BIG EAST CONFERENCE MEN'S TOURNAMENT

March 10, 2000

Anthony Glover

Chudney Gray

Mike Jarvis

Lavor Postell

COACH JARVIS: Well, I guess everybody certainly saw an exciting game, a game that was filled with defense. Our deepest respect, obviously, is toward Miami, who just would not, as always, would never, ever quit. And we wish them the best in the NCAA Tournament. We're very fortunate, obviously feel very blessed to be moving on to play for the Big East Championship tomorrow against the University of Connecticut. We'll give it everything we've got, as we've done all year.

COACH JARVIS: Probably, but I don't remember. I don't know what more could happen in 2 seconds than happened tonight. It was just incredible. I don't think anybody in this room could have written a script and played it out the way it was played out here.

ANTHONY GLOVER: I was nervous, first of all. But Coach Thurman (phonetic spelling) told me, you know, back in my high school games, same way in a championship game. He just have to remind me of that. I just bend me knees, follow through and I hit both of them.

LAVOR POSTELL: We're back in that situation again. This year, I think, our expectations are much higher now. We have more confidence going to this championship game, you know, I never did this before. I hope tomorrow -- it will be my first time.

CHUDNEY GRAY: I think that it's a great opportunity for us to come out and play hard and play as a unit and hopefully if we do everything right, we can cut down the net.

ANTHONY GLOVER: To me, I think that's bad luck, so I didn't touch him at all.

ANTHONY GLOVER: I don't know what he thought. But I ain't touching him. (Laughter.)

ANTHONY GLOVER: I thought we had this game, you know, and they called the foul on my man Lavor, so we had to see what deal was going to go down on the free-throw line. Fortunately, they missed, so bye-bye.

LAVOR POSTELL: I mean, I'm a senior for four years. Plays like that, I let them catch it and make a shot from half court. I thought it was a clean -- the ref thought I touched him or whatever so, you know, they had an opportunity to win the game, but the Lord was on our side. He missed. We got the win.

COACH JARVIS: We were hoping that maybe they would make a mistake against one of the players that we run, which is a little -- sort of like a pick-and-roll between Lavor, Bootsy and Lane. If they make a mistake, we have a chance to get inside, maybe get fouled, get a basket. They did a great job of taking away both of them, but in so doing, they opened up the baseline for Anthony to be able to catch. There was plenty of time to catch. We were fortunate, you know, that they made the call, and even more fortunate that he was the guy going to the line and that he made it.

COACH JARVIS: Well, Chudney's contribution tonight, I think, is sort of indicative and symbolic of his contribution all year. Chudney's been the guy that, you know, has basically given us what we needed when we needed it, and he's come up big. And he certainly has, I think, justified the faith that he had in himself when most people were saying that he could not play basketball at this level, and when they were saying that he should have stayed in Manhattan, I believe that's where he was or where he was going. But he came to St. John's, he waited his turn and worked and worked. When he thought he should have played more, he worked and worked. Things have a way of working out for people who work hard and have talent. Chudney's doing a great job.

COACH JARVIS: Yeah, he's very banged up tonight. But he's had -- been able to bounce back. We're certainly optimistic he'll be able to do the same this time as well.

LAVOR POSTELL: I heard that, but, you know, there's a saying going around, be careful what you wish for, you might just get it. We have a little rematch going on from last year. It's going to be a battle tomorrow.

CHUDNEY GRAY: Lavor said it all.

COACH JARVIS: Yeah, that was tending to Erick. I figured my team would get -- I was hoping to come out and we'd be up by ten, but it didn't work.

COACH JARVIS: Well, this year we were able to beat them a couple of times. However, it's a new season, and as difficult as it was the first and second time, it's going to be even more difficult tomorrow. But I think there will be a full house to see what happens. Thank you.

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