Additional Quotes >> USA 82, Puerto Rico 61

- Game Story - Box Score

DARIUS MILLER (Kentucky / Lexington, Ky.)

Talk about the defense, you limiyed them to 1-for-16 shooting in the second quarter.
We were all just trying to playing team defense, help each other out and we were trying to force them into tough shots. They got a lot of high percentage shots throughout the tournament and they were making them so we just tried to force them into bad shots and it worked out for us.

This team seems to really get it going when it gets its transition offense going.
We definitely want to look to get out and run, that can make other teams tired. We feel like we have a lot more depth than other teams, we're 12 strong so if we can get out, get them tired, get easy buckets, that will benefit us in the long run.

Did you get a chance to see Lithuania play and what were your impressions?
I've seen them a little bit. They look like a real good team, a real tough team so we're going to have to defintely come out ready to go, especially our big men. They have a guy who is suppose to be a lottery pick next year so we're going to have to come out and play good against him and try and force him into tough shots too.

KLAY THOMPSON (Washington State / Ladera Ranch, Calif.)

You made a couple of threes early and seemd to be in a grove right from the opening tip.
I felt great. I think we're all fresh because we've all played pretty much an even amount of minutes. We're not tiring ourselves so I think we're all fresh and ready to go every game.

How important was the defense tonight?
It's been so important this whole tournament because so many teams rely on their offense to win games and that won't always be there for you because your shot may not be falling. Defense will always be there and its the most consistent thing you do on the basketball court. So we just want to win games with our defense.

What do you try to do in the second half when you're up by 20 points at halftime?
Stay interested and that should take care of itself. If you stay interested and play hard you should be fine.

Do you feel like the team is getting better each game and if so where?.
Oh yeah, getting much better. Defensively and offensively. We know our roles and we know how to play with each other now

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