Coach Slessinger's Comments Heading Into Tuesday's Game vs Tulane

PREVIEW

On Tulane coming to UNO for the first time since 2010
"It's been a while and it'll be good to welcome our neighbors from uptown back to the friendly confines of Lakefront Arena. This is always a good game and we're excited about basketball here in New Orleans."
 
On his team's performance to date
"We're still figuring out a lot about ourselves. We've been shorthanded without Nate [Frye] and Cameron [Reed] in our guard rotation, so that's made things a bit interesting. We're finding a rhythm and finding a way. I like the way the guys are working and the way they're competing. It should be a fun game tomorrow night, for sure."
 
On the Tulane Green Wave
"We both have played very competitive non-conference schedules to this point. We've both gone out and played tough road swings, and I'm sure they're kind of feeling themselves out the same way we are. We're both figuring out rotations and where pieces fit together to a certain extent. They're very well coached. Coach Dunleavy has done a good job with them. They've got a lot of talented pieces, guys that can really play and play well at high levels. It should be a great challenge for us."
 
On if this game has any additional importance
"It's most important because it's the next one, but it's also huge for us to just build some consistency and to be able to put a streak together and get on a run. After this one, we go back on the road again for two very tough games against a Pac 12 and a Big 10 opponent. We'd love to have some momentum going into those games and going into finals so we can make a run toward the end of our non-conference schedule."
 
On what he wants to see from his team on Tuesday vs Tulane
"We obviously need to improve in some areas. We've got to defend it at a higher rate. We've got to continue to move the ball, cut down on turnovers and make sure we get a great shot each time down the floor. We have to find people with the shots that they need. We've seen some good flashes from different people on different nights, but we need to see them put it together where multiple guys have great nights on the same night. Thibodeaux, Gill and Erik can have great nights, and then add in some other guys who can play at a high level – that's the key for us to win and get rolling."