Feb. 27, 2017 Recap | Box Score | Notes | USATSI Photo Gallery 
11/11 BAYLOR (24-6, 11-6) 71, 10/10 WEST VIRGINIA (23-7, 11-6) 62
Mon., Feb. 27, 2017
Ferrell Center (Waco, Texas)
Attendance: 8,203
BAYLOR POSTGAME QUOTES
Baylor Head Coach Scott Drew
Opening statementà ¢Ã¢' ¬ ¦
"Two top 11 teams in the nation playing. We're a man down. We had 29 turnovers without a point guard. We don't have the same starting point guard tonight, and we find a way to win. That's a tribute to the teammates' desire to win for Ish [Wainright]. I think that shows in the biggest category, which is rebounding. To outrebound West Virginia 43-23, that doesn't happen everyday, if ever. So, huge kudos to our guys for how they competed."
On Johnathan Motley's performance tonightà ¢Ã¢' ¬ ¦
"He was tremendous. I love when he's making free throws. I love when he's getting to the free throw line, and that's something this month of February we haven't been doing a good job ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢' ¬" getting to the line enough. Tonight we were able to, and that's a big help."
On this potentially being Motley's last home gameà ¢Ã¢' ¬ ¦
"Our job is to serve our players. They all have goals, dreams, and aspirations, and we want to help them reach them. When they can reach them, then we've done our job. The good thing is while he's had a good year, he's been able to not focus on the NBA and focus on his team. He's controlled what he can control, and the better he does and the better he finishes, then the better that his decision could be one way or the other. Hopefully he keeps handling it in that kind of manner, because obviously, we need him and March is the most critical time of the year."
On the improvement in this gameà ¢Ã¢' ¬ ¦
"It's been a tough February, and that's the Big 12. The big thing is we've got to get healthy. When Manu [Lecomte] sprained his ankle at the end of the Kansas game. Ish sprained his ankle, and Joe [Lual-Acuil Jr.] his calf. Those guys weren't practicing, they were just trying to play in games. We got to get everyone healthy. They've got two days off now, and that's first and foremost. I'll tell you what, us coaches figured out a long time ago that we're better coaches when we have all our players healthy."
Junior F Johnathan Motley
On winning for team's lone senior Ishmail Wainright...
"I'm not really the vocal leader but I said some words before the game, just made sure everyone knew what this was about and it was about getting him a win. I made sure I did everything I could to get him a win and everybody else followed."
On the difference for him in the second half...
"Being aggressive, attacking more and making quicker moves. Coach said to make quicker moves and once I get to the free throw line it will all start coming together. I started feeling in the flow and dunking."
On working on the inbounds play...
"It's something we always had in the bag whenever we needed it. I'm just glad we got the win for Ish."
Senior F Ishmail Wainright
On going out with a win...
"That was extremely special. It was my last one. It was a great ride, four years in the making. They said it was for me. That's all I can really say about that. It's a great team."
On how the team responded down in the game...
"To be honest, it didn't even feel like we were down. It felt like we had control the entire game. We may have turned the ball over three times in a row, but it still felt like we had control of the game. The guys were still positive, even the young guys on the bench who didn't really play. We had a timeout and they came and we said stay positive. They fired us up and we executed. Mot led us, with what 50 points? We just have fun and we felt like we had control the whole game."
On his final moment...
"I was just trying to take it all in. I promised my parents I wouldn't cry out there but I cried when I was watching the video. It was my moment, I just wanted to take it all in."
WEST VIRGINIA POSTGAME QUOTES
WVU Head Coach Bob Huggins
On West Virginia's performance down the stretchà ¢Ã¢' ¬ ¦ "We got really tentative. I thought defensively we got really tentative. They beat us to death on the glass. We're usually a pretty good rebounding team but they just whipped us pretty good on the glass."
On containing Johnathan Motley...
"It was hard at the foul line. I haven't figured out how to do that yet. For 35 years as a head coach I haven't figured out how to do that yet. With 11 free throws you're not going to get it."
On Jake Lindsey's performance...
"I thought their whole team did a good job. I thought Ishmail Wainright did a good job. Most of them were well composed. Jake Lindsey did a good job, I'm not saying he didn't do a good job, I just thought they all did a good job. Like I said, we got really tentative."
On struggling on the roadà ¢Ã¢' ¬ ¦
"That was the first time we've gotten really tentative all year. We've played enough guys that we can spread fouls out and when Nathan Adrian and Jevon Carter got four fouls, that's our two best players. I don't care who you are, your two best players getting in foul trouble, you probably don't want them to be as aggressive."
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