USF vs. Providence
Post Game Quotes
2/10/2009
USF Sun Dome- Tampa, Fla

Head Coach Stan Heath

“This wasn't what I expected not necessarily, it wasn't losing it was how we played. Last game we were a hungry team that was on a mission together and tonight it just wasn't there, I didn't think our focus was there. Providence did a great job of capitalizing every time we made mistakes. We had what looked like a two-on-one or a one-on-one layup, next thing we know we're missing and they're down the floor with no defensive coverage back there, getting ready to shoot layups. What can I say ? you work so hard, you fight and get yourself to the free throw line and those numbers are just not where they should be. We don't give ourselves a chance when we go to the free throw line, we don't cash it at a higher rate. Those were some frustrating things that happened tonight. Dominque (Jones) was trying to carry us by himself. Alex (Rivas) picking up a couple fouls really hurt us, I thought (Augustus Gilchrist) was a freshman today, he is a freshman and he tried a few times. Aris (Williams) finally came on in the second half and gave us some good buckets. Their big guys really took it to us and we just didn't have an answer to guard those guys. They made us pay.”

On the defense
“We could guard them a lot better. We knew going into the game a big key was defending the threes. I think Marshon Brooks had two corner shots against our zone where we just came out and didn't take the three away, we weren't there ready on the catch. That was something we talked about that didn't get executed and again I think that was more of a focus thing, not being able to guard a little better.”

On Brian McKenzie's shot to halt the late game USF run
“That was a big shot. We knew they were looking inside, we were looking at Chris (Howard) to double the post because we hadn't stopped them when they'd gone there. Then (Brian) McKenzie hit that shot and that was the play. As poorly as we played we made a heck of a run to get it to five. I knew we were a little tired but we had a timeout coming. That was the 4:15 mark and we had a timeout at the four-minute mark so I told the guys to get stops. He made a big shot ? a 32% shooter and he made a big one.”

Providence Head Coach Keno Davis

On the second-half South Florida run
“To South Florida's credit they didn't give up in the game. We were close to knocking them out and ending the game and they played incredibly aggressive and took it to us. They deserve the credit for getting back in that ball game when it would have been easy to pack it in. They have a chance to be a very good ball club, obviously, they beat Marquette - someone that we played about as well as we could on our home court and we couldn't beat Marquette. After that stretch you see teams when you have a 10, 12 point lead late in the game and all of a sudden you start playing a little differently and our guys did. They tried to take more time off the clock and stopped being aggressive, then when South Florida went on that run there was too much time in the game to just hold the ball so we started being aggressive and getting to the free throw line. It took a lot of energy for South Florida to make that run and when we weren't able to settle for jump shots during that stretch ? I think we made one big three but other than that we were able to take it to the basket, which was our plan at the end of the game.”

On Providence's defensive improvement
“There are a couple reasons for that ? one is we play up tempo so there are a lot more possessions in the game. The other factor is our last three games we played at UConn and at West Virginia and Villanova when we got down 20. When your down big points it would be easy to focus on your half court defense and walk the ball up and keep the score down but you just need more possessions in a game like that. We shot 40 threes against Villanova and we had a lot more possessions in West Virginia so I'm not so worried about our defense. I think our guys are playing hard, we have to worry not so much about how many points the other team puts on us but at what percentage they shoot. We are playing top-20 teams most nights ? as is everyone else in the BIG EAST ? and it is easy for those teams to put big numbers on you.”

On Dominique Jones
“It is tough when the guy that is the number one guy on your scouting report puts up 29 points but I think that shows what kind of special player he is. Not only a guy that can beat you from three-point range but a guy that can drive and create and get his own shot. Gets eight rebounds, 29 points, three assists ? he is a nice guy to build a team around and he can beat you single-handedly.”