St. John's University Athletics
St. John's vs. Gonzaga: NCAA Tournament Pregame Quotes
3/14/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 14, 2011
QUEENS, N.Y. -
St. John's Head Coach Steve Lavin
On how D.J. Kennedy is handling sitting out the NCAA Tournament due to injury:
"D.J. Kennedy has handled the injury and the disappointment with grace and class and that speaks volumes about his character. Our team has rallied around him. We understand that we wouldn't be here in the NCAA Tournament without D.J. Kennedy's contributions. The greatest way that we can pay respect and tribute to him is to continue the journey, to continue to play deep into March."
On if he has had experience with losing a player to a season-ending injury prior to the NCAA Tournament:
"Sure, I've had injuries going into NCAA Tournaments and setbacks and personal adversity, whether it's a relative or a family member that passes on. It can galvanize a group. At the end of the day, emotion won't be enough. It comes down to execution and doing the things it takes over a two-hour period or 40 minutes of play to win a basketball game."
On what challenge Gonzaga will present:
"Well no. 1, they're experienced. They've been to the NCAA Tournament year after year. They're well-coached. It's the most gifted team offensively that we've faced all season. If you look a their numbers, they shoot 37 percent from the 3-point line, 48 percent overall from the field, so nearly 50 percent. And they shoot 75 or 76 percent from the foul line. So they're basically flawless when it comes to the offensive end of the floor, so we will be challenged. But I like our team too. We've been tested coming out of the BIG EAST. We've played a rigorous schedule and we have a group of seniors that are determined to continue this season."
On the pep rally and having the students come out and support the team:
"It is great to see a galvanized community that shares the passion and love for a great university and our basketball program. Our team has restored credibility to the St. John's basketball program and I'm just fortunate to have participated with these young men and have a really fun year."
St. John's guard Paris Horne
On the matchup with Gonzaga:
"They can shoot the ball very well and they have a lot of bigs, so we are going to have to rebound. We are just going to have to play our game and get out in transition and run and pressure."
On what it means to make it to the NCAA Tournament:
"It means a lot to me. Coming from being a freshman and going through the ups and downs and wondering if we were ever going to make it, it means a ton. We are excited. I'm excited. I'm ready to play."
On what head coach Steve Lavin brought to the program this season:
"He just brought a buzz to the campus. Since he was hired, fans and students and alumni were just hype about everything. You can tell that he installed our belief in winning and staying together. We took that from him and have been able to win."
St. John's guard Malik Boothe
On D.J. Kennedy:
"I think he realizes that we appreciate everything he's done for us over these four years. Right now our motto is 'Do it for D.J.' When we go into this tournament, we have to do it for D.J. because he's done so much for us and given himself up to St. John's basketball. We have to give ourselves up, not only for St. John's, but for D.J. as well."
St. John's guard/forward D.J. Kennedy
On the recent play of Sean Evans:
"I feel like the Duke game turned his season around. That game really lifted him and gave him a lot of confidence. Ever since the Duke game, he's been taking advantage of the opportunities that he's been given."
On his reaction to Evans' "Do It For D.J." t-shirts:
"He's someone that truly cares. He's a true friend and is like a brother, he's that close that to me. It really affected him, and now I appreciate all the support he's given."
On approaching his new role at the NCAA Tournament:
"It's going to be tough on me to have be on the bench and seeing the games from a different point of view. But I'm going to make the best of it and learn, stay positive and help my teammates any way I can."
