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Texas A&M Basketball

Locker Room Chat: Tonny Trocha-Morelos on the Alabama win

February 25, 2017
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On the win over Alabama...
"It's definitely a good win. They are 5-2 on the road. They're a pretty good team on the road. We just focused on keeping the same intensity and staying together. Make the beginning like the end. We shot the ball pretty well. Coach Kennedy called a timeout and said to keep shooting and keep looking for the open shot. (He said) they're going to fall sometimes. It just feels great getting this win at home. Like I've said before, we're trying to respect our house. It's all about identity and who you are. We're just trying to make a statement at our place."

On blocking Alabama's final shot...
"Like I said before, Peter said to me – he always talks to me. After the timeout he came to me and said, "Please, you're going to do a big play right here." So I just thought about not letting the ball go to the three-point line. I was trying to push the ball to my right side, because it was going to be a long pass, so it was going to be difficult for the guy to make. Somehow, he found the guy on my left. Turns out I was close to the guy, and I was able to create a big play. I got the block."

On the halftime adjustments...
"We knew that we were capable of winning this game. We just talked in the locker room about staying together and playing our roles. In the second half, I think our pressure helped us to get the ball and control the pace of the game. They didn't handle it very well, and we got some turnovers and executed pretty well offensively."

On staying in the game mentally...
"That's a statement to my teammates. They always talk to me. They're always there saying, 'Tonny, come on. Let's play. Don't worry about it. Everybody makes mistakes. Everybody takes bad shots. Everybody has turnovers. Just keep playing.' I just try to focus on if I can't play my best on offense, at least I can do it on defense. I try to help my teammates as much as possible. I can rebound, box out, set a screen or whatever they need. I didn't focus just on me. I focused on my teammates and this game to get the win."

On the season's final stretch...
"At the end of the day, it's all about us. You can't control the other players, but you can control the intensity, how you're going to play. Some guys are going to have big nights. Some guys are probably not (going to). But if you play your role – like I said before, if you play your role and stay with the game plan, you're going to get the win, so it's all about us."
 
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