Nov. 20, 2006

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Maryland Head Coach Gary Williams
Opening Statement:
"Winthrop does a lot of really good things with their team, and they're tough to play against. You can learn some things when you're playing against a team like that, and I think we learned some things tonight. I'm really proud of our guys with the effort that they made, especially coming out of New York. I was concerned about our mental preparation because we were really happy about the games up at the Garden, so to come back and play like that against a good team impressed me a lot because that's what is going to make us good, if we're going to put it out there every night and not pick and choose when we turn it on. We certainly played with the same intensity we played in New York with."

On junior Bambale Osby:
"He was great. James (Gist) got in foul trouble and that's turning into something that we've been able to do so far this year, is pick each other up. You lose a starter like that - I don't think James played the rest of the half once he got that second foul - you don't usually have that luxury. When Boom got in there he was able to get position, score, rebound, play good defense, so it wasn't necessary to put James back in, and that's what wins games for you in the second half, when you're able to do that."

On Winthrop's Michael Jenkins:
"D.J. Strawberry did a good job. We try not to let the other team's best player get into a one-on-one situation. When you're playing against a great player like him, you realize he can light it up. He's been a great player for them for a long time, so you just hold your breath because that can all change quickly in a game if you let up for an instant. We stayed tough on him the whole game."

On freshman point guard Eric Hayes:
"Eric is a very calming influence out there. He's heady; he knows where the ball should go with our plays. He's going to make some mistakes. He's really learning how to play. I think you saw a couple things tonight offensively. He has good offensive ability to score himself, but he has been very concerned about running the offense for us, which is great. He will keep getting better."

Maryland Forward Bambale Osby
On taking advantage of his opportunities:
"I didn't play much against Michigan State, so I talked to the coaches and they told me to just be ready to play. I've been practicing hard since then and I just tried to come out prepared."

On being an inside force:
"I never was a great shooter. A lot of the time when I was growing up, I was just stronger than everyone else. So I knew it wouldn't do me any good to try to hit outside shots. I just tried to play to my strengths."

Maryland Forward Ekene Ibekwe
On inside play:
"That is something that we have to do as a team. We have to control the play in the paint, and we were able to do that in the first half. We kept battling in there and we got the win."

On defensive effort:
"We're still trying to show everyone that we're going to be a good defensive team. We know that good defense leads to offense. When we come up with that kind of effort for a whole game, good things will happen."

On being a senior leader:
"I've been here for four years, and I just want to go out there for my team and play hard. I want to bring back that winning Maryland feeling. By going out there and playing hard, I hope that we can be proud to be a part of this program. Now I want to start to instill that feeling in the young players so they can carry that on when I'm gone."

Maryland Guard D.J. Strawberry
On Bambale Osby:
"He was a force from the minute that he stepped out there. He was able to get off a good start early on and got some buckets. He was a big help to us winning the game."

On the offensive schemes:
"No one on this team is a selfish player. We want to get the ball to the open player and play well as a team. Our ball movement has been great, and we're just playing good basketball right now."

On starting the season against quality opponents:
"It's helping us a lot. Our young guys are growing up quick, and we're all just going out and grinding every night. We've been bringing the energy and intensity that we have to, and we're having success. But teams are going to be getting better all year, so we have to keep getting better too."

Maryland Guard Eric Hayes
On improving from here:
"I just want to be more aggressive on offense and keep getting better defensively. I know that I have to get better on defense, but if I can get more aggressive on offense, that will help my intensity on defense."

Winthrop Head Coach Gregg Marshall
Opening Statement:
"It was one of those nights where we didn't shoot the ball well. I give credit to Maryland; Coach Williams, his team, and his staff. I watched them play several games in the last couple of weeks on television. He's doing a wonderful job with the athletes. They look like they are having fun playing together. They are really defending. The youthful guards have kept them in games, and Jones, Strawberry, and Ibekwe are really good. You add Osby, who bullied us around tonight. We have to shoot the ball well to play with this team. The big thing was Maryland's defense."

On playing four games in seven days:
"The only positive I can come out of this with is that we played four games in seven days. We played great against North Carolina for 36 minutes. We played great against Mississippi State. Tonight from the tip, we didn't have the same fire. I'm giving Maryland the credit, but I also know that I didn't recognize my team. It's one of the worst games we've played in four years. Had our guys not competed their behinds off at the end, it would have been much worse."

On Winthrop's teamwork:
"I told my team we have to understand that we are a target now. Everybody in the country is watching our scores. Collectively, we're pretty good when we execute and play smart. Individually, we're just OK. That goes from the head coach on down. Tonight, we didn't execute. Most of all, we didn't play with the passion and energy that has exemplified Winthrop basketball. For that, I'm disappointed."