Marquette University Athletics
Marquette vs Pittsburgh -- GAME QUOTES
2/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 18, 2006
Marquette Head Coach Tom Crean
"It is really not a rivalry until you win a game and this was a great college basketball game with two teams who have a lot of respect for each other. We were able to come away with 19 assists, 10 offensive boards. Keeping their rebounds down was the key to this game. We had a lot of big basketball from a lot of players."
"This ranks as one of the best wins this season. The more meaning full games we win in February will hopefully help us play more meaningful games in March."
"It was key to get tot he glass on the offensive end. Gray and Kendall are great players but we knew we needed to hold them. Keeping them controlled in the paint was what we needed to do. Gray is so unselfish with the way he moves the ball. They are that good because of him. Jamie Dixon has such an impact on that program they are tough all across the board. He has put his stamped on that program. "
"Grimm is senior that has been through a lot of games. He may not get a ton of rebounds but he can keep his man form getting a ton of rebounds. That is what has to happen when you are going against front lines like this. f you are going to win this tie of year you better be led by your veterans. "
Senior forward Steve Novak
"Coach called a play that as a nice play. Ousmane set the screen. it freed me up and it was a big point in the game. we needed to get a big bucket shot. I took it and it went it."
"Pitt is a great team, they have playing great all season. After getting beat at there place we new we had to play physical and get the win."
"Our big guys did an unbelieveable job. Great job of pressuring gray they did. Everyone was able to feed on that."
"We knew there is no way were were going to win if we didn't get on the boards. Everyone came out and was crashing on the glass. It definately played a big part in the win."
"We're really maturing as a team we know how good we can be. When it comes to ranked teams, need every advantage we can get and they (coaches) have done a great job of preparing us for these games."
"We need to keep getting better. Rankings aren't what we can decide. Winning these games is the only way we can impress these people."
"We need to win in the BIG EAST now. there is no next year. We knew we can compete at this level since the beginning."
"I have guys telling me shoot the ball, coaches telling me to be confident and be strong. Being around guys who all they care about it winning and have the confidence in me makes it easy. "
Freshman guard Dominic James
"We were trying just to pick up our defensive intensity. They made a few turnovers and it was in our favor."
"This game was a confidence booster. Two ranked teams and it gives us a lot of confidence for the next games."
Pittsburgh head coach Jamie Dixon
"We came out a little short, but I was proud of the way our guys battled."
"Not often do you lose a game when you shot over 70 percent in a half. It is tough to lose a game when you shoot that. I thought our offense was good and we made good decisions and good looks. Its amazing how one little thing can change the outcome of the game."
"We had to change up some match ups. You have to deal with it and we changed what we wanted to do. Tyrell gave us good minutes, Doyle and Antonio played great. We played 11 guys, had to with the foul toruble."
"We put ourselves in a position to win, but it just came down to free throws. There is such a fine line between a win and a loss. It would have been good if it would have went in, but we need to play better defense through the game instead of put our selves in that position."
"It is just a different deal. They set better screens. For whatever it was, we were running into the screens."
"It was two good teams playing well. They made free throws, we need to win the rebounding battle more than we did. Have to do a better job of avoiding them. We need to cut down on turnovers, we made a few too many travels tonight. When they shoot the ball well they become harder to guard. They played great and did a good job. THey are well coached and would never count them out. "
