University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Post-Game Quotesheet
2/25/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 25, 2006
Recap | Box Score | Notes | Photo Gallery
POST-GAME QUOTESHEET
Pitt vs.
February 25, 2006
Quoting Pitt Head Coach Jamie Dixon:
Opening Statement:
"I thought we got off to a great start, and really did a good job taking care of the ball and going inside early. Our assist-to-turnover ratio was excellent throughout, and I think that speaks to great passing tonight. All of our guys played very well on both sides of the ball. Even with a big first-half lead, we knew
On the play of Antonio Graves:
"Antonio shot the ball well, and was really good at finding open players on penetration. He was also very good at limiting Donnie McGrath's good looks, and he really kept him from getting rolling. That was key for us being able to stay in control of the game throughout."
On any possible nerves playing in front of many former Pitt players:
"I didn't think there was any of that tonight. I think our guys were very unselfish, and made great passes the whole game. When we had open shots, we took them, but we didn't force anything. Everyone was very patient in waiting to get a good look."
On the importance of getting a win at WVU Monday night:
"We want to win every game. We're 21-4 and playing well right now. To have the kind of success we've had this season, you have to be good both home and away. It's going to be a battle on Monday, but I don't think the game being on the road makes us want to win it anymore than otherwise."
On Pitt's defense:
"I always think we can get better. We've got some young guys who can improve, and we're always going to strive to be better in every facet. We had some breakdowns, but I thought we did a great job guarding Donnie McGrath tonight. Really, we did a lot of good things, overall."
On WVU's play since losing to Pitt on 2/9:
"They've had a tough schedule recently, but they beat a very good team tonight.
On getting Doyle Hudson some playing time:
"It was a combination of what Doyle's shown in practice and Aaron's foul trouble. He's a great player and a very hard worker. One of my regrets from the season is that I haven't been able to give him more playing time. He always responds to the challenges, but when you have ten or eleven guys who can play, someone's not going to see enough minutes."
On any adjustments Kevin Pittsnogle might make for the game on Monday:
"We played him well, but some of the shots he missed last time I expect to fall on Monday. I think they'll probably try to get him involved early, as he's such a big part of what they do. I'm sure Pittsnogle will be ready for us."
Quoting Pitt's Aaron Gray:
On his success against
"My teammates have done a good job finding me. A lot of my points have come not from making moves, but just from finishing the play the other guy's set-up. Our guards are making great passes. It's nothing that has to do with
On guarding Kevin Pittsnogle:
"We're going to try to have as good a game as last time. Since then, he's [Pittsnogle] scored over twenty points in every game, but we take pride in our defense here. It's going to be a battle, but I'm looking forward to it.
Quoting Pitt's Carl Krauser:
On the play of Aaron Gray:
"It's a great feeling to know you have him to lean on inside. He's very skilled, and he knows how to pass as well as score. He manages to look for one of our guys on the pass first, if we're not open he's able to take it himself. He's unselfish and that versatility makes him a great player."
On the team scoring 80 or more points in the last 4 games:
"In previous years we were more keyed on our defense, and our offense flowed through that. A lot of our points came off of set plays. Now, we can score in transition, we can score on a drive and kick-out, we've got Aaron down-low. It's just taking advantage of all those weapons."
On the play of Antonio Graves:
"He's [Antonio Graves] a great player, and our most legitimate shooting guard. He tends to hit the open shots he gets, and he brings great experience off the bench. The team is going to be in great hands next year when he becomes a senior leader."
On how special it was to play tonight, as the Pitt celebrated 100 years of basketball:
"Coming from the
On a week off coming after a loss:
"We don't buy into the theory that you're only as good as you're last game, especially when your last game was a loss. We just tried to use the time to get better, get back to what we to best and specifically to do a better job taking care of the ball."
Quoting Pitt's Antonio Graves:
On his play tonight:
"I'm just waiting for a chance. When I come on the floor, I try to provide whatever our team is lacking at that point. If the other team's top player is scoring a lot of points, I try to clamp down on him defensively. If we need points, I try to hit some shots on offense, or take it inside and create. I just want to come in and give us one more weapon."
On guarding Donnie McGrath:
"We put different guys on him, tried to deny him any open looks. We kept rotating fresh guys on him, and when he plays the whole game that has to wear him down."
Quoting Pitt's Levance Fields:
On cutting down on Pitt's turnovers:
"It was something we stressed all week in practice. We can all pass, so we stressed trying to find the open man, not trying to do too much. I think our work showed tonight."
Providence Head Coach Tim Welsh
Opening Statements
"Obviously Pitt is an elite team in college basketball and our conference. In order to come into their building and beat them, a lot of things have to go your way and you have to make them go your way. I thought the telling point of the game was the first ten minutes of the game. The game really got out of hand early. When you're digging against them here in this building, you put yourself in a tough situation. They stunned us early."
On matching up with Pitt
"I think they're a bad match up for everyone. Any top-10 team is a bad match up for us. Gray is a bad match up for anyone. You have Gray he's one of the best big men in the country and you have Krauser he's one of the best shooting guards in the country. They have a great inside-outside combination."
On Pitt shutting down Donnie McGrath
"They gave a lot of help. They're playing well. It was the first part of the game when we didn't get good looks. We got 30 points from out 5 spot. You gotta take what the defense gives you and they really over played and that was there game play tonight. We had to change direction when we realized they were going to take Donnie McGrath out of the game."
