.png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
University of Louisville Men's Basketball Post-Game Quotes
January 11, 2010 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 11, 2010
Recap | Box Score | Notes | Photo Gallery 1 
| Photo Gallery 2
Louisville Head Coach Rick Pitino
(Opening Statement) "It was a really hard fought game. We pressed as well as any team I have had here in the first half except that we worked really hard and did a lot of great things and we should have had about 60 points at halftime. We would make a great steal and turn it over. To work that hard and come up empty on offense, that really hurts you. We had too many turnovers in that game statistically. We both had 22 turnovers and we both shot a lot of free throws. But what we are not doing -- which is hurting our basketball team because we are so young and last year we did do it -- we are not making the hockey pass. In hockey, you pass the puck up and hit somebody and then somebody else gets the assist and we aren't doing that. We hold on to the ball too long and it is hurting our offense. This is a team that ball-hawks the ball very well. We are very successful against Villanova because we create good spacing and move the basketball, but tonight, we were holding on to it too long. The effort? I give it a 10 out of 10. But the effort of offense and spacing was very poor. That is what hurt us. It caused a lot of loose basketballs to go in their favor."
(About Scottie Reynolds) "He did a great job under the crucial situation. We went under the pick and roll and gave him the right hand and that is a major mistake. You have to give him credit. He made it to the foul line. If you foul him, it is basically like turning it over because he'll make his free throws. They are a tough group to play. I am proud of our guys. They gave a great effort tonight. Effort-wise, it is as great as any team I have had, but we can't have 14 turnovers from two seniors and junior. I do think that Peyton Siva gave us a real good lift at a crucial time. I think if we didn't go under their pick and roll, it would have been a different outcome."
(On containing Scottie Reynolds in previous seasons) "That was with Andre McGee and Earl Clark and Terrence Williams and that makes a big difference. They took a scouting report and dissected it. We gave him his right hand too much and we went under the pick and roll. That is what happens."
(On the offense against Villanova) "We are not passing the ball well enough, just not shooting the ball well enough. If we make extra passes - if we do that - we shoot the ball better. We are not doing that. We are shooting off the bounce too much instead of going inside out. We aren't doing enough of that. The pick and roll was hurting us and we keep trying to go to the pick and roll instead of what hurt us last year, which were the pass screens and the fades."
(On whether too much dribbling was problematic) "The sideline is your enemy when you are playing against trapping teams. The few times I took Jerry out was because one time he wasn't getting in his position to break the pressure. I told Jerry what you've got to do and then put him right back in the game. I said `we don't want Samardo flashing, we want you flashing.' I think one day of preparation hurt us, but they had the same time and had to travel, so give them credit."
(On the number of fouls and physicality) "It is what it is. I thought most of our fouls weren't fouls and most of theirs were (with a laugh). We are both very aggressive and reach a lot. Both teams put a lot of pressure and heat on it. I just thought in some situations, we did a really good job and played really good defense but just got our hands in the wrong place. That happens. I think they are a good crew and I don't think that is the reason. I can't blame the officiating crew. We both fouled each other and made the free throws. It was an old-fashioned BIG EAST game. I don't think there is any finer coach than Jay Wright. His kids play hard and I love to watch them on film. They are tremendous. We got beat by a good team tonight."
(On losing at home) "Every loss is a missed opportunity ... every loss. Februarys have been great, but when you lose at home, it is always a missed opportunity. This year, we are going to need the tournament and the effort is going to be unbelievable. The kids are giving great effort but it is just that the execution is not there from a passing standpoint. We have to utilize that better. We missed those three guys from last year in that extent. The effort is just as good sometimes, even better at times, but we missed those guys understanding spacing. It takes a while to build that, but they will get it."
Villanova Head Coach Jay Wright
(Opening Statement) "What can I say? That was a great BIG EAST game. This Louisville team really forced us to step up and be BIG EAST basketball players. We can't simulate in practice how hard they play, the intensity of their press. In the first half we just weren't ready for it. I promise you I tried to prepare but they just play at another level. Win or lose we were going to learn a lot. What they taught us, how hard they play, I'm just proud of our guys. They learned a lesson in the first half. We came back in the second half and played with confidence."
(On adjusting to the press) "We press, it just isn't as good as theirs. We do it in practice and I knew that's what it was. We weren't even running our press offense they had us so flustered. Our guys were just running around so the in bounder didn't know where anybody was. We didn't do what we were supposed to do in the first half."
(On forcing turnovers in the 2nd half) "Like I said, you're dealing with 18 or 22 year old kids. We have six first year guys. In the first half they had us so out of character we weren't playing defense. We were turning the ball over. When you turn the ball over you can't get into your defense. So in the second half when we started making some shots we got to get into our defense and create some turnovers. We were just back on our heels. We're turning it over, they're coming at us. It was one of the craziest first halves I've ever seen."
(On the half court trap) "Again, I'd like to explain to you that I'm a great coach. We were supposed to do that in the first half. We couldn't score. We were just reeling; all the time just reeling. And I'm sure they feel the same way. If we're scoring, they can't get into their press. We've never been taken out of what we do like we were in that first half offensively and defensively. I'd really like to give you a better answer but it was crazy. That was a crazy first half."
(On Scottie Reynolds) "Even I feel like he's been here a long time. I'm glad we have him. I can just feel like we've gotten more out of him than we deserve. He's great to have on your side."
