St. John's University Athletics
St. John's Basketball Media Day Quotes
11/3/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Head Coach Kim Barnes Arico
Opening statement:
"As you know we had a fabulous season last year, but we did graduate a number of players. So our team is a little bit different this year. We???re very young, but we have some great players returning. We think with some time, we can gel together and do some good things."
On the season:
"We are excited about the season. We are opening up the season with the WNIT which is great for us. The BIG EAST gets one team chosen every year and this past year they selected St. John???s. We think that???s great representation for our university. We are also very excited about the opportunity to play at Madison Square Garden once again."
On her team???s injuries:
"One of the tough things that we are going through right now, that I hear a lot of teams are going through, is injuries. We are battling a ton of injuries but we are hoping that we have them early enough that the players get healthy quick enough that we will be back together and in full force in the next month."
Head Coach Norm Roberts
On his team???s outlook:
"I feel good about our team. We will be a lot more versatile than we have been in years past. I think we have a lot more athletic ability and we are able to score better."
On his team???s identity:
"One of the key things that I think is very important is that we do not lose our foundation of what we are. Our foundation is this: we are hard nosed, tough guys who are going to defend and make it tough on people to score. If we shoot the ball better, and that should happen, I don???t want us to lose our focus or foundation just because we feel like we are little bit more athletic or can shoot better."
On being consistent:
"I think it is very, very important that we try to play consistent ?????? in our effort, in our focus, in our execution of what we do, no matter who we are playing."
On the team???s offseason:
"I???m really proud of my guys and their work in the offseason because I think they worked with their games and improved."
On his team???s flexibility:
"I want to play nine to 10 guys if we can, but that???s not always the case. Hopefully we can get a good rotation going. This team is versatile in such a way that there may be certain nights that we go with one lineup on Wednesday and then we start off with this lineup on Saturday because it???s just a better lineup for us against this team. We never had the flexibility last year. I think that may happen quite a bit."
On the differences in this year???s team:
"I think offense level, seniority ?????? we have seniors who have been through the wars. I think ability to score and the ability to be creative is better than what we have had in the past and our overall talent level is better."
On team???s chemistry:
"What I have been trying to tell our guys is that nothing matters to me more than St. John???s winning. If that???s not what???s in your head, then you are in the wrong place."
Women???s Freshman Forward Joy McCorvey
On keys to winning games:
"We???ve got some strong post players, as well as guards. We???ve got to execute on defense. We can???t give up the easy basket. We???ve got to work on our turnovers and make our plays on offense."
Women???s Senior Guard Kia Wright
On team goals for the season:
"We are trying to make it to at least the top four (in the BIG EAST) because we were picked a six seed. We want to get back where we were last year ??? to make it to the BIG EAST Tournament and make it to the NCAAs and be very successful as a team."
Men???s Junior Guard Eugene Lawrence
On how the team is fitting together:
"I think we are starting to gel. Chemistry is a big thing so we have to make sure everyone is comfortable playing together and feels good in different situations. We???re working on that now."
Men???s Freshman Forward Qa???rraan Calhoun
On how the team is going to do this year:
"People are not expecting us to do well but I think it???s going to be a different story."
On team differences from last year:
"We have a lot of new elements added to the table right now. We have new players coming in and we have older players who can just flat out play basketball."
Men???s Senior Guard Daryll Hill
On how the team is different this year:
"I think chemistry, better talent, and our older guys are more experienced."
On the style of basketball to expect this year:
"Definitely run and gun. That???s how we???ve always wanted to play. We just have to know when to run and when not to."
On what wins games for St. John???s:
"Definitely defense. Scoring comes with the defense."
Men???s Senior Forward Lamont Hamilton
On team expectations:
"We are looking to make the BIG EAST Tournament. We haven???t been in a while, so we???re trying to go for that Big Dance. Definitely the BIG EAST. BIG EAST Champs, that???s what we???re trying to do."
On what it takes to reach those expectations:
"Hard work, effort and everybody staying together. Going out and leaving it all on the court."
