March 20, 2004

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DENVER, Colo. -

Maryland Coach Gary Williams

Opening Statement
"We made some mistakes in the first half and we weren't playing our game."

"Today we got behind too much but we came back and we had a pretty good look to tie the game back up at the end. If anything characterizes this team it is that determination to not quit."

"This team has come back more than any team I have coached before."

"We got some great wins and Jamar Smith is a big part of that, he is our only senior and he dealt with people around him who didn't have much experience in basketball and he was a great teacher for the young players."

On D.J. Strawberry's last shot
"We wanted to drive the ball to the basket. D.J. got caught a little bit, but got the ball up on the glass. Travis Garrison got a good shot on the follow up, it just got scrambled there and D.J. came back and got that shot off, it just didn't fall."

On John Gilchrist
"John just seemed not to get his shots. He's had a great sophomore season. He got into foul trouble in the second half and I think he felt a little restricted by that."

On team's effort in second half
"Those guys don't quit. They could have gone home at halftime, but we stuck around and got back in the game."

On the season
"I am really disappointed right now, but in a week when I think about it, I'll be really proud of this team. They showed great toughness all season. It's easier to be tough when you have been through it before and have some experience, but to do what they have done this season all for the first time - I'm very proud of this team."

Maryland Player John Gilchrist

On play in first half
"This year we didn't go against a whole lot of zone. When they threw that zone against us we weren't hitting the shots and getting the ball to where we needed to get it to."

Maryland Player Nik Caner-Medley

On second half comeback
"We have come back a lot this year. We came up short today. We turned the ball over a little bit down the stretch and forced them to turn it over a little bit to get us some easy baskets."

Syracuse Coach Jim Boeheim

Opening Statement
"I thought today our defense came back and our zone was good for the entire game. We did a good job of getting on their shooters."

"I thought we played as well as we can for the whole game."

"We played as well as we can for long periods of time."

"We beat a good basketball team who has been hot lately. I'm really proud of the way our team played today."

On theory of surviving and advancing in this tournament
"We were the underdog and we won, which always leaves you happy. We were happy to beat Maryland, because they have been as good a team as anyone. I don't think they were able to play against our defense, but you don't want to be in this kind of situation with Gary (Wiliams). He has the full court press, which has become a lost art in college basketball today. We had to rebound and handle their pressure, and we were comfortable and handled the ball well. Bottom line, we played a great 38 minutes, and overcame a bad two minutes."

On speaking with Gary William after the game
"It is tough. We are good friends, and we have had a lot of battles together, which have come down to the end. He is the only coach I worry about, because we could have beaten any other team today after the way we played. His (Gary Williams) team will fight the whole 40 minutes, and they want a win."

On altitude
"We got a little tired today, but I think we played well at the end of both games. There's no question that it can wear you down, but we don't ever talk about it with the players. We have won four games in Denver. I wouldn't mind coming back and playing in Denver again."

On Hakim Warrick
"Hakim (Warrick) was tremendous today. When he gets down in the low post he is very tough to guard."

Syracuse Player Gerry McNamara

On a different shooting game
"They played tough defense. They were flying. I tried in the second half to get everyone else the ball and pass in the lane. The first three shots I took felt okay. It's not like I didn't have it. When you come off a big game, I expected to be pounded. That's why we have Hakim (Warrick) and Josh (Pace) who are active and carry this team. Today was a team effort. It speaks volume of the type of team we have."

On Maryland trying to contain McNamara and Warrick
"There is a reason that happens. If they zero in on me, like they did today, Hakim (Warrick) gets more opportunities and visa versus. If they're coming at him, we all work off him. I think it makes us that much better and that much tougher to beat. If you have two threats, and try to take one of those away, you still have other guys that can hurt you."

On his passing game
"It's no secret I like to shoot the ball but I'll be the first to give it up. I take pride in the fact that today I wasn't getting good looks and I got in the game another way. Getting Terrence (Roberts) or Hakim (Warrick) easy dunks are the little things that help teams win. That's what I did today because I wasn't getting a lot of open looks."

Syracuse Player Hakim Warrick

On getting hit at the end of the game
"I was getting tired. My legs were weary and it was tough. They say the high altitude is overrated but in those last three minutes you start to feel it."

On the last crucial seconds of the game
"It was the longest couple seconds I've had in a long time. We didn't want to foul and I think we did a good job of contesting shots and not letting them get easy baskets. That's what it came down to."

On attacking Maryland's post players
"I definitely wanted to go out there and attack. They didn't double team me and I just tried score or get fouled. My team did a good job of getting me the ball and I was able to make some plays.