on his two weeks in the NCAA tournament? He put up numbers no one's put up in years and years and years.
COACH JEFF CAPEL: Well, he's done that all year. I mean, I think that he's solidified that he's the best player in the country. This is not a knock against anyone else. But I don't personally think it's close.
And there's some terrific players this year. But with what he's done the last two weeks and throughout the season, you know, there's a question asked of him about being double-teamed as soon as he called it, and he's still 9 for 12, 23 points, and 16 rebounds against arguably the best team in the country with post depth, bringing McDonald's All-Americans in off the bench.
He's really, really good, and he's done it all year long, and he's done it against really good competition all year long.
It's been a joy to watch him develop this year. You know, it's especially rewarding because he put the time in last summer. And he's a great example for guys in our program, and hopefully that's something that they look at. Hopefully, that's something that they see.
There will never be another Blake Griffin, but if you want to have a chance to maximize your potential as a player, then hopefully you watched his work ethic and saw what he did.

Q. Jeff, you come from a close knit family. Your brother is wearing red today. Close knit collegiate experience that you had. Clearly, you have the same experience coaching these guys, it seems.
COACH JEFF CAPEL: Yeah, it's neat. This was a tight group. And we've been through a lot this year, just like every team does. Every year is a journey.
And these guys have taken us on a wonderful ride this year. I mean, I couldn't be any prouder. You know, to my third year here at the University of Oklahoma, to get to an Elite Eight, to have an opportunity to play for a chance to go to the Final Four. To watch these young men grow, to watch Taylor and Austin from the time I got here and to see them now. To watch the development of Tony Crocker, you know, to watch the development of Blake Griffin, Willie Warren throughout the year.
I mean, it's been -- I mean, that's the University of Oklahoma is a pretty special place. All of us are very fortunate to be a part of it.

Q. Coach, all the things you said about Blake. Do you feel like it's almost an insurmountable task to keep him another year?
COACH JEFF CAPEL: It probably is, but we'll see. You know, that will be a decision that Blake will make for him, and it will be the same thing that happened last year. We'll sit down. We'll talk. And I'll get whatever information.
I think it's easier this year to get that information. And he'll do what's best for him and his family. And we all will support him 1,000 percent.

Q. Jeff, talk about how Willie Warren, like a lot of your guards, struggled today, but he got some stuff there late. How much can this experience help him and others going into next season and hopefully another tournament?
COACH JEFF CAPEL: You know, I thought our experience last year helped us, our experience last year in the tournament. We got embarrassed our last game against Louisville. I know that was a motivating factor.
And it made our guys understand how hard we have to work. Hopefully, one of the things is that we don't take it for granted, especially Willie as a freshman. You don't take it for granted getting to this point. And hopefully it makes him want to work harder to improve his game. Hopefully, he can make some strides like Blake made from his freshman to sophomore year.
You know, if Willie decides to come back, then we're going to look at him as being a leader for us, for our basketball team next year.
So for all of our guys, this whole experience can help. You know, if we use it the right way and keep it in the proper perspective.

Q. Jeff, you talked about there will never be another Blake Griffin. When you look back at this, will this be opportunity lost that you didn't get to a Final Four with him, or is this a progression where your just building the program where you can get back in this position and get further in years to come.
COACH JEFF CAPEL: I won't look at it as an opportunity lost. You know, we had a great season. You know, I'm crushed just like our guys are, that it's over, but we've won 30 games this year. We won 13 games in the conference. We've won the Preseason NIT championship. So it's not a season lost.
This is foundation for what we're building. And obviously, Blake's been a huge piece of it. You know, hopefully we'll be able to continue to reap benefits for what he's meant to this program.

Q. With respect to the fact that North Carolina shot 62% in the second half, how challenging is it, and can you really beat a team that shoots 62%?
COACH JEFF CAPEL: If you shoot 63 or if you shoot 62 and you make maybe a few more free throws. I mean, it's a challenge. It's a challenge guarding those guys.
You know, they have pros at just about every position. And they're incredibly efficient. That's kind of been the trademark of North Carolina's program if you look throughout the history. From Coach Smith to Coach Guthridge, and now Coach Williams, they've always been incredibly efficient. And that's a testament to the coaches. But also it helps when you have great players, and they have great players, and they have great depth. And they use that.
You know, if you look at their team, again, they have a hall of fame coach, and they have eight or nine McDonald's All-Americans. On their team. And, again, they bring pros off the bench.
And they're a great offensive team, and they're a good defensive team, but they're a great, great offensive team. We did a good job defensively. Again, it's crazy to say that because they shot 62% in the second half, but to hold them to 51 field goal attempts is good. 72 points when they average 90 is good.
We just had to score more points today. And we're a team that averages 80. And so, you know, again, their defense did a good job on us, and we missed some shots.
THE MODERATOR: Thank you, coach.

End of FastScripts

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