March 10, 2005

Box Score Quotes Notes Recap

Dayton Head Coach Brian Gregory

"This time [against Temple] we battled a little better and our defense was better. Nineteen second-chance points, however, you can't give up that many. I'm disappointed with how we played. But to be 18-11 with six freshmen playing a lot, I'm proud of the way we played [this season]."

"We should represent this league in the NIT. That's our position. I just would think that with the Atlantic 10 and with the prestige of this league and our 10-6 record [we'll get an invitation]. This team has worked hard all along. It would be great for the young guys to be practicing for the post season."

Norman Plummer

"I think we had a great year overall. Nobody expected us to have this success."

Temple Acting Head Coach Dan Leibovitz

On missing the A-10 Awards Banquet
"We thought it was best for the time to spend two or three hours together, not as a show of defiance but as a show of unity."

"At halftime it was deceptive both ways. Dayton had made only one three, but I figured they'd start hitting. On the other hand, Mardy [Collins] was only 1-for-11 at halftime and I figured he'd start hitting."

"I think we got a little bit emotional in the first half, myself included, the way things were going. And so we got a little too aggressive."

On George Washington
"They're a great team and we think it's a great challenge going into the next game."

On Head Coach John Chaney
"I talked to him at 10:30 at the shoot-around. He just said he believes in us as a staff."

Mardy Collins

On the play of the freshmen
"We want those guys to grow as players. They have been getting better and better. They stepped forward and made some big shots."