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University of Louisville Men's Basketball Post-Game Quotes
December 22, 2007 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 22, 2007
Recap | Box Score | Notes | AP Action Photos 
Louisville Head Coach Rick Pitino
"About the only comment I can say is that a win is a win and that is the old adage. Shooting can cure a multitude of sins and we didn't shoot well. We didn't shoot the ball well or take care of the ball particularly well. So we just pick it up from here and move forward."
(On Tello Palacios' return) "I wanted him to play 10-12 minutes of play and he had to play 19 minutes. We really had to play him because we needed intelligent plays. (On his FT shooting) He's only made like 5,000 since he was out because that is all he could do."
"I thought they (NMSU) played a very good game. They played like a wounded tiger and did a very good job."
"We have been really hurting zones from the Hartford game on and so we haven't seen it too much and we just stood around too much on the 1-3-1. When you have to dribble penetrate against the zone and we didn't do a good enough job against that. We knew Marv would zone us because of being beat up. We didn't do a good job with that. They made some inside cuts and we rotated and fouled rather than rotating and stepping up. We had to go with the smaller lineup because our guys were non-existent on the defensive end. Terrance Farley wasn't rebounding and DC (Derrick Caracter) wasn't doing what he was supposed to do."
(Re: being happy with win) "It is not about my happiness, it really isn't. I don't think we played particularly well tonight. What I am getting over to them is that shooting inflates or deflates them and what I am trying to get across to them is that defense and hustle should be what inflates or deflates, not shooting. And even though they are young and very immature, they (also) suffer from not having a high basketball IQ. They act much younger than they really are. We have sophomores act like sophomores in high school act. Who cares about scoring if you get good shots. A veteran team immediately gets back and say let's play defense. Tello has a very high basketball IQ and he knows what he is doing. He's is decent shape but he is no where ready to be able to maneuver."
"When the ball is up in the air, he needs to get up there and get it (Williams) When the guy broke to the basket, that is his steal. And as much as anyone on this team he is playing very poor defense. Make an inside cut and give up the three and a couple of those are because he didn't switch which is a basketball IQ thing."
"It is a very difficult team to scout, from a scouting standpoint, they are good guys, they work hard. They are a difficult team to from a teaching stand point and understand how every play is a big play. We just have to keep working on it. We have time to work on that now."
"No question it is important to get the win. A win is good, (if you lose) you can pretty much say your back is against the wall for the NCAAs. Tello will help us there."
New Mexico State Head Coach Marvin Menzies
"Begin with saying I want to thank coach for giving us the opportunity to come into historic Freedom Hall. It was a great experience to be able to have my guys lace `em up in here and get a taste of all that tradition, the fans, the whole environment. It was really fun. I'm proud of guys, they showed a lot of progress. That's our whole philosophy on the coaching staff - teaching these kids from day one about getting better and to improve each time out. We took a huge step today and we were happy to see that. We fell a little short. Our guys are just so close to being really, really good. We showed that tonight in spurts - we've just got to get a little stronger in certain areas. For the most part I'm very pleased with their effort."
(On being short-handed) "Sometimes when you get adversity like that, the flip side is you get guys playing a little tougher and harder - a little more aggressive. If our other guys would have been there I don't know what would have happened. I was just proud of the guys who showed up and played hard. I don't really have a crystal ball to know what would have happened if they had been here.. The guys who came in off the bench, JayDee (Luster) and Trei (Steward) did some good things reading the scouting report and knowing how to defend guys. Jamar Young playing his second game - I thought he was awesome in terms of being relaxed. He kind of felt a little bit of a comfort zone. That's why I'm so optimistic about him being so good in the conference Overall, a lot of good things to take to the Christmas tree."
(On coming back from a 15 point deficit) "Early leads don't mean anything. It's a non-factor, it happens in every college basketball game. It's a game of runs. The score is irrelevant, you've got to play the next possession, play the next play. That was going to be our focal point. To our kids' credit, we did a great job of not rattling and folding under pressure that Freedom Hall can put on you."
(On the growth of the Louisville program) "One of reasons the game was kind of close was that I know system so well - we had a much more thorough scouting report than most teams that have played them. They've suffered some of the same setback we have in terms of the losses. We were kind of on the same course there for a little bit. They have so much talent. I remember starting off a little slow last year (when I was coach here), but made it to the second round NCAA and everybody loved us again. It's a long road, a season's like a lifetime. It's amazing when guys jump on people for having three losses. I wouldn't mind having three losses right now. They're going to be fine, coach Pitino is a great coach - he's one of the greatest men I've met in my entire life. I'm sure he'll do a great job of getting these kids on track with where they need to be. They had a couple of errant turnovers that came at inopportune times. That's the reason they didn't break it open. They won't do that as time goes on. The team that starts here and finished here are two different teams."
"Losing David Padgett is a deep blow - there's not doubt about it. We lost our heavy hitter, Hatila Passos wasn't here today. It affected our interior play, I don't know how it would have led to the results, I know that part of our game wasn't what it could have been. A lot of guys stepped up."
