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University of Louisville Men's Basketball Post-Game Quotes
November 18, 2006 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 18, 2006
Recap | Box Score | Notes | Photo Gallery 
Louisville Coach Rick Pitino
"It was a great basketball game for us. We knew this was terrific basketball team. Sometimes I think you guys believe me, sometimes I think you don't. I watched them play against Oklahoma State and Utah State last year. I said what did we get ourselves into? I knew they would play terrific."
"What I liked about our team today was the way we played in the second half with the full court pressure. The way they pressed the ball, we shot 65 per cent in the second half. More impressive with this team is that it is very difficult to play against them. Oklahoma State had 23 turnovers and we only 12 turnovers. We have to get better at rebounding the ball. We played against teams that really don't have a post up game and they shot 50 per cent and that's bad. It's really due to keeping them out of the lane and moving your feet. Palacios got constantly beat, Sosa got constantly beat. Everybody was constantly beat off the dribble. They're very difficult to play against and they have a very good offensive scheme."
"Andre gave us big lift out there. Obviously Jerry Smith, for a freshman, was spectacular. It was a very good team victory. We were trying to play guys who were cleared to play but it was difficult because they haven't played in long time. But it's important that they're out there because we're trying to get them ready by December 1. I'm real proud of our guys. It was a great basketball game. Northwestern State is a terrific team, they're tough to beat."
(On Jerry Smith's play) "I didn't think a freshman would get 24 points, rebound in traffic and do the things he was doing - not in our first game. But I know he's got a lot of talent."
(On the second half) "The freshmen are terrific basketball players. They are very good. I think I've said all along Earl Clark and Derrick Caracter are way behind the other freshmen in terms of knowing the game. Big guys take a lot longer to adjust than guards."
Northwestern State Coach Mike McConathy
"The biggest thing was my guys played 35-36 minutes. For my guards, it's way too many. They are used to playing 28-29 minutes. But they are big, strong kids and we couldn't go with our younger guys because of that, we were worn down at the end."
(On the second half) "From about four minutes until the end of the game, we were lead-footed. We couldn't guard or drive, penetrate and kick. They do a great job of spacing and do all the things we try to do. The big factor for us was that we have three guys playing too many minutes. A couple of those players like that many minutes, but in the grand scheme of things, playing against a Louisville and being able to compete, we can't get that many minutes out of our guards."
"The tempo was fine as long as we make great decisions. A couple of times during stretches that we rebounded the ball, we had to work the ball to get an easy shot. Our effort was good, but we just didn't respond like we needed to and a lot of it had to do with the physical play. Our normal process of rotating people - I was only able to rotate three guards where I usually go with five. I had two small guards and didn't feel like it was their kind of game. You always want guys to be in a position to have a chance to be successful and at that point in the game, I didn't feel like they could. Our guards had to play 36 minutes in the game because of that."
