Post-Game Quotes

Jan. 29, 2005

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Head Coach Ritchie McKay:

“I was extremely proud of our group and their effort this evening. Tonight was a hard victory to secure. The teams that we have had here in the past who didn’t shoot their way back in the game would not have pulled out that win. A rusty Danny Granger and a tired David Chiotti, and with Mark and Troy having off nights, I was extremely proud we grinded a win out and overcame the adversity.”

On Jeff Hart:

“I thought that was a coy coaching strategy to get him into the starting lineup. Jeff has been practicing tremendously well and he studies the game. He doesn’t make many mistakes, he can make open shots, he defends, and I felt like we should give him a chance.”

Head Coach Lon Kruger:

It was a very winnable game tonight, wasn’t it?
“Rebounds and loose ball, we’ve got to come up with those. Playing on the road in a ball game like that we gave them second opportunities two or three times.

On turnovers…
“We didn’t take very good care of the ball. On the road it’s especially critical that we take care of it. We had a bunch of them tonight. We have to handle it better.”

“In the second half we got it going pretty good early. We made some good plays. But we didn’t get it to Louis Amundson often, and he got in foul trouble. But we have to keep making plays for each other.”

How much of it was New Mexico’s defense?
“They’ve been solid and do a nice job defensively. We just have to make plays – drive it if the drive is there, and pass it if the pass is there.”