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Postgame Quotes
January 25, 2003 | Men's Basketball
Jan 25, 2003
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LOUISVILLE HEAD COACH RICK PITINO
"Tennessee played a great game. It was a hard-fought college game. Tennessee was in control of its destiny. I thought East Carolina was my favorite, but this was a character win. On a night when the open shots didn't go down, we didn't hang our heads. We made the big plays even though we were in serious foul trouble.
"Give Tennessee credit. As their bench gets deeper, the luck will go their way. How could we underestimate Tennessee. We respect everyone. We play Manhattan College like it is All-World. Tennessee is a heck of a team. They almost beat Kentucky and lost in overtime at Georgia. They beat Ole Miss at Ole Miss. This could be a special team. About 95-percent of the time, you lose a game like this. The first half was our weakest defensive effort of the season. I said regardless of the shots not going down, we needed to play great defense.
"Reece Gaines is the premier guard in the country. I never thought he could play the point, but he carried the team on his shoulders. He was the difference in the game. Gaines did something uncanny. He had Taquan (Dean) wide open, looks him off and gets the ball to Kendall (Dartez) who makes the shot. That's why he's such a great point guard. I've never seen him make a play like that."
TENNESSEE HEAD COACH BUZZ PETERSON
"I'm very disappointed. Give Louisville credit for coming back in the second half with some big three-point baskets. We were completely worn out with about seven minutes left in the game. Give Louisville credit. They hit the baskets when they needed to.
"Late in the game, Slay had the walking call against him and Higgins missed a lay-up, probably because of Marvin Stone's defensive play on him.
"At the end of the game, our senior (Higgins) turned down his open three-point shot. That was okay, but C.J. Watson went in for a lay-up a little bit later than we would have wanted.
"Whether it was fatigue or something else we struggled. I'm pretty worried about our team right now. I know this took a lot out of me. I need a day off to see where we are and then we'll come back fresh on Monday. It was a tough, tough loss. Louisville is very good and they keep coming at you in waves. I think the fact that they had 10 players to throw at us took a toll on us."
