Jamichael Stillwell and Themus Fulks shared their thoughts after a pivotal win against the Texas Christian Horned Frogs, snapping their three-game losing streak. With Stillwell back on the court after an injury, he contributed nine points and six rebounds. Fulks added 12 points in the second half, helping seal the victory despite TCU's late 9-0 run.
Fulks on the Importance of the Win:
"In the Big 12, you've got to have short-term memory. We slipped up against West Virginia, but we regrouped and responded well against TCU."
On the Team's Urgency:
"Having Jamichael back was huge. He's a captain, always holding us accountable. We played with desperation and took advantage."
Stillwell on Coach Johnny Dawkins' Message:
"Coach told us to get back to UCF basketball-defending, rebounding, and executing."
On Returning to Action:
"Watching from the bench wasn't easy, but it gave me perspective. I realized my impact on the team and felt we regrouped and stayed united."
On the Team's Mentality:
"From practice to game time, we wanted to throw the first punch. I think we did just that."
Learning from Past Mistakes:
"Coach Dawkins reminded us that the basketball gods gave us a second chance. We seized it this time."
Fulks on His Second Half Performance:
"My job is to make plays and read the defense. TCU doubled me, so I found open teammates like J-Mike and Burks, who stepped up."
On Burks' Contribution:
"Burks is crucial every night, even if it doesn't always show on the stat sheet. He's key in getting extra possessions and guarding top players."
Defensive Efforts:
"I take pride in guarding my matchup, and as a team, we're doing better at taking on challenges and supporting each other."
Watching Burks' Performance:
"J-Mike and I keep encouraging Burks. It's great to see his hard work pay off, but we need to stay focused with five games left."
Stillwell on Ending the Season Strong:
"We're blocking out the noise and focusing on going one and 0. It's all about us."
Fulks on Postseason Projections:
"We see the projections, but they don't mean much until the season ends. We need to finish strong and stay focused."