That's what this game is all about, getting ourselves ready for the next three games and then head on into our league games. |
That's where we are right now. We could have new teams in the Final Four every year. |
The [three-pointers] hurt us but our inability to get the ball into the paint is probably what killed us the most. |
The 16 beating the one, it's going to come. There is just too much parity in college basketball. |
The ability to take somebody off the bounce is incredibly important. It's really tough to defend a guy who can go by you. |
The Big East championship means a lot to us. If you can go through 16 games in this league and have to go to the places you do and beat the teams you have to beat, it's really tough. This is a terrific league and to come through it 14-2, I couldn't be prouder of our kids. |
The Big East championship means a lot. To go through 16 games in this terrific league with all its tough places to play and come out of it at 14-2, I couldn't be prouder of these kids. These kids sacrificed so much and became the epitome of what a team is. |
The biggest thing I'm waiting for is a 40-minute game. |
The bottom line is that I'd rather let the kids play on. Kids are going to get emotional in a game like that and I don't think Brandon or Rudy were trying to do anything more. It was such an incredibly intense game, they just kind of got into each other a little bit. They were not doing anything. |
The bottom line is, we?re looking forward to having Steve come here. But I?m sure Steve would like to come here with more experience. |
The college game is controlled by guards, has been and will be. You guys are going to try to name all the great big men who have carried their teams to Final Fours recently. You're not going to come up with any. You're going to come up with teams that are dominated by good inside play and terrific guard play. In the college game, guys that control the ball control the game. |
The difference between the two teams, quite frankly, was we're a little more athletic and a little more experienced. That's what it came down to. |
The first 10, 15, 18 minutes we were really special, the kind of team I know we can be. I actually think we're getting better. |
The first Big East meeting I went to there was P.J. Carlesimo (Seton Hall), John Thompson (Georgetown), Louie Carnesecca (St. John's), Rick Pitino (Providence), Jim Boeheim, Jimmy O'Brien (Boston College) and Rollie Massimino (Villanova). That's what we faced when we came to the Big East. That coaching array alone I think made the Big East very special. |
The first two or three passes should be used to spread the defense. Then you have a better opportunity for entry passes, because the post players will replace the back of the zone. |