St. John's University Athletics
Pregame Quotes: St. John's vs. Sacred Heart
11/19/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 19, 2007
St. John's Head Coach Norm Roberts
On playing against Sacred Heart:
"We don't worry about records. I think people don't realize Sacred Heart has one the best inside guys in their league, and he's a big part of their team. If you look at their games, they have been up 10 to 15 points in each of those games and they haven't shot it as well as they would like, but they are a dangerous team with the way they play."
On Sacred Heart's Head Coach Dave Bike:
"I crossed paths with Coach Bike as a player. I played against Coach Bike when Sacred Heart was a Division II program. They were a great Division II team, and he's a terrific coach. I've known Coach Bike for almost 12 years."
On the probability of Anthony Mason Jr. playing in the Sacred Heart game:
"I don't predict he will play. He has a high ankle sprain and we are trying to be as cautious as possible with it. He is feeling better, treatment is going well, but he is still experiencing some pain. We want him to be pain free, and want him to go out there and continue to be out there rather than have something nagging him from game to game. He probably will not play in this game."
Larry Wright
On playing without Mason Jr.:
"If he plays or doesn't play, Coach looks for us to play hard. He still wants us to do what we have to do on the court. It would be really good to have him, but we can't roll over and play dead. We just have to continue to play."
On playing Sacred Heart:
"From practice, Coach told us they run a lot of ball screens and they shoot the 3 very well. They do a lot of hand-offs and back door passes so we have to be prepared for everything. We don't really look at records, we just have to go out and play hard."
Malik Boothe
On making the transition to point guard as a freshman:
"I don't think it's much different than anything else. The point guard is supposed to be the leader of the team so it doesn't really matter what year I am."
On playing against Sacred Heart:
"We already know that we can't take any team lightly no matter who they are. At any given day teams will play at their best and try to knock you off."
Paris Horne
On playing against Sacred Heart:
"I know they are a good team. They like to spread the floor and score one-on-one against other teams. Hopefully, we will have a good game and come out ready to play."
On giving Larry Wright the extra push to play well:
"Defensively, I try to push him all the time, because I know there are a lot of offensive players in the league who play like Larry. It also helps him, because by playing hard defense on him it helps him create more and become better as an offensive player. He makes great decisions under defensive pressure. He makes great shots even with my hands in his face. He gets better every day."
