St. John's University Athletics
Postgame Quotes
11/15/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
St. John's Head Coach Norm Roberts
Opening Statement...
"I thought we played hard, I really think we played hard. Our guys are young and it was a new experience for them. I thought we got out to a good start. We really pressured defensively, which is what we have to do. WE picked up some cheap fouls early, and Lamont (Hamilton) knows that he has to stay out of trouble. I thought Daryll (Hill) did a great job at the end of the game, being patient and taking what the defense gave him. But he was also very, very aggressive and we need to do those things. I thought Rodney (Epperson) did a terrific job shooting the basketball and Dexter (Gray) was solid the whole game. But we also understand that the team we played tonight is a nice team. They're tough to guard because they're so small and what they do is penetrate and pitch, and they can shoot. But it's not like playing a BIG EAST team or Wagner. We've got to improve quite a bit, but I was really happy with our guys effort and intensity and execution at times."
On whether tonight was his starting five...
"For right now, yes. These guys have a good feel for one another right now. But that can change over time. Everyone's got to be ready. We're not that deep so everybody has to be ready to play. Tonight, those guys did a really good job."
On the team's improvement over the last two weeks...
"I think we did improve. Execution-wise, we improved. We improved with an emphasis on getting the ball inside. I think we got better with ball reversal. The beginning of the game, what made it good to me, and made me feel good, was that the ball was moving. It was getting in and out of guys hands. Different people were shooting the ball and different people we were attacking. That's the way we have to play, and that's the way I like to play. We didn't do that as well against St. Peter's. We've got to do a much better job of rebounding. We didn't do a good job against them and we did a poor job tonight. We've got to gang rebound, that's the key. Our guards really have to get in there and help."
On Dexter Gray's passing...
"We want to play inside-out. WE feel that if we can attack the basket and get the ball inside, hopefully that will make the defense collapse, then our perimeter guys will be shooting wide-open jumpers rather than guarded shots. Dexter's a very good passer."
On offensive rebounding...
"We'll do a lot of rebounding drills over the next few days, a lot, especially with our guards. It's good sometimes to go through something like this because guys will learn and see what we talk about in practice, paying attention to detail and checking your man off. There were a lot of long rebounds that guards shouldn't really clean up."
"I don't think they were hungrier than we were. There were times we looked and got caught in no-man's land. We were about to go and didn't go. We'll be a lot more aggressive."
On whether his objectives were met for the preseason...
"I think they were, as far as putting our base offense in. We've got a lot of things that we want to do. The one thing we want to get across to our guys is to play hard. For the most part, I think we played hard and we competed and we didn't give up on plays. That's what's big to us right now. Once you do those things, then you can step up and do more complicated things.
On the team...
"I think they're doing fine. Obviously, we're going to have to make some big steps this week. Everyday is a learning experience What we try to tell our guys is to not waste a day.
Sophomore Guard Daryll Hill
On the offense...
"The offense was like five players playing together passing the ball around and not being selfish and who ever is open would take the shot. Basically just moving the ball around and taking the good shot."
On his game...
"Last year, the first half I played good and slacked off the second. So this year I just have in my head that I will try to play better than I did in the first half and that is what I keep on my mind."
Sophomore center Lamont Hamilton
On big men passing...
"I think that is a new thing we will be doing more of since we play high low. If I'm going to be on the post I'm going to dive down low. "
