Kevin Willard quote book: Big East conference call

On Myles Powell receiving first team all-Big East honors:
"I'm really proud of Myles. I think it's a well-deserved honor considering how hard he's worked since he's gotten here, and played with such passion. He's played really hard, he's really taken the leadership role when those four seniors left last year and really stepped in from a work ethic standpoint to make sure everybody understands how we work here. I think the coaches recognizing how much work he's done and how good he's gotten is a great honor for Myles."

On Seton Hall's Big East tournament quarterfinal matchup with Georgetown:
"Obviously, they're a really tough matchup. The three freshmen -- (Josh) LeBlanc, (James) Akinjo and (Mac) McClung -- are playing fantastic. Akinjo, I think as he's progressed throughout the year, has been so steady -- not only on the offensive end, but really solid and good on the defensive end -- and obviously when you have a dominating center like Jessie Govan, who has been doing it inside and out, it's a big challenge for us. So we're obviously excited to be playing Thursday night, but we have a big challenge ahead of us."

On Romaro Gill, his importance in defending Govan, and his development:
"Ro did a decent job in the first half against him last game, and obviously putting some muscle and some length on Jessie always helps. Ro has developed great. He was really starting to come along, and it really was a shame that he got hurt when he did -- right in the beginning of the Big East season -- because I think he had really just started to kind of get his confidence and kind of feel going. It's taken a little bit of time for him to get back, but since he's been back, I think he gives us a defensive presence and a shot blocker that can alter shots. It lets guys know that he's down there that when he drives the lane, you're going to have to deal with him."

On Jared Rhoden, his progression, and whether he saw it coming:
"I did. The thing I love about Jared is he plays with such great enthusiasm, so much positivity that I knew once he kind of -- he missed all summer, he's a little bit like Myles Cale in the fact that he missed his freshman summer because he had shoulder surgery, and he was way behind the curve as we started the season -- but he has such a great work ethic, such a great attitude, that it was only a matter of time until he caught up. He's a guy that is a smart kid, he knows three positions on offense and on the defensive side. It was just a matter of time because he has such a good attitude that he was going to start playing the way he's been playing."

On bringing Seton Hall down from the high of defeating Marquette and Villanova:
"Not at all. I think the most important thing that I've been preaching with these guys is to continue to get better and improve, and just focus on that. I think we're a basketball team that's been playing pretty darn good since the Creighton game at home, and we had a couple of tough losses in there, but this group has stayed very positive. They play with a great work ethic, and my message this week is we have a lot of basketball left to play, and let's continue to worry about getting better and just focusing on that."

On adjustments to Marquette and what he sees differently compared to January:
"That's a good question. We lost a real close one to them at home -- we had the ball up one with a minute to go and had a shot to win it at the buzzer against them -- but we really didn't change all that much. I think the biggest thing in conference play is I haven't seen much that changed, I think everybody's just figuring everybody out just a little bit more. All these games are so close -- it's coming down to a possession here or there -- and that's kind of what's happened. If you look at all their games lately, they're in position and it's just coming down to a possession here or there. There's really nothing that's changed. They're still a very good basketball team, and I think they're going to be dangerous come March."