March 15, 2007

JACKSON STATE HEAD COACH TEVESTER ANDERSON

On Trey Johnson
"Trey Johnson is a prolific player. It is great to coach him and I'm happy he's on my team. He's one of those special kind of players that comes along every so often. He is always in the gymnasium to make himself a better basketball player. But to have him on our team is kind of special."

On a #16 beating a #1 and adding to an already wonderful year for African American coaches in competitive sports (Tony Dungy) "It would be a historical and great day for our program and Jackson State University. It is an opportunity I cherish but it is a tough road to hoe no question about that. It is a monumental task but I feel like one of these days a 16 seed will beat a number one."

On playing close to Jackson, Miss.
"Naturally we were excited for our team, but also for their parents and our fans. It is a pretty short trip down here to New Orleans. To play in this particular area is really a boost for our fans."

"When you are playing a number one seed, I'd rather play them close to home where your fans base can come and watch you play and be a part of it...When fans are here you get a lot of support and maybe it will make you play a bit better because of your fan base."

On Jackson State's rich basketball tradition
"This program has a lot of pride. Many people don't know that Jackson State has 16, 17, or 18 players play in the NBA. About 10 of the players were drafted in the first round."

"They've had a lot of pros, perhaps more than any other program in the state of Mississippi to play in the NBA. But the program over the years has kind of gone down a little bit. So our goal is to try and bring the pride back into the program. Bring our fans back into the program. Get some support back into the program."