Seton Hall quote book: St. John's

Kevin Willard on a potential lack of intensity during St. John's game-opening 28-5 run:
"I've never questioned this team's effort or their intensity. I give Marvin Clark a lot of credit. He came out -- I thought he really set the tone with his defense -- and offensively, I just thought he came out and really, really got us on our heels. But these guys, it's not from a lack of effort, it's just that you've got to give St. John's credit. They came out and they knew how important this game was, and they came out hungry, like a pack of dogs, and put us on our heels a little bit."

On Seton Hall's focus at beginnings of games:
"This group -- we've been in a lot of close, tight games -- I don't think this group has gone through it. I think the biggest thing I'm learning about them is they don't understand this time of year, I think, what it takes to really kind of win on a nightly basis, and so I think it's learning lessons. Sandro, Quincy, Myles Cale, for the most part -- and the rest of these guys -- have never been in this situation, and you have really just two guys that have been, and they've never been in the roles that they are, so I think they don't know. I am going to make some changes to the starting lineup moving forward, just because you can't have your starting backcourt 6-for-13 on assists and turnovers, so I am going to make some changes to maybe help that out."

Myles Powell on Seton Hall's effort:
"Coach is going to say the effort was there because he always has our back, but as a captain and a leader, I don't think it was there. We found ourselves down 20 points, and it's kind of hard to always play from behind, so like Coach said, we're going to go back and make some changes, and we're going to figure it out."

Willard on Marvin Clark:
"I loved -- I think defensively, he came out and he dove on the floor two times -- I just thought you could see he had a different type of energy than he had. I know he got a lot of rest at Providence being back in the locker room, so that might have helped him, but he really looked like he knew he wanted this game. He looked like a fifth-year senior that was going to do whatever it had to take, and I just saw it in his intensity and his overall play. It wasn't just the offense. I think the play where he dove on the floor to get an offensive rebound and they scored, and he also dove on the floor right in front of their bench, and I just thought their whole team fed off him really well."

Powell on better second-half performances, and Willard following up:
Powell: "I just think the teams come out so locked in on me closer to their bench, and they can hear their coaches calling out the plays, and when you always have a coach in your ear saying, 'Lock in or follow and trail,' it's kind of easier than when you're down on the other end by yourself. I guess that's what it is, I'm not really sure."
Willard: "I think, again, these guys have followed Myles' lead most of the year, and I'm really balancing how much -- I think we need to press and we need to be aggressive defensively, but I'm really worried about how much I've put on Myles. He plays with so much heart and he plays so hard, and he does so many good things. The only negative I'll say about him is he's such a good kid, but I just think he's being a little bit too passive. He's not playing with that selfishness early in games, and I think he realizes as the game goes on. And that's not a knock on him, that's probably a compliment, but I think some of these other guys need to help him out just a little bit more early in games instead of just sitting there watching Myles, and I need to make some changes to facilitate that a little bit."

Powell on significance of Saturday's game at Georgetown and recharging the batteries:
"We knew we had to win two of the last four games today, and that's our goal. Whatever it takes for us to get back to the (NCAA) Tournament, I'm sure Coach is going to know and he's going to make sure we know. Like I said, we've been fighting for it all year, and we're not going to stop fighting for what we want."

"That's what good teams do, they go back and watch film, see what you did wrong and you correct it. That's where we're at right now, and that's what we're going to do."

Willard on St. John's defensive effort:
"I've always thought Shamorie could probably be one of the best defenders in the league when he locks in, and again, it's hard for him to do that continually for the amount of minutes he has to play and what he does for them offensively. But when that team's locked in the way they are, and the way they were tonight -- I mean, Justin Simon's long, Marvin Clark can switch pick-and-rolls, LJ Figueroa, I think, is someone that doesn't get talked about a lot defensively -- I think their switching and their length bothered us."

On how valuable Seton Hall's upcoming bye week can be:
"I think, as the guys that cover us a lot will tell you, they'll tell you I haven't been a huge fan of the schedule -- I think that would probably be an understatement -- I know Myles Powell needs a couple days, and I think more than anything, he needs it mentally. The rest of these guys, I like the rest of these guys that haven't played a lot of games in this situation to continue with the rhythm, but I'm looking forward to the week off. Like I said, I love these guys, I love this team. We've been in a lot of close games, man, all year long -- it started in November and it takes a toll on you, physically and mentally -- and as good as these guys have been, they need a little reset button to kind of just get their batteries charged, especially the guy sitting next to me (Powell). He's done it all year, and I've got great confidence that he's going to be able to bounce back and do it again."