St. John's University Athletics
Pregame Quotes: St. John's vs. UCLA
2/17/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 17, 2012
Head Coach Steve Lavin:
On Recuperation and progress:
"It's going good. I feel stronger with each passing week, making strides in terms of stamina and energy."
On rigors of recruiting and current coaching duties:
"We've probably recruited harder than at any point in my coaching career, because in previous years there was the in-season complete focus on the practices and the game preparation. With the modified schedule, I'm now able to spend the majority of the time and energy on the recruiting trails, and we're making headway. I feel very confident that we'll be able to secure an outstanding 2012 recruiting class. In previous years as a head coach, I'd say 99 percent of my time was focused on practices, game preparation and day-to-day responsibilities of managing a basketball program, and if there's been a silver lining in this kind of unprecedented season, it would be the amount of time I can now commit to the lifeblood of our program, which is recruiting."
On the ups and downs of the team this season:
"I'd say that this has been the most difficult stretch that we've had this season, and the combination of us not playing well consistently in our league, and the schedule we have, if you don't put together 40 minutes of high level effort, intensity, and being tied together as a unit, you're going to have trouble. Before you know it, the BIG EAST tournament will be here, and our goal is to enhance our performance, elevate our play, so when we get to the postseason, the single elimination stage of the year, we want to be playing our best basketball. Everything we do between now and the opening round game of the BIG EAST Tournament is focused on an elevated level of play. Whether that's individual players improving an aspect of play, free throw shooting, collectively tidying up our execution, sustaining the level at the defensive end of the floor to be successful or even the mindset of sticking together and encouraging each other, we have to make progress in those areas."
On the upcoming game with UCLA, and it's particular importance:
"Today my focus was not on UCLA, but more on our team, and wanting to make sure they were aware of the opportunity that's in front of us starting tomorrow, with a game at MSG on national TV, against one of the most storied programs in college basketball history. UCLA had their struggles early, we've had our struggles more of late, they're playing their best basketball of the year right now, and we've hit a bit of a rough patch, but tomorrow is a fresh start so I focused on the opportunity that's in front of us, beginning with UCLA and right on through the BIG EAST tournament, and we have to bring everything we're capable of to each practice and each game opportunity as we move down the line."
Junior Forward God'sgift Achiuwa
On Coach Lavin's message at practice:
"He was talking about [UCLA center Josh Smith] and how we should play him. He's about 300 pounds and so we have to play him stronger, because he caused a lot of damage in the game last year, he was the man of the game. We talked about double-teaming him whenever he gets the ball."
On special meaning going against Lavin's former team:
"It's a game of pride to [Lavin], having been the coach of UCLA before he came to St. John's it's more of an emotional game for him and he wants us to win. Especially having lost to UCLA last year he really wants us to win this game."
On team's rebounding on the last few games:
"It's become an issue for our team, and the coaches are really emphasizing on that. We've been doing some drill to get better with rebounding, and we'll definitely have ot rebound well tomorrow if we want to win the game."
Freshman Swingman Amir Garrett
On what UCLA means to people on the West Coast:
"It's a very good basketball program. When you think of UCLA, you think that's a big-time school. This game is kind of a big deal because UCLA and its program have been around for a long time."
On any special meaning because he's from Los Angeles:
"I know a lot of guys that play for UCLA, and they recruited me pretty heavily. This game means a lot because all of my family is watching and they know this is a big game, so I'm just trying to go out and play well and get this win as a team. If we don't win, everybody back home is going be talking a lot of smack."
On being recruited by UCLA and St. John's:
"UCLA was in my top five, and I was very interested in UCLA because I'm a California kid and I was looking to stay home sort of, but St. John's is just my favorite school."
