St. John's University Athletics
St. John's vs. Notre Dame: Pregame Quotes
1/6/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 6, 2011
Head Coach Steve Lavin
On the team's play:
"We had a good stretch over the past five games, just playing more efficiently on the offensive end of the floor. I think from the Fordham game forward, our team has done a better job in terms of shot selection and playing through the post. And as a result we've had some degree of success."
On Notre Dame:
"They'll be the most efficient offensive team we've played all year. Coach Brey has really organized them and you can tell they've bought into playing a cohesive brand of basketball. You can see it in the velocity of their cuts and their excellent spacing. They're able to get into the lane and jump stop and pitch the ball out for 3-point shooters. They play well in two gears, in terms of taking the transition opportunities when they present themselves but the team is also willing to get deep into the shot clock and break defenses down. We know we have our hands full playing on the road."
On Dwight Hardy's recent surge:
"Being a senior and starting and playing high volume minutes, he's gaining confidence and a comfort level with our style and system of play. With each passing practice and game opportunity, I think he's exhibiting the ability to take games over both with the ball in his hands, creating off the bounce as well as taking the ball to the basket and shooting from long-range."
On his team's play since the Fordham game:
"The Fordham game was the turning point. The biggest aspect was that I mismanaged the second half of that game and it forces you to do a little self-examination. After watching some game film and meeting with our staff, we felt that we had to develop a second gear offensively when we don't have the numbers in the break, and that it is vital we play through the post. We have to not be as reliant on the 3-point shot, and that's been the biggest difference in our execution offensively."
