St. John's University Athletics
POSTGAME QUOTES: St. John’s vs. Utah Valley
St. John’s Head Coach Mike Anderson and freshman guard Posh Alexander spoke with the media following Saturday’s 96-78 win over Utah Valley
St. John’s Head Coach Mike Anderson
Opening statement…
“I was proud of our guys. I thought that the effort was there, the execution probably wasn’t early on, but we ended up finding our rhythm against a Utah Valley team that came in full of energy, full of fight, even until the last seconds were on the clock, they were still fighting. I was proud of our guys that came out defensively, especially in the last ten minutes of the first half and then coming out of halftime, our defensive intensity picked up.”
On how the recent play of Posh Alexander has contributed to the team’s recent success…
“I think it is not only him, but our team is concentrating on defense and obviously he is a big part of what we do. If you look out there, he is really active defensively touching balls and harassing and being quick, and you have other guys doing the same thing. You have got Rasheem [Dunn] out there using his quickness, those guards are getting active and you have got the athleticism on the backline which is Josh [Roberts]. Josh has done a tremendous job on the backline of altering shots, blocking shots and getting rebounds. We are starting to look like a more athletic team now and we are doing it from the defensive standpoint, and offensively, we are much more in attack mode.”
On if the team has turned a corner…
“We are getting better. I think that you are starting to see more guys come in and play well. I thought our bench was huge today. Vince [Cole] started, and then in the second half, he was much more relaxed and active in terms of playing. Marcellus [Earlington] continues to give us great minutes off the bench, and how about Isaih [Moore]. We played a team that packs their defense in, and he was able to knock down some 16, 17-foot shots and he was active on the boards and running the floor. We are just getting more guys involved. Dylan [Addae-Wusu], his aggressiveness and toughness has been huge. I like the way that our bench is coming in and playing. [Julian Champagnie] had a tough first half, he didn’t make many shots, but it isn’t about the shots. In the second half, he got cooking and we saw him go on a run by himself. I think this team is growing up and getting better.”
On the assertiveness of Posh Alexander of late…
“I think he has been observing and is starting to figure things out. Just coming out of high school and heading to the BIG EAST is a big jump. Now, all of a sudden people come at you and attack you and I think Rasheem [Dunn] has really helped him, he looks up to Rasheem. He and Julian [Champagnie], along with Josh [Roberts] and Greg [Williams Jr] have helped him. He [Posh] is a natural-born leader, so it takes time just like with this team, it takes time. I have to applaud Rasheem tonight the way he rebounded the ball, talked, and got our defense engaged.”
On the start of games…
“I think we are getting more consistent in terms of how we are coming out and playing. Today, Utah Valley came out and made shots early-on, but we stayed the course, and went back to our defense. Sometimes it can’t just be your offense, it has to be your defense, and offensively, you have to know who to get the ball to and when. So, I think it is understanding our roles in terms of playing well in the second half, that is the half you want. We had a lead in the first half, but in college basketball that can evaporate quickly, so we came out in the second half and forced the issue, created the tempo, and Utah Valley was uncomfortable with that. They had some guys in foul trouble and got tired, and before you know it, the game of runs took place. In terms of the 40 minutes, we got to a four-minute period there late and our guys thought the game was over. No matter who I put out there, I always expect our guys to go out and play to win and that is the point we have to continue to work on, finishing what you started.”
On how secondary scoring can help Julian Champagnie’s game…
“I always say we can’t be a team that is dependent on one or two guys. We know what Julian [Champagnie] is capable of, and we saw in the second half. You have to have other guys out there that force guys to honor them and play them, though. We have a lot of quickness and guys who can attack the basket and I thought we saw when we got the open floor. But when you have got more balance, then they can’t just zero in on one guy. It was good to see Vince [Cole] open up and start making shots in the second half, and that is what has to take place. That was without a guy like Greg [Williams Jr.] who is a glue-guy who can do so many things and is one of our better shooters as well. So again, it is all about getting those cylinders cooking and we are getting more guys that are playing consistent and that is something I see. When you think about the UCONN game to this game right here, one of the consistent things was that our defense and motion offense were really good in how we shared the ball and attacked the basket.”
St. John’s freshman guard Posh Alexander
On how the game changes when he hits three-pointers…
“I think it changed a lot for me because it opens up the floor a lot and I am a guy that likes to attack the rim, finish through contact, and make plays guarding. When I make shots, it’s just crazy how I see the floor open up for us.”
On if he is emphasizing his three-point shot…
“It is just confidence. When I first got here, I was just getting used to seeing what I can do and wasn’t really thinking about shooting the ball, so I was just driving a lot. Once I got in the gym, I started working on my jump-shot just constantly then and now it’s just improved and showing in games.”
On how he helped the team hit its groove late in the first half…
“I just felt like we were playing like kind of nonchalant, we weren’t playing like how we played against UConn. So, I felt like if I picked it then everybody else was going to pick it up, and that’s really it.”
On building momentum going back into BIG East play …
“I just want to see us actually pick it up when we first start the game instead of picking it up in the second half. I feel like we should be a 40-minute team instead of a second half team. We need to start the game playing defense and getting after it and ending the game the same.”
Opening statement…
“I was proud of our guys. I thought that the effort was there, the execution probably wasn’t early on, but we ended up finding our rhythm against a Utah Valley team that came in full of energy, full of fight, even until the last seconds were on the clock, they were still fighting. I was proud of our guys that came out defensively, especially in the last ten minutes of the first half and then coming out of halftime, our defensive intensity picked up.”
On how the recent play of Posh Alexander has contributed to the team’s recent success…
“I think it is not only him, but our team is concentrating on defense and obviously he is a big part of what we do. If you look out there, he is really active defensively touching balls and harassing and being quick, and you have other guys doing the same thing. You have got Rasheem [Dunn] out there using his quickness, those guards are getting active and you have got the athleticism on the backline which is Josh [Roberts]. Josh has done a tremendous job on the backline of altering shots, blocking shots and getting rebounds. We are starting to look like a more athletic team now and we are doing it from the defensive standpoint, and offensively, we are much more in attack mode.”
On if the team has turned a corner…
“We are getting better. I think that you are starting to see more guys come in and play well. I thought our bench was huge today. Vince [Cole] started, and then in the second half, he was much more relaxed and active in terms of playing. Marcellus [Earlington] continues to give us great minutes off the bench, and how about Isaih [Moore]. We played a team that packs their defense in, and he was able to knock down some 16, 17-foot shots and he was active on the boards and running the floor. We are just getting more guys involved. Dylan [Addae-Wusu], his aggressiveness and toughness has been huge. I like the way that our bench is coming in and playing. [Julian Champagnie] had a tough first half, he didn’t make many shots, but it isn’t about the shots. In the second half, he got cooking and we saw him go on a run by himself. I think this team is growing up and getting better.”
On the assertiveness of Posh Alexander of late…
“I think he has been observing and is starting to figure things out. Just coming out of high school and heading to the BIG EAST is a big jump. Now, all of a sudden people come at you and attack you and I think Rasheem [Dunn] has really helped him, he looks up to Rasheem. He and Julian [Champagnie], along with Josh [Roberts] and Greg [Williams Jr] have helped him. He [Posh] is a natural-born leader, so it takes time just like with this team, it takes time. I have to applaud Rasheem tonight the way he rebounded the ball, talked, and got our defense engaged.”
On the start of games…
“I think we are getting more consistent in terms of how we are coming out and playing. Today, Utah Valley came out and made shots early-on, but we stayed the course, and went back to our defense. Sometimes it can’t just be your offense, it has to be your defense, and offensively, you have to know who to get the ball to and when. So, I think it is understanding our roles in terms of playing well in the second half, that is the half you want. We had a lead in the first half, but in college basketball that can evaporate quickly, so we came out in the second half and forced the issue, created the tempo, and Utah Valley was uncomfortable with that. They had some guys in foul trouble and got tired, and before you know it, the game of runs took place. In terms of the 40 minutes, we got to a four-minute period there late and our guys thought the game was over. No matter who I put out there, I always expect our guys to go out and play to win and that is the point we have to continue to work on, finishing what you started.”
On how secondary scoring can help Julian Champagnie’s game…
“I always say we can’t be a team that is dependent on one or two guys. We know what Julian [Champagnie] is capable of, and we saw in the second half. You have to have other guys out there that force guys to honor them and play them, though. We have a lot of quickness and guys who can attack the basket and I thought we saw when we got the open floor. But when you have got more balance, then they can’t just zero in on one guy. It was good to see Vince [Cole] open up and start making shots in the second half, and that is what has to take place. That was without a guy like Greg [Williams Jr.] who is a glue-guy who can do so many things and is one of our better shooters as well. So again, it is all about getting those cylinders cooking and we are getting more guys that are playing consistent and that is something I see. When you think about the UCONN game to this game right here, one of the consistent things was that our defense and motion offense were really good in how we shared the ball and attacked the basket.”
St. John’s freshman guard Posh Alexander
On how the game changes when he hits three-pointers…
“I think it changed a lot for me because it opens up the floor a lot and I am a guy that likes to attack the rim, finish through contact, and make plays guarding. When I make shots, it’s just crazy how I see the floor open up for us.”
On if he is emphasizing his three-point shot…
“It is just confidence. When I first got here, I was just getting used to seeing what I can do and wasn’t really thinking about shooting the ball, so I was just driving a lot. Once I got in the gym, I started working on my jump-shot just constantly then and now it’s just improved and showing in games.”
On how he helped the team hit its groove late in the first half…
“I just felt like we were playing like kind of nonchalant, we weren’t playing like how we played against UConn. So, I felt like if I picked it then everybody else was going to pick it up, and that’s really it.”
On building momentum going back into BIG East play …
“I just want to see us actually pick it up when we first start the game instead of picking it up in the second half. I feel like we should be a 40-minute team instead of a second half team. We need to start the game playing defense and getting after it and ending the game the same.”