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University of Louisville Men's Basketball Post-Game Quotes
December 20, 2005 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 20, 2005
Louisville Head Coach Rick Pitino
"That was the most bizarre game I've ever witnessed in my life. I've never seen anything like it. I'm not sure what I watched. I'm Afraid to watch film in terms of what went on out there. I'm trying to figure out this one rule I've never heard before - they've both confirmed it with me. I thought the guy's foot was on the three-point line, which he was, attempting the three. I requested they examine it and I guess if I'm wrong I get a timeout. I never knew that existed, and they confirmed it. I'm sure it's a rule and I'm sure I'm wrong but it was an interesting night. David Stern would be fining me for what I'm thinking now. I'm not going to say it, David Stern would fine me about $2 million."
(On Taquan Dean in 2nd half) "I just talked with him. You've got to put your coaching cap on. You'll be a coach one day and Taquan Dean's on other team. You've got to do everything humanly possible to stop Dean and the more the inside guys score, the more backdoor layups you get, the more you're going to open up in the second half. He doesn't understand that because Fransisco Garcia's not there, Larry O'Bannon's not there. He's on an island by himself he's the one great player. Their whole focus is stop Dean. He's got to get used to that and play through it and not be concerned about it. We talked about it and we're going to watch some film on that."
(On who played well) "I don't know who played well. I don't know what was going on. I'm confused."
(On Gianiny) "He has a sore neck, so he's playing like Dickie on the Little Rascals."
(On the defensive effort) "The first half very good. We forced 10 turnovers, shot 33 percent. Except for the fact that we fouled too much, we did a very good job defensively. Their coach is a great guy. I didn't even get a chance to know him. I don't know what happened to him. He shook my hand and I said `Where are you going.' I never got a chance to meet him. I wanted to join him. He said he was leaving. He didn't know why he was leaving. I couldn't speak the rest of the timeout."
(On starting Brad Gianiny) "I was just concerned about winning. They got a great lefty (Adam Vogelsberg). We had to stop him. We've got to win the game right now. The freshmen have got enough experience. I can't concern myself with playing time - we've got to win. If you lose tonight, your back's to the wall. WE did a decent job tonight under trying circumstances. I'm very concerned about double digit losses, going to BIG EAST, getting into tournament. This is a very young basketball team emotionally, physically. We've seven new players we don't know each other at all. We've got guys who have missed six weeks of practice. There are no mind game going on, I'm just trying to win. Win every single game we've got a rough and rocky road that lies ahead.
Middle Tennessee head coach Kermit Davis
"I'd like to congratulate Rick Pitino and his team for a nice win. I was really proud of our team and our staff and our players. They held together in some adverse situations. I apologize for being thrown out of the game. I respect Karl Hess. I think he's one of the best officials in college basketball. I was on my player, he called a foul on Bud Howard and Howard was complaining about the call and I was getting on Bud Howard. I said `Bud, it's a good call, play with your feet, hands away.' And he tried to justify again, so I turned around and I was going to take him out. Hess T's me up and then the other guy - I don't know - he just wanted to throw me out and he threw me out. So I haven't been thrown out in a long time. You'd like to get your money's worth more than that. But like I said, I was telling my player it was a good call. Then all of a sudden, you get thrown out and I didn't understand it at all. I hate that it happened but I was proud of our team and the way we responded with the situation of getting down 14 or 15 in the second half."
(On talking to Rick Pitino after being ejected) "I just wanted to tell coach I enjoyed it and good luck the rest of the year. And he looked at me and I think I kind of stunned him - like `what's this guy doing in my huddle?' But we have a lot of respect for him and Louisville and I'm just proud of our guys and the way we handled the situation."
(On Fats Cuyler) "Fats Cuyler is our best player, kind of the heart and soul of our team. He played 10 minutes, fouled carelessly two or three times in the first half. So he only plays 10 minutes and gets one basketball - that was a big loss for us. I thought we handled the crowd really well."
