St. John's University Athletics
Pregame Quotes Vs. Connecticut
1/19/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 19, 2010
QUEENS, N.Y. -
Head Coach Norm Roberts
On facing Connecticut:
"We will start the same way we have been. They are always big and physical and a terrific rebounding team. They are fast in transition and they can finish. They are long inside and can cause a lot of trouble."
On the tough conference stretch ahead:
"You look at the next three games for us and they are all nationally-ranked teams and to win any one of them would be good. Those are the types of games you have to win to move up in this league. We have to take it one day and one game at a time. We are focused on Connecticut and need to play well."
On the execution needed for the win:
"They have a lot of young talent off the bench, but have a ton of big bodies they can throw at you inside. In order to beat them, we have to make shots and make plays. We need to put 40 good minutes together to beat them."
Junior Guard Dwight Hardy
On what it would mean to defeat Connecticut:
"It would be great to pick up a win at their arena. It would prove we are an elite team and can compete in this conference. We have to come out and compete at a high level."
On what it takes to beat a tough Connecticut team:
"We cannot go through those scoring droughts and we have to limit them. We have to play hard for 40 minutes and we have to rebound. It is going to be a very intense game and we want to get back to .500 in the league. The team that stays calm and can execute at both ends of the floor will come out with the win."
Junior Forward Justin Burrell
On the implications of a win against the Huskies:
"Connecticut has a Hall of Fame coach, it is a historic program and has great players. UConn is a great school. It would mean a lot to win. It would be great for our program."
On his expectations for the game:
"Going in, we have to expect a real physical game. There will be a lot of 50/50 balls and UConn is a relentless team. Their big guys get a hand on a rebound and they are off to the races in transition so we need to contain that."
