UGA men’s basketball student-athletes Anthony Edwards and Rayshaun Hammonds discuss the Bulldogs’ 80-63 over the Tennessee Volunteers on Wednesday night from Stegeman Coliseum in Athens, GA.

Rayshaun Hammonds | No. 20 | Junior

On the changes from last week to now:

“We got some stuff done in practice, just playing hard. The main focus was playing defense. We are not worried about offense. We are giving up a lot of points so we have had to focus on the defense. We are focusing on trying to stop the other team.”

On last season’s game against Tennessee compared to tonight’s game:

“The Tennessee game last year was the worst loss ever in my life. [Tonight], I just wanted to get a win. No matter what, I just wanted to get that win. The main focus was playing hard defense, scoring if I could and getting my teammates involved. That was the main focus [tonight].”

On getting in foul trouble at the beginning of the game:

“I just had to stay cool. I stayed to myself. I stayed focused and let the game come to me. I couldn’t go out there and get another crazy foul. I was just playing my game.”

On talking about getting outscored in the previous games:

“We said we got to keep our foot on their neck. We just had to play our game. The main focus was defense. If they get a couple shots then they get hot. So our main focus was not letting them get on a run.”

On getting their first conference win at home:

“It was big! It gives us confidence going into the next game. Just being ready for Mississippi State. This was a big boost for us. We got to take it day by day.”

On how it helps when Anthony Edwards gets going:

“It is big, but it’s not a one-man show. This is a 15 man roster. The main focus is getting everyone involved.”

On the difference between last week and this week:

“We are not worried about the outside noise. We have a lot of freshmen so we are not worried a lot about last year. The main focus was coming out here and trying to beat this team tonight.”

Anthony Edwards | No. 5 | Freshman

On what was your role in the second half:

“I felt like I did what I had to do in the first half, we got a lead so now I was going to try and create for my teammates and see what I can do with the ball and dishing it to them (my teammates). The plan was dishing the ball to Rayshaun because he was in foul trouble in the first half and I knew what he wanted to do. Also, getting Tyree Crump, Christian Brown, and Jordan Harris the ball.”

On facing Tennessee’s length:

“I knew we were facing Tennessee and we had to play them tough.”

On getting better shots tonight:

“I do not feel like I settled but sometimes they pack the paint so I got to take jump shots and make them come out. Coach Crean and I talk everyday about reviewing the film.”

On your crowd engagements:

“I love the crowd and fans. I appreciate every time they come out and support. They are always great and loud. Every time I get a chance, I try to celebrate with them.”

On Sahvir Wheeler’s injury:

“Sahvir is the heart and soul of the team so when he went down, everyone was sad. After he went down, I told him that I will pick it up for him and that he was done for the day. I told him I am going to make sure we get the win.”

On your first conference win:

“To get on a winning streak we got to win one game at a time, we got to go on the road to get another one. Tyree Crump gave us a big speech at halftime telling us how badly we got beat last year by these guys and we cannot let them come here and beat us. So, we took that and ran with it.”

On basketball being business or fun currently:

“Basketball is always business for me. I mean because I am trying to make a lot of money playing this game. But I am not going to let the fun get away from me. It is fun to get the crowd involved.”

On the “Just Like Football” chant from the crowd:

“I was on the sideline dancing during that time. I was pretty happy.”

On staying level with scouts in attendance:

“I did not even know there were NBA scouts here. I do not really care about stuff like that, I am just out here to play for my brothers and get a win. What I do does not really matter, I just try to win and get my teammates involved.”

On your late-night shooting sessions this week:

“I was in here on Monday and yesterday. Most of the time late night is when I like to shoot. That is when I got my most energy.”

On your Graduate Assistant Reed Ridder that comes to your shooting session:

“I got the best GA in the country, his name is Reed. He is always willing to work with me. I got bored the other night playing with my dog and I told him I wanted to go and he said let’s do it. He comes to rebound for me.”