Feb. 24, 2001

Recap| Box Score| Notes

Maryland Coach Gary Williams
(Opening comments)
"I liked that game today. It was different for us in that we started out really well and really aggressive and then lost it somewhere in the first half. But we were able to come back and do the same thing in the second half. I think that's a good thing for our team, especially this time of year."

(on Oklahoma)
"Oklahoma really dug in. I'm really impressed with their attitude and the way they play. They don't give you anything -- you have to earn every shot, and every possession is tough because they run the shot clock down a little bit before they shoot. It's a grind-it type game when you play them. It's interesting to play a team like that this time of year because it's really a different style from what we see in the ACC."

(on Juan Dixon):
"He was phenomenal in the second half. He made some really tough shots. We got him some open looks, and right now he'll make shots if he is open."

(on Chris Wilcox, Steve Blake):
"I thought Chris Wilcox gave us a lift in both halves. And Steve Blake, though he only scored two points, the ball went where it should in our offense, especially the second half."

(on Terps' defense):
"I'm sure the game didn't look real pretty, but you have to find a way to win it, and we did. Our defense the last few games has been good enough to play on a national level and that's what you're looking for this time of year."

(on Juan Dixon changing his shoes at halftime):
"I didn't even know he changed his shoes. If I had known it [would make a difference] I would have had him change at the first TV timeout. We got new shoes on Thursday, and I think some players are superstitious. There's nothing wrong with being superstitious if it helps you play better."

(on difference in second half):
"We started passing the ball quicker, we dribbled too much in the first half, especially against their zone. We looked mystified out there at times. We just had to do a better job of moving the basketball. We are a good passing team. You have to go with what you're good at. If we can pass, then we can shoot 57 percent. We've got shooters, we just have to get the ball to them when they're open."

(on Lonny Baxter)
"We really tried to get him the ball today, and they obviously knew we were trying. But in [Oklahoma] making it tough to go into Lonny, other things opened up. That's what you have to do. That's why you should try to get the ball inside, because it forces teams to put more than one guy on Lonny and all of a sudden someone gets open."

Oklahoma Coach Kelvin Sampson
(Opening statement)
"We knew coming in here today that this would be a tough place to play. Maryland's good. I thought that the difference in the basketball game came down to two areas -- offensive rebounds for them and Juan Dixon."

(on Juan Dixon)
"He is as good as advertised. I really like him. I think he plays the game the right way, you can tell he's a great kid. He has good body language and he steps up and he took some tough shots."

(on his team's effort)
"Our kids played hard. I told our kids they should be disappointed with the loss but don't be disappointed with your effort. We've got to go back and figure some things out, but I can't tell you how proud I am of our kids and how hard they played today."

(on the play of point guard Hollis Price)
"I think he got tired. I though Hollis played great. Everything (he) did today was great. That kid played forty minutes against unbelievable pressure, I've got to do a better job of resting him. If anybody made a mistake out there today it was probably me. I could have done a better job of getting him some rest."