SJU Quotes
Dr. John Giannini
Opening Statement:
“I thought we played with great effort. I thought our kids did everything that they could. We had a few mental breakdowns. We let them go middle a few times when we should have forced them to the baseline or trapped them. We left (Obi Enechionyia) open one time for an open three. We tried to run a set out of a timeout and weren’t quite focused. I thought there weren’t effort mistakes. I told those five guys playing a lot that the experience they are getting playing a lot this year is invaluable. They are getting so much better.”
“The team we have next year is already on campus so we don’t have to recruit a lot. I am really excited, this year is just really hard and it’s completely my fault. At this point we should have no years where we are down. I just didn’t give those guys enough help, that’s totally my fault. Those guys are giving us everything that they can get them the help they deserve, which is already here, we will be very good again.”
On Jordan Price’s struggles:
“A lot of it has to do with Temple’s defense. I thought his effort was terrific. I thought he went to the basket strong. He is a scorer, we need him to score. Frankly I think he is trying too hard. I think if he can take a couple hard dribbles, the defense is so geared up to stop him. If he just takes a couple hard dribbles he is going to have two or three guys coming at him. He has to do what great players do and that is makes the other guys better. That is hard. That’s why there are so few great players. Jordan is capable of it. When we beat Dayton he had six assists and made some incredible plays, he is very gifted. I just think he is trying a little too hard. If he takes a step and takes some hard dribbles to draw the defense and get some guys the balls in good spots that would really help us and him. With his level of ability and our roster situation he is not going to get an easy basket. We got a nice easy post up for him out of the half, but there are only so many plays you can draw up. Every defensive game plan will be to stop him. It will be easier on him next year, but this year it’s hard on him. He has to use his ability to try and get the defense to commit to him and to help some other people.”
On Tony Washington’s improvement:
“Tony is so encouraging. To get a big guy who can play at this level as a sophomore and be production against this level of competition on this stage it’s just terrific. I feel great. I just screwed up not giving this year’s team enough help. It’s here, but it just shouldn’t be waiting for next season. I should have planned for this year much better.”
On the 7-0 run out of halftime:
“The way basketball is now you always have the chance and ability to make a run. As long as it is right around that ten point margin, ten points now a days isn’t a big deal. We came out hard. They really played hard we just didn’t have enough shot making. Beside Tony we didn’t make shots. Temple to their credit really passed well. Only six turnovers, if someone looks at Temple they really pass the ball. Good passers make good shooters. They get open shots and knock them down but it’s because of their passing.”
On playing the Big 5 at The Palestra:
“All of our home courts are good atmospheres. But this is not a good atmosphere, this is a great atmosphere. I want to play here as much as you can. Why wouldn’t you? La Salle is committed, we will play people here. I have no idea what other people’s issues are. Here is the interesting thing; I think it should be equable. If we have our home games here, people should move their home games here. I don’t think it just should be La Salle supporting the Big 5 tradition and no one else. That wouldn’t be right either.”
