University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn vs. Harvard Post Game Quotes (Dec. 22)
12/22/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 22, 2010
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Connecticut Head Coach Jim Calhoun
"I didn't know if I was going to get a Christmas present or coal under the Christmas tree. I got a Christmas present."
"Since we were fortunate to play well enough to beat Kentucky in Hawaii, that's the first "Hawaii-type defense" or "Maui-type defense" that I've seen. I thought we just did a magnificent job."
"We had a little, tiny let up and we made a couple of changes. We got Shabazz back on the ball, and things changed."
"I couldn't be happier, because we spent two days doing a couple different things: Really putting defensive pressure on people, taking away the three, which has been, somewhat, our nemesis...kept them out of the paint."
"We got really good performances from Charles - just the rotation of big guys. Certainly, it was Tyler's best game in the uniform. He can do those things, and I think he's feeling a little more confident."
"To be 10 and 0 at this point, I'm never shocked, and I'm not even surprised. I'm very thankful that our team played the way they did today. If we had won today, it would have been very nice. But I need them to go back to who I think they're going to need to be in the Big East."
"We've got a lot of stuff ahead of us. I'm not sure what everybody is going to do. I do know, what I saw today, that we can play anybody pretty well with that kind of defense. And we didn't need, early, great contributions from Kemba just to carry us. That was probably the major difference in the game, to some degree."
"I like the fact that we balanced the offense to some degree."
"Our defense was just spectacular, at times."
UConn Players
Kemba Walker
On the play of the front court:
"They played extremely well. We're going to need those guys to do that every night. All they have to do is give us a good effort and we should be good."
"If we play like this every night, there isn't much you can ask for. There's going to be nights where shots don't fall. As long as we give effort and play defense, we should be fine."
On getting freshman prepared for the Big East:
"There isn't much you can tell those guys. They have to just be ready. Just be ready for war."
Shabazz Napier
"I think we played well all game, but there's always room for improvement. Second half we kind of let up for like seven minutes."
"The first half was terrific. We contested a lot of shots. We just really took it to them."
"We've got to get ready for Big East play. We've got to go out there and give it our all. When we play against Pittsburg and other Big East schools it's going to be tough."
Alex Oriakhi
Did the team make a defensive statement tonight?
"Yes, that's what Coach stressed at the shoot-around - to push the offense out. I think we did a good job on their leading scorer. Roscoe did an excellent job on him."
What have you told the freshmen in preparation for the Big East season?
"I told them this is going to be a whole new season. Every game is going to be a battle. Every game is going to be a war. If we don't bring it one night, we will be beaten. I just keep stressing to them to bring their best or we're going to lose."
Do you feel ready for the Big East season?
"I think we're ready. We're their mentally. We're going to have some hard practices to get us ready."
Enosch Wolf
"It's probably the physicality in practice and they are all way more athletic than I'm used to. The fast game, the American style is the biggest adjustment."
Tyler Olander
"I think it was very important because we didn't have the best half against Coppin State. It was good to shop people we could play a good Harvard team and take away their strength which is three point shooting."
Harvard Coach Tommy Amaker
"They're a really outstanding basketball team with their length and the size up front, and ability to change shots."
"You give them all the credit in the world. I think they're tremendous."
"I thought it was hard for us to get up over them. We had open shots. We couldn't make them. That really, I thought, was the difference."
"We've been a pretty good shooting team. I thought our kids were really frustrated with not being able to make some shots. Sometimes that happens when it just zaps your energy on defense."
