BIG EAST CONFERENCE MEN'S TOURNAMENT

March 9, 2000

Matt Doherty

COACH DOHERTY: Well, we gave it a shot. We gave it a run, and came up against, you know, one of the best -- the best team in the league. We were right there. The kids could have gave up and they didn't, and we're all fortunate and blessed to be working at a great university with great kids. And I'm real proud of them. You've got to give Miami a lot of credit, and I think the fact that we didn't, you know, we played yesterday in a physical, emotional game, drained our tanks a little bit and we weren't as active, especially defensively, as I would have liked. We gave them too many easy opportunities and you can't do that to a good team. So, you know, I knew that would be a factor and try to fight it as best you can, but I think that, you know, that was a factor in the game. But besides that, if Miami's 23rd ranked team in the country, maybe we're 23 and a half and we hope that we get invited to the NCAA Tournament. But if we don't, we'll gladly accept a bid to New York and NIT and try to make a run at coming back here. So I'm proud of the team. I feel for the guys because we're hurting right now.

COACH DOHERTY: I think Troy was frustrated. I think we were all a little frustrated but Troy did a real good job of calming down. I took him out one time because I felt them get frustrated. It's hard, does anybody here like to have someone tell them calm down when you're frustrated? That makes it worse sometimes, so you try to back off and then after a couple of seconds say, "hey, you need to calm down." We've had some experiences this year like at Rutgers where, you know, he's learned from those experiences where the frustration doesn't help. I thought he did an excellent job of calming down and coming out and playing with poise the end of the game. It was a very physical game, a lot of banging going on. A lot of elbows being thrown and things like that. So I was real pleased with his poise. He's really matured.

COACH DOHERTY: To be honest with you, I forget what the call was about. All I know it was, it was that call where there was a screen. I'll watch the tape, if I was wrong, I'll apologize. If I wasn't, I'll send a videotape to the direct --

COACH DOHERTY: I don't remember. But it was over the pick. That's what got me fired up. That pick, I didn't agree with it, but, you know, Ted Valentine's a darn good official. I've been wrong maybe once before. (Laughter.) But I'll look at the tape and if I feel like I was right, I'll send it to the Director of Officiating. If I was wrong, I'll apologize. That's part of the game. We're both looking at things and we all got opinions. But he's one of the best officials in the league, in the country. I'll gladly take him any game I got. All three officials are good officials and good guys. I like to be able to talk to officials and communicate with them. He talked to me after that and he doesn't hold a grudge. So... I thought we needed a spark, too, to be honest with you. There were some things going wrong, going against us. I didn't mind getting a technical, to be honest with you. It was their ball and I thought we needed something to fire us up and maybe the building up.

COACH DOHERTY: Yeah, they got -- we fouled. Front end of a one and one, they're up one. So I'm assuming he's going to make both. I probably should have maybe had two plays in, one if he makes both, one if he doesn't. But in hindsight, I still think that's a good play. Troy wasn't getting a whole lot around the basket against them, so we got our best player, an open three-pointer, which he -- I don't know what his stats are lately in the three-point range, but I'll take him against -- I'll take him against anybody in the league in terms of three-point shooters. I don't think Coach Hamilton was real comfortable when he saw Troy spotting up for an open three. But so, you know, the play before, I don't know how many plays before, Matt Carroll has an open three. We got two of our best shooters with open looks. That's all you can ask for. They're not always going to go down. At the end I was frustrated that maybe I didn't have somebody screen on the ball to give Harold an opening to throw the pass. But they're a good defensive team. They're experienced, so my hat's off to them.

COACH DOHERTY: One, they're experienced. Two, they're athletic and long. And, you know, thick. Wimbley's thick, Bland's thick, they've got quick feet. Tyler's not thick, but he's quick and he's long. Bland's really good off of cheating off the other post player and getting into Troy's way and then getting back to his man. He does a very good job of that. I think Jennings sets the tone. All of a sudden with Jennings -- Jennings, to me, was -- and Etan Thomas were the two best defensive players in the league. Jennings sets the tone out front. All of a sudden you have a 6'3", 6'4" guard pressuring the ball. He's got long arms, quick feet, the vision of your entry pass isn't as good. You're starting your offense out a little bit farther. They have a good defensive team from point guard to five-man.

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