Gary Williams Comments
3/13/2002 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 13, 2002
On the Siena vs. Alcorn State game:
"It was a good game, but I wish it was more one sided so you could look at one team closer. You were really looking at both teams in that situation and they both wanted to win that game. It was a great game."
On Siena's team:
"They have two guards, one was in the foul trouble, but the other certainly made up for it. They float around with 6-9 and 6-8 guys just like we do. Looks like they have pretty good size. They are a team that feels good about themselves right now after having a disappointing year probably during the regular season. You win four straight in a conference playoff and then you win an NCAA game, that's pretty big.
On playing well and staying consistent:
"This time of year you have to play well. It does not matter who you are going to play. You have to just be playing well and that is what we are doing this week in making sure we are playing well. We have been a very consistent team over the four-month period from the start of practice. I assume we are just going to play that way in the NCAA tournament.
On the team's mind-set after NC State and the regular season:
"When you are 26-3 you are not looking for lessons, you know what you are doing and that we were a little flat emotionally from the previous three weeks here at Cole Field House. We probably played at least two of the biggest games ever played at Cole Field House in that final three-week period. In that Virginia game, there has never been a game with that much emotion here. When you go through all that and then get hit with the ACC tournament against an NC State team that you have beaten twice and they certainly felt they needed that game to solidify themselves for the end of the year, it wasn't a good situation. We know what we did wrong and we are mature enough to handle that situation just like we handle wins."
On playing at the MCI Center in neighboring Washington D.C.:
"The travel usually tires you out, so that is an advantage. In terms of the people you have to talk to and the ticket requests, it is not an advantage. Boise (Idaho) has some advantages, which I wasn't sure of this time last year, but it does have some advantages."
On the maturity of this year's and last year's team:
"We were pretty mature last year. You are comparing a Final Four team to this year's team and that was a great team last year. We are starting the NCAA tournament this week and so the comparisons are a little early. That was a very mature team last year because of LaRon Cephas, Mike Mardesich and Terence Morris. This is a mature team and so we will see how we do."
On individual awards and three players receiving All-America honors:
"All of our guys have played well together. I think with every team, there are guys with different levels and I think these guys treat each other with the same respect no matter what position the player is on the team. We pass the ball very well and are not afraid to give the ball up if someone else has a better shot and that is responsible for our success. I have always told the team that individual awards come when you win a lot of games. We have done that this year and those awards have happened. They don't go to teams that don't win. It is great to see Juan get his attention, but to see Lonny Baxter and Steve Blake also making honorable mention All-America status is a great thing too."
On the hype and playing well in the NCAA tournament:
"Most of the general public judge seasons on what you do during the NCAA tournament and I think anybody that knows anything about college basketball and follows college basketball closely knows that anything can happen in one game. It is not a fair judgment, but it is reality and that is how people look at it. You want to play really well this time of year. Whether you are a No.1 seed or a No. 3 seed it doesn't matter, you just want to play well now. Now that you have the seed, now you go play."
On advantages of the team's bench:
"Most teams play eight guys and I keep hearing that we have a deep bench, but we play eight guys. We play against teams that play nine guys like Wake Forest and Virginia plays 10. Having three guys come of the bench is not an advantage unless those guys are really good. Our advantage is our guys are really good. I am not afraid to put them in any situation. Ryan Randle has proven he can play and he likes the pressure of big games. Tahj Holden gives you an experienced player that has been through everything. Our best defensive combination last year probably was Mike Mardesich and Tahj Holden playing up front for us. Drew Nicholas gives us almost an extra man because he can play a one, two or three guard and that is a tremendous advantage when you have a guy with that type of versatility."
On the pressure of being the number one seed:
"We are as relaxed as you can be at this time of year. There is pressure, especially if you are a number one seed. At the same time, you work to be the best you can be and you work to be that number one seed."
On the experience carried over from last year:
"It has to help, but it does not give you anything. It gives you the experience if you get into tough situations and you know that you were able to win four straight games in the NCAA last year. That does not win us any games now, you still have to play those games this year."
