March 20, 2002
LEXINGTON, Ky. –
Coach Tubby Smith
“I’ve watched a few of the games Maryland has played and they’re obviously a very talented team. Gary Williams has done a great job. I can remember a few years ago they were struggling, but he’s turned that around. Obviously we’ve had our battles with the Terrapins and they’ve gotten the best of us.”
“It’ll be a tough matchup for us. They have Juan Dixon and Steve Blake in an outstanding backcourt. Juan Dixon is the leading scorer in the NCAA, and we have our hands full trying to contain those two young men. If you add in Lonny Baxter and Byron Mouton and Chris Wilcox, you have a real challenge.”
“We’re excited to be participating in the Sweet 16 and representing the SEC. It’ll be a matter of us going up there and playing the type of games we played against Valpo and Tulsa. I think we have to play better than we did against Tulsa to have a chance against the Terrapins. Practices have been going well, and we’re looking forward to getting up to Syracuse.”
On the decrease in turnovers…
“We hope guys have learned our system and they’ve been a little more conscious of taking care of the ball. We’ve been shooting the ball better and that helps. When Cliff delivers the ball to a guy, we’ve been able to finish. His stamina and endurance has improved a lot and I think that’s been a big help. We’ve really tried to pitch the ball ahead more lately and get the ball in the hands of our wing players early. But, Cliff has been making excellent decisions with the ball and that’s been the big key.”
On teams focusing on Tayshaun Prince…
“I think if they do, we have Keith playing better and we’re getting shots more from the perimeter. With Tayshaun out on the wing, we’re seeing less of the double team. But if we do, he’s doing better at getting the ball to the open man so that could be trouble for them.”
On the difference in Keith Bogans…
“Keith hasn’t been shooting the ball well, but I’ve said he’s been playing well all year. I don’t think he ‘turned it on.’ He made shots-that was why he looked so good. Everybody looks better when they’re making shots. When you make shots early, take it to the basket and get to the free-throw line, it helps your confidence.”
On whether Tayshaun can play any better than he did against Tulsa…
“I think everybody can play better. Good is not good enough when you can play better, and he can play better than he did. I’m sure he thinks he can play better too. He missed seven shots. He can play a lot better.”
On committing to Maryland as a player in 1969…
“Maryland had to make a decision. They had a change in coaching staff. Lefty (Dreisell) is an honorable man. He sat me down, and he still wanted me to come to Maryland, just as a walk-on and pay my own way. At the time, when you sit down with your family, you have to make those decisions.”
On Juan Dixon…
“He is their catalyst. He’s one of the leading scorers in the country and a first-team All-American. He can do so many things and score so many ways. That’s what you are so impressed with – when you can score 21 points per game in the ACC. What impresses me is his rebounding with his size and weight. He’s the leading scorer in the history of Maryland. That’s pretty strong. He’s the real deal, he’s a real athlete and a real player.”
On his positive attitude…
“When you get to a certain point, you try a lot of things with your players to try to figure out what’s going to be most effective. Obviously, this is a team that needs something positive. I figured that would start with me. I love every one of them. But there are certain things that I don’t like, that I’m never going to like, that they do or say. Having said that, there were certain things I needed to put behind me that were more distractions for me than the players. Kids get over things a lot quicker than adults. I felt like I needed to refrain from allowing that type of stuff from changing my personality. “
“It’s a kinder, gentler Blue Nation now.”
Tayshaun Prince
Senior Forward
On the difference in Keith Bogans…
“His personality and attitude has been the same. The coaches keep telling him over and over, ‘no matter what people say about you and how you are playing, just go out and get it done on defense.’ If he can go out and get it done on defense, then his offense will come. I think the difference in his play in the last couple of games is that he’s been real aggressive on defense, as well as offense. But it starts on the defensive end and I think that’s why he’s starting to play a lot better.”
On how teams guard him differently when Bogans becomes a scoring threat…
“It is a difference, whenever I can penatrate and can dish to him and he can knock down that shot. It goes for anybody though, not just Keith. If I throw the ball to anybody and he knocks it down consistently, it’ll take a little pressure off me so I can penetrate and do other things to help the basketball team.”
On the positive attitude of Coach Smith…
“Everybody is comfortable at this time and you can see it on everybody’s face and how everyone is playing. I think the main thing is keeping a positive attitude and it starts with him. He’s the leader, and if he just keeps that positive attitude with everybody, it will carry over. Everybody’s been liking it. He’s been keeping everybody upbeat.”
On the week following his 41-point performance against Tulsa…
“Obviously, everybody has been saying ‘great game’ and walking on campus I keep hearing, ‘Continue to do the same thing and you guys will be fine.’ They want to see us go far. The fact that we’re playing great basketball right now, they want to see us continue in the same way. Obviously they want us to win another national championship and they like the way things are going right now.”
