March 14, 2007

Press Conference Quotes

March 14, 2007

Boston College Eagles

 

HEAD COACH AL SKINNER

 

Could you reflect on Sean Marshall's contributions over the last four years?

He's started more games at BC than any previous player.  I think that's an indication of right from day one, we thought he would be a player that could contribute to the program.  He's been able to do that.  As far as BC's history is concerned, this is the first time we've had a team go to the tournament four years in a row.  That's an indication of his impact.  He's scored a lot of points.  He's played in a lot of big games.  He's highlighted his career with some tremendous shots.  He's always done what we've asked of him.  Early in his career we asked him to be a defensive presence and try and shut people down, and he did that.  We asked him to be a leader and score more points this year, and he's done that.  He's just been a tremendous team player and has allowed us to have a lot of success.  From the physical standpoint, he's almost never hurt and always plays.  Without his contributions this team doesn't have the kind of success that we've had.

 

With Sean and Jared (Dudley) together, how does that effect what you do as a coach?

What I've asked them to do is to speak on something if they know it's right or if it's wrong.  They have to feel comfortable enough to give that leadership and talk to their teammates to make sure everyone's on the same page.  I think they have a pretty good idea of what we're trying to do.  I want to be able to fine tune that, but I want my players to think on the floor and recognize situations.  That's what you're relying on when you have upperclassmen.  Hopefully we can take advantage of that. 

 

Can you talk about how difficult it is to defend the motion offense?

It's difficult when you have good players, and obviously Texas Tech has good players.  The thing about motion, obviously the ball is moving.  You can't dictate everything that's going to happen.  That being said, guys have to stay alert and pay attention.  You also have to know personnel.  Everyone has tendencies.  That's why league play becomes so difficult sometimes, because you start to learn people's tendencies.  When it's new like it is for us, you have to learn on the fly.  The motion offense is for guys who think and think well and make good decisions.  When they do that, it makes it very hard to defend.

 

Is it scary to play Texas Tech when you don't know what to expect as far as what they're going to give you?

I think most teams in college basketball today have those ups and downs.  That's what the sport is.  There's enough talent throughout the game that those things are going to happen.  It's proven night in and night out in our league.  Some nights you get it going a little better than other nights.  It comes down to who's more consistent.  They're going to be at the top of the heap.

 

Can a team correct inconsistency going into March?

The night thing about that it's easy to correct.  Inconsistency happens more over the course of a season.  In a short series like this, you have a chance to be more consistent.  I don't think what has happened before now concerns anyone right now.  Everyone's starting off on the same slate.

 

Have you ever met Texas Tech head coach Bobby Knight and do you think there any similarities between you two?

I think qualities that you'll find in any coach will be leadership and a love for the game.  I think most coaches are intense regardless of how they display it.  There are certain qualities that coaches need to have in order to be successful.  I think you have to be true to yourself in coaching.  It depends on personality.  From a personality standpoint, I think we're a little different.

 

Looking back on Jared Dudley's career, did you think he would ever be good enough to be named player of the year, whether it was in the ACC or Big East?

He's progressed tremendously.  I tell my players this all the time.  I never want individual success more than they do.  Team success is something different.  I'll do what I have to do for the team to be successful.  As far as individual is concerned, they have to earn that.  They have to earn their teammates' and coaches' respect.  They're going to be given an opportunity.  Obviously Jared was given an opportunity and he took full advantage.  He had to work his tail off in order to do that.  It's a tremendous compliment to him that he's been able to bring his game to this level.  From day one, he's been a significant player.  Obviously what we've been able to do the last four years is an indication of that.

 

Can this team duplicate what it did last year?

You have to play the game.  Let's face it.  To dance, you have to be here.  Now that we're here, we have to take advantage of the opportunity.  This is the stage you want to be in.  This is what you work for.  Now that we're here, we want to take advantage of it.  We're going to be playing against some of the best college basketball teams in the country.  That said, anything can happen on a given night.  Not only do you have to be good, you have to be a little bit lucky. 

 

Do you feel you'll have an advantage playing in a familiar arena?

I think initially it was nice to be able to come down to an area that you're familiar with.  But once that ball goes up, all that goes out the window.  You have to play the game.  You have to get the job done.

 

STUDENT-ATHLETES JARED DUDLEY AND SEAN MARSHALL

 

Can you describe Al Skinner's coaching style?

Dudley: Coach Skinner is a calm person in the way he lets our players play.  He has complete faith in what we do.  He lets us figure it out.  When we don't figure it out, he'll call a timeout basically to calm us down and get back to the basics.  I think we basically play the way he coaches.  Out there on the floor, we're calm, we don't rush anything.  I just think it's key for us in this game to start off well.

 

Marshall: Like Jared was saying, Coach Skinner is a very relaxed person.  There aren't many coaches the same way.  We try to bring that to the floor, to be very relaxed when we're running the offense and trying to pick up the energy a little bit on defense.  If something goes wrong, obviously he calls a timeout, tries to gather the team together.  But if not, he allows us to learn from our mistakes and try to fight through.

 

For Dudley: Can you put your career in perspective for us?

Dudley: Looking back on it, patience and timing is key for me throughout my whole career.  I know when it's my time to step up to the forefront and when it's my time to be just a follower and let the leader lead and do everything.  From the Big East to the ACC, it's been a dream come true to do both these leagues.  For me it doesn't matter if I was the go-to guy or not.  I need to simply do my role to the best of my ability and help my team win.  I think what defines me is my will to win throughout my whole career.  I think me and Sean are the only people ever to go to the NCAA Tournament four straight years.  For BC, it's basically just keeping the tradition going on.

 

What has last month been like after Sean Williams was suspended?

Dudley: It's not just through Sean, it's also through us making adjustments.  Any good team with any good coaching staff is going to take away your No. 1 option when it comes to certain plays.  With myself, I've been struggling shooting the ball lately.  That's just going to happen.  At the end of the season, your legs could be a little tired, but right now this is the time for me to lead.  We've had some big games that we've lost, but with losing Sean our margin for error is somewhat smaller, especially on the road.  If our communication and execution isn't up to par, which it wasn't, you're going to get beat, and you're going to get beat pretty bad.  But now you're basically on a clean slate.

 

Has it been frustrating?

Dudley: Yes, it's definitely been frustrating at certain times.  I'm not someone who likes to lose, so if it wasn't frustrating to me, then I don't think I would be doing this institution and this university justice.  I don't like to lose.  We've been struggling.  I've put that definitely on my back and on BC's back for us to get back on the winning track.

 

Does the team have confidence problems after losing five of last seven games?

Marshall: I think the confidence in the team is alright.  We're coming into this tournament with a different mindset, with a mindset to come in with a new start.  All the stuff in the past, the losing that we've gone through during the season, losing Sean Williams, all the ups and downs, that's all over now.  We just have to come in with a new mindset and just try to win games now.  That's the most important thing.

 

Could you have played for a coach like Bobby Knight?

Dudley: Me personally, my high school coach was very similar to Bobby Knight in the sense that he was intimidating.  My high school coach was about 6-5, played in the NBA, real physical, real intimidating, always yelling, always in your face, so I've had the best of both styles.  I prefer an Al-Skinner-type in the way that he calmly lets you do it.  I could play for any good coach, especially if I'm playing.  With Bobby Knight, I would have no problem playing for him. 

 

Marshall: I wouldn't have a problem playing for him.  Like Jared, my high school coach did a lot of yelling and screaming, so I was used to that coming out of high school.  It's kind of different coming to Boston College, playing for a calm guy.  My whole life I've had guys kind of yelling down my back and getting on me for things, but Coach Skinner is not that kind of coach.  I definitely could play for a guy like that.

 

How has the ACC prepared you and how has the Big 12 prepared Texas Tech?

Dudley: Both teams are battle-tested.  Both teams have been through ups and downs.  I remember watching them play, and they were losing four straight.  I saw the Nebraska loss with the pass that was thrown back inside.  They've had some big wins, big wins and bad losses.  I could say the same for us.  The question is who's going to oppose their will offensively, is their motion going to affect us, their moving around and setting back screens coming up, player screens?  They do a good job of their big (men) setting screens for (Jarrius) Jackson to get off.  Are we going to oppose their will offensively with the flex?  And that seven-foot jump shot, taking the height and the physical advantage to our advantage basically.  The key to March Madness is controlling the tempo, keeping turnovers low and imposing your will.

 

Marshall: You look at both leagues, they're both tough leagues.  It's amazing how they can get key wins against a Kansas team and Texas A&M, and then it's amazing how they can lose to lower standard teams, just like us.  We can look at our year - we have some good key wins, then we have some bad key losses.  Coming into this game, all those losses, all those wins are done.  It's just about executing on offense and doing well on defense.  Both things are key in the tournament, and the will to win.

 

Do you have an advantage with your familiarity with the arena?

Dudley: It's nice to be in a familiar setting, but when you throw the ball up, there should be no advantage whatsoever.  The only possible advantage being here in basically ACC country are Wake Forest and maybe the crowd will be going with us.  The NCAA Tournament, which I have been going to since I was little - in San Diego, going to the games, watching the teams - the crowd loves to go with the lower seeds.   We are definitely the seventh seed, and there's always been an upset.  I forget the statistic, but a 10 beating a seven is most likely to happen.  It's our goal to make it not happen here.  When it comes down to it, playing in this gym, or even if we played in Texas Tech's gym, once that ball goes up, it doesn't matter.

 

Marshall: I don't think it's too much of an advantage.  Yeah, we've played here twice and won here twice, but once the ball goes in the air, it's a basketball game.  It's not like either team is playing at home.  We're both on the road, and we both have to play well on the road if you want to win.

 

Do you feel like you're the home team even though you're so far from home?

Dudley: We're hoping it's to our advantage.  I would think the ACC family would stick together and definitely cheer us on.  I would definitely do it for Wake Forest if they were in Boston.  I'm just trying to get a win.  I could care less if I was in the state of Texas, and they had the advantage.  We need a win to keep this thing going, and any time you get a win, your confidence just starts rising.  Who says we can't come down here and win two games?

 

Can you talk about the bond between the two of you?

Marshall: We're very familiar with each other.  I don't know how many guys could watch their teammate play, and sometimes Jared will break the play, and I know exactly what he's doing, and I will try to fill in the spot for him.  I don't know many guys who can do that.  I know exactly what Jared's going to bring to the table.  He's going to come out, he's going to work hard, he's going to try to win, he's going to do whatever it takes to win.  We try to do that together.  We've been trying to do that together since we got here, and we will continue to try to do that in the tournament.

 

Dudley: This is now our fourth NCAA Tournament, we've gotten to the Sweet 16, we have experience of being in pressure situations.  We've been ranked as No. 3 in the country at one point at Boston College.  We've been not ranked.  We've been through it all, ups and downs, 20-0.  Hopefully this pays off now.  We've been here four years, and the coaching can only go so far.  This is tournament time, where players have to take over games.  Everybody's going to know what you can do with scouting reports, but it's `can you enforce your will?'  With me and Sean playing together, you have to give Sean the ball at certain spots and times of the game and same for me.  When it comes down to it, you've got to play, you've got to make shots, and hopefully we can do it at this tournament.  It's the biggest stage, and Sean and myself, we love to perform at the highest stage.