St. John's University Athletics
POSTGAME QUOTES: St. John’s vs. Butler
St. John’s Head Coach Joe Tartamella and senior guard Qadashah Hoppie spoke with the media following Saturday’s 64-56 win over Butler
St. John’s Head Coach Joe Tartamella
Opening statement…
“I was pleased with the way that we were able to finish the game. We didn’t really come with enough energy through the first half and certainly in the beginning of the third, but just a tremendous job by the players that we have to finish that game. They deserved to be in it at the end and we rode them all the way to the finish. I was glad we were able to grind this out and do the things that we needed to do. Some players did things outside of their comfort zone which I thought was great, and a big way to finish a BIG EAST game that I thought was crucial for us after a number of days of not playing.”
On the team’s 13-0 run…
“I hope to envision a team that competes extremely hard, plays with discipline and gets after people on both ends of the floor. I thought we showed that and woke up out of our slumber there so we would be able to do it. I am certainly pleased with the way that we played during that run, and I would love to see that on a consistent basis.”
On whether the team’s slow start was due to the layoff…
“It could have contributed, but I don’t believe any of that. I do believe that sitting for 17 or 18 days is not a conducive way to come back, but it was going to have to be at some point. I am glad that we were able to play and grind it out like we did, I am really proud of the team’s effort from that standpoint. It was certainly a different look from where we were earlier in the season in how we were able to finish the game and grind out every possession.”
On the play of Rayven Peeples…
“I think we have got a really good core of post players this year, but I think Rayven Peeples was brought here for that reason and how she is able to perform. Between Rayven and Raven [Farley] we have some serious size and mobility. The way that she played today for that length of time at that pace, she is right about where we hoped she would be. She was also 3-of-3 from the free-throw line which is something that we worked on all week on trying to get better at and I was really pleased to see it translate to the court.”
Senior guard Qadashah Hoppie
On the impact of the layoff…
“We wanted to be in the gym the whole time. We missed it so much and to have the opportunity to play again was great. We don’t take any game for granted, and being able to play is a big thing, so we were very excited for the game.”
On the team’s 13-0 run…
“Those are the moments where you see the growth in us and see what we can be when everyone comes together and is on the same page. That was a little spurt of what we really can be and if we put a full 40 minutes of that on the court that is a really good team.”
On how the team was able to grind out the win…
“It was a lot of communication. A lot of times we have been in those situations and communication is the big thing, to be poised in those moments and grow and fight through those moments. If you can fight through those moments and focus on the little things, those are the teams that win games and when you come together and push through that, you grow as a team.”
On the message from Coach Tartamella when the team was down 14 in the third quarter…
“It was just up to us and our energy and what we put out there. He told us we have to play and fight back. There was no way that we could let a team come into our home gym and have us not play our hardest. He just gave us a push and told us to go out there and put everything on the line and play hard.”
Opening statement…
“I was pleased with the way that we were able to finish the game. We didn’t really come with enough energy through the first half and certainly in the beginning of the third, but just a tremendous job by the players that we have to finish that game. They deserved to be in it at the end and we rode them all the way to the finish. I was glad we were able to grind this out and do the things that we needed to do. Some players did things outside of their comfort zone which I thought was great, and a big way to finish a BIG EAST game that I thought was crucial for us after a number of days of not playing.”
On the team’s 13-0 run…
“I hope to envision a team that competes extremely hard, plays with discipline and gets after people on both ends of the floor. I thought we showed that and woke up out of our slumber there so we would be able to do it. I am certainly pleased with the way that we played during that run, and I would love to see that on a consistent basis.”
On whether the team’s slow start was due to the layoff…
“It could have contributed, but I don’t believe any of that. I do believe that sitting for 17 or 18 days is not a conducive way to come back, but it was going to have to be at some point. I am glad that we were able to play and grind it out like we did, I am really proud of the team’s effort from that standpoint. It was certainly a different look from where we were earlier in the season in how we were able to finish the game and grind out every possession.”
On the play of Rayven Peeples…
“I think we have got a really good core of post players this year, but I think Rayven Peeples was brought here for that reason and how she is able to perform. Between Rayven and Raven [Farley] we have some serious size and mobility. The way that she played today for that length of time at that pace, she is right about where we hoped she would be. She was also 3-of-3 from the free-throw line which is something that we worked on all week on trying to get better at and I was really pleased to see it translate to the court.”
Senior guard Qadashah Hoppie
On the impact of the layoff…
“We wanted to be in the gym the whole time. We missed it so much and to have the opportunity to play again was great. We don’t take any game for granted, and being able to play is a big thing, so we were very excited for the game.”
On the team’s 13-0 run…
“Those are the moments where you see the growth in us and see what we can be when everyone comes together and is on the same page. That was a little spurt of what we really can be and if we put a full 40 minutes of that on the court that is a really good team.”
On how the team was able to grind out the win…
“It was a lot of communication. A lot of times we have been in those situations and communication is the big thing, to be poised in those moments and grow and fight through those moments. If you can fight through those moments and focus on the little things, those are the teams that win games and when you come together and push through that, you grow as a team.”
On the message from Coach Tartamella when the team was down 14 in the third quarter…
“It was just up to us and our energy and what we put out there. He told us we have to play and fight back. There was no way that we could let a team come into our home gym and have us not play our hardest. He just gave us a push and told us to go out there and put everything on the line and play hard.”