St. John's University Athletics
Pregame Quotes
11/12/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 12, 2009
QUEENS, N.Y. -
Head Coach Norm Roberts
On Anthony Mason Jr.'s return to the court
"Mason is four weeks away. It will take time for him to get back. He has been gone a year and it will be a big challenge for him. We just have to give him time to heal."
On LIU
"They are athletic and quick. LIU has some guys on the perimeter that can shoot and guys that can drive. You know you will get their very best. They will play hard and be very excited. They are very well coached and we will have our work cut out for us."
On what is different about this season
"We shoot the ball a lot better. It's no longer one guy making shots. We can have five guys that can shoot on the floor. Our guys can create opportunities better than before. We can be a very good defensive team and disrupt the passing lanes. We are deeper than before and have more experience. How could you not be excited?"
On this season's expectations
"Expectations are always high. You have to do it on the floor. We have to be able to compete and win games and win on the road. We have to be as good as we can be every day. If we get beat, we have to learn and move on and not make the same mistakes. It is key to hold serve at home and get a few wins on the road. It will make all the difference."
Freshman Guard Omari Lawrence
On what he will bring this season
"I think I will be able to get guys open on the court because I'm a good passer and I have a lot of energy on defense."
On his journey thus far
"You can never take a play off. You've got to be active and always be doing something. I have learned a lot and am excited to play."
Junior Guard Dwight Hardy
On his first Division I contest
"I'm just ready to have fun on the court. I am excited to play with my new teammates and want to have a successful year. I want to come out and defend well and shoot the ball well. That is my role. I need to be aggressive and be able to contribute."
On his JUCO experience
"It was a really good experience for me. I went to prep school and moved on to a JUCO. I was a main scorer and it is exciting to finally hit the big stage."
Junior Forward Justin Burrell
On facing LIU
"I remember a lot from last year and am excited for this to be my break-out season. Last year we were still considered underclassmen and were a young team. This season, we are veterans and understand our roles. Mistakes and excuses are dwindling with out experience."
On his preparation for the season
"I've been putting forth a lot of extra work everyday. I am as confident as I have been in a long time. I just feel really strongly about this season. I improved my skill set and basketball knowledge over the summer. You can't go into a game feeling like you are going to lose. You will have no chance."
