The level of competition is fairly equal. I think there is a lot of credibility that goes with both tournaments. For us, the location is what the difference is, but now is the time where you just focus on what's going on on the floor. |
The one at the end of the half really took us in the locker room on a real positive note. I don't know a better way to lift a team. Even though we had scored 40 points, I don't think it all came smoothly. It was clearly a big lift for us and gave our guys confidence. It really made the difference, as far as our start in the second half. |
The players really didn't see anything. I think the coaches knew a little bit more about what happened. It was extremely unfortunate for all parties involved and a sad, very sad incident. |
The thing about it for us is we'll have to do what we do, and hopefully that's enough to win the basketball game. |
The thing I learned most from New York was to compete. I didn't want to hear anything, and I knew if I won then nobody could talk to trash to me. If I win then I'm in control. |
There are a lot of ways to win basketball games, and obviously the easiest way is to score points. But when you don't do that, there are other things that you can do -- hustle plays like the tip-in or the rebounds on the free throws. Those plays can make a difference and they obviously did this afternoon. |
There was a little breakdown in communication. |
There were some tough calls. I don't remember us getting the benefit. Even the last play. There's contact on that last play and it's OK. We make contact and it's a foul. We played well enough and I thought we would earn the respect of the officials. Maybe it didn't work out that way. |
There's nothing wrong if you're not my type of guy, but I think guys should have the fire burning inside them. I always knew what games to get up for. I can read. I knew who was who. There's a discipline in me. I take a deep breath. Do I need to act out? Or is there another way. I'm not looking for a crown or brass ring. I just look to get the best out of each player. |
They definitely showed that [this game] was important to them. It wasn't just their offense; they did a great job defensively as a team. |
They did what they had to do. We accomplished what we needed to do, and that's why the game ended up as it did. |
They put a lot of pressure on us, and we turned the ball over probably a little bit more than we wanted to. But when we were able to get the ball to the areas that we wanted to, we had good looks at the basket. At times they overextended and gave us some good looks, and we were able to put the ball in the basket. |
They weren't really looking for him. That got the crowd into it. |
They're double- and triple-teaming him and they're bodying him ... and he's consistently been able to execute his game. |
They're not really small. They may be a little shorter, but they're strong enough to be effective. They're quick and strong and they have some basketball savvy. It's more the mind-set than anything else. Instead of using their height as a disadvantage, they use it as an advantage. Obviously, they've made it work. |