“I just think the overall bounce back is really important. I thought we played good — we obviously played good at ‘Nova, played really good at home against Creighton for 38 minutes, battled against ‘Nova and kind of had tough losses — and then going on the road against a really good Providence team and a really good UConn team, more than anything, I think that shows a good bounce back for our guys.”
On Seton Hall’s seniors:
“I really did challenge them after the ‘Nova loss. I wanted them to play with a little bit more of an edge, a little bit more angry, and I think they both — Myles Cale and Sandro — have been phenomenal, and Shavar has just been Shavar, he’s been as steady as can be, offensively and defensively. I challenged them, I got after them, and they’ve really answered with not only good games, but I think the four practices we had this week, they were really intense and they really got after it, and I think it’s kind of got us back into a good mindset.”
On Sandro Mamukelashvili and Bryce Aiken:
“I think Sandro, the biggest thing we’ve talked with Sandro about is I think he’s starting to realize he’s got to play with an intensity at all times just because of the amount of stuff we run for him, we run through him, and how important he is for us. So I think he’s played with probably more intensity the last — all year, but the last few games — on the offensive end, he’s come out very aggressive, which has helped everyone be aggressive. And then BA, for battling the injuries he’s had to battle and not get the amount of time he’s had, he’s come out and I think he’s given us everything he can have right now. It’s all you can ask for with Bryce.”
On focus entering this week:
“I think the biggest thing is we just wanted to get back to being a little bit more aggressive on both ends of the floor, and again, we weren’t in panic mode. We lost to the No. 3 team in the country twice and the No. 11 team in the country twice within a two-week span, so we kind of understood we had some good opportunities against those teams, we didn’t finish because I thought we weren’t as aggressive as we needed to be, and I thought we came out really aggressive on both ends and just got back to being a little bit more aggressive on the defensive end.”
On history of responding in February:
“I think I said it in the last game, Zach, it’s helped me. I think I kind of understand where we are, I don’t lose it as much as I used to and I have a much better understanding of what we need to do. I think that helps me try to get the team focused on what we need, so it’s one of those things that as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that you can’t lose sight of what we’ve worked on, where we’ve been, where we need to go.”
On Ike Obiagu:
“Not only has he been great, I think he’s been great on pick-and-rolls and much more aggressive. He’s a presence down there. He probably altered 15 shots, he only blocked two, but I just think he’s — even on the offensive end, we’ve done some things with him offensively — I just think he’s starting to run the floor well, he’s starting to duck in and take up space more, he’s starting to get comfortable. He’s been our best plus-minus in Big East play, so I agree with you, J.P. He’s been phenomenal. He doesn’t get the credit, he doesn't get the numbers, but he’s been phenomenal.”
On having UConn back in the Big East:
“It’s great, Jerry, it really is. To be honest with you, it’s phenomenal, it’s a high-intensity game. Danny’s teams, not only are they disciplined on defense, but they’re physical on offense. It’s an old-school Big East game, and it’s great to have them back in the league. We like having them back in the league. But more or less, I think the kids all know each other, you look at the rosters and most of them are Northeast kids all playing AAU basketball together, so to have them back in is phenomenal for the league, it’s phenomenal for everybody. No one’s at all disappointed whatsoever.”
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