UMass Quotes
Coach
Opening Statement
“I am always proud of our guys and I am proud of our effort today. They (Massachusetts) just made more shots and got more rebounds. They were just a little bit better. Before we fouled it was a five point, two possession game. We just need each guy to make one more play. Get one more ball, commit one less turnover, one more rebound. We aren’t that far off. I really love these guys, they really play hard and we are going to come back ready for the next game and no one will quit. We will get better and better until we are the kind of team we want to be. When will that happen, how soon or late? I don’t know. I know for a fact it is going to happen. When I am not sure, but it is going to happen.”
On coaching with the short bench:
“It’s not that hard. Herb Magee really helped me with it. Rohan has been playing on a bad leg and hasn’t been that effective. Yevgen has been playing sick for a long time and hasn’t been that effective. If those guys were 100% and playing the way I envisioned them we would be a lot better. Since they haven’t been able to play the way they can we are just keeping our best guys on the floor. I actually feel better letting those guys be confident, develop chemistry and stay in the game. Talk about motivation in a situation like this, it’s always motivating when you have a chance to play and turn it around. Herb put it perfectly, when guys know they are going to play even if they miss a shot or make some mistakes their confidence goes up. When they play together they get better chemistry. Rohan and Yevgen have not been 100% for a long time and it has probably hurt us trying to keep them in the rotation. These are the guys who are available who are physically able to play well. Like Jordan said, they are young, but even them will get a little tired. Herb won 1,000 games like this; hopefully we can win a few.”
On the looks the team was getting offensively:
“Amar had a great look on a three late, Cleon had a great look on a three late. Johnnie had a great look on a three late. Tony had a ball hang on the rim and fall out. We are under no delusions that we are a good team. We do believe that we can win games. Again, UMass made a few more plays than us. It was a two or three play game. Wither it was a rebound or a turnover or shots going in or out for them or us it was a two or three play game. Our kids fought hard.”
On the team’s morale:
“Its real hard but these are extraordinarily great kids. When they know they are going to play and know they are going to have another chance that is enough motivation for them. We don’t beat them up, and keep talking about the last game. We talk about the next game and what we can do. I think we do a good job motivating them. I think they are spectacular human beings who won’t quit. Winning and losing in the future in under their control. If we were deeper and kids weren’t able to play they way they are or if our character level was a little lower or we beat them up over things than yeah it would be.”
On if he will go with a six man rotation the rest of the year:
“I would be fine with it if guys aren’t 100%. If Rohan is 100% that is terrific for us. He is such a tough kid. I asked him at the end of the Miami game if he could play and he said yes while my assistants said after that he was really in pain on the bench. There are very few players, you have to be very gifted to be hurt and play well. I am fine with these guys. It’s a pleasure to coach them. Of course it’s frustrating to lose. I thought we would be deeper. These are guys that we think we can win with. They have zero quit in them.”
Jordan Price
On the end of the first half run that Massachusetts went on:
“Defensive breakdowns and not getting back. They got a couple open layups off our turnovers. We didn’t have many turnovers but they got transition layups off our turnovers in the first half.”
On how he felt coming out of halftime:
“We felt good going into the second half. We came out and we up, but unfortunately it wasn’t enough.”
On end of game energy level with the short bench:
“We aren’t tired. This is what we work for. We aren’t tired.”
Tony Washington
On how he feels he is progressing
“I feel like I am coming along, but it didn’t feel like my most complete game yet. I didn’t assert myself enough out there.”
