Marquette University Athletics
DePaul Head Coach Pat Kennedy's Post Game Press Conference
2/16/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 16, 2000
MILWAUKEE - DePaul Head Coach Pat Kennedy's Opening Statement: "Overall our defensive intensity started to really change with our Florida game (a 71-69 victory on Jan.26). It was time when we were able to get Lance Williams back going and really concentrate on being able to defend their post a little better as the season started to develop. Now we got it, where our post can defend down their pretty well. They have learned more, Steven Hunter has learned more. As a result, we know Rashon Burno is really good defending the ball and our wings have done a better job as well. The use of Kerry Hartfield and Paul McPherson and Joe Tulley, all did a very nice job coming in there. Brian Wardle is very hard to stop. He has learned not only how to shoot off of screens, the standup jumper, but he can also take you off the dribble and use his body because he has good size. I was totally astonished when I walked down the runway and one of my coaches told me that he had all of his team's 17 points. I don't know if that is an NCAA Record but I don't think I have ever seen that before. We talked about our continual formula. I told the Chicago media that the great things about our kids is that they were not affected by the Cincinnati game (a 87-64 loss on Feb. 13) at all. They knew up until then, they had been playing very good and sound basketbal with good defensive effort. They had good rebounding, I think tonight we had 51 rebounds to (Marquette's) 29. So, a very important win, a very appreciated win after you come off a game like Cincinnati. I am very proud of our kids. They have done this quite a bit this year and I think that is a great sign that a young team can keep coming back and building of a victory. I think (Marquette's 35 points in a game) was the lowest point total in the history of Conference USA. So that is a tremendous sign. We have a big one on Saturday against Louisville."
On DePaul's defensive effort in the game: "For the 40 minutes, we played very well against Tulane (a 85-54 win on Feb.2). The Tulane game might match this one a little bit. I thought in terms of being on the road, we talked at halftime that Marquette was going to get some runs here. We have to handle the runs and maintain our lead. It looked like we challenged every shot. (Marquette) struggled with every shot and you could see them tiring as the half went on and I don't know if they scored inside until very late in the game. We did one major change defensively, we did not go out high on the hedges when Cordell Henry would come off the pick and rolls. We have done that the last two years and he has turned the corner and beat us. Every time, he came off the pick and roll, we jumped into a little bit of a zone and he had no where to go. He had to pull it back in and then we went back into our man and really tightened up on him. So, that was a major adjustment we made in the game, not letting Cordell turn the corner in the way he had done that against us the last two years."
On DePaul's identity being built on defensive rebounds: "It is developing that way which is a real positive here late. As you guys know, you have seen this enough where we don't have five Bob Cousys running around. We are not the best passing team in America I mean sometimes, we struggle just to get it to the next pass. We are trying to dictate more of our offense. Don't turn the ball over, dictate it, place it where we need it and then continue to really defend hard. Rashon starts it and gets out there and plays the point guard and gives the other guys some encouragement and confidence. Our bench has had a major part to do with getting us some of these W's".
On the importance of the win over Marquette in terms of qualifying for the NCAA Tournament: "Marquette was ahead of us in the RPI. Any of these wins coming down the stretch are very important. The league record is extremely important. This is only game and one win but being 7-5 keeps us two games above .500. Our league will be the most unique in the country. I've got it to where I think five teams will be 8-8, two could be 9-7 and two could be 7-9. It is incredible about where it might come out. Our league when you get to the top and bottom, is going to have alot of 8-8 teams in the league. Marquette to me is still a viable tournament team. I think St. Louis, Louisville and UNC-Charlotte are too. Our nonconference record against other conference opponents I think is 80-90 percent. The conference is a legitimate four in the RPI rating, I think."
