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University of Louisville Men's Basketball Post-Game Quotes
December 27, 2006 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 27, 2006
University of Louisville Head Coach Rick Pitino
"Though we didn't look good at times, this was a very good win because we had to rely on our defense to win the game. This team is not as long at Conneticut They went up 20-5 against Syracuse at Syracuse. They are very difficult to play against if you're not tuned into every possession. We are very happy that we played that type of defense in the second half and obviously we rebounded the ball terrific. But so far this season free throws have hurt us, enhanstially, most of it psychological and our players just have to get over it and stop being too concerned with it. They just have to get out there, get their rhythm and shoot it. But it's a good win, believe me it's a good win because we could have lost that game tonight because they had their tempo. With the exception of one maybe, Pittsburgh, no one has been able to get their tempo on this team. They control it, they do a very good job doing it. They deserve a lot of credit."
(On Jerry Smith) "He's progressing because he's more emotionally mature. What I try to tell the guys is I said, `moody people go to the line and miss a couple of free throws and they'll worry about it and then make a defensive mistake. Positive upbeat people will miss a free throw and say alright, I'm going to make big defensive play next time.' And that's what Jerry is. He is positive energy and that's what we need. He's a little more mature than the rest of our people even though he's a freshman. "As well as drives and rebounds. What I love about him is, look, I know he can shoot, I know he can penetrate, is when I recruited him I didn't know he could rebound like this. He's got a toughness about him and he's just a freshman, he makes mistakes all the time. But you'll see it in his face, you don't see if he misses, a grimace, you don't see those things and that's looking at a person who has a highly successful attitude."
(On Edgar Sosa) "Edgar's got to grow up. He was the same way in high school; he's just got to grow up. I'm not worried about his psyche. I just gave him a good lesson on the game of life. He's got to grow up and understand he's at the University of Louisville, he's on a scholarship. Every pro player I have that speaks to a basketball team says the same thing, `How much money I have, I don't care, but I'd like to have one more year of college.' You all know that what we would give to be that age. But they don't realize it, no matter how much they tell them. So he's got to grow up a little bit emotionally, forgetting about the basketball. He's a good basketball player, he'll make his free throws, but he's got to grow up emotionally. He's got to understand how lucky he is. He's at the finest University in the country. He's got to appreciate that."
Northeastern Head Coach Bill Coen
"First I'd like to thank Coach Pitino and the University of Louisville for giving us the opportunity to come out and compete against such a quality program and a wonderful college basketball environment. I thought the game came down to some fatigue and their size and athleticism taking over at a point in the second half. We just came up a little short. Our initial defense was pretty good, but we really couldn't come up with a rebound. We came up with stops, but not rebounds. When you get tired, get a little of fatigue, the shots that were going in early in the first half were falling a little bit short in the second half. But you've got to give all credit to Coach Pitino and his team, they played a terrific basketball game and a terrific second half.
(On Louisville's Jerry Smith) "Jerry Smith played a great second half. We were trying to key in on him. We played some junk zone defenses and tried to get him off balance, but every time we had him deep in the shot clock, he seemed to step up and make big shots. I think for a freshman, he's going to be a terrific player - a guy you can count on scoring night in and night out."
(On Northeastern's Eugene Spates) "We knew we were at bit of a disadvantage. He's a unique player for us because he does give us some size in the small forward position, but also has enough versatility at a little bit of the power forward position. Plus we gave him a start tonight, he usually doesn't start for us. But we thought Louisville was going to come out and really press us and maybe at the four spot he could come out and free up a little bit and make some three's. Fortunately, it kind of worked early on, but with foul trouble, we had to slide him up and down the lineup and I don't think he got quite the quality of looks later on in the game."
