March 10, 1998
On winning the SEC regular-season title and the SEC Tournament title
“I couldn’t be prouder of this group of guys. I think they worked extremely hard this year and are very deserving of the championships. This is one of the best groups of men I’ve ever been around. It has been a smooth transition because of the way they’ve responded to all the things we’ve tried to teach them.”
On following Rick Pitino and the changes made this season
“Certainly what Rick did was great and you try to do as much as you can but you have to be yourself, I have to be myself. The personality of each coach is going to show up in their team. Our team works extremely hard and is a team that just lasts. We have quality players in our program and players that can play at the next level and be competitive.”
“The changes we made were to utilize our depth more and help develop our young players. We didn’t press as much as most people might have liked, but we did the things we knew this team was capable of doing and that was play solid defense, challenge every shot and be a good rebounding team.”
On South Carolina State’s Coach Cy Alexander
“Cy has been at it a long time just like myself. Cy was at Catawba when I was at High Point. We had some great battles and it was a great rivalry. We weren’t very good. We liked to think we were okay at High Point. He was always very competitive. I’ve been very impressed watching his team on film. They beat a very good Coppin State team. This team is very disciplined and work extremely hard.”
On South Carolina State’s players
“Their guards are very similar to South Carolina’s guards. They also have some excellent spot-up shooters. The one thing that we’ve been able to do is limit open shots.”
On what has stood out this year for Coach Smith
“The whole sheer fact that I am here coaching is the biggest thrill of all. After that, it’s the everyday field of chores. Walking in Rupp Arena gave me goose bumps every time we played. Overall, the biggest thrill was just seeing this team come together and seeing each individual player get better everyday.”
On Heshimu Evans this year
“He’s the best athlete on the team. His leadership is what has meant the most to our team. He’s the one that gets our players fired up in practice and for games. His leadership in that area has been invaluable. He does it by talking, chanting, singing. He does a lot of clapping and has a chant that gets the players going. He has a way of energizing people with his play as well. His ability to catch and dunk basketballs and lob basketballs get everybody energized.”
Status of Sheppard and Mohammed
“They have not returned to practice today and they didn’t this morning. We’ll see how it goes with their treatment and when (trainer) Eddie Jamiel and Dr. (David) Caborn give them the okay to practice. We want to make sure they are fully ready to go. I imagine they will be ready tomorrow or Thursday.”
On Coach Smith’s personality on the team
“We talk a lot about not getting too excited or too low…when things go well or when things get bad. We just try to keep an even keel. I think you are more consistent in your behavior and in your decisions when you practice moderation. We want to play that way. Not necessarily emotionless but we want to play with enthusiasm and with emotion that doesn’t distract or take away from our performance in any way.”
On going back to the Georgia Dome again after winning the SEC Tournament
“It will be interesting. I hope it will be beneficial, I would think that it would be because our guys our comfortable with it and have played there a couple of times. It’s a good place to play. It is very conducive to basketball playing. But you aren’t playing that building, your not playing those fans, you’re not playing that court, you’re playing that guy across from you that’s trying to stop you from scoring. That’s who you’re playing.”
