Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball at Virginia Tech on January 31, 2026 at 12 p.m.
Men's Basketball
at Virginia Tech
Quotes: Duke 97, Princeton 60
11/14/2010 8:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Duke Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski
Opening Statement:
“The first thing I'd like to do is just say thanks to our fans. I'm just starting my 31st year here, and I thought that was the best crowd I've seen for a home opener. Sunday afternoon, there was crazy good energy in here. And what the students did in honoring Drew Everson was very emotional and a tremendous thing for our students to do. It was really a special afternoon, in honoring one of theirs, one of ours. I'm proud of our students for doing that. Proud of all of our fans for creating that atmosphere and I thought we played with great energy for 40 minutes. To force that many turnovers against, I mean, they're a really good team. They're well coached, they're tough kids. We had too much energy on the offensive end in the first half. We just wanted it so badly. I think we screwed up about five fast breaks where we had a numerical advantage. We should have had points. We didn't attack the zone right because we, I don't know. We were a little bit wacked out, with all the energy. And in the second half, I thought we combined energy and poise. And in the second half we were incredibly efficient on the offensive end. The thing that I told my team though, if they keep bringing the energy, I mean it's the first game of the season. Again I thought we played really well. And we had to to beat them. They just beat Rutgers. I'm not saying they are top-20 teams, but it's November 14, and if we just continue to have that energy, we'll get better.”
On Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith's leadership, playing with energy:
“Well I hope they believe that because those two kids do play hard every possession. That's the best way to lead. You show up and you're tough. Like Kyle [Singler] today got in foul trouble because he was making up for some mistakes that his teammates made. He was trying to cover up for them, which that's something we have to change. We're not going to win big with him getting in foul trouble, off the ball, covering up for somebody. But those two kids, they're champions. They're trying to teach the other kids how to become that. And it's a long road to become that.”
On defense:
“Yeah we played well defensively. We forced 27 turnovers. Energy wise, I'll take that every game. Now precision and stuff, remember, they know how to play offense too. To force that many turnovers is very, very good.”
On players coming off the bench providing energy:
“Well they gave us good energy. I thought our perimeter was really poised. Andre [Dawkins] played really well today. Andre has had a really good pre-season. And he had to guard a big guy today. [Kareem] Maddox is a big guy. I thought he played more like an upperclassmen today. And then he took good shots. We're very explosive when we start hitting those threes. But we're capable of hitting the threes. And our guys shared the ball well. Those two kids played well and then we're very efficient. We had 26 assists for the game, but I would say that most of them came in the second half, just the extra pass that was made.”
On calming them down:
“Well just in the locker room, usually I say something to them for a little bit and then give them time. But I talked to them for about five minutes before I ever let them do anything. Just explaining that poise needs to happen in the half court. To win big, you have to be able to run good half court offence. Our guards need to control that. They can't just push it up the court. They have to get people in position. That doesn't mean that someone's doing something negative like they're stopping us. No, they stopped the break. Now they have to be able to stop the secondary. And now they have to be able to stop whatever we're setting up against their defense. And you should be able to do all three of those things. We're trying to do one and two all the time. You know in the first half. In the second half, three came in there. We got good shots just having poise.”
Duke Senior Guard Nolan Smith
“We really played slow in the first half offensively. In the second half, we really started to play the way we wanted to play offensively and just started to push the ball, penetrate, kick, and do the things that we want to do offensively.”
“It would be easier to play against a team that also likes to run and we'll get to do our thing. But it was a good first game for us because they were obviously a very good team, a very disciplined team. It was a good first game for us to learn about ourselves and know that we have to be able to execute in a slow game and in a half court game.”
“For the whole game, our defense was there. Everybody played hard defensively, and we played together.”
On Kyrie Irving:
“He played a terrific game. You wouldn't know he's a freshman. He played like a veteran. He communicates with us like he's a veteran. You just expect him to only get better.”
Duke Freshman Guard Kyrie Irving
On his first collegiate game:
“For my first collegiate game, it was a great experience, especially to experience it with these guys on this team. This team is really special to me, and I think we're on the right track right now.”
“My shot was in rhythm in the first half I felt, but they just didn't fall. In the second half I had a little more open looks, and I knocked them down.”
“Kyle [Singler] and Nolan [Smith] made it easier for me. They're the primary leaders but I am the point guard on the team, so I do have to orchestrate. Kyle and Nolan were hitting shots, along with Mason [Plumlee] and Miles [Plumlee] on the boards and we were just together tonight. I really felt it. I think our bench played extremely well also. A lot of people stepped up and I think that's what's going to separate us from a lot of teams in the country – just our togetherness. We instill brotherhood here. This team is really special.”
“My anxiety level was at an all-time high. I was really excited, as any freshman would be. But once the game got going and I hit my free throw and hit a three in the corner, it felt good and I felt like I was into the game.”
“I think we were prepared – more prepared for Princeton that for any other team. Coming out here, I felt like I had already played against them, especially with the preparation that went into this game. It felt good.”
Duke Senior Forward Kyle Singler
“I felt the crowd was great tonight. It just shows what a special place Cameron is. I thought we played really well for the full game. Princeton's a very tough team, well-coached, and our best basketball was in the second half.”
On playing three games in six days:
“It's a good test for us because this is kind of how tournament games are run. You don't really have a lot of time to prepare for your next game. So it's a good learning experience to go through.”
Comparing last year's team to this year's team:
“We have the capability to be as close as we were last year as a team. I would say we're not there yet, but last year that brotherhood was formed over several games played and tough losses. It's going to take a while for this team to come together like we were – so close – last year.”
Princeton Head Coach Sydney Johnson
On letting the game get away after being down six at half:
“You know we threw the ball away a little too much. I was really happy with the effort for the most part on the defensive end in the first half. I thought we looked really good all due respect to them. But we were a little bit to careless with the ball and when you give a great team like this opportunities, extra opportunities, they shot the lights out. I'm not exactly sure the stretch but it seemed like back-to-back three's that really hurt us. It's too bad because I thought the effort was there but you know you just can't throw the ball away especially against a team like this.”
On the tempo of the game being faster than it expected:
“I think the full court pressure to be honest was. I'd probably disagree with you in terms of the half court. I think we looked to push the ball a little bit more, in fact a lot more. But it seemed like when we had some different guys advancing the ball weren't quite as comfortable as they needed to be and then we made some questionable decisions with that pressure. They've [Duke] obviously have great coaching, that would be an understatement, and pretty good players. Playing faster than we wanted at times, but not always. We want to get it and go, sometimes we look good doing that and unfortunately too many times we didn't look good.”
On team's defensive rebounding:
“I thought that we played with a lot of passion defensively and it really showed. Again we got stops and our inability to convert which had something to do with their defensive pressure and their defensive presence meant that at some point you know we were going to bend. I don't think we fully broke, I thought that we showed a lot of team spirit there, but they shot really well and they eventually converted on those opportunities that we gave them when we were throwing the ball around. Overall it was tremendous experience for us, I was very pleased to be a part of this tournament. It's very well run and we know we have three very important games coming up for our program, but obviously the opportunity to face the defending champ is pretty special. We would have loved for it to come out differently, but I don't know how many teams are going to be able to play with these guys. There might be 10 teams in the country that can handle all the things that they throw at you so good luck to those guys because Duke's pretty good.”
Princeton Senior Guard Dan Mavraides
On Princeton's Composure:
“I think we were definitely struggling a little bit early and I think we just needed to settle in. We had some moments in the first half and the second half were we didn't really put it together, but I do think there were times where we did settle down, we were composed and we were able to run our stuff and control the game for small moments here and there.”
Princeton Sophomore Forward Ian Hummer
On what he got from this game:
“You know, I think we played well for 25 minutes. I think the key is playing well the entire game. First half we played, I thought we played extremely well even though we were losing. We were holding them [Duke] to one shot and I think second half there was kind of a letdown defensively. Turnovers really hurt us, I mean one thing I am going to take away from this game is that we have to take care of the ball. So take care of the ball and just guard your man and do the best you can, with help, just rely on your teammates as well. Rely if they get by you that you will have a teammate to be there but they are a great basketball team. They shot the lights out of the ball second half, so you have to give it to them, but I think that if we just play our game we should be alright.”
Opening Statement:
“The first thing I'd like to do is just say thanks to our fans. I'm just starting my 31st year here, and I thought that was the best crowd I've seen for a home opener. Sunday afternoon, there was crazy good energy in here. And what the students did in honoring Drew Everson was very emotional and a tremendous thing for our students to do. It was really a special afternoon, in honoring one of theirs, one of ours. I'm proud of our students for doing that. Proud of all of our fans for creating that atmosphere and I thought we played with great energy for 40 minutes. To force that many turnovers against, I mean, they're a really good team. They're well coached, they're tough kids. We had too much energy on the offensive end in the first half. We just wanted it so badly. I think we screwed up about five fast breaks where we had a numerical advantage. We should have had points. We didn't attack the zone right because we, I don't know. We were a little bit wacked out, with all the energy. And in the second half, I thought we combined energy and poise. And in the second half we were incredibly efficient on the offensive end. The thing that I told my team though, if they keep bringing the energy, I mean it's the first game of the season. Again I thought we played really well. And we had to to beat them. They just beat Rutgers. I'm not saying they are top-20 teams, but it's November 14, and if we just continue to have that energy, we'll get better.”
On Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith's leadership, playing with energy:
“Well I hope they believe that because those two kids do play hard every possession. That's the best way to lead. You show up and you're tough. Like Kyle [Singler] today got in foul trouble because he was making up for some mistakes that his teammates made. He was trying to cover up for them, which that's something we have to change. We're not going to win big with him getting in foul trouble, off the ball, covering up for somebody. But those two kids, they're champions. They're trying to teach the other kids how to become that. And it's a long road to become that.”
On defense:
“Yeah we played well defensively. We forced 27 turnovers. Energy wise, I'll take that every game. Now precision and stuff, remember, they know how to play offense too. To force that many turnovers is very, very good.”
On players coming off the bench providing energy:
“Well they gave us good energy. I thought our perimeter was really poised. Andre [Dawkins] played really well today. Andre has had a really good pre-season. And he had to guard a big guy today. [Kareem] Maddox is a big guy. I thought he played more like an upperclassmen today. And then he took good shots. We're very explosive when we start hitting those threes. But we're capable of hitting the threes. And our guys shared the ball well. Those two kids played well and then we're very efficient. We had 26 assists for the game, but I would say that most of them came in the second half, just the extra pass that was made.”
On calming them down:
“Well just in the locker room, usually I say something to them for a little bit and then give them time. But I talked to them for about five minutes before I ever let them do anything. Just explaining that poise needs to happen in the half court. To win big, you have to be able to run good half court offence. Our guards need to control that. They can't just push it up the court. They have to get people in position. That doesn't mean that someone's doing something negative like they're stopping us. No, they stopped the break. Now they have to be able to stop the secondary. And now they have to be able to stop whatever we're setting up against their defense. And you should be able to do all three of those things. We're trying to do one and two all the time. You know in the first half. In the second half, three came in there. We got good shots just having poise.”
Duke Senior Guard Nolan Smith
“We really played slow in the first half offensively. In the second half, we really started to play the way we wanted to play offensively and just started to push the ball, penetrate, kick, and do the things that we want to do offensively.”
“It would be easier to play against a team that also likes to run and we'll get to do our thing. But it was a good first game for us because they were obviously a very good team, a very disciplined team. It was a good first game for us to learn about ourselves and know that we have to be able to execute in a slow game and in a half court game.”
“For the whole game, our defense was there. Everybody played hard defensively, and we played together.”
On Kyrie Irving:
“He played a terrific game. You wouldn't know he's a freshman. He played like a veteran. He communicates with us like he's a veteran. You just expect him to only get better.”
Duke Freshman Guard Kyrie Irving
On his first collegiate game:
“For my first collegiate game, it was a great experience, especially to experience it with these guys on this team. This team is really special to me, and I think we're on the right track right now.”
“My shot was in rhythm in the first half I felt, but they just didn't fall. In the second half I had a little more open looks, and I knocked them down.”
“Kyle [Singler] and Nolan [Smith] made it easier for me. They're the primary leaders but I am the point guard on the team, so I do have to orchestrate. Kyle and Nolan were hitting shots, along with Mason [Plumlee] and Miles [Plumlee] on the boards and we were just together tonight. I really felt it. I think our bench played extremely well also. A lot of people stepped up and I think that's what's going to separate us from a lot of teams in the country – just our togetherness. We instill brotherhood here. This team is really special.”
“My anxiety level was at an all-time high. I was really excited, as any freshman would be. But once the game got going and I hit my free throw and hit a three in the corner, it felt good and I felt like I was into the game.”
“I think we were prepared – more prepared for Princeton that for any other team. Coming out here, I felt like I had already played against them, especially with the preparation that went into this game. It felt good.”
Duke Senior Forward Kyle Singler
“I felt the crowd was great tonight. It just shows what a special place Cameron is. I thought we played really well for the full game. Princeton's a very tough team, well-coached, and our best basketball was in the second half.”
On playing three games in six days:
“It's a good test for us because this is kind of how tournament games are run. You don't really have a lot of time to prepare for your next game. So it's a good learning experience to go through.”
Comparing last year's team to this year's team:
“We have the capability to be as close as we were last year as a team. I would say we're not there yet, but last year that brotherhood was formed over several games played and tough losses. It's going to take a while for this team to come together like we were – so close – last year.”
Princeton Head Coach Sydney Johnson
On letting the game get away after being down six at half:
“You know we threw the ball away a little too much. I was really happy with the effort for the most part on the defensive end in the first half. I thought we looked really good all due respect to them. But we were a little bit to careless with the ball and when you give a great team like this opportunities, extra opportunities, they shot the lights out. I'm not exactly sure the stretch but it seemed like back-to-back three's that really hurt us. It's too bad because I thought the effort was there but you know you just can't throw the ball away especially against a team like this.”
On the tempo of the game being faster than it expected:
“I think the full court pressure to be honest was. I'd probably disagree with you in terms of the half court. I think we looked to push the ball a little bit more, in fact a lot more. But it seemed like when we had some different guys advancing the ball weren't quite as comfortable as they needed to be and then we made some questionable decisions with that pressure. They've [Duke] obviously have great coaching, that would be an understatement, and pretty good players. Playing faster than we wanted at times, but not always. We want to get it and go, sometimes we look good doing that and unfortunately too many times we didn't look good.”
On team's defensive rebounding:
“I thought that we played with a lot of passion defensively and it really showed. Again we got stops and our inability to convert which had something to do with their defensive pressure and their defensive presence meant that at some point you know we were going to bend. I don't think we fully broke, I thought that we showed a lot of team spirit there, but they shot really well and they eventually converted on those opportunities that we gave them when we were throwing the ball around. Overall it was tremendous experience for us, I was very pleased to be a part of this tournament. It's very well run and we know we have three very important games coming up for our program, but obviously the opportunity to face the defending champ is pretty special. We would have loved for it to come out differently, but I don't know how many teams are going to be able to play with these guys. There might be 10 teams in the country that can handle all the things that they throw at you so good luck to those guys because Duke's pretty good.”
Princeton Senior Guard Dan Mavraides
On Princeton's Composure:
“I think we were definitely struggling a little bit early and I think we just needed to settle in. We had some moments in the first half and the second half were we didn't really put it together, but I do think there were times where we did settle down, we were composed and we were able to run our stuff and control the game for small moments here and there.”
Princeton Sophomore Forward Ian Hummer
On what he got from this game:
“You know, I think we played well for 25 minutes. I think the key is playing well the entire game. First half we played, I thought we played extremely well even though we were losing. We were holding them [Duke] to one shot and I think second half there was kind of a letdown defensively. Turnovers really hurt us, I mean one thing I am going to take away from this game is that we have to take care of the ball. So take care of the ball and just guard your man and do the best you can, with help, just rely on your teammates as well. Rely if they get by you that you will have a teammate to be there but they are a great basketball team. They shot the lights out of the ball second half, so you have to give it to them, but I think that if we just play our game we should be alright.”
Players Mentioned
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