St. John's University Athletics
Pregame Quotes: St. John's-Villanova BIG EAST Tournament
3/12/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 12, 2013
QUEENS, N.Y. -
Head Coach Steve Lavin
On his focus with the team heading into this week:
"It's been Villanova and then the championship week and the opportunity that presents to extend your season. Everyone is given a fresh start, new beginning and the opportunity to make a run to the NCAA tournament. That's what makes this week more unique than any other in college basketball because you could be 28-2 or 2-28 and put it together for three or four days and go dancing. There's the fresh start, new beginning, 0-0 record, but we're focused on the now. We play at Madison Square Garden, it's our home court and if you look at the fact that we lost in overtime to Villanove at their place when they shot 42 free throws, if we can neutralize that free throw advantage, we feel we're right there."
On Pointer's understanding of his leadership role upon returning:
"We talked about that in the team meeting yesterday, because in both of those late possessions against Marquette, he would have been defending Vander Blue in both those possessions. I haven't seen too many people score against Dom once he locks in; he gets that Bruce Bowen mentality and just shuts people's water off. He's learning that his actions that were unacceptable at Notre Dame have consequences coming down the stretch. Dom is such an authentic, pure kid with such a big heart, I don't need to beat him up anymore than he's already beat himself up. That's part of the lesson that kids are going to beat themselves up if they have a big heart and great conscience like Dom does. With him it's real, some kids just give you lip service and issue a statement, but with Dom just the opposite is true, it hit him hard."
Sophomore guard Jamal Branch
On the team's performance over the last seven games:
"The Marquette game showed how hard we fought. We really want to make a run. All I can think about is Connecticut making that run and winning the National Championship. We're just going to go out and give it our all and try to make that run."
On JaKarr Sampson's future at St. John's:
"It would make a huge difference if JaKarr came back, with him having a year under his belt. With Orlando, JaKarr and Chris we could do special things next year. It's his decision; he's old enough to know what he wants to do. Whatever he chooses we are going to support him."
Sophomore guard Sir'Dominic Pointer
On St. John's potential:
"I think we are a very capable team. All we have to do is bring our talents together and play as a team. If we can step up, we can go as far as we can take ourselves."
On another chance at Villanova:
"We're excited about it, because we had a chance to beat them on their home court. We didn't convert a lot of free throws and that hurt us. If we focus on our game and make our free throws and just hit some shots, we can beat them."
On his maturation process:
"I've stepped up, but I have to step up even more because it's a whole new season right now and all the teams in the BIG EAST are 0-0. No one has played any games until tonight. I think we still have the chance to do something special and make it to the NCAA tournament."
Freshman forward JaKarr Sampson
On the upcoming BIG EAST Tournament:
"It's a big opportunity. We can play with any team in the BIG EAST. We have confidence in ourselves. We feel we can win this game against Villanova and do some good things in the tournament."
On Sir'Dominic Pointer returning to the lineup:
"It's big for us. He's one of our leaders on the floor. He's our defensive leader, and we need the presence that he brings. He does it all; assist, score, rebound, we missed that last game."
