University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Post-Game Quotesheet
1/13/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 13, 2006
POST-GAME QUOTESHEET
Pitt vs. DePaul
January 12, 2006
Quoting Pitt Head Coach Jamie Dixon:
Opening Statement:
"This was a great win for us. I think we were anxious at first and rushed a bit. But we calmed down and played a great last 30 minutes. They're a very good team, ranked 19th in the RPI, so they're battle tested and very well coached. Their size and versatility make them hard to play against. I thought we did a good job offensively, especially running the clock at the end and getting great shots towards the end of possessions. Our defense still has a long way to go though."
On the team's improved shooting in the second half:
"I thought early on we missed some easy shots and some wide open looks that we hit later on. They beat us on the boards, especially in the first half, but I thought we took care of the ball very well throughout."
On defending Wilson Chandler:
"He's great in transition, beating guys down the floor. He got some easy buckets early that we were able to adjust to. I thought he also hit some tough shots in the first half that didn't drop for him as the progressed. But Levon and Sam also did a great job matching up with him."
On Pitt's low number of 3 point attempts:
"We got good inside shots, and our offense was executing very effectively. We wanted to go inside from the start, and we did it effectively we just missed some easy shots."
On the Pitt's defense:
"Three or four times down towards the end, DePaul scored too quickly off of penetration. The refs were calling the game tight and that cut into our aggressiveness, but we still need to rebound better and play much better defense."
On the flexibility of his roster:
"I've never had a team that played ten guys consistently. They all know their roles and know when they are going to see minutes. Our rotation is set and we're all very comfortable with it at this point. We can play small ball with our guards, or go bigger when we need defense and rebounding."
On being 13-0:
"Numbers don't concern me. We've been practicing better which is a great sign, and I thought we've shown great improvement on offense. Our defense got better as the game went along, but it's nowhere near where it needs to be."
On the trip to
"It should be an interesting trip. It's a tough place to play and I know our team will be ready for it."
Quoting Pitt's Aaron Gray:
On Pitt's defense after DePaul led by 13:
"I think we were anxious and overdefending. They were able to spin back and hit some shots where we had too much help to one side. I thought we calmed down though, held them to a drought and were able to get back in it."
On the size of DePaul's front line:
"They got me tired, but I had to push through it. There are points in the game where my teammates feed off me. I have to make sure I get back on defense, and just get in position where I can make plays."
On being double-teamed:
"In that case I just have to be more patient. I was anxious at the start and needed to calm down. Coach told me to relax and look for where the double team came from, so I could hit my open teammates. I had some bad turnovers early; I didn't see the passes well. But it got a lot easier once I got in the flow of the game."
Quoting Pitt's Carl Krauser:
On his senior leadership in a game like this:
"I know when the team gets down they look to me or Aaron. They feed off my energy and I need to keep playing both for my teammates and for my coaches."
On adjustments his team made as the game progressed:
"We started taking it the hole. The coaches told us we had to be aggressive, just attack the rim, make plays, and get to the foul line. When we did that we started to turn it around offensively."
On Pitt being 13-0:
"It's something that I planned on when I decided to come back. I wanted to go undefeated in non-conference and just take every Big East game one at a time. We have young guys who can play and I know they value my senior leadership. That's how we've gotten to where we are."
On switching to shooting guard:
"I may not have been a shooting guard my whole life, but I've been a basketball player my whole life. The little things don't change with your position; you still have to battle hard, play defense and rebound, even when you're having an off night. I look at the move as a chance to get better."
On responding to DePaul's fast start:
"They got out to a fast start offensively. We underestimated them in some ways. They made tough shots, and we didn't execute on our end. Then we got into it and forced them to make plays, we talked and communicated on defense and turned the game around."
On playing
"It's a dream come true to play against an NBA coach. We're going to go down there, compete as hard as we can and hopefully come back here with a win."
Quoting Pitt's Sam Young:
On the size of DePaul's front line:
"Coaches tell me the bigger they are the better advantage I have to beat them down the floor. I just tried to get myself in a position where I could use my athleticism to my advantage."
On being 13-0 as a freshman:
"It feels great. To come in and play and contribute and be successful has been great."
On being in freshman in Big East play:
"You just look to the seniors. They've been here before. So when they tell you in the huddle to relax, or to go harder, you trust them because they've been there. I'm looking forward to learning more."
Quoting DePaul Head Coach Jerry Wainwright
Opening comments:
"I was proud of our guys, I thought we had a really solid effort. We were in a position to win the game. I am really pleased with our progress. Pitt is a solid basketball team. I thought we played exceptionally well under trying circumstances."
On being able to win more games once players get more experience
"We were starting two sophomores for awhile. The problem is those kids roles change when the older kids leave. There's a lot of young players at Pitt getting great experience right now but what will they be like when Carl (Krauser) leaves. That's always the question mark. It's never experience that wins, it's what you do with your experience. We need to add more depth and we need to add some weight to our younger players."
On the game-changing momentum
"The game does come back to you. I was pleased the way we went out at the half. I think the key was the first two possessions of the second half. We had the ball, we didn't execute what we wanted to and then we turned it over. When you have a young team you need to hold the lead for awhile."
On their goals for tonight's game
"I characterized Jamie (Dixon)`s team as solid. We're not good enough yet to get somebody out of their style. We don't have the depth, especially at the guard spot to get somebody out of their game. We wanted to be solid like they are. It's a lot to ask to beat somebody at their own game, especially at home. I couldn't ask for anything more from our kids."
Quoting DePaul's Sammy Mejia
On Carl Krauser
"I've known him for a couple years. I feel like in the first half I did a good job on him. In the second half he pulled away and then was able to feed off the momentum of the crowd."
On a tough game
"It was obviously a physical game. There was a lot of pushing and shoving. That's something you just expect. It wasn't a shock, you just try to go out there and match the intensity."
