Dec. 2, 2007

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Head Coach Gary Williams
On tonight's game:
"I give VCU credit because they played harder than we did, especially in the first half, and they shot it better than we did. We have to be the type of team that has to be competitive in those areas, being ready to play at the start of the game, and running good enough offense where we are getting some good looks at the basket. We didn't do a very good job in the first half of getting looks. We got a lot of turnovers but at the same time our execution wasn't what it should have been. Virginia Commonwealth makes you play."

On backcourt experience:
"We've got two guys that have played quite a bit in last year's freshmen. So you cannot allow experience to be an excuse. I don't buy into that. Whether you are a junior or a freshman, you have to play. They played better than we did."

On Bambale Osby:
"He was really working hard and was a dominating player inside for us but you have to put the ball in the basket from other positions. Bambale was great. He's a great example of what college can do for someone. He will be graduating in the spring and he had to fight his way to get where he is. I am proud of him not just because of tonight but because of what he has done."

On this game being preparation for the ACC:
"Nobody presses in the ACC. No one plays like that. Duke will come out with man-to-man pressure but Commonwealth presses very well. They have great pressure and I think their quickness bothered us as much as anything. Along with their pressure, they were able to get to some balls that we couldn't get to."

Head Coach Anthony Grant
Opening Statement:
"Obviously this is a great win for our basketball team. It's really good to see our guys come out with the level of focus they had and to see them play to our identity. That's a thing we've talked about all week leading up to the game is that we need to play our style of game. On this team, we're mixing in some guys that are gaining their first experience with college basketball and are trying to understand what it's all about - to bring a level of focus and intensity every day in practice and to bring that level of focus and intensity to games. I was really proud of our guys today with what they were able to do. I thought we were able to handle the adversity that happens with every game, probably the best we have all year."

On senior Jamal Shuler this year:
"In my mind, Jamal was like a starter last year. He got a starter's minutes. He came off the bench and he gave us a spark in several games. I think this year, probably more than anything else, is the maturity that comes with being a senior and also being a starter. I think he's doing a very good job of mentoring our younger players and is taking advantage of every moment he has on the practice court and in games."

On taking down an ACC team:
"I've never really looked at it like that. I really try to take it for the game. I mean I look at Maryland's team and they're a very good basketball team and I think we have the potential to be a very good basketball team. At the end of the day, you have to play the game, no matter what league you're from. I think when you look at the college game you pretty much see it everywhere. It's one win for us and we start conference play on Wednesday so we want to keep it in perspective."

Senior Jamal Shuler
On his improvement this year:
"Coach Grant had individual meetings with all of the returning players and just basically gave us the game plan for this year and gave us the challenge to step up. It's nothing new to me. Experienced guys from last year's team told me and Eric Maynor that it's all about stepping up and being a leader for the team."

Senior Eric Maynor
On his second half performance:
"For me, it's not really about points. Coach Grant just told us to keep being aggressive. I missed some shots in the first half, but he also told me that they would fall for me in the second half and to keep playing."