Quentin Hillsman Quotes
Penn State vs. Syracuse
December 6, 2007
Syracuse, N.Y. - Carrier Dome
Opening Statement:
"Obviously I am very happy. This is a very big win for our program. It was just an awesome win. All the credit goes to our student-athletes. We put a game plan in place and they had to execute it, and they did. They did everything accurately from buzzer to buzzer. We can't take any of the credit, we have to give all the credit to our kids; they played as hard as they could and did everything they had to do. We did an awesome job. I don't know what to say. It was one of those nights where I thought that our kids just really competed at the level that they needed to compete at to be a post season team. We beat a team that just upset Duke and obviously that was a big win for our program."
"Obviously I am very happy. This is a very big win for our program. It was just an awesome win. All the credit goes to our student-athletes. We put a game plan in place and they had to execute it, and they did. They did everything accurately from buzzer to buzzer. We can't take any of the credit, we have to give all the credit to our kids; they played as hard as they could and did everything they had to do. We did an awesome job. I don't know what to say. It was one of those nights where I thought that our kids just really competed at the level that they needed to compete at to be a post season team. We beat a team that just upset Duke and obviously that was a big win for our program."
On pre-game preparations:
"We just go into the game and prepare like crazy. We did a really good job of getting ready to play. They did a very good job on focusing on what we had to do. I thought we gained some momentum in Louisiana and all that momentum got the W."
On the zone defense:
"We said we would stay in it as long as we should. At some point in the zone, usually they start making their shots and you have to get out of it. We did a very good job getting out on the shooters. We did a great job recognizing who could shoot the ball and who couldn't. Sometimes they had the ball in high post and we let them get there a few times, but we knew the high post wouldn't hurt us. She'd get the ball, she'd turn around, and she'd pass out to the shooters. She'd try to pass it up out to the shooters and the shooters would be locked down."
On concentrating on Penn State's best players:
"I think that we took their best players away. It's a rough game for us if people take Chandrea, Erica, and Nicole away from us. We took their top three kids away and by taking the top three kids away you put our players in a position to make plays that they are not used to making."
On forcing quick shots from Penn State:
"I think our defense was so good today that they got opened up and they were surprised, just like I was because we were playing flawless defense. I think that when you get everybody in their face all game, you open it up. You just kind of say, 'this is it,' and you rush it. You just kind of take a rushed shot because you finally have an opening."
On potentially becoming a top 25 team:
"I believe that if you go out and compete at that level, you can beat a lot of teams. I think that history in this program, we have been close a lot of times. Right now, with our program, we have turned the corner. There have been a lot of great coaches standing at this podium after a lot of games and there have been a lot of great players standing here after a lot of games, but we turned the corner tonight. The tough thing is going to be coming out next game and playing at this level. Now we've proven that we can play at this level, we have to continue to play at this level. One thing about our program, one thing about our athletic department, they support us and give us everything we need to compete at this level. So it's our responsibility to play at this level. We have to make sure we come out and give Dr. Gross and Chancellor Cantor what they deserve with this women's program, they're committed to doing that, and we have to be committed to competing at this level."
On his expectations this far into the season:
"Our team is very talented, look at our roster. Honestly, I think it's safe to say if you look at what we have on the floor and on the perimeter, it's hard to guard us. I'm not surprised at how fast it's happening. I would have been really surprised if we went the other way."
On losing to Penn State last season:
"Last year we were banged up, you can't compare that. I just knew that with the kids that were recruited, and the kids that we had on the floor, I think that our program was going in the right direction."
On tonight's defense:
"We took them away, we talked about extending our zone out another two or three steps and we did that tonight. Honestly, it worked and we're going to get back into the gym tomorrow putting some more work in and really get tightened up; we're going to need that. You guys know what kind of conference this is and Penn State is like another good team in our conference. We have to make sure we do this night in and night out."
