St. John's University Athletics
Postgame Quotes: St. John's 63, Columbia 39
12/28/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 28, 2005
Dec. 27, 2005
Norm Roberts
Head Coach, St. John's University
On tonight's game:
"I thought that we started off the game with great energy and we continued it all the way through. Guys came off the bench with a lot of positive energy. We set a defensive tone from the beginning of the game and that is a key to our team. When we set a defensive tone, we usually play well. Tonight we set a good defensive tone. I thought Eugene Lawrence was unbelievable out there. He was great. He was a terrific point guard. He ran the team. He controlled everything that went on out there. He was the best player tonight and when he does those things, we are a very good team. We were patient. We took good shots. We took shots within rhythm. We did things that we normally practice every day and that is why we were successful."
On UMASS:
"They are a huge team. They are very tall. We are going to have to use our speed to pressure them. We have to pressure their guards. Their guards are very talented. I know Maurice Maxwell. I recruited him some years ago. He is a terrific player, but their inside players are very tough. We will have to try to speed them up a little bit and try to get them out of their comfort zone. Hopefully we come out with the same energy and passion and see what happens."
On the second half of the season:
"We practiced on Christmas day twice and our guys did an unbelievable job. The guys didn't have bad attitudes being back early from the break. They came back very, very positive which I was happy about. I told the team that we practice for success. We prepare for success today and that is why we had it."
More on tonight's game:
"We got the ball in the right positions. We took good shots. We had good defensive balance in transition. I thought we also payed very good attention to detail defensively. When we do that, we have a chance to be successful."
On playing at Madison Square Garden:
"Obviously the Holiday Festival is a very special tournament for St. John's. The other thing we talked to our guys about was respecting this building and respecting Madison Square Garden. This is an honor and privilege for me to coach here and it is an honor and privilege for us to play here. I talk to our guys about that all the time. There have been some great players and some great people that have been on that floor. You have to play. You have to let it go. I think some of them felt that tonight. We have to continue to think that way. When we step on that floor, that is our place and we have to play with unbelievable passion and intensity."
Joe Jones
Head Coach, Columbia University
On tonight's game:
"I want to credit Norm (Roberts), his staff and his players. I thought they played great tonight. They played hard. They played inspired without Daryll Hill. We weren't ready to play and it showed. My hat goes off to them and their staff. What a great job."
On the pressure of playing in Madison Square Garden:
"I hope that didn't play into it, to be honest with you. We had a number of guys who played here last year and played well last year. I hope that wasn't a factor on what went on the floor."
On St. John's:
"Norm (Roberts) does a very good job of trying to ge them easy shots even in the zone. I thought tonight they made some of those shots they had been missing. Their execution was very sound tonight. They did a very good job. They played more efficiently."
More on St. John's:
"Their quickness gave us problems. It was one of those things that I thought would hurt us. We tried to come in and play some zone to pack it in. When we got down, we played man."
On Notre Dame vs. St. John's:
"They are very different. I think St. John's, probably overall, is more athletic and quicker. I think Notre Dame shoots the ball better. They are very different. I felt for us, we would have an easier time playing against a Notre Dame team rather than a St. John's team beacuse their quickness is something we haven't seen other than in the Wagner game."
