Marquette Press Conference Transcript - March 17
3/18/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 18, 2008
Milwaukee - Head Coach Tom Crean's opening comments ...
"Well, since we saw each other yesterday, we've had a chance to watch a lot of film. We've had a productive practice, one where we really wanted to build our execution, make some adjustments and add some things. Certainly we're going to see an outstanding defensive team, one that not only plays man-to-man, but certainly is capable of the triangle-and-two, and the box-and-one. We're spending a lot of time trying to figure out exactly how we're going to guard Ramel Bradley and Joe Crawford, they're just two outstanding guards.
"They are very similar to Pittsburgh. Very similar. Outstanding guard play, forwards that can make plays. They are really good. They are incredibly deserving of being in this tournament. I think anytime you have a change like they had in coaches there, you're going to have a process. I think they've handled that process incredibly well. We know we're playing a really good opponent. I think Billy [Gillispie] is an outstanding coach. He's won everywhere he's been.
"Our guys are excited to play, and I think their attitude is great. It's a special preparation. I have not seen a team all year that is as good on the shot clock as they are. When that shot clock is winding down they find ways to make plays. Not only shots, but to make plays, and we're going to have to be outstanding. We're going to have to stay on our feet. We're not going to be able to leave our feet. They do a great job of trying to bait you into jumping up to try to block their shot or jumping into you to create contact. That's one thing that really stands out."
On how Kentucky's play differs without injured forward Patrick Patterson (16.4 ppg., 7.7 rpg)
"Ramel Bradley, and Joe Crawford, and Derrick Jasper have had great years, all year. If anything now, there are a much more wide-open team even before the shot clock winds down. A lot of back cuts now, without Patterson. A lot of double-staggers. Good ball movement. They really try to break you down. They want to get to the foul line. We're going to have to be very, very disciplined defensively.
We're going to have to have not only great on-the-ball, one-on-one defense, but outstanding help defense. They are shooting a lot more threes as of late, and making those threes. So, I guess, to answer your question that would be the biggest statistical difference is the three-point shooting. But they're pretty good with [Patterson], and pretty good without him. He's a difference maker, but they've got some other difference makers there."
Coach Crean on Marquette's game plan against Kentucky ...
"Really what our game plan has to be centered on, especially in the backcourt, is our guys have really got to be tuned in defensively. And we've got to really be solid, disciplined, energetic - all those buzz words you want to use - when guarding their people. And we have to be able to get tremendous help at the four and five positions knowing that they're going to play Derrick Jasper at the four position, and he's a point guard. They do a lot of really good things and that's what the basis of building our game plan is all about, and certainly Dominic (James) being able to guard on the perimeter is going to be key for us."
"We have to understand not only the plays, but the players and what their strengths are. That's crucial. But again, creating offense from our the defense, creating offense off the break with our rebounding, getting the ball reversed, not settling - those are all things that we have to do a good job of early. We do a pretty good job of that throughout the game, but we have to do a good job of that early."
"If you're not locked in and if you don't have help, you're going to be at a disadvantage. If we walk out of there Thursday and if we didn't get quality play from our four and five position, I can tell you we're coming home. We're not going to win. We have to get quality from that spot and it has to come from more than one or two people."
Coach Crean on Marquette's preparation for Thursday's opening round game ...
"Going through the BIG EAST should help prepare us for how hard they play and how mentally and physically tough they are. At least that's what I see on film. That's what we all see on film, and I don't think the film is lying. I think the film is correct.
"So we've got to be the same way with how we play, and coming out with that alert, aggressive, attacking mindset on both ends of the floor is crucial for our starts. We want to be aggressive, but smart. At the same time, what's hard is, we have a lot of instinctive athletes and they're playing to win."
On Marquette making its third straight NCAA tourney (First time since 1978-80) ...
"It says the program's strong. It says the administration has been behind us from the beginning. There's no way we would be in the position that we've been in if they hadn't been. The way the fans care, the passion for the team, the attendance records - all those things speak volumes about where the program is at. All we're trying to do is take it further every day. That's our mission as a program. That's what we aspire to do everyday. At the same time it's important to look at it and say there's a lot of things happening here that maybe people didn't see nine years ago, and I'm proud of what these guys are doing to make that happen.
Junior guard Wesley Matthews on the team's depth ...
"We feel that our depth has to be up there with any team in America. Just with the way we play and the tempo and how many guards we can rotate and now that our five spot is getting better and improving everyday. We're a tough team when we're fresh all the time, and I think our depth helps us out with that."
Matthews on playing Kentucky ...
"We know that they are a tough team. Growing up, Kentucky basketball is what it was all about. We know they have good players and a good system. We are going to have to be at our best when we meet them and make sure we get off to an early start. It's win or go home now. It's do or die."
Sophomore forward Lazar Hayward on his improvement this season ...
"I think that as I progressed throughout the course of the year, the team started to play off it and feeding off my energy. I think that came along with my work ethic. As I got better, the team started to rely on me for more things. I think the better I get, the more and more things I'll be able to offer to my team."
Hayward on opening the NCAA Tournament with Kentucky
"For me, for starters, is playing like there's no tomorrow, because there isn't. That will be my mindset coming in and I'll make sure I instill that in my teammates and make sure everybody is playing with that edge."
