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University of Louisville Men's Basketball Post-Game Quotes
December 23, 2006 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 23, 2006
University of Louisville Head Coach Rick Pitino
"That was a very good defensive effort by our basketball team. They are a very good passing team and we did a lot of good things. They are a very difficult team to defend due to the fast. We did a good job with our pressure and making the extra pass. It was an excellent win for our ball club."
"I thought Jerry and T-Will both played great. They (Miami) were ... something like 7-1 when they outrebounded their opponents and then 0-4 when they weren't. We tried to shut down the backboard and the three point line. You have to rebound the ball if you have any shot of beating them. They shoot the long three and the guards have to get it done because the long rebound is important."
(About Jerry's Eye) "Jerry got a little bump, didn't need stitches just glue. I told them we didn't get enough money from the BCS Bowl so we glued it." (joke)
(On pressure) "It is much easier when you shoot well and we went to three different types of pressure. It can wear you out when you shoot a good percentage because if get it on and it doesn't have its dividends when you hardly get it on and play as a fresh team. We did a lot of good things on the defensive end tonight. 42-28 was a very good game on the glass obviously. The only negative was that we turned it over too much and it wasn't the good kind but the unforced kind."
(On McClinton) "We just wanted to wear him out. And if he's going to shoot, he's going to be a tired shooter. So we wanted to dog him full-court, trap him and take his legs away because he can have nights that are scary. We did a good job on him, obviously, holding him to eight. And last year we did a very good job with Miami."
(About Terrance Farley) "He's going to be fine but he has to rebound and block shots. He is a second too late on the blocked shots and rebounding. He is jumping after it is too late. He just has to do it a second or two earlier because he is behind and speed up his feet a little more He has good confidence on offense. I have a lot of confidence in him. I think he should be much better than he is from a rebounding standpoint. He is just a second slow. But a phenomenal kid, a ten-star kid. He's just an unbelievable guy. He'll really be happy to get away from me some day."
(About Earl Clark) "Earl is going to be a very good basketball player in the program. We like him a lot. He gives us a big lift. He gave us a big lift and we had to play him with four fouls and he did a good job of playing with four fouls. He is a legitimate 6-9, you know some guys lie about their height. He is going to get a lot strongers. He is a good passer. There is no question in my mind that he is the the most talented freshman we have and they are all very talented. But he's got maybe the most growth he can make, the most growth of anybody."
(About Jerry Smith) "Jerry Smith is a very good basketball player as well. That was the one thing that I was afraid of tonight was what was so impressive tonight and I got all over him tonight when he didn't get to a loose ball. But he had to dog McClinton the whole time. Get over the pick and roll and zone. Then what's so impressive tonight when he did those numbers and he was exhausted doing it. That is impressive. You can't play that type of defense, rebound like that and still shoot like that. You know you are a pretty good basketball player when you accomplish that feat."
(About the team) "We put a lot together rebounding-wise. We did our job in what were the keys to victory. We have been practicing very, very well. It is a long ride, a long journey this year. We have a great attitude. We are lucky that we have a terrific attitude this year. We keep improving. With a freshman backcourt, you never know what will happen. It is only going to get better. I wasn't going to give them a day off and they talked me into it just now. I don't know why, they aren't going home. We will practice Christmas and bowl Christmas night. Then we have three games in four nights after we get backs Monday and Tuesday."
(About Derrick Caracter) "One thing I learned in the pros is that sometimes a guy will cry and say goodbye and then move on. It is pretty much, except with dying, like that way all of the time. When a guy gets out of the way. It is not death we can remember for the rest of our lives. . It hasn't affected the guys, they want the best for him and wish him the best. I get a lot lof players as freshmen and his moments were different. Those guys (other frosh who have left) had doubts about leaving. He was asked to leave. A big difference. A big difference. Every frosh thinks about it they think the grass is greener. I wish I could take them to a IU, Ohio State or Kentucky practice because you think you guys work so hard. Back in the old days, Back before the 20-hour rule, I'll be the first one to admit, we were going 50-60 hours and I think that Billy Donovan to this day is a scarred young man. But today, with the 20 hour rule, everyone works hard. Everyone works the same number of hours."
Miami Head Coach Frank Haith
"Jerry Smith gave their starting lineup a big boost. He also had 12 rebounds. We needed our big people to play better and that didn't happen. Obviously when our leading scorer, Jack (McClinton) has the kind of game he had, you've got to get to the boards."
(On the Louisville defense) "I think their combination did a nice job. We had some opportunities that we passed up and opted for a more difficult shot. But they did a really good job on him (McClinton) and did a really good job on him and knowing where he was at all times."
"(Anthony) King is hurt, so our depth in the post is not very good right now. Other than freshman Dwayne Collins, we need some production out of the other guys right now and we're not getting that consistently. (Lawrence) Gilbert had a nice game. We are kinda playing him out of position. He's basically been playing on the perimeter, but we're so thin in the post. He's doing a nice job. But when we do that we become very small and it hurts us from a rebounding standpoint."
