Published: January 14, 2007
St. John’s Head Coach Norm Roberts
On tonight’s game:
“We didn’t get off to a great start. We got the ball in the
right positions we just didn’t make some shots. We went to
the basket hard, some shots just didn’t fall for us early. It
allowed them to get a lead. We battled back but we couldn’t
overcome the lead. Give them credit, they made big shots in
tough times. (Hasheem) Thabeet made some big baskets.
He really did. He hasn’t been scoring for them like
that. They did a good job. We didn’t execute as well as
we needed to. I thought we played hard. We
competed. We did a great job on the glass. (We had) 21
offensive rebounds and that doesn’t usually happen to a Connecticut
team. We just have to put the ball in the basket.”
On the team’s starting
lineup:
“I think experience is important just because of the way UConn
plays. They play very physical and go up and down the
court. I thought that was probably our best defensive lineup
(when the other team has two big guys). Aaron (Spears)
can guard one big guy by himself because he has a big body and
Daryl (Hill) and Eugene (Lawrence) can really pressure and get
through screens. That is probably our best defensive lineup as
well.”
More on tonight’s game:
“We were getting the ball exactly where we wanted it. Lamont
(Hamilton) went up there and went strong and it didn’t go down for
him. Daryl (Hill) had a steal for a lay-up ad didn’t finish
the lay-up. We had some really good looks so I told the guys
to stay focused. Keep doing what we are doing because shots
are going to fall.”
On talking with Coach Calhoun about the
Doug Wiggins’ recruiting process:
“We just talked about the situation. Coach Calhoun is
a legend. He has done unbelievable things. I have a lot
of respect for him and his program. We talked about
recruiting and how things happen. We just said let’s move on
from it. This is not good for me. This is not good for
him. This is not good for our league so let’s just move on
from it. Dougie Wiggins is a good kid. Kids make
decisions and change (their) minds. We have to all move on
from it. I want him to be happy where he is at and I want us
to be happy with what we are doing.”
Senior Center Aaron Spears
On Hasheem Thabeet:
“You have to go in there and attack him. You have to
go in and attack the rim.”
On playing Connecticut:
“I wouldn’t say it had an extra edge. We needed this
game. We just came out and played hard. I always play
hard and I tried to do that tonight.”
Junior Guard Eugene Lawrence
On tonight’s game:
“Like Coach said, we got the ball to the spots on the court where
we wanted to. We just didn’t score. Lamont (Hamilton)
got in foul trouble early so we weren’t with him for most of the
game so that was a big blow for us.”
On Connecticut’s fast start:
“They got off to a pretty good start. (Hasheem)
Thabeet was real active down low. He was altering
shots. We were still able to get the ball to rim but we just
didn’t score. After we made them turn the ball over, we
weren’t able to score. That slowed our offense up.”
University of Connecticut Head Coach Jim
Calhoun
On tonight’s game:
“Stanley (Robinson) has worked very hard to get himself in (the
rotation) and took real advantage of situations and played terrific
for us. I thought Hasheem (Thabeet) had his best game in
uniform. I thought A.J. Price was closer to the A.J. I
know. We are the youngest team in the country. I am
trying to deal with that. Sometimes unsuccessfully and
sometimes more successfully.”
On St. John’s:
“There is no greater teacher than experience. Norm has this
program going in the right direction. They are a tough
out. They are playing well. For us, it is a good win.
We haven’t won a game on the road this year and now we have.”
On Coach Norm Roberts:
“Norm has this program going well. He hugged Dougie
(Doug Wiggins) before the game and that is all you need to know
about Norm Roberts. It is a tough business. Recruiting
is tough. Competing is tough but I consider him one of the
real good guys in coaching and a real good coach by the way.”