.png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
University of Louisville Men's Basketball Post-Game Quotes
January 10, 2008 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 10, 2008
Box Score | Notes | Game Action 
Louisville Head Coach Rick Pitino
"This was a great defensive effort for our team and we did a terrific job. We played really smart. We couldn't give up the three until the end of the game, we did very good with the three ball. We only gave them two at halftime, we knew they weren't going to turn it over much, but we have to try to make sure we don't turn it over. We played a smart game with the exception of the little bit at the end. I am proud of our guys and the way they got the lead. They went back door and had a lot of good things going on inside."
(On Louisville's Defense) "You have to change defenses when the ball goes inside. We change and play a lot of different things. It's just making sure you know what they are going to do against the zone and where they attack you at. We had a very good attack and they were very difficult to defend. Although, we love to run and get out I was not unhappy with the tempo of the game. Actually we want to play much faster. This is a much different game then the last one we played."
(On Louisville's Attitude During the First Half) "We made smart plays I don't know if it's attitude. This is a home court league and this is a very strong basketball team to play at home. At one point all the BIG EAST teams were playing good on the road and now they seem to be playing great at home. Then the terrific teams have to win on the road. West Virginia has a terrific team and Bob (Huggins) does a great job. It's not an attitude we lost to a team the first game and when I break it all down to getting the open shoots we lost it because we didn't make free throws. It is a very simplistic way of looking at it."
(On Caracter's play) "Yes, we were going inside and that's what we wanted to do, make smart plays and beat up the inside. Derrick (Caracter) is getting a little bit of a bad habit. He's making a great move, a powerful move, and then he goes up with a little finger roll rather than going up strong and carrying it to the rim. That's what we're going to work on because he's making a very strong, hard move and then he's finishing with a soft move shoot to the rim."
West Virginia Head Coach Bob Huggins
(Were your shots bad or was it Louisville's defense?) "We missed open shots. I think the pressure got to us. We didn't run our offense very well. If we continue to score 54 points we won't win another game."
(Are you pleased with the defensive effort on Louisville's big men?) "I'm having a hard time being pleased. They made some adjustments. They didn't do what they normally do. I thought we made some pretty good adjustments too; we just didn't make the shots"
(On period in the game where Joe Alexander took multiple shots. "That's what we wanted to do, we wanted to iso Joe in the middle of the floor. I like Joe iso'd Joe the middle of the floor against their big's."
(How does it feel to be back in Freedom Hall?) "You guys are unbelievable. I come down here as a kid and you throw Denny Crum against me. I think finally Denny is gone but then you get Rick."
(What was it that Louisville changed from what they normally do?) "Rick changed some things offensively against our zone. They line up 2-2-1, they run and jump, they play 2-3 match up which they have done all year. And they have 5 big men."
(On Louisville finally being at full strength) "They were top 5 in the preseason and there is a reason for that. They have a lot of good players. It's unfortunate for Rick that he has had so many guys hurt, the good part of that is that it gives guys a lot of minutes who don't normally play a lot. If guys get hurt you want them to get hurt early. You have to play guys on your bench, they have to get better. If guys get hurt late, then you have to play guys without experience."
