Post-Game Quotesheet
12/13/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 13, 2008
POST-GAME QUOTESHEET
Maryland-Baltimore County at Pitt, Dec. 13, 2008, Petersen Events Center
Quoting Pitt Head Coach Jamie Dixon:
Opening Statement:
"I thought we played a very unselfish game tonight. Right from the start you had Levance Fields setting up our guys with two great looks from the field. I thought that trend really continued all night, as we were unselfish and really moved the ball well. We played a team tonight that won 24 games last season and they really presented some challenges for us. It's a game that we expect to win, but only if we come out and execute the way we're capable of."
On Pitt's outside shooting:
"I thought we really took good shots all the way through. I don't want to sound overconfident, but I think this was a long time coming for us. We've been shooting the ball pretty well, but it just hasn't been going in for us. We thought we might see a zone that would sag way off and we did a good job of recognizing that and really getting into our zone offense right away."
On Pitt's players getting healthier:
"For Levance Fields, it's just a process. There's no book you can follow on when a guy is ready after being out for 11 months. It's just a process and he's doing the best he can to stay fit and work his way back into shape. It's been really nice to see Gilbert Brown get healthier and healthier. Even if he doesn't score, he's got such a great understanding of what we do out there and he's a valuable asset to have on the floor."
On the development of Pitt's guards:
"Well, they have a great mentor in Levance Fields. It seemed like almost from day one that he came in and never turned the ball over, and it's been that way throughout his career here. He's a great teacher too, so hopefully some of those skills can rub off on guys like Ashton Gibbs and Travon Woodall. I know they're both working hard to get better."
Quoting Pitt's Sam Young:
On Pitt's outside shooting:
"A lot of outside shots isn't usually how we run our offense. We're a team that likes to grind it out and bang down low. But when you have a zone that sags as much as the one we saw tonight, you have to knock down some outside shots. Once we started to hit a couple, we got into a rhythm and just kept going."
On Pitt's development:
"We've got some guys getting into shape and getting healthy, so we're finally able to play as a full unit. We're developing great chemistry at just the right time, too. We've got some really tough teams coming up and then conference play, so right now is when you want to be at your best."
Quoting Pitt's Gary McGhee:
On his play:
"I just tried to make the most of my opportunities. Every time I was on the floor, I wanted to hustle hard, hit the offensive glass and make sure the team didn't miss a beat when DeJuan [Blair] and Tyrell [Biggs] were out of the game."
Quoting Maryland-Baltimore County's Head Coach Randy Monroe:
Opening Statement:
"They are a very good basketball team. But, we scored 56 points against them. I'm proud of our guys. They played as well as they could. They are the No. 3 team in the nation. It's hard to play when Pitt has guys like Levance Fields, DeJuan Blair, and Sam Young and each of their guys outweigh my guys by 40 to 50 pounds each. I thought our effort was strong."
On Pitt:
"Their bench is deep. Usually, the first five are good, but Pitt's first five are veterans and they are battle tested. That's why they are in the position that they're in. They're well coached. They seem like they play well together. I can see them going far into the NCAA Tournament."
On Pitt's outside shooting:
"If we were going to come in here and lose, we wanted them to beat us from the outside. They shot 52 percent from the three point range. We went 5-10, that's 50 percent, but that's not 14-17. We tried to go zone and slow them down, but nothing worked, they went inside and scored from the post. They have a lot of weapons, both inside and out."
