Men's Basketball Post-Game Quotes

Jan. 3, 2004

Louisville Head Coach Rick Pitino

"Inch for inch, pound for pound, that is as hard as we have had to work for a victory. I don't think people appreciate how good these mid-major teams are. They are extremely well-coached. I am real proud of Mick. That is as well-coached team we have played against this year. Murray State is lucky to have him."

"I am amazed that Francisco and Taquan can press that hard for that period of time and can still perform offensively. He's (Francisco Garcia) banged up and Taquan (Dean) is banged up. I told Kevin (Willard) that in my best shape as a player I couldn't have done what these guys are doing. I am real impressed."

"In the first half four guys were watching Francisco too much. In the second half, we had more movement and cuts and were able to get the second and third options open. Francisco had an unbelievable night. That type of passing really fosters great chemistry. Against the press, we want to get it, attack it and go. We id a very good job of attacking it tonight."

"Whatever you tell him he (Taquan Dean) masters. Taquan is the perfect model. If you had to mold clay into the perfect basketball player, he is the one. It is wonderful to have him. We sure got a gem in him."

"We are well beyond where I thought we'd be. I thought we were an NIT team in practice. I just told our coaches to stay positive and keep working. We were terrible in practice and with our defense. In all the teams I have coached I liked this team the least throughout practice. Look how many red-white scrimmages we had. I think we set a record for that."

Murray State Coach Mick Cronin

"Their defensive pressure is unbelievable. I have to give Larry (O'Bannon) credit because he came out the second half and made some great shots. He stuck a dagger in my heart with those shots. That's why they are a great team."

"What they did was they ran and trapped the ball. We couldn't get set up. When we did get it in, they trapped the post. We lost our composure a few times in the press, but I am real proud of the guys. They played hard."

"I told the guys at halftime that if in one hour we are still shooting 40 percent and they are just 20 percent from three point range, we'll win the game. But, that's a lot easier said than done. You have to give their players credit. They made tough plays and made tough shots."

"I wanted to come here and make a statement about Murray State basketball. I am not into moral victories. We wanted to bring the fight to them in the first half, but there was no backup gas in the second half. My kids played their hearts out."

University of Louisville Athletics

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