We're probably not going to beat a really good team with J.J. going 5-for-21. You are who you are, and we're 27-3 because of using that, and when it's taken away or he's human, it makes it more difficult and we need other guys to step up. |
We're spoiled by his defense. He doesn't leap tall buildings with a single bound, but he got seven blocks tonight. That was a terrific play, as were his free throws. |
We're zero and zero again. |
We've been a really good defensive team, and Saturday we were not. We didn't play with a passion on the defensive end. ... It wasn't an X and O thing on Saturday; it was a breakdown of our communication. |
We've been in the penthouse all season, having room service. Somebody jammed up the elevator today. |
We've been spoiled by his defense. |
We've had some really good guys, but we've never had a shot blocker like him. He's uncanny. |
We've never had this sort of disparity before, ... Certainly we've had experienced veterans and promising freshmen before, but we've usually had middle classes, too. We have basically four scholarship seniors, five scholarship freshmen and only one guy in-between who we recruited. |
When he doesn't have his look, I think it has a negative impact on our team. |
When my two freshmen are playing like that, it brings everybody together. They were playing with such enthusiasm. They have such good game personalities, that when they allow themselves to show it, we're just better. |
When they first said he bumped his knee, I can remember a long time ago when I used to bump knees with somebody. It would take just a couple minutes or so and then you'd be OK. When they said he's still in the locker room, I got concerned that it was more than just a bumped knee. |
When we don't match another team's intensity — that doesn't happen very often — then all of a sudden we do 'J.J.-watching,' where we're watching J.J. play. We might as well get tickets and sit behind the bench. No one is doing anything out there. |
You can't play 12 guys in a 40-minute game unless you are winning by a lot or losing by a lot, ... There has to be definite roles. You have to have eight or nine players who are playing and three or four ... who will come off the bench if you need them and are going to be supportive and hungry whether you use them or not. |
You have to let your best players touch the ball and have those opportunities. You shouldn't be afraid to lose shooting your best bullets. |
You should crave this opportunity, to be in that moment. It's exciting. The beauty of the tournament is you have one pitch. You hit it or you miss it. If you hit it, you get another pitch. |