What Bob Huggins Said Following the Win Over Oklahoma

Erik Stevenson's performance

"Well, obviously he was really good. I think we finally have realized what we need to do to win in this league. Our practices were better. Guys were a lot more focused. I think they understand we got some work to do. Erik was terrific. And I thought he did a good job of leading and helping our other guys."

How much better the defense was compared to the TCU game

"Uh, I mean, we had our moments. But we were way better. We could have went over and played five guys at the rec and been better than we were TCU. We talked a great deal about what do you want to do? We're going to have to win games to get a halfway decent seed in the conference tournament. We're going to have to win games to continue to advance in terms of where our placement is going to be in the Big 12 for postseason. And I think they're starting to realize that. Particularly, I think, guys like Erik [Stevenson], this is it for him. This is it for Keddy [Johnson]. So, I think they're starting to realize, hey man, I don't want to have to go through what we went through a year ago in Keddy's situation. And Erik's heard enough about it that he doesn't want any part of that as well. I think that's motivation."

James Okonkwo and Mohamed Wague's contributions

"They both just keep getting better and better. I think James has made tremendous strides. He's a guy who could end up being a force in college basketball if he continues to improve, if he continues to work at it, continues to grow and understand. You're talking about a guy who was a tennis player. He continues to get better and better and I think our other guys are starting to understand how talented he is, so they're much more encouraged by where he could go. But I think more importantly, they're really encouraging him to continue to improve, to continue to work at it. I mean, there's no possible way he goes to the line and makes two free throws before. And he's pretty consistently went to the free throw line and made free throws. He consistently blocks shots, he can rebound the ball in a crowd."

Difference between this game and the first Oklahoma game

"We started out the conference year missing layup after layup. Two-footer after two-footer. We had opportunities to just go to the free throw line and just make one out of three, we made none. We had a chance to win the game at Oklahoma. We barely hit the rim on two of them. But I think we have guys that haven't played a whole lot in this league and with this kind of setting. I don't think the majority of these guys...you think the majority of these guys ever played in front of 14,000 people? I think they're starting to understand. I think they're starting to feel better about themselves, feel more comfortable."

Emmitt Matthews' struggles

"Emmitt just hasn't shot the ball very well. We've always needed him on the floor because he can defend multiple positions and because he gives us another rebounder on the floor. He's very unselfish. He passes the ball and his teammates love him. He's always been valuable that way. He shot the ball so much better early than what he's shooting the ball now. He's just struggling to shoot it a little bit right now. We need to get in the gym and get things worked out. But if he goes back to making shots the way he made shots earlier in the year, I mean, he's invaluable with everything he can do. He's so multi-talented."

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