Coach Boeheim Quotes
2004 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship
Pepsi Center
Denver, Colo.
Saturday, March 20, 2004
Opening Statement
“I thought today our defense came back and our zone was good for the entire game. We did a good job of getting on their shooters.”
“I thought we played as well as we can for the whole game.”
“We played as well as we can for long periods of time.”
“We beat a good basketball team who has been hot lately. I’m really proud of the way our team played today.”
On theory of surviving and advancing in this tournament
“We were the underdog and we won, which always leaves you happy. We were happy to beat Maryland, because they have been as good a team as anyone. I don’t think they were able to play against our defense, but you don’t want to be in this kind of situation with Gary (Wiliams). He has the full court press, which has become a lost art in college basketball today. We had to rebound and handle their pressure, and we were comfortable and handled the ball well. Bottom line, we played a great 38 minutes, and overcame a bad two minutes.”
On speaking with Gary William after the game
“It is tough. We are good friends, and we have had a lot of battles together, which have come down to the end. He is the only coach I worry about, because we could have beaten any other team today after the way we played. His (Gary Williams) team will fight the whole 40 minutes, and they want a win.”
On altitude
“We got a little tired today, but I think we played well at the end of both games. There’s no question that it can wear you down, but we don’t ever talk about it with the players. We have won four games in Denver. I wouldn’t mind coming back and playing in Denver again.”
On Hakim Warrick
“Hakim (Warrick) was tremendous today. When he gets down in the low post he is very tough to guard.”
