Santangelo Says

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Dec. 1, 1999

"Monday night was fun. It's always fun playing against Blake (WSU point guard Pengelly) since we've been going against each other since high school. It's nice to beat WSU. It's always a good backyard fight. We knew it would be a tough game coming in and they would play hard. We knew if we met their intensity we'd come out successful.

The WSU game was kind of a hard game to get into a good flow. I know a lot of people were talking about the officiating after the game, but I was so focused on keeping the team moving I didn't notice it much. I think the play was sub-par last night, and we really haven't played well all year. But it's only November, we have a lot of time to improve and a long way to go.

A think a lot of our problems have been our approach to offense. Our defense has really been good, even great in spurts. I think it's a little bit of we're forcing things on offense, not letting the sets and motion work for itself. We're going out on our own a little bit. The way we've always clicked is by getting each other shots, setting good screens and running our motion. We haven't really made the commitment to do those things. I don't know if it's the chemistry as much as it is the lack of commitment. We have the chemistry - we want to win and want to work together, we just haven't done the little things. It's coming, and Monday night in spurts was the best we've run the offense.

I think we would have a tendency to look to a game like Cincinnati a little early, maybe even overlook Boise State because we have them at home. But we have to focus on BSU. That's the biggest game at hand. We'll be worried about Cincinnati come Thursday and Friday in practice.

The Cincinnati game will be exciting. It has been something that's been a motivating factor since we found out, even before they were the number one team in the country. It will show us where we are and what we have to work on. I'm excited for this stretch and excited about all of December. We come to college to play basketball because of games like this. We need to have a good game with BSU and get ready for some good games in December.

I'm looking forward to the Cincinnati game because Kenyon Martin and Pete Mickeal were on the World University Games team last summer. We were trash talking the whole time because we knew we were playing each other, but it was all in fun. I roomed with them and developed a good relationship. Pete and I spent a lot of time together and I'm excited about playing them for that reason. I think it's an advantage both ways for me to know a little about their game and for them to know about mine. I know Cincinnati is known for their intimidating demeanor as well as defensive intensity. But it gives me an advantage to know their personalities and knowing them off the court as far as taking away that edge. I consider them friends.

You hear the things about Hugs thugs, but I don't think it's a bad rap. It's how they play. They don't back down from anyone. It's their attitude and approach and is one of their competitive advantages. Within the confines of basketball, it's a good rap to have. The New York Knacks always had that reputation and it worked to their advantage. Even though the game is in Cleveland, it's still in Ohio and I'm going in as if the game was in Cincinnati. If we play with the heart and desire we are capable of we might win some people over, but I'm going in and be ready for a hostile crowd.

I'm looking forward to playing the top team in the country. This is why we play. This is an exciting time for me as well as for the program. Win or lose it will be a great time to play in such places as Gunned Arena, the United Center and Parley Pavilion. But we're going to do everything we can to scrap out some wins. These are stories I'll tell my grandkids.

I was pleased with the way I played against WSU. I didn't put up big numbers and haven't yet this year. As far as some of the more intangible things as well as the defensive intensity I was happy. I still have a long way to go, and part of that is a team thing. I'm never completely happy or satisfied, but I feel good about the way I played against the Cougars.

I'm healthy and starting to feel good after a couple of setbacks with strept. My conditioning has been affected a little bit by being sick and it will still take some time to get that back, but I'm close to being 100 percent.

We don't talk about the national rankings. It's not our concern. That's the beauty of basketball, it gets decided on the floor and not by a committee somewhere else. We have three wins and have a chance to get some more in the pre-season. We have to prove every night we are a good team."