NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament

Press Conference Quotes
March 17, 2007
Georgetown Hoyas vs. Boston College

GEORGETOWN HEAD COACH JOHN THOMPSON III

Opening remarks:
Obviously any win this time of year is a good win but that's a very good win against a very good team particularly how the game played out. There was a lot we had to figure out, stick together and work our way through; what they were doing to us and our guys did a good job of not getting rattled. It's good to move on.

How did you feel about beating BC?
At this time of year you are just happy to win and move on. Boston College was our opponent tonight so I am extremely happy about beating Boston College.

What is it like to motive a player like Roy Hibbert?
I don't remember how the first game played out. In the first half of today's game he was too passive. He kept throwing it back out and he wasn't establishing key position. There was a possession there where there was two minutes and change left in the first half and he was sitting on the bench and I was having a long talk with him and I said in the second half we are coming to you so whatever is going on in your head, fix it, you have to be more aggressive. That was before halftime. He was being a little too tentative. We would throw it in, he would look around and throw it back out. I am not sure how many turnovers he had from just fumbling and dropping the ball so I said relax big fellow because we are going to come to you. That was a discussion I had at the latter part of the first half and he responded to it and came out and was a lot more aggressive in terms of not just when he got the ball but before he got the ball.

How frequently is this a pattern for him?
It's the first time I have had that discussion with him. I don't think it's a pattern, he is unselfish and as the game played out it was clear we needed him to be more assertive and so he responds to what we ask him to do.

What has Jonathan Wallace meant to the program?
Jonathan Wallace is someone that is extremely special to me. He is someone who came here with me. I told him you are going to be a walk-on and you are never going to play and he started from the first game of his career. That talks about what sort of person he is. He is someone when you are getting a start at a program you want people like Jon around you. He was someone I recruited at Princeton but I never knew he would have the kind of career that he is having. I knew he had a chance because of who he is as a person, it's who he is, he is a good man. I wish I could take some credit for the person he is but his parents are terrific people.

What adjustments did you make in the second half?
I think particularly in the first half we were too stagnant. We were standing, watching, looking, trying to figure out what they were doing. Coming out of halftime we made a few adjustments. I thought we could get some different looks, a little more movement and our guys did a good job helping each other by making the extra pass. Their zone is terrific because their plays are terrific and because they are so well coached. Going into this game I said that scoring is hard because of how they play, how talented they are, how smart they are as a team. We were forcing it. We switched up a lot of different things in the second half and we were fortunate to get some different looks. We were fortunate that they went in.

GEORGETOWN STUDENT-ATHLETES

JEFF GREEN

What was the impact Patrick Ewing had on the game?
Pat brings a lot of energy for us. In the first half we started out lackadaisical and he came in and gave us a boost right away with his defense and his offense. He brings an energy boost from off the bench whenever we need it, so that is a plus for us whenever we play these types of games.

What was going through your head during the three point play?
I was trying to get the ball. My shot wasn't falling the whole game so I did the next best thing and I was rebounding. I didn't stop fighting for the ball, it came to me and he grabbed it so I just tried to put it off the glass and it went in. It was just me keeping aggressive and going after the boards.

What was going through your head after your big dunk with seven minutes left in the game?
It was a relief. After missing all those shots finally one went down, especially in that type of game and that type of situation. Getting an offensive rebound and putting back like that really turned the game around and got the momentum to our side. It was just a relief that finally one went down and we changed the momentum to get the momentum to our side and we went on from there.

What was it like out there in the second half?
It was a physical game, two good teams going at it. The emotion level was up, everyone was fighting trying to win the game. That type of game emotions are going to come out with all the technicals in the game, the intensity level was up. The emotion of that type of game and wanting to get it over with and the way it was going. Just playing in the game.

Was that your style of game?
That was a BIG EAST game. It was very physical. We just had to gut it out. We were down four at halftime and we just had to take what they would give us and we made two big plays at the end. We just had to play a physical game.

JONATHAN WALLACE

How did you take advantage of their packing defense?
We knew BC was going to pay close attention to Jeff and Roy and try and pack it in. We basically took what the defense gave us. We threw it in and they collapsed and the guys on the team found open spot and they were able to knock down shots.

What is it like to see Roy take over a game?
It makes it easier for us because he draws so much attention. When he is able to man up down low and be forceful with the ball and make things happen in the paint it opens up a lot of different avenues for other guys on the team and that was showing today. Guys stepped up on the offensive rebounds, started attacking the basket. He was the emphasis down low that made that happen.

ROY HIBBERT

Can you talk about how you took over in the second half of the game?
Coach said I needed to be more aggressive down low whether that's at the end of the shot clock posting up and getting position and try to score when the shot clock got low or blocking shots and getting rebounds, trying to limit them to one shot. I try to take it upon myself to make sure on the defensive end that they weren't getting any clean looks at the basket under any circumstances.

Could you talk about your dish to Patrick Ewing?
The low post moved I tried. I have a checklist to see what time on the shot clock I can make a move or if I am open to the basket and I want to make my move as they were collapsing down I saw Patrick was open so I could make a pass to him and I am happy he finished it to tell you the truth.

What was the impact of Georgetown rebounding on the game?
Coach told his big guys that we needed offensive boards. So we tried to take advantage of our size. Jeff did an excellent job, Pat did an excellent job. We took advantage of what we had. They came out of their zone and played man-to-man so we got some threes and some shots. We took what the defense gave us.

BOSTON COLLEGE HEAD COACH AL SKINNER

 

On the way Georgetown started going to Roy Hibbert more in the second half:

I thought in the first half guys had a really good understanding of what we wanted to do and I though we executed it well. Late in the game we did not continue to maintain the discipline, mentally, to play the way we wanted to play. Because of that, it created some opportunities for him. He also was exerting himself a lot more. He was playing with a tremendous amount of confidence. A lot of credit has to be given to him for the way he executed and did the things that he needed to do. They decided that he was going to try to make plays and help bring them home. We didn't maintain our discipline on the defensive end. (We didn't play) the way we wanted to play defense. We didn't do that and that is a little disappointing.

On Hibbert's exerting his will in the post and BC's frontcourt foul trouble:

Maybe he felt comfortable because of the foul situation and allowed him to feel like he could put more pressure on us. Again, we still did not maintain our discipline on the defensive end. We got caught up and we got ourselves out of position. (If) we were going to lose the ball game, there was a certain way that we were going to lose. I'm not sure if we consistently did that. The way that we wanted them to score - we did that for a good portion of the game, but I think emotionally we got a little caught up, lost our concentration and allowed him to dictate his offense.

Was it uncharacteristic for Jared Dudley to lose his poise when he received a technical foul?

I don't think he lost his poise at all. Words were being exchanged. I don't want him to walk away. That's not the way you want to handle yourself. You stand there, you say what has to be said and just play on. I don't think he lost his poise. I never want my guys to walk away from a situation. It's up to the officials to control it, that's what they're there for. If you don't make the confrontation, then I think it's an advantage for the opposing team. I don't think it was, seriously, that big of a deal. As he's already indicated, the game started to get physical, (they were) playing with high intensity, a couple of words were exchanged. It happens.

On Georgetown's offensive rebounding and second-chance points down the stretch:

We started watching Roy make moves. Our perimeter people in the first half, we were concentrating on our guy and making sure we were boxing out. Then all of the sudden, for whatever, we thought we were help on the big guy. We hadn't been doing that all day. We'd been playing him one-on-one. They'd been doing a good job with accepting whatever it was he was willing to do, but we lost our concentration with our other people. It allowed them to get tremendous starts to the basket. As they demonstrated, they're very athletic and got some put-backs. WE can't have that. They did what they had to do. We didn't continue to do what we had to do, and I think that's what is most disappointing about our game in the last two minutes of the ball game.

How far do you think Georgetown can go in the tournament?

I think they can go real far; any time you have a four and a five as good as the ones they have. I'm not sure there are many teams in college basketball that are going to be able to handle that. I thought we did a fine job today, we just didn't complete it. Not everybody's going to concentrate and play the way we played. What we did this afternoon is the way we've played all year long. If you're not willing to stick your nose in there and play with that kind of toughness, they're going to have their way. For us to do as good a job on Jeff Green - I think that's outstanding - and everybody else. We you have a four and five that play that well, that's when you have a chance to really go a long way.

On what Jared Dudley and Sean Marshall have meant to Boston College's program:

I appreciate the fact that you guys have really taken the time to acknowledge and document the exceptional careers that they've had. Let's face it; they've brought Boston College basketball to a new level. For Jared to earn ACC Player of the Year is outstanding. For Sean to play - I believe it's 132 games - to start, they've brought BC to a new level. People are really excited about Boston College basketball. They're showing up. They're thinking we have a chance in every game that we play in and that's been very supportive. They've (Dudley and Marshall) helped establish that. They've raised the bar here, there's no question about it. Future classes will have to do a lot to achieve some of the things that they've done. You always have to look at your history. Our history says that BC shouldn't be where we are right now. That's an indication of the exceptional career that they've had. There's no class that (has) had the kind of career that they've had. We plan on continuing it (and) obviously you try to improve. Some future classes are going to have to work their tails off to even match this.

On Dudley and Marshall's legacy in the locker room:

The most important thing I think they're going to leave behind is how hard they work. The torch has been passed. From Kenny Harley and right back to Troy Bell, and from Troy Bell to Craig Smith, now Jared Dudley and Sean Marshall, to Tyrese Rice - the torch has been passed. How hard you have to work in order to be successful at Boston College is a commitment you make on a daily basis. That's what it's going to take excel here. We don't have any McDonald's All-Americans, believe me I'd love to have them, but we don't, so we work with what we got and we make the most of it. These guys played with a passion and a tremendous desire to excel. That's their legacy. That's what they're leaving behind and if anyone wants to continue the success that we've had, they're going to have to duplicate that, because that's the only way to get it done at Boston College.

 

BOSTON COLLEGE STUDENT-ATHLETES JARED DUDLEY AND SEAN MARSHALL

 

On Roy Hibbert's progress since the last time BC played him:

Dudley: You can definitely tell he's been working on his game. He's putting time in the gym and working on his post moves. Anyone that tall and that big should be doing that. He definitely improved. He's now an upperclassman; before he was an underclassman, so he's waited his turn and waited his time and now he's performing.

On their careers and the future of Boston College basketball:

Marshall: First off, I'd just like to thank the coaches. I thank coach (Al) Skinner for the chance to play here. I've enjoyed playing for coach Skinner, as well as (with) my teammates. It's been a great learning experience. My main goal coming to Boston College was to grow as a man. I think I did that, on and off the court. Next year they're going to have a great team. They have Tyrese (Rice) coming back, Marquez (Haynes), Tyrelle (Blair), (and) John Oates. They'll have a little more experience coming back with (this year's) freshmen coming back. I wish them the best of luck.

Dudley: When I came here, I just wanted to help the team any way that I could. I came from a winning program in high school and I was willing to do anything. I got the opportunity to play right away and with that I never looked back. I kept working on my game and tried to find my niche, which I did throughout my career. I'm glad me and Sean won the most basketball games at Boston College; we can be proud of that. We just kept the winning tradition going. I've been doing that since high school. I look back at my high school (Horizon High School), they're still good and I know BC will still be good when I'm old and watching them play. It's a great institution, a great program with a good athletic director and coaching staff. Anytime you have that in place, you'll find success.

On Georgetown's 17 offensive rebounds and second-chance scoring:

Dudley: We just couldn't keep them off the boards. They were setting their offense up, we were playing zone. People were coming across the middle. We did a good job boxing them out. Sometimes they got to loose balls. That was key. One time me and Tyrelle had a chance to get a rebound and it slipped off our hands and they picked the ball up. They were a lot taller than us, a lot more athletic and if we can't put a body on them and box them out, that's going to happen.

On BC's first half and its successful zone and defense on Roy Hibbert:

Dudley: It's a match-up zone and we've been running it for years. We made a little bit of an adjustment; I was going through with the cutters and we wanted to make some of the players that weren't good shooters shoot the ball. You collapse on Hibbert. Wallace got away from us a couple of times and hit two big threes. That's not a great shooting team, so you have to pick and choose your spots. Any great team, especially a true senior (team) is going to have a lot of weapons. We just had to let other players beat us from the outside and keep the zone in tight.

On the technical fouls and the game's high emotions:

Dudley: It's definitely an emotional game. (There is) a lot of intensity going on; a lot of pushing and a lot of grabbing. He (Jessie Sapp) didn't like that. This is basketball. I'm undersized. A lot of people down there might even be strong, so I'm grabbing, I might even push. I was getting pushed the whole time, too.  He didn't like it. He said a couple words. I didn't walk away, I just confronted him. (We) both took technical fouls and (went) back the other way.

On how the students will remember this game:

Marshall: Obviously the rebounding. We did a pretty good job the first half and the first six minutes of the second half of limiting them to one-shot opportunities. We gave them some offensive rebounds, they got second chances. They knocked down a couple shots and that was the change of the game.

Dudley: Not only the rebounding, but you also have to look at the foul situation, especially throughout the whole second half.  (We weren't) able to get to the line like I thought we should have. That just happens in basketball. They got a lot of easy putbacks, `and-ones' and we didn't get that.

On BC's response after Jeff Green's dunk gave Georgetown's a five-point lead with 1:29 left:

Dudley: Any time you want to come back. We're not thinking the game is over. There's 1:20 (left). Stranger things have definitely happened. They (have) the momentum, (but we have to) come down, score and get a stop. I'm not really sure what happened, I think Tyrese (Rice) might have (been) fouled, I don't remember exactly the possession after that. It was another offensive rebound (and) put-back that got them going. We definitely never were thinking the game was over with that much time left.

On realizing the end of their college careers:

Marshall: I was mostly upset when I got to the locker room, At the first half and like I said (before), the first seven minutes of the second half, I think we were pretty comfortable (with) what we were trying to do with the game plan. We had some letdowns, a couple turnovers and second opportunities for them and they took advantage of it. They're a good team. They were bigger than us and they out-rebounded us; that was the outcome.

Dudley: We definitely had a chance to win. We put ourselves in great possession. We put the pressure on them. They didn't fold. You (have to) tip your hats to them. They came out (and) were aggressive. I thought maybe one person really played well on their team; they didn't shoot the ball that well, except for maybe (Roy) Hibbert and (Jonathan) Wallace. That's what you wanted. You didn't want (those) two to beat you, you wanted the other guys (to) shoot the ball. We just didn't come up with those loose balls, and that's what you need, especially in the game when you're out-matched with their size. You have to get the loose balls. You have to (make) the hustle plays. We came up a little short.

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