Pregame Quotes: Maryland vs. Miami
2/28/2006 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 28, 2006
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
Head Coach Gary Williams
On getting to the NCAA tournament
"Our record in 16-11 and considering our strength of schedule I don't think we hurt ourselves when we lost to Carolina who is a ranked team. We want to win our last few games. That's our focus. Historically, if you get to .500 in league play, you're in a pretty good position. Hopefully with our strength of schedule will give us a pretty good shot at the NCAA tournament."
"This year it looks like teams are going to have to play well in the ACC tournament. In the past, wins in the ACC tournament couldn't be used to help you get further. Now, you have to play well there to help your chances."
On the accomplishments of the Seniors
"They've gotten to the Sweet Sixteen as freshmen and won the ACC tournament as sophomores. Very few college players accomplish both of those things, so they've accomplished some very positive things since they've gotten here that they should be proud of."
On the Miami game
"Right now we just need to prepare for Miami. We need to make sure that during this game we do a better job at defending the three point shot, recognize where most of their scoring comes from, and play our game. We had some good looks at the basket in our game against North Carolina on Sunday. Hopefully, we'll get some of those same looks during the game tomorrow."
On developing players
"All I can do is coach in terms of developing players. My track record proves that I've always been able to develop players. I'm disappointed when a player doesn't, in my opinion, reach his potential. But, at the same time, it's a two way street. If I can't get it through to someone, then it's just not going to happen. These seniors right now have won an ACC tournament and gone to the sweet sixteen during their four-year career. Those should be looked at as great accomplishments, because not every player gets to experience those things."
Senior Forward Nik Caner-Medley
On Maryland's current record
"For anyone who is competitive, losing seven out of nine games is not easy and it definitely hurts your pride. All we can do is prepare for Miami and take the rest of our games one game at a time."
On playing his first game as a Terp four years ago
"I remember being nervous and anxious. I don't think I really knew what to expect. To be honest, it doesn't seem like it was all that long ago. These four years went by fast and I think looking back even at the first exhibition games, it was a lot for me to handle during a short period of time. But playing in front of that many people was something that I looked forward to."
His advice to future Terps players
"I would tell them to take everything in and compete every day at practice. I would tell them to not take anything for granted. To try not to get too high when things are going well, but to also not get down with things don't go your way. I've been through some ups and some downs here and you learn a lot from both. Players should take advantage of every opportunity because your time here flies by. You only get one chance to play college basketball."
On preparing for the last games of the season
"I think it's important for us to get a win and have something to build off of. We can only concentrate on one game at a time though and there's no point in analyzing how many get games we need to win to get to a certain point. The most important thing is to just take it one day at a time. To work hard and prepare ourselves for the game like it's the most important game of the year."
On his relationship with Head Coach Gary Williams
"Anytime you have a relationship that goes through adversity, a lot of times that adversity is what brings you closer together. You get a chance to see a different side of people when you go through tough times. He has been there for me on and off the court. He's someone who gives advice that I respect. He's been successful at what he does and I respect successful people."
On his experience at Maryland
"Hopefully we can finish off this year positive by doing some good things in these last few games, and to make the tournament which has been our goal. We'll be remembered in whichever way people want to remember us. I don't have much control over that. But one thing I'll remember and take away from this experience is all of the great feelings of accomplishment I've felt over the years here."
Senior Forward Travis Garrison
On senior night
"It will definitely be emotional to be playing my last game at home at Comcast Center. It's hard to believe my four years have come and gone. Every year, I watch other players have their senior night, and now it's my turn. I'm excited and looking forward to the game. At the same time, we have to treat it like any other game and try to win. We're playing Miami, who beat us earlier in the season, so we really need to concentrate on winning."
On the impact the Miami game will have on the season
"If we get a win tomorrow it could change a lot. If we get on a roll and start feeling good, we could gain some confidence for the end of the season. However, the team is trying to concentrate solely on the game tomorrow. We can't think about what has happened in the past, or what may happen in the future. We just need to stay focused on the game tomorrow vs. Miami."
On facing Miami
"Our strategy for tomorrow's game is to keep the big men off the glass and to stop the three's from happening. They killed us earlier in the season with their three-point game. Their three starting guards were 11-of-16 in that game from the three point line. We know what they are capable of and now we just have to make sure we go out there and play a good game defensively."
Senior Guard Sterling Ledbetter
On the end of the season
"I just want to end my career here with a bang. My goal for this team is to go out on a roll with some wins. I think we can accomplish that because everyone here has a must-win attitude."
On his expectations when he joined the team
"You always come in with a positive mindset. Knowing the history of this program and what it has accomplished, I thought we were going to do a lot of great things. Sometimes things in life don't work out exactly how you want them to, but luckily we still have some chances going into the end of the season to do some great things as a team."
On his experience at Maryland
"I'm just going to take a step back and really appreciate the fact that I even had a chance to play here. I got to have a great coach in Gary Williams who I learned a lot from."
