NC State vs Marist NIT Tournament post game quotes

Posted Monday, March 19, 2007

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Raleigh, NC - Quotes from the press conference following the North Carolina State Wolfpack 69-62 win over the Marist Red Foxes in the 2007 NIT Basketball Tournament game. NC State advances to a quarterfinal matchup on Tuesday at 9 p.m. at West Virginia. The game will be televised on ESPN.

NC State head coach Sidney Lowe:

“Marist is a very, very tough team, very well-coached, disciplined. They played their game, changed defenses. He did a great job. We were fortunate to come away with a win.”

On the physical play in the closing minutes:
“They were trying to pick up the tempo, trapping, trying to get into the game. Our guys got a little frustrated. They applied the pressure and did what they had to do to get back in the game.”

“Our think our defense was very good in the first half, especially on the perimeter. Gavin and Courtney did a great job. That helped us to get off to that lead. Offensively, we executed our stuff. They shot 24 percent from the field and we were at 50 percent. Both ends were clicking for us at that time.”

“When those guys walk up on that floor … the crowd was going crazy. It’s this building. It’s where it all happened (for me). Anyone that’s played in the ACC or in this building will tell you it’s one of the toughest places to play in the country. It’s here (on campus). It’s different when you have your own place.”

On team’s mindset in still playing in the postseason:
“This team has been excited for a while, especially when we got into the ACC Tournament. We talked about it being a new season. We were fortunate to have some wins there and the confidence level is high. They’ve taken on an attitude that they can always win, regardless of the score or the situation. That’s pretty good for a team with only one senior. Their mindset now is very positive. They feel that they can beat anyone.”

On West Virginia:
“I hope that we’re a little better now. I think we are. This time we’ll have Engin. Having him out front running things will help us. We’ll have to make shots against their zone, take care of the basketball and defend … they shoot well.”

Marist head coach Matt Brady:

“I’d like to start out by saying that the best team won. NC State played a terrific game. They were very prepared for us. Their perimeter defense gave us a lot of problems. Their atlheticism and length on the perimeter was a problem for us. We’re disappointed that our season is ending, and we’re especially disappointed for these two seniors (Jared Jordan and Will Whittington). They’ve meant a lot to this program.”

On going to the zone on defense in the second half
“When we’ve gotten in trouble guarding people off the dribble, we’ve gone to the zone and it’s helped us to keep people from getting as many layups off the dribble drive.”

On talking so many three-pointers in the second half
“We shoot a lot of threes. That’s what we do. We didn’t shoot well from out there tonight, but I told the guys to keep shooting, that we’re gonna go down swinging. That’s the way we play.”

On the emotion in the second half
“It was just two teams playing really hard and trying to win. I think (NC State) got a little frustrated at times because they had some trouble throwing the ball inbounds, and there was a lot of emotion displayed out there, but it was clean. I think both teams played clean. They both really wanted badly to win.”