St. John's University Athletics
Postgame Quotes
12/21/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 21, 2008
St. John's Head Coach Norm Roberts
On today's game:
"You have to give them credit. They have a good team. They are strong and they are physical. They really wear you down. What they did was that they really used their might against us using the 1-3-1 zone. I thought at times we really attacked it. I thought when we attacked inside we did some good things. Then we had a span where they had some offensive rebounds and that really opened the game."
More on today's game:
"I thought we competed but when you are playing at that level it only takes a five or six minute span to change the game. We didn't execute a few times. They were able to open a three-point game and get a cushion. We didn't have enough stops to respond. Those are things we will learn from and get better."
On Virginia Tech:
"I just think we gave up too many second chance baskets and then we fouled. We can't foul like that. We have to move our feet better. We gave them credit. They wore us down. We have to fight and get through that stuff."
On the team's injuries:
"There is nothing we can do about the injuries. That is life. It gives other guys an opportunity to get in there and get better. It is not a sprint, it is a marathon. It gives our other guys an opportunity to get in there and give us depth."
Virginia Tech Head Coach Seth Greenberg
On today's game:
"I thought we played better. We are not where we need to be but we are obviously a lot better than we were yesterday. For me, I was embarrassed by the way we competed (yesterday). I don't care if we play well but we need to play hard. We need to have a mindset to compete at a high level. Today we competed at a higher level. They are very tough (St. John's). I don't know how Norm (Roberts) deals with two starters out. I didn't expect us to play 40 minutes of zone. We only have one point guard so we can't afford to get any one in foul trouble. I thought our guys did a good job of it. That was a good team win."
On Jeff Allen:
"He is a very good player. My concern coming into the game was having him play 40 minutes and getting banged by all those ball screens. The zone makes it harder to step out, away from the basket. You need four guys to handle the ball. They got some lay-ups and offensive rebounds. That is a way to get away from that and keep Jeff in the game a little bit longer. We don't have a backup point guard. I am just trying to figure out a way to keep him in."
On playing at Madison Square Garden:
"Today, this was an important game for us. I need them to know, from my actions, this was a little different today. You have to pick your spots. I think we took a step forward. Respecting the game is really important to me. That is what it is all about especially coming here in New York City playing in Madison Square Garden. I understand what playing here means. To me this venue represents college basketball. I grew up going to St. John's games sitting all the way in the top watching Coach Carnesca. It is respecting the game. If you don't come hard and compete you are not respecting the game. You are not a good teammate if you are not tough. Not taking it for granted or not feeling like you are entitled and you just go out and play. To me, that is something that is really important. I needed to get that point across to them about how important it is to me."
