St. John's University Athletics
Post Game Quotes: Virginia Tech 54, St. John's 48
12/29/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 29, 2007
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NEW YORK - St. John's Head Coach Norm Roberts
On today's game:
"Give Virginia Tech a lot of credit. They are a good team and big. They defended well. They are extremely long. There were opportunities where we thought we were going to get a basket and they came up with a block. This was a good game for us to get prepared for the Big East. There are going to be a lot of games that are going to be like this in the Big East."
St. John's effort:
"They beat us in a hard game. Both teams played ugly. Both teams had 20 turnovers. It was a hard fought game. We didn't make shots. I am not discouraged at all. They tried hard. (It was the) first time playing in the Garden. Our freshmen played like freshmen. I am not going to get down on this team. They are young. We did not fold. We played hard. We had a chance to win it all of the way through it."
More on today's game:
"D.J. Kennedy is going to play better. We botched up some made baskets. Let's not forget Virginia Tech is a good team. They blocked lay-ups. Young guys get tight and we got a little bit tight. We preserved. That is why I am excited about this team. We fight back even when things don't go well."
On Deron Washington and A.D. Vassallo:
"They are veteran guys and Virginia Tech went to veteran guys and that was smart on their part. Vassallo took advantage of us inside. Jump hooks from 8 feet isn't easy. That is a player making plays. Give them credit."
On improving from this loss:
"I would say attack the basket and keep going, force fouls. Screening better, making sure to pay attention to detail defensively. Those are things they are going to learn. We are not going to get down. We are going to keep working, fight hard. We are going to have our ups and our downs. I really like our group."
More on today's game:
"We tried to get the ball to (Justin) Burrell but they doubled down on him. We tried to get the ball to Mase (Anthony Mason Jr.). (Deron) Washington is one of the best defenders in the ACC. We are not talking about a guy who can't defend. I told our team, look at the bunnies we missed in the first half. We missed six bunnies in the first half. It is part of being young. It is something we need to work on and get better. We just have to continue to finish those plays and be tough."
On staying positive after the loss:
"It wasn't for the lack of playing hard, it wasn't for the lack of trying, it wasn't for the lack of doing the right things, it wasn't for a lack of going after balls. I'd be upset if it was for that and I'd be upset because we didn't play as hard as we could play."
Anthony Mason Jr.
On the scoring drought in the second half:
"We have to get the next one. Next play. Defend. The next play we have to get another stop and run down and get a better shot. I didn't realize, I (just) knew we were missing. You can't get frustrated. You get frustrated, then you start making mistakes."
On St. John's:
"I feel good. We are a young team. We are playing hard, we are just making a couple of mistakes. We have to get back in the gym, get prepared and get ready for Syracuse."
Justin Burrell:
On staying in the game despite the scoring drought:
"I wouldn't say I felt lucky. We are getting everything we deserve (based on) how we work. We should be in the game even thought we are not scoring because we are playing defense."
On the loss:
"Every loss hurts the same. They all feel the same."
Virginia Tech Head Coach Seth Greenberg
On today's game:
"I think what you saw was two young basketball teams trying to develop an identity, we were just fortunate to make shots. We didn't do anything brilliant (out there). I am really proud of our team. I am proud of certain guys even more. We had some unsung heroes. I thought J.T. Thompson, (Hank) Thorns and Cheick Diakite gave us great minutes. The job Deron (Washington) was able to do on Mase (Anthony Mason Jr.), he did a terrific job keeping him in front. He is long enough to contest shots, not just keep him in front. The game is real simple. We come here, get enough shots, and were fortunate to make enough shots to win."
On Deron Washington and A.D. Vassallo:
"I thought in the first half our two veterans were trying too hard and were impatient. I thought we were a little more patient, more poised (in the second half). A.D. can make shots. He has that ability. It is very, very simple. You try to make enough stops and make enough shots to win and that is what we did, barely. This was two teams trying to find an identity. That is not easy. I thought both teams did a terrific job defensively."
On St. John's:
"They guard the ball. They keep it in front. We had a hard time penetrating. We probably got long offensive rebounds. They guard the ball. They guard gaps. As you are trying to build a team of young players, you have to guard the ball, and teach (defensive) principles."
On Jeff Allen:
"I thought J.T. Thompson gave us better minutes than Jeff. The one thing about Jeff, that people are so conscious about him, is that he is a good passer. When he is in the game people are conscious of him, therefore people can play off of him."
On playing Jeff Allen only 18 minutes due to fouls:
"One was match-ups. That was one thing and I thought J.T. Thompson was playing well so I was pretty comfortable with him sitting him next to me."
On the Aeropostale Holiday Festival:
"I am just happy, we lost a very tough game at Wake Forest. I wasn't very smart for about a week and now all of a sudden I am smarter. For me, I understand, maybe other people don't, this was the premiere Holiday tournament. If you had a profile in college basketball, you wanted to play in this event. I understand the history of this event."
On Deron Washington:
"He made good baskets. I thought he improved defensively and I thought he had a good weekend."
On the upcoming conference play:
"We have two more games (non-conference). It is crazy. We will play eight or nine road games. We will probably play more road games than anyone in our conference. It is a Big East win. It is a big win. We did a better job of managing the clock so maybe we learned something from that."
More on today's game:
"We had 20 turnovers and shot 37% and still won the game. That is amazing. I don't rate our victories. I am just happy we won. Let's face it, the game was ugly. We were just a little less ugly than they were."
