St. John's University Athletics
Postgame Quotes: St. John's 60, 4/4 Pittsburgh 59
2/19/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 19, 2011
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NEW YORK -
St. John's Head Coach Steve Lavin
On the Final Huddle
"I wanted to encourage the group to have fun. I told them, life will never get any better than this moment; even though we were down by six. I said going back to CYO basketball or at the playground, it is still a game. There was a stretch where we were playing joyless basketball. This is Madison Square Garden, you got this place electrified, you are playing with your best friends and playing the No. 4 team in the country, this is fun. I do not care, it is not about winning, losing or getting the bucket; it is about enjoying this moment and playing with passion and use everything we have to enjoy this gift. The focus was more about that than strategy. "
On the St. John's Development
"I think we are ahead of schedule in terms of the high level of basketball that we have played in six of the last seven games. Coming into the year, our goal was to make the NCAA tournament and to send our seniors out on a high note, which they deserve. In terms of the number of wins over the quality opponents, we may be a bit ahead of schedule. My hope was to, by March, have a dangerous, opportunistic team that could beat anybody in the country, that didn't bring an A game or if they over looked us. It appears we hit that in late January and February."
On the St. John's Coaching Staff
"I enjoy working with the staff; they have a range of personalities, age, and expertise. I call it a tool box; it is a wonderful mix. I have never been on a team where everyone gets along so well."
Memory of Today's Game
"Inside the four minutes, our players seemed deflated. That's when I went to more of the joy of the game. I told them we are at The Garden playing the No. 4 team in the country and the crowd is electrifying, this is just as good as it gets. The other (memory) would be Dwight Hardy coming off that pick and roll and seemingly getting buried under the basket but emerging; to see the ball get into the rim it was pretty surreal. To see that shot beat the No.4 team in the country was surreal."
On D.J. Kennedy's Performance
"The fact he was out for a long stretch and came in, we ran a play that gets him down to score and I think that helped right away. He was fouled and made a couple of free throws, he had an offensive rebound. He was locked in this whole week getting ready for Pittsburgh and being a (Pittsburgh) native, he wanted to play well. We had foul trouble but we withstood it because of our depth and key contributions. We were able to catch up, close out, and win."
Senior Forward D.J. Kennedy
On Today's Game
"It was big. We had to come out as tough as them (Pittsburgh), if not tougher. I was making plays for the team. We had a few clutch offensive rebounds and that gave us a chance to win the game late. I was cheering my teammates on (while on the bench). I wanted them to stay positive."
On Technical
"I think it was a close call, I can't really argue with the referee. I was just focused on the game and lost it early; came into the second half and refocused."
On Defeating Pittsburgh
"It was great. Greatest feeling since I've been here (St. John's). Great to get the opportunity to beat them and go back home to say I beat them."
