St. John's University Athletics
St. John's vs. Duke Pregame Quotes
2/18/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 18, 2009
QUEENS, N.Y. -
Head Coach Norm Roberts
On Duke coming off a loss to Boston College:
"I think you can always see what their motivations are and that they probably want to get back on a wining track just like we do. So they are going to play with a lot of energy, just like we do."
On the team's focus:
"I think our guys understand that they have to play extremely hard. We have to be more focused and we can't have let-ups on defense when we have droughts. We've talked about that and watched film and gone over things, and talked about playing in character, what we do normally on a day-to-day basis. When we play out of character, we don't play as well. We need to stop having those moments when we play out of character; when we try to do things that we're not really comfortable doing. When you're playing against very good teams like when we played against Marquette, those guys are very good and there going to make you pay and that's what happened. Obviously Duke is a very good team and if you play out of character then they're going to make you pay because they can really score."
On playing a nationally-known team such as Duke:
"We talk to the guys about playing hard all the time no matter who we're playing, but obviously especially Duke because of their tradition, and their program, and Coach K being a legend and in the Hall of Fame, so they understand its going to be a different atmosphere and all those things when Duke comes to town. For that, we have to be prepared for the challenge and step up to the challenge."
On Duke's recent struggles:
"I've watched them play and I think they play in a tough league. It is a league where you know anyone can beat anyone on any given night. And when they're not shooting the ball well and when they have some turnovers, they're going to get beat just like anybody else"
On the team's top priorities vs. Duke:
"Priority one is that we have to guard. Priority two is that we can't turn it over and we have to execute. Priority three is fifty/fifty balls. We have to go and get them. They want to score off of turnovers, transitions, fifty/fifty balls and offensive rebounds as well as executing well. We really have to guard and lock in and understand what guy's strengths are and maybe some of their weaknesses are, and we really have to make sure we don't turn the ball over, giving them easy hoops. We need to get those fifty/fifty balls, those rebounds, those loose balls, because they're going to shoot a lot of 3's so there's going to be long of rebounds and you have to be able to run them down and get those fifty/fifty balls.
Sophomore forward Sean Evans
On facing #9/9 Duke:
"We have to take everything in stride and we have to give them a competitive game. We're going to go out there and we're not going to change anything that we do. We're going to go out there and play hard and try and come out with a win. We want to show them that we can play with them every year."
On Duke's reputation as a national powerhouse:
"Duke always has a strong program. They are always up there in the top-ten every year. They have a lot of great players, a legendary coach. It means that we get to play on a big stage and we match up with some of the best players in the country."
On what has to happen for St. John's to win:
"I think we have to execute because Duke plays on a lot of mistakes. If we go the wrong way one time they can take it down and score. They feed off other team's mistakes so we have to execute. We have to play great defense, and we have to come out with a lot of energy and be ready to play."
Sophomore guard Malik Boothe
On not playing Duke tough in the past:
"Last year we lost by a lot. The year before, the game was out of hand by halftime. We just have to come out and play hard and try to change their mind that we aren't going to be tough and competitive."
On showing that St. John's can play with Duke:
"I don't really think that people care too much if we can really play with them. I guess if we can beat them then they'll start to care. They don't really care too much if we can play them close but still lose."
On Duke's playing style:
"They are pretty strong with the ball. They are like sharks. Last year we were up in the beginning and then when things went wrong for us they just attacked everything, and they went on their run and they knocked us out. I know they are going to play hard for the whole forty minutes and I know that if they get a lead they aren't going to let up. They are going to try and put their foot on someone's throat."
