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Louisville-Northern Kentucky Men's Basketball Postgame Quotes
October 31, 2010 | Men's Basketball
Oct. 31, 2010
Recap | Box Score | Notes | Photo Gallery 
Louisville Head Coach, Rick Pitino
(Opening Statement)
"It was a good first game for us. We got exactly what we wanted out of the first half and then we broke down in a conditioning standpoint. We're in good shape but not in the shape to play this style of basketball. In the first half they did a great job. The only weakness we have when you play this style everyone handles the ball equally and turnovers have probably been our biggest weakness. It is very difficult to play fast and make snap decisions, and that's what the guys have got to get used to. For the first game we are very pleased."
(On Dieng)
"It's not the physical things that impress me, it's the mental--how he can come in with 2-3 days of practice and pick up everything as if he's been practicing for six weeks. He's much smarter than the rest of our guys from an IQ standpoint. If you've ever tried to learn a second language like I have, how difficult it is; when you see someone in December, not being able to say hello and goodbye, and then in March, speaking fluently, you realize how bright of a man he is. He really is a bright man. The young man is going to be a real big-time basketball player, but it's going to take a while, he's got a lot to learn."
(On defense)
"We did a great job switching in the first half. We didn't contain the basketball as well as we should have, but Gorgui at 6-foot-11 was doing one of the better jobs on the perimeter. He was creating those steals, those little reach-ins at the end, too. They did a real good job in the first half, in the second half we broke down a little bit."
(On Dieng rebounding)
"This year he's going to have some games he's going to get beat up a little bit by BIG EAST time because it's so physical, but by next year at this time, he'll be just as physical as them once he gets on a good weight and strength program. We couldn't really work him out with weights at all, we couldn't work with him period."
(On Terrence Jennings)
"I don't think he's lost, I think he got in early foul trouble and he got tentative more than anything else. I don't think was TJ who was lost. If anybody Preston had his poorest game for his standards."
(On turnovers)
"I think it's fatigue, I really do. It's really tough to play this way. I've only done this once before and that's been the biggest weakness early on is guys learning how to play fast."
(On Rakeem Buckles)
"He did a good job. He is probably the one guy that this style of play is not made for because he's not a great runner. But he's got to learn to become a good runner, he's got to become a great runner. He can dribble the basketball. I don't know where it's going, but he can dribble it. The passing part is the thing that scares me."
(On Dieng being a good passer)
"You didn't see it today, but he's one of the best passers. I don't know if you noticed, but he caught the ball and tipped it right back out to the basketball player to the left. He has really incredible instincts. I don't like to make a generalization about ball players that I've watched professionally and collegiately from Africa, but they're nothing like him. He has great finesse skills, most of the guys that come over from there are shot-blockers and runners, very physical."
(On comparing Dieng to David Padgett)
"Nothing like Padgett because Padgett could dribble and facilitate, but he's more of a center that can pass out of the post and understands how to play. He shoots much better than David shot. He's a young player who's physically not ready to play at this level yet, but he's going to be once we get him on a full-time weight program. We all witnessed the same thing--there's greatness that lies somewhere down the road for this young man. You can see it, you know it, because he's very humble, he's got a great attitude, but it's going to take a few years to get to greatness. He's got to learn to walk before he runs, but there's no question the skill level is there. His length is there. I don't know if you noticed, you know how people always say someone has a 7-foot wingspan, it's often fabricated, but this kid legitimately has a 7-foot-4 wingspan."
(On surprise players)
"It's really early and we really haven't worked on a lot of things right now. We're just trying to get them in the shape to play this way, get them mentally so when they break down they can still play this way. And they're doing a remarkable job, I'm much happier than I thought I would be. The only area I'm really concerned about is Rak [Rakeem], it's difficult for Rak to play this way, and he's got no subs. We play Kyle at the four-spot. Stephan did a good job tonight playing, he's a very good runner. But now for Stephan Van Treese this is an excellent style of play for him."
(On amount of players he'll play)
"I want to play 10-11, but I don't want the minutes to be equal. I want it to be like 70-30 or something like that. But tonight I was trying to get everyone playing time. We feel Kentucky Wesleyan will be one of the teams that can win the Division II National Championship. They're going to give us all we can handle. And we wanted a really tough game before Butler. If we dont play two good halves like we did this first half, they'll beat us, so we have to be ready for them. They're extremely well-coached and well-drilled and shoot it. They've got excellent talent; it will be great for us."
(More thoughts on the team)
"The guys are doing a really good job if we can get Jared back and stop turning the ball over. In three scrimmages we've played, turnovers have been a weakness. Rakeem had nine in one game, and that's from playing fast. It's very difficult to play fast. The other times I've done it, I've done it two other times, once at Providence, and one other time, turnovers have always been the number one problem. Because when you start letting other people handle the basketball, problems exist. So you have to rely on good passing and good reads."
(On the new arena)
"We've had the opportunity to practice here unlike at Freedom Hall. I was just telling Kenny, this building has a totally different feeling. It's like when you walk out it feels like NCAA tournament. When you go and play in these tournaments it's always large arenas. It feels that way. It feels like you're walking into a NCAA tournament game. It doesn't have the Freedom Hall feeling, that's neither good nor bad. It's an overpowering place. Our guys are doing a good job with it. They've shot well in here. They're doing a really good job with it."
Northern Kentucky Head Coach, Dave Bezold
(Opening Statement)
"I thought the first half we played pretty well for about 14 minutes then I had to do some substituting. We got out of our element and what we were supposed to do offensively. We settled for quick shots, too many threes and it really allowed them to generate some fast break points and really separate at that time. Also, they made a couple shots early. The seven footers hit a three, they banked one in, so all of a sudden you're going `okay.' We did that when we opened our facility. We had a guy do that, get some of those feel good shots to fall."
"I was proud of our guys in the second half. They battled and we were talking about chipping away and doing things the way we are supposed to offensively and defensively and we were able to get into shooting range. We were close enough and I had just gotten ready to jump up and call a time out. I'm not as quick as I used to be and then they buried two straight threes. Then the lead goes from nine back to 15 and it got Louisville comfortable again. They are really capable of doing that to you, the way they were shooting the ball and because they have so many shooters out there. That's the way we love to play too. You may think you're right there and then all of a sudden, all it takes is two possessions and six points are on the board. And all of sudden, Louisville is back to a very comfortable lead. I felt the second half we did a much better job of staying within ourselves and making plays. And obviously guys stepped up and made some shots and that's what we had to do. The first half we just couldn't find the basket and their guys had a lot to do with that."
(On NKU's newcomers)
"We've been really happy with them because they pass the ball so well and you don't see that when you bring so many new guys in. Bobby Shannon and Josh Tabb also are tremendous passers. But the first half, when you throw people in there wide open, they don't make it, so why suffer? But again, we were getting the shots we needed too. We just had to make some of them. I'm very happy where we are right now. Dennis (Gagai) has only practiced one day with the team because of his situation with his injury. So when he gets back on track, we're going to have a good seven-eight deep. We're going to be very happy and everyone's going to continue to get better."
"The opportunity to come down here and play in this facility is absolutely amazing - especially to be the first ones down here. And the storied program that Louisville is, it's time that they were rewarded and have this special place to play in. And the city of Louisville and the state of Kentucky - it's very special. They have gone first class the whole way with it."
(On free throw shooting)
"Malcom (Eleby) I think he was worn out. He could barely get it to the rim. We were counting on the bench and I think he missed six or seven straight. But we actually scrimmaged yesterday and I think we went 19 of 20 from the line. So there, our free throw shooting was great. Today, we struggled a little bit. And actually the three-point shooting yesterday was consistent the entire day but it's a different level of competition that we were facing so that had something to do with it. And the fatigue factor happens."
(Closing Statements)
"I would just like to thank Louisville again for everything they have done, allowing us to be here on this special day."
