Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball versus Countdown to Craziness on October 3, 2025 at 7 p.m.
/
7 p.m.
Men's Basketball
vs Countdown to Craziness
.png&width=24&height=24&type=webp)
Post Game Quotes
3/12/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Recap | Box Score | Notes | Photo Gallery
March 11, 2005
DUKE QUOTES
Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski
I'm pleased with my team. We knew that Virginia was going to be difficult because they won a really tough game last night and with them starting four perimeter guys who can really shoot, we were really concerned about them. They got off to great starts in both halves and we played well in the last 10 minutes of each half. I thought the difference in the game was our rebounding. For us to outrebound them by 24 is big and a lot of that had to do with our perimeter rebounding. Lee (Melchionni) had nine rebounds, Reggie (Love) had eight and DeMarcus really rebounded (five boards). We've really been working on that all week and it's paid off. It wasn't a great shooting night, but a lot of that had to do with Virginia's defense. They really pressured our perimeter guys well and we didn't get a lot of open looks. (David) McClure came off the bench in the first half to give us a huge spark. He was sensational in the first half, not that he was bad in the second, but he gave us some big minutes in the first half. We need that. Guys just need to keep stepping up while Sean (Dockery) is out. Daniel (Ewing) played a yeoman's game. He was pressuring the ball, 16 points and played well on defense. I know he's looking forward to getting Sean back in the NCAAs so that we can have another ballhandler.
(On the upcoming NC State game)
I haven't watched them as much because I've been trying to figure out what to do about our team because of the injuries, but I will say this. I watched them when they started their run. They played at Georgia Tech and they won I think it was a two point game. I told my staff and the team the next day 'NC State is playing like men possessed.' I really enjoyed watching them fight together and they've continued to do that as they've gotten better and better. Lee can tell you, the next day at practice, I hardly ever do that, but they impressed me so much with their camaraderie, their facial expressions and their hanging in there. You heard a lot of disparaging words from people, but not from them. They've grown together. They are an NCAA team and they could win this tournament. We have a tough match-up tomorrow.
(On the game possibly being the last for Virginia coach Pete Gillen)
I hope not. I have the utmost respect for Pete. He's a veteran coach, it's not like he has a losing record. Losing Jason Clark was big. And losing Devin Smith after Devin scored 40 at Iowa State and playing well ... you don't understand the magnitude of those injuries if you don't have guys to take their place. Jason and Elton together with Smith as the third perimeter man is a pretty darn good team. You keep that team all year and you don't end up 14-15. Obviously they would win 20 games, they would be in the NCAAs and all this would be moot. It wouldn't happen.
Duke junior forward Lee Melchionni
Virginia is a tough team. They had their backs against the wall and fighting for their lives. I think in the second half we had seven straight points and then let off a little bit on our defensive table. We had to focus on that because you know we like to hang our hat on our defense. So once we got our defense straight we were good to go. It was a good win for us tonight.
(On shooting more when Redick has an off night)
J.J. is such an unbelievable shooter that he always attracts a lot of attention. Even on an off night, guys are still going to flock to him. I get open shots off of him and guys like Sheldon (Williams) and Daniel because they are the focus of the other teams.
Duke junior guard J.J. Redick
(On NC State)
When we played them the first time, they were going through some injuries and illnesses and they weren't a full team. Right now they are playing as hungry as any team in the conference. They have been playing great basketball the last few weeks, because they have been playing with a sense of urgency.
(On Virginia hanging around)
They have a lot of talent and some seniors on the team that I am sure don't want their careers to end, so they were playing with a purpose. They were playing with a lot of freedom. That is how they played the last couple weeks of the season, like they had nothing to lose.
Duke freshman guard/forward David McClure
(On what he brings to the team)
I go out and try to bring as much energy as I can right a way. I try to grab every board that comes my way and be aggressive to the basket. We have great players and it is a little easier to play when you have guys like J.J., Sheldon, and Daniel.
(On playing with confidence)
I have been out for so long with my knee that I am just excited to be back out on the court. I missed five or six games, but in a situation like that, you just have to take care of business. I can't be nervous out there, I need to do what I can to help the team.
(On Virginia's resiliency)
In the ACC Tournament, every team is going to come out fighting. They were playing loose out there, they were playing confident, and you have to expect every team to stick around. I think at times when we got a little lead, we felt that they would slack up a little, but that is when they came back at us strong.
VIRGINIA QUOTES
Virginia Head Coach Pete Gillen
I was proud of our team. We are disappointed losing. We didn't have much gas left in the tank. Duke is a great team. I think the end of the first half hurt us. We got a little out of kilter. (Lee) Melchionni did a great job. I thought we did a very good job in the first half on (J.J.) Redick and a very good job on Shelden Williams, two All-Americans. Melchionni just killed us with the four three's. We came back and cut it to two after being down 12 in the first half. We just could not make shots. We couldn't move -- J.R. (Reynolds) was dehydrated and had intravenous (fluids) in his arms before the game. We just had nothing left and got overpowered by a great team. Our kids played hard. We just could not make shots. We tried, but we just didn't have enough gas in the tank playing against a great team.
(On success of David McClure and Lee Melchionni's being due to the focus on Redick)
We keyed on Melchionni. We were supposed to play on him. He was their fourth option after Ewing, Redick and Shelden Williams. Those are three great players, but we are supposed to be on him. We were supposed to cheat on McClure a little bit. He did a nice job driving and hit a three. He is a good player. Anybody that plays at Duke is a scholarship player and is certainly going to be an excellent player. We had trouble rebounding and they got some stick backs. The offensive boards because we are small and they are more physical. We didn't play smart, we left Melchionni alone and he is a good player.
(On his future at UVa)
I don't want to talk about that. I want to talk about the game. This is the ACC Tournament. That will be determined next week. I will just say this ... the University of Virginia deserves better than 14-15 that we gave them this year. I take the blame for that, not the players
(Did you ever envision this year ending like this after starting 8-1)
Sure. We lost one of the best players on our team in Jason Clark. He was one of our best players. He is eligible by NCAA standards but not by Virginia standards. I'm proud of the school's academic tradition so I'm not complaining. We lost a tremendous player. When you lose a tremendous player, a 6-8, 240 pound senior, that is going to hurt you. We were not the same team without Jason Clark, who was a three-year starter.
Virginia guard J.R. Reynolds
(On Duke pulling away in the second half)
I think we just ran out of gas at the end and missed a couple shots. We just ran out of energy at the end.
Virginia forward Devin Smith
(On the game)
It's disappointing. We lost so we have no chance to go to any type of postseason. We lost today but we gave it all we could. We didn't have a whole lot of energy left in the tank at the end of the game to try to make another comeback. Everybody fought until the end of the game so we can keep our heads up about that. Everybody left it out there.
(On head coach Pete Gillen)
Coach Gillen, he's meant a lot to me in my career because he took me in and brought me along. Even through all my injuries he supported me and always had confidence that I could produce. Even though I wasn't practicing all the time and not doing a lot of things he just always had confidence in me that I was a good player. He helped me out a lot.
Virginia guard Sean Singletary
(On the game)
I thought we played well. We just kind of ran out of energy. We got up on them early and got the lead but we couldn't hold it. We don't have a lot of depth. It was a tough loss; we were in the game but just fell short.
(On his first season as an ACC point guard)
It was real tough. I learned a lot from the great guards in the league and about timing, about how to pick my spots. Coach Gillen taught me a lot about how to play the position. He's coached great guards before and he knows what he's doing.
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballJon Scheyer Press Conference: Summer 2025
Tuesday, July 08
Duke vs Houston: Press Conference
Sunday, April 06
Duke vs Alabama: East Region Champions Press Conference
Wednesday, April 02
Duke vs Arizona: Duke Press Conference
Friday, March 28
