St. John's University Athletics
Men's Basketball Pre-Game Quotes
11/13/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 13, 2007
Head Coach Norm Roberts
On junior forward Anthony Mason Jr.'s injury:
"He hasn't been able to practice. He's gone to the doctor's, he's gotten MRI's, it's just a sprain, but it's a high ankle sprain. You want to be very careful with it. He wants to get out there and play, but we have to think about the whole year. We'll see how he responds today in practice, but I'm not going to rush him."
On who could replace Mason Jr. as a starter:
"We could go with either Paris (Horne) or D.J. (Kennedy). We'll probably go with D.J. as of right now because Paris really brings so much energy off the bench."
On the young players having what it takes to win on the collegiate level:
"I think they do (have what it takes). They are all from winning programs in high school, but obviously college is different."
On the team's biggest challenge:
What they need to do is be quick and deliberate, but not be in a hurry. When you have a young team, they want to go from step-a to step-c, and you have to tell them `No guys, it's step-a, then b, then c; understand what we're doing, stay according to our principles of what we're going to do, stay within character of who you are, then everything will be fine.'"
Senior guard Eugene Lawrence
On the importance of winning early in the season:
"I think it would be big. Everybody wants to win, and if we get off to a good winning streak everyone's confidence will be up and we feel good about ourselves."
On the non-conference schedule this year:
"I think it's a good schedule and we get a chance to go to Hawaii this year. We always play Duke, and we play Miami this year, those will be good games."
On why getting wins under the belt for the freshmen is important:
"Well, losing while you're young can get frustrating, but it can also be motivation. You'll want to win so bad that you'll come out with more passion and intensity."
On beginning the new season:
"Every year, everyone starts off 0-0. What happened in the previous year has nothing to do with the new one."
On what the team hopes for this season:
"We just talk about trying to make the BIG EAST Tournament again, and try to go further than we did last year. Maybe, hopefully make the NIT or NCAA Tournament."
Junior center Tomas Jasiulionis
On taking over the center position after Lamont Hamilton:
"We'll miss Lamont, he was a good player on the team. I have to step up because I'm an upperclassman now. I have to do things Lamont used to do, rebound the ball, be an inside presence on offense and defense. I feel confident because we got some new guys coming in, like Justin (Burrell) and Dele (Coker)."
On communicating to the young guys:
"It is all about communication. I will have to lead by example and be a vocal leader as well. (Eugene) Lawrence, (Anthony) Mason Jr., Larry Wright and I, we have to show the freshmen how things have to be done. We have to teach them the little things, the details. All the communication leads to better chemistry."
On how the team will be different this year from last:
"I think we'll be more up and down (the floor). We have a lot of quick, fast, athletic guys. We're going to use a lot of speed and athleticism. I think it will all start from our defense."
Freshman forward Justin Burrell
On feeling any pressure in his first game:
"I don't feel there's any pressure on me. I've been playing basketball for a long time. If there was any, it'd just be pressure to win, because it is New York City and New York City is about winning. I don't feel any pressure because in the end it's still basketball and it's what I know and what I was recruited to do for St. John's."
On being a freshman starter:
"I think there's a responsibility for everyone on the team to contribute, but being a starter does have a little bit more of a leadership role. A lot more is expected as far as showing others the way to go. I was always told that starting the game doesn't mean anything, it's finishing the game that's the most important thing. So starting is not a big thing to me, its all about finishing the game."
On the freshman class:
"This class is great as far as what we can bring to the table. I feel we want to win and we all come from winning programs."
On the competition level in a college:
"I'm not quite sure of what the competition level is like. I know what guys are capable of through film, but I don't know exactly the speed that I'm going to encounter. I do a lot of drill work to help me understand better."
On other NCAA freshmen receiving national praise:
"I do feel that I should be mentioned in that group. The competitor in me knows that I should be. I know that they put a lot of hard work to being in that spotlight. I know I just have to wait for my time, but my time out there will come."
