Wisconsin vs. Pitt Post-Game Quotes
12/31/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 31, 2005
POST-GAME QUOTES
December 31, 2005
Quoting Pitt Head Coach Dixon:
Opening Statement:
"This was a very good team effort. We had ten guys who stepped up and made big plays for us.
On his team's depth:
"The three freshmen were very good. But I thought the key to the game were the two point guards. Levance and Ronald had nine assists and zero turnovers, and also managed to keep Kammron Taylor in-check defensively. Sam and Tyrell also made some big plays to help us out when we got in foul trouble."
On Aaron Gray's play
"When you get into foul trouble, it makes it difficult to do some things offensively. It forces you to change the way you play. In that regard though, I thought it gave us a chance to utilize our depth. Doyle was even ready to go if necessary, and I thought John gave us some great minutes."
On Carl Krauser's leadership:
"He's a great player. It's no coincidence that most of this program's 20 win seasons coincide with his arrival as a red-shirt freshman. His competitiveness is outstanding and I think he relishes and enjoys the opportunity to play here."
On the team's progress through its first 11 games:
"We were definitely better offensively tonight. We shot 55% against one of the toughest defensive teams in the country. We had faces a lot of changing defenses before, which forced us to make plays.
On the play of his starting front court:
"A lot of Aaron's fouls were offensive fouls. He got called for the double foul and for the one posting up; the posting up one could honestly happen every time down the court. Those are things that we have to look at and learn from though. I thought Levon gave us good minutes, especially defensively. Alondo Tucker's a great player and we felt the best way to keep him in-check was to not let him take threes. We felt like that would have let them back in the game."
On defending Kammron Taylor:
"We knew he was the key guy to stop on their team. I think defense is an area where Levance has improved tremendously, and you saw that tonight for sure."
On Sam Young's statement that they aren't freshman but ballplayers:
"They better be. These freshmen are going to be playing big minutes. They're all competitive and want to get better. You don't always see that in freshmen right away. I also credit Levon and Aaron with their help and willingness to show the young guy's some things. It's been a very big part of their success."
On his team's goals:
"We try to improve every game. We feel like we can get better and better. Tonight the battle on the boards was tied 32-32. That's an area we have to win, so we feel like there's always something we can do better."
Quoting Wisconsin Head Coach Bo Ryan Quotes:
Opening comments:
"I like how our guys kept fighting back, but it wasn't enough. The reason it wasn't enough in a nutshell is because their bench, the guys that filled in for the big men in foul trouble, they played just as well if not better."
On Kammron Taylor's play:
"There are certain teams he'll get better looks against. We don't worry about one guy having to do something. They were more physical than him, they were stronger than him."
On team's "spark":
"We always think we're gonna get it done. I wouldn't be here on the sidelines if I didn't think we're gonna get it done. I'm a competitor, I don't need a spark. Players need to compete they cant wait for something to spark! You just play, and play hard. If I got guys who are waiting for something like that to happen then I got the wrong guys."
On Pitt:
"Krauser is a take charge guy on the floor. Their big men make it tough to score in the post, and they're fairly deep which they showed. Anytime you have that, you've got a chance."
Quoting Pitt's Carl Krauser:
On the keys to winning the game:
"I give credit to my teammates, my coaches and everyone that came out to watch us on New Year's Eve. We played hard and we played tough and that's what we always do when we win."
On the young guys contributing
"The young guys are great. They're the real deal. They play hard, they play smart and they support their teammates. Pitt is going to have great players for years to come."
On cutting off
"That's my role as a senior leader. The young guys look to me in those situations and you don't want to let them down. I just want to do the right thing; I just want to make the right decision."
On grading Pitt's play so far:
"We don't get into things like that. We don't get into biased opinions or polls. We're just concerned with our goals; winning championships."
Quoting Pitt's Sam Young:
On his success playing bigger guys:
"Our coaches gave us a great scouting report. All I had to do was go out and execute. I give credit to both my coaches and my teammates."
On having success as a freshman:
"On the court we're not freshman, we're ball players. Once you cross the line out there, everyone is trying to win. You can't think of yourself as anything but a ball player or else you're going to be outplayed and you're going to lose."
On the challenge of facing
"This was definitely our toughest challenge. They have really good coaching and some great players. It was definitely the hardest game for me so far."
Quoting Pitt's Tyrell Biggs:
On what goes through his mind when Aaron Gray gets into foul trouble:
"I know I have to be ready to go in and bang down low. I want to make sure I'm physical and prepared to play defense."
Quoting Pitt's Levance Fields:
On having success as a freshman:
"I just want to make sure I stick to the game plan. I have confidence in my own game, but I also trust my teammates. As long as I go out there and do what the coaches tell me, I know I'll be okay."
On what a game like this means to him personally:
"It just boosts my confidence to know I can do what I have to do to go out there and help my team out."
