Villanova quotes
Senior Forward Jerrell Wright
On his early foul trouble:
“It was very frustrating. I’m not out there with my team. Knowing that they are going through war and I am on the sideline just watching. It’s frustrating but it’s a learning experience. I know that next time I play I have to be more careful before I go out there and get in foul trouble.”
On his second half performance:
“It shows that when I am out there the whole team is more effective. With me down low, Villanova would double some in the paint which would leave my teammates open.”
On Villanova’s offense:
“It wasn’t that tough. They weren’t running that many set plays. Our coach did us a great job preparing us coming into the game. It was about who had the greater will, today on the defensive end, our defensive techniques just weren’t there today.”
On the team’s losing streak:
“We are just taking it one game at a time. This game is over with, and we are just looking forward to playing Temple on Saturday.
Redshirt Junior Guard Khalid Lewis
On his scoring outburst:
“When I see an open opportunity I take it and score, just like any other player would.”
On what Villanova was giving him:
“They were backing off me when I came off the screen. I just attacked and took open shots.”
On what they tried to do against Villanova defensively:
“Villanova is a good shooting team. We wanted to take away everything, honestly.”
Coach Giannini
Opening Statement:
“I couldn’t possibly be more disappointed with the first half. Beside Khalid Lewis making some gutsy plays I cant think of anything else good that came from the first half. There are certain things that we worked on defensively that we didn’t do at all. Of course they are very good, theyre wonderful, but that’s why this was such a meaningful game for us. To be able to test ourselves against an outstanding team like this. I just couldn’t be more disappointed on how we responded in the first half. It was bad.”
On the team’s shooting slump:
“Today was really bad so it was more than one issue. I do think if Jordan [Price], Steve [Zack], and Jerrell play the way that they are capable of doing and we play defense the way we are taught we can beat anyone. That’s the formula.”
On Temple:
“We have to man up. The second half was our best offensive half of the year. We scored 41 points against a terrific team. Where did it get us? This has to be a defensive team. That’s who we are. Scoring 41 points in a half against Villanova got us nowhere. This has to be a tough gritty team. If we aren’t tough and gritty we aren’t getting anywhere.”
