St. John's University Athletics
Postgame Quotes: St. John's 69, Dartmouth 55
1/18/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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Jan. 18, 2014
Head Coach Steve Lavin
Opening Statement:
"We shared the ball well offensively and defended well enough in the second half to secure the victory. It was a positive step to get a win at this stage given that we haven't picked up a victory yet in the league. It's good to return to the winner's circle. Now, our intention is to carry this momentum into our game against Seton Hall."
On Phil Greene IV's aggressiveness:
"We want our kids to be aggressive, show initiative yet also be purposeful. I thought Phil had a nice balance of being aggressive while playing with purpose."
Junior Guard Phil Greene IV
On getting a win:
"It's a great feeling but we have to continue to build on that. I think we needed a win, period. We were in the desert and getting the win helps with confidence and getting ourselves in a good state of mind. Now we have to get ready for Seton Hall."
On his aggressiveness tonight:
"Before the game, I worked out and thought to myself that I was going to be aggressive this game. Any time I had an open shot I was going to take it and if someone went one-on-one I was going to drive. I was in an aggressive mindset because our team is better when we're aggressive. We can't play tentative. We just have to play our game."
On the team's mindset following the game:
"We just have to build on this win. It doesn't necessarily get us out of our dark place right now, but we're just happy to get a win. The losing was tough so the win just makes everything better and makes it a little more fun."
Sophomore Forward JaKarr Sampson
On the team:
"We know that Coach Lavin's teams are best towards the end of the season around February and March and that is usually when we make our run as well. We know that as a team and we just have to work hard every day and we will continue to get better."
On the hardships of the last three weeks:
"Our team comes from places where we weren't used to losing because we were used to winning. Losing five straight is always hard. You get into a dark place. We just have to keep our heads high, keep to the system and just do what we do best."
On the win tonight as preparation moving forward:
"I feel like any team is good preparation. Whenever you get a win with how we've been struggling, it's always a good thing. When you lose so many games it just seems like nothing is going your way, calls aren't going your way, the ball isn't staying in the hoop, and shots you always make you're missing. You're mad, you're frustrated. A win like this is always big it doesn't matter how good the team is or how bad the team is. Losing five games is hard to do."
Dartmouth Head Coach Paul Cormier
On tonight's game:
"St. John's played terrific in the second half. They came to play all game. I'm proud of my guys because it wasn't a lack of effort. It was a lack of decision making and making shots in the second half. We had to quicken our shots because we were playing against a very athletic team."
