USF vs. Georgetown
Post Game Quotes
February 18, 2009
USF Sun Dome-Tampa, Fla.

Head Coach Stan Heath
“There is no way to sugarcoat this one ? we just got it handed to us. It is about as poorly as we've played all year long, it was low on the totem pole. It was inexcusable some of the things that I thought were happening ? our inability to make a free throw, finish a layup. We had several open shots, you're not going to make all of them but the percentage just wasn't there. Give Georgetown a lot of credit because they had a good game plan ? they jammed the lane up and gave us what they thought we would be a little weak at and we played into that and didn't get the job done. There is nothing else to say ? we just have to put that behind us, we know we're a lot better basketball team. I know our guys in that locker room are a little frustrated and a little down but they're good guys and they're tough kids and they'll bounce back.”

On how Georgetown pulled away:
“You can say they did or we did ? we didn't score. They had a hand in that but whether it was a free throw or a jump shot or a layup the lid covered the basket, we didn't put it in the basket. They changed the shot clock and we didn't.”

On the teams overall performance:
“Here is the hard part ? we say they struggle, that is not a 5-8 team that is just the problem in this league. Lets just be honest about it, Georgetown in probably every other major conference is going to be top three in that league. There is no way you are a top ten team a month and a half ago and all of a sudden you're no good. They're a very good basketball team who plays in a great conference and has a tough schedule. They had a couple games that went to overtime, they lost but at the end of the day that is a good team ? they're record and who they beat in non-conference proves it. We felt that some things need to go our way to win this game ? we need to have all of our weapons working at the same time. Jesus had a tough game ? Jesus Verdejo goes zero I don't think we can win a game. The same is true with Dominique (Jones) ? he has been phenomenal but this wasn't one of his good games. Two of our better guys that are carrying us in so many ways, on the same night they didn't have their A game, their B game and for Jesus I don't even know if that was his C or D game. It just happens, like I said I could beat myself up on it but we've got UConn next and that won't be the right move either.

On USF center Alex Rivas:
“He has, he has grown tremendously. That guy plays against (Notre Dame's Luke) Harangody on one night ? I've seen Harangody go for 35 or 40 and in that game he was normal. Greg Monroe is outstanding ? I think he is the best freshman in the country just as an all-around player. He goes 12 (points) and 10 (rebounds), great numbers but with Alex a few months ago you would have said he is going up against Greg Monroe and Harangody ? they're probably going to give us 30 or 40 and that is not the case. (Alex) is doing a good job on the defensive end, he is rebounding the ball and 4-5 from the field. He was the recipient of some nice passes from Chris (Howard) and Dominique (Jones) but he is playing a lot better and I'm really pleased with his progress.”


Georgetown Head Coach John Thompson III
On Georgetown's defense:
“It was good to win. It was good defense ? I thought that our guys were better tonight on defense. (South Florida's) motion, and their flow and the way that (Dominique) Jones puts pressure on you is tough to deal with. Overall, as a group, as a unit everyone was in tune and everyone was on the same page just in terms of us stopping them, not necessarily me stopping my man but us stopping them. Our help and support I thought was very good tonight.”

On whether he was more pleased with Hoyas defense, offense or the all-around effort:
“Sitting here right now, we come out very positive about both at this moment. I'm sure we'll go back and we have to give the same attention to detail that we have the last couple of weeks in trying to continue to get better. No team has really come in here has been better to get and sustain the lead against them. Our focus and our execution ? our focus and our attentiveness, there were a few lapses but there weren't as many hills and valleys as we've been seeing.”

On snapping their losing streak:
“Overtime, under time ? wins are good. Like I always do, we'll enjoy this for a couple hours, probably a little less, then once we get on the plane tonight we'll start getting ready for what is next.”

On the key to limiting USF's Dominique Jones defensively:
“I've said this prior to the game ? he had an off night, he is one of the better offensive players in our league and just doesn't get as much attention as the other guys. This is the first game we've had in a while where there weren't that many, if any wide open, uncontested shot. He is capable ? and has shown that for two years now ? he is capable of making tough contested shots but I think we did a good job of helping each other and put him in a position where the shots that he got were tough, contested shots. We were just fortunate that we got some good bounces.”