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Men's Basketball
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Quotes: Duke 85, Robert Morris 56
3/21/2015 12:35:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Duke Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski
Opening Statement:
Congratulations to Robert Morris. They're not just a good team but they're an outstanding program. This is their eighth appearance in the NCAA Tournament and they've also had a number of NIT appearances. It means even more whenever you beat a good program. They have a well-conceived offense. Marcquise Reed, Lucky Jones and Rodney Pryor can really score the ball. I thought our defense was excellent tonight. We obviously shared the ball really well. Whenever you have 28 assists in a game it's fantastic. Our bench, especially Marshall (Plumlee) and Amile (Jefferson) gave us a huge boost. They were real veterans in this game. On defense they were outstanding. Quinn (Cook) had another outstanding game. We feel good about our performance tonight. Grayson (Allen) got 12 minutes tonight so hopefully that's a sign of him getting back into really good health.
On drawing the line between the guys having fun and getting focused:
I know them. I'm with them every day. We have great relationships with our guys. I thought in the beginning of the game a couple of our freshmen didn't talk. Jahlil (Okafor) and Justise (Winslow) weren't talking. They weren't themselves. When Marshall and Amile came into the game, they gave us a big boost. I know them well enough and I feel like I can get emotional, funny, serious and they'll respond because of the relationships that are built. It's my responsibility to spontaneously react when I feel or see something and for them to react to me. They've done that and they did it tonight.
Duke Senior Quinn Cook
On what he told his team with his previous tournament experience:
It's a new year and it's a new team. It's a new season and we're 0-0. We've played in some big time games and earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament. I just told them to be themselves. I don't want them thinking a lot so I just let them be their selves and act instinctively.
On Duke's post players making it easy for their guards:
It makes it a lot easier. They create so much attention. They are always talking on defense and helping us out. They help the guards out and carve a lot of space out for early drives. They are very unselfish when they get the ball inside if they get the ball and don't have a shot, they'll pass it back out. Those two make our job a lot easier as guards.
Duke Junior Marshall Plumlee
On Robert Morris cutting the lead to 10 points in the second half and Duke's response:
I thought we really came together and responded. There was a timeout and we got a little emotional. Every team here is capable of winning. If they weren't, they wouldn't be here. It can turn around just like that. We have to be ready to respond so I'd say it came from emotion and drive in the timeout.
Duke Freshman Justise Winslow
On Robert Morris' comeback:
As a team we are thinking we need to be more aggressive and pick up the energy. We wanted to play in transition and get the lead back up.
Coach K's message during timeout:
Everything is going to be fine. Play our game and keep attacking and stay aggressive. The biggest thing was we had to get was stops because the offense is going to take care of itself.
On winning first NCAA Tournament game as a freshman:
We treat every game like a championship. This first game, we had to get it done in order to move on. I'm glad, I'm happy and I got my first NCAA game out the way. It was a great experience. I'm glad how the team came out and competed.
Duke Freshman Jahlil Okafor
On possibility of playing St. John's for second time this season:
Usually when you beat a team there is a lot of good. That team is hungrier than you are because they are coming off a loss and you beat them last time. So if we're going to play St. John's, we'll have to match that intensity. From playing Syracuse and North Carolina (twice), we learned a lot from those experiences.
On Coach K before run in second half:
He told us we were getting the shots we wanted to but they just weren't falling. He told us to stay calm.
Robert Morris Head Coach Andrew Toole
Opening Statement:
Obviously we want to congratulate Duke on their [sic] win. They are a terrific team, obviously, and they made the night uncomfortable for us. I thought our guys continued to battle regardless of the score. I would have liked to have made a couple more shots and be a little more poised offensively at times, but I thought we competed the way we wanted to compete but it wasn't enough.
On their game plan against Duke:
They (Duke) do such a good job of pressuring you, it's hard to hold the ball. You could see at times where we were trying to execute some sets or certain actions, but they take out of all of that stuff. You really have to make some basketball plays and I really thought at the beginning of the game we got some excellent looks. I think there were about four or five layups that had those gone, it would have been a different game. I think it was 7-5, and then it was 22-9, and I think we missed three or four layups in that span, so if you are looking at 22-15, or 22-17, maybe you feel a little better about yourself. We missed some layups in that span. Sometimes playing against guys who make you feel a little uncomfortable, want to rush some of those layups that we weren't able to finish. Well, that's why they are the one seed.
On teaching moment from tonight's game:
We just talked about that in the locker room. I said to them, none of the guys on our roster have played an NCAA before Wednesday, and for some this was their first season of college basketball. I tried to explain to them that one of the reasons why we push so hard and hold you to such a high standard is because these are the games we want to compete in, these are the games we want to be in. We want to play better than we did tonight. Sometimes players want to practice to prepare for the worst team on the schedule and the coaches want to practice like you're playing Duke. That's the mentality and that's what we talked about. These are the games that we work so hard for in December because when you do play a game like this, you can't have any cracks, you can't have any kinks in your armor. That's what they take advantage of, and that's what we tell them, is that you've got to be working at this year round. That starts in the next two weeks as we start preparing for next season.
Robert Morris Freshman Macquise Reed
On second-half run:
Don't give up and don't worry about the score. Our program is about continuing to fight, and if we did, coach said we would be right back in this game. I had a good game, but people don't really look at that. They look at the score but I'm proud of our team for making it this far.
On Duke's size:
They altered a lot of our shots at the basket and they contested every shot so I definitely think their size played a big part in the game. It made it more difficult for us to run our offense. This team had showed a lot of toughness and determination all year though.
On recapping the season:
People doubted us and didn't think we could win the NEC. We came out and proved them wrong. For us to make it this far in the tournament helps us for next year. It's a big benefit for us to have five guys with tournament experience coming back for another season.
On playing in Time Warner Cable Arena:
It's every kids dream to play in an NBA arena. It's a blessing. I can't imagine who wouldn't want to play on this stage.
Opening Statement:
Congratulations to Robert Morris. They're not just a good team but they're an outstanding program. This is their eighth appearance in the NCAA Tournament and they've also had a number of NIT appearances. It means even more whenever you beat a good program. They have a well-conceived offense. Marcquise Reed, Lucky Jones and Rodney Pryor can really score the ball. I thought our defense was excellent tonight. We obviously shared the ball really well. Whenever you have 28 assists in a game it's fantastic. Our bench, especially Marshall (Plumlee) and Amile (Jefferson) gave us a huge boost. They were real veterans in this game. On defense they were outstanding. Quinn (Cook) had another outstanding game. We feel good about our performance tonight. Grayson (Allen) got 12 minutes tonight so hopefully that's a sign of him getting back into really good health.
On drawing the line between the guys having fun and getting focused:
I know them. I'm with them every day. We have great relationships with our guys. I thought in the beginning of the game a couple of our freshmen didn't talk. Jahlil (Okafor) and Justise (Winslow) weren't talking. They weren't themselves. When Marshall and Amile came into the game, they gave us a big boost. I know them well enough and I feel like I can get emotional, funny, serious and they'll respond because of the relationships that are built. It's my responsibility to spontaneously react when I feel or see something and for them to react to me. They've done that and they did it tonight.
Duke Senior Quinn Cook
On what he told his team with his previous tournament experience:
It's a new year and it's a new team. It's a new season and we're 0-0. We've played in some big time games and earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament. I just told them to be themselves. I don't want them thinking a lot so I just let them be their selves and act instinctively.
On Duke's post players making it easy for their guards:
It makes it a lot easier. They create so much attention. They are always talking on defense and helping us out. They help the guards out and carve a lot of space out for early drives. They are very unselfish when they get the ball inside if they get the ball and don't have a shot, they'll pass it back out. Those two make our job a lot easier as guards.
Duke Junior Marshall Plumlee
On Robert Morris cutting the lead to 10 points in the second half and Duke's response:
I thought we really came together and responded. There was a timeout and we got a little emotional. Every team here is capable of winning. If they weren't, they wouldn't be here. It can turn around just like that. We have to be ready to respond so I'd say it came from emotion and drive in the timeout.
Duke Freshman Justise Winslow
On Robert Morris' comeback:
As a team we are thinking we need to be more aggressive and pick up the energy. We wanted to play in transition and get the lead back up.
Coach K's message during timeout:
Everything is going to be fine. Play our game and keep attacking and stay aggressive. The biggest thing was we had to get was stops because the offense is going to take care of itself.
On winning first NCAA Tournament game as a freshman:
We treat every game like a championship. This first game, we had to get it done in order to move on. I'm glad, I'm happy and I got my first NCAA game out the way. It was a great experience. I'm glad how the team came out and competed.
Duke Freshman Jahlil Okafor
On possibility of playing St. John's for second time this season:
Usually when you beat a team there is a lot of good. That team is hungrier than you are because they are coming off a loss and you beat them last time. So if we're going to play St. John's, we'll have to match that intensity. From playing Syracuse and North Carolina (twice), we learned a lot from those experiences.
On Coach K before run in second half:
He told us we were getting the shots we wanted to but they just weren't falling. He told us to stay calm.
Robert Morris Head Coach Andrew Toole
Opening Statement:
Obviously we want to congratulate Duke on their [sic] win. They are a terrific team, obviously, and they made the night uncomfortable for us. I thought our guys continued to battle regardless of the score. I would have liked to have made a couple more shots and be a little more poised offensively at times, but I thought we competed the way we wanted to compete but it wasn't enough.
On their game plan against Duke:
They (Duke) do such a good job of pressuring you, it's hard to hold the ball. You could see at times where we were trying to execute some sets or certain actions, but they take out of all of that stuff. You really have to make some basketball plays and I really thought at the beginning of the game we got some excellent looks. I think there were about four or five layups that had those gone, it would have been a different game. I think it was 7-5, and then it was 22-9, and I think we missed three or four layups in that span, so if you are looking at 22-15, or 22-17, maybe you feel a little better about yourself. We missed some layups in that span. Sometimes playing against guys who make you feel a little uncomfortable, want to rush some of those layups that we weren't able to finish. Well, that's why they are the one seed.
On teaching moment from tonight's game:
We just talked about that in the locker room. I said to them, none of the guys on our roster have played an NCAA before Wednesday, and for some this was their first season of college basketball. I tried to explain to them that one of the reasons why we push so hard and hold you to such a high standard is because these are the games we want to compete in, these are the games we want to be in. We want to play better than we did tonight. Sometimes players want to practice to prepare for the worst team on the schedule and the coaches want to practice like you're playing Duke. That's the mentality and that's what we talked about. These are the games that we work so hard for in December because when you do play a game like this, you can't have any cracks, you can't have any kinks in your armor. That's what they take advantage of, and that's what we tell them, is that you've got to be working at this year round. That starts in the next two weeks as we start preparing for next season.
Robert Morris Freshman Macquise Reed
On second-half run:
Don't give up and don't worry about the score. Our program is about continuing to fight, and if we did, coach said we would be right back in this game. I had a good game, but people don't really look at that. They look at the score but I'm proud of our team for making it this far.
On Duke's size:
They altered a lot of our shots at the basket and they contested every shot so I definitely think their size played a big part in the game. It made it more difficult for us to run our offense. This team had showed a lot of toughness and determination all year though.
On recapping the season:
People doubted us and didn't think we could win the NEC. We came out and proved them wrong. For us to make it this far in the tournament helps us for next year. It's a big benefit for us to have five guys with tournament experience coming back for another season.
On playing in Time Warner Cable Arena:
It's every kids dream to play in an NBA arena. It's a blessing. I can't imagine who wouldn't want to play on this stage.
Players Mentioned
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