St. John's University Athletics
Pregame Quotes: St. John's at Pittsburgh
2/28/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
St. John's Assistant Coach Mike Dunlap
On telling the freshman they're "not freshman anymore":
"Because of the minutes played that puts them all across the threshold and there are certain things we can't say they don't know the system anymore as in a way out. We wanted to let them recognize when you cross that threshold it needs to be pointed out that they aren't freshman anymore in the capacity. They have a lot of game experience against the best teams in America."
On the dynamic Jamal Branch brings to practice:
"He makes our opponent a lot tougher because he knows how to run a team. The turnover count and our ability to get away with sloppiness on the first team were greatly reduced because he can control the offense. Even if it's Pitt's offense or Notre Dame's, he can be on that scout team and we can say something to him and he picks up on it right away. That really lifted the ability of the second unit to play against the first unity."
On Jamal Branch improving Phil Greene and Amir Garrett:
"Jamal is advanced in his ability to play off the pick-and-roll. We're prudent in how we use the pick-and-roll in our setups because we're taking a 2-guard and also D'Angelo and introducing them into a pretty complicated game. The pick-and-roll has a lot of reads of it. It would be tantamount to the West Coast offense in football. You have a number of receivers and sequences that you teach. The fact of the matter is, to have somebody that's advanced has helped Phil and D'Angelo's progress in the pick-and-roll game. Also, Jamal mentally is a very calm, highly intelligent person. Seeing his disposition and also it doesn't hurt that he's friends with D'Angelo has helped D'Angelo's maturity in my opinion. D'Angelo can confide in him."
On Amir Garrett settling in:
"Everyday he's exponential in how he's progressed. For me, just realizing how much moxy he has, has been the greatest revelation. I knew he was sturdy, but I didn't realize how much of a gamer he is. Both in loose balls, his physical presence and he never takes a backwards step. He has really helped our confidence as a unity."
Special Assistant/Advisor Gene Keady
On when freshman mature during the course of a season:
"In coaching it takes at least 10 years to know how to coach the right ingredients of the game and playing I'd say it takes about halfway through the season. They start to learn what opponents' gyms are about, how travel affects them, all the hardships of winning and losing. It takes them awhile to get mentally tough if the kids are the right ingredients. If they don't have good attitudes, it never takes hold, but we've got good kids."
On how fast the St. John's freshmen matured:
"I think they got there a little bit quicker because they're a little more talented and they're not like typical freshman. These freshmen are starting. I only had one freshman start every game from when he was a freshman through his senior year in Melvin McCants. It's hard to do. They've overcome a lot of obstacles. First of all, they've got to overcome us."
On how Jamal Branch practicing improves the team:
"First of all, it made it more competitive because he's a really good player. Secondly, he gives us that opponent that passes well, sees the floor and as he's doing that the other kids are getting confidence in him for next year. It's a two-way positive and he's been really good for us."
On Jamal Branch's skill set:
"He's going to have an advantage because of his experiences at Texas A&M and that league is very competitive. He's been working hard with his jumper and even since he's gotten here his jumpshot has improved. He's worked out hard. When we're gone this week he'll work on his game by himself and that's what it takes to become better. He's a special kid, he'll be just fine and we're really happy to have him."
Freshman Swingman Amir Garrett
On the affect of time off on his shooting:
"When I first came here it was a different type of basketball than I was playing at the prep school. When I got here, it was like a whole new world. I felt that I couldn't get shots. I had to figure out how I was going to be more aggressive and score the ball in certain ways. It was different in high school, where I could just go to the rack and dunk because they were a lot smaller. I had to find a different way to score at the next level."
On the dynamic of practice since Jamal Branch joined:
"He has definitely helped us a lot because it gives us more bodies for drills. It takes pressure off the six players that we have. Sometimes it would just be us doing drills and more bodies like Jamal help in the drill part, but also helps us to practice plays. His offensive game is good, but on defense he also brings a lot of pressure. This helps us to prepare for our games."
On the impact of Jamal Branch's experience on practice:
"Jamal is one of the top point guards. When we are guarding him, it is like facing the opponent because he is as good as any point guard in the country."
Junior Forward God'sgift Achiuwa
On Jamal Branch's impact on D'Angelo Harrison and Phil Greene:
"He's very good with the ball. You really must play defense on him to stop him. Harrison and Greene checking him during practice have really helped them to get better. "
On being referred to as young players:
"We are young, but we are not using it as an excuse. We just come out and try to match our opponent. I don't feel like I am a young player because I'm a junior. I am also coming from a junior college, so I do not feel like a young player."
On the Big East Tournament being held at Madison Square Garden:
"It gives us an advantage. It is our home court and we have played a number of games there. We have played a number of these teams there, depending on how far we go in the BIG EAST Tournament. We will have our friends and families behind us, which also gives us an advantage. "
Freshman Guard Jamal Branch
On his time at St. John's so far:
"I've enjoyed it a lot. I have a great time with these guys and the coaching staff. Practices are going really good. The guys are all buying into what the coaches are saying and they're out there having fun and trying to win."
On how he ended up at St. John's:
"I had originally committed to Coach [Mark] Turgeon, who was there throughout my years at high school and I was planning on playing for him. I thought he was a great coach and could help me better my game and make it to the next level, but unfortunately he left before I stepped on campus. We got a new coach in and I gave it a try, but it just wasn't a good place for me. I wasn't getting better, was frustrated and didn't feel it there. Coach Lavin is a winner, we got a great group of guys and I think we can compete for a National Championship. It's just a great group of guys I can have fun with and win games."
On his relationship with D'Angelo Harrison:
"D'Angelo and I have been playing since I moved to Texas and we always went to camp together, saw each other around at AAU tournament and we talked a lot. We actually talked a lot during his recruiting process. He wanted to come play with me at A&M, but he made the choice to come here. The night he made his decision he called me and told me he had to do what was best for him and his family."
