Davis March 11 Practice Quotes

March 11, 2003

Essentially you guys are in the same position record wise as you were last year but is there a different approach because the expectations are so much higher because of the success from last year?
"Well the expectation went up when we went to the championship game and then we came out and went 8-0, so I guess that's the way it should have been. I told my guys today that they have to listen to me and do what I tell them to do or they don't have a chance to win. We could be a really good team but it is going to take everyone on our team that is on the floor playing hard."

Do you know how many games that you need to win in the Big Ten Tournament to get into the NCAA's?
"If we win on Thursday I think that we will definitely be in but if we won on Saturday I think that we would have been in. But if we would have won on Saturday it shouldn't have mattered what happens this Thursday. So if we win on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, then we are in for sure!"

Did you ever expect that you would be sitting here at this time of year wondering if you would make it into the NCAA Tournament?
"I never expected that we would have an injury at this point in the season. Last year we didn't have any injuries except for when Jared Jeffries went down with an ankle injury and he only missed one game and we lost that game he missed. Injuries for us are crucial then for a lot of other teams. We really can't afford to lose certain guys."

What is the most crucial thing that you guys need to do to pull it together?
"Well, we need to get some leadership and it comes from the seniors. We have three seniors on this basketball team and they have been through everything, so it is going to be on them."

You haven't gotten that leadership this year from those guys, how are you going to get it at the end?
"Well, you are always hoping and have your fingers crossed. Just hope that they understand. If they don't understand on Thursday we are in trouble."

Is it selfishness that has plagued this team throughout the season?
"We are not selfish as in bad but I think that you are selfish when you don't come out and play hard, play hard defense, block out and not be ready to play hard basketball. That's being selfish and that is the selfishness that this basketball team has."

Are you getting a sign that this time the seniors will respond?
"It is hard to say because we had a great practice last week before we played Penn State, it was probably the best practice that we had. I was going into this game really excited, but they didn't show up at all. Today was good but we have to show up to play on Thursday."

Is the biggest difference between this year's team and last year's team the defense?
"Our defense is so bad, it is the worst I've ever seen. Ever shot fake they jump, we never play position, we never play team defense, and what happens when the defense drops off and we start talking about it, everyone says `well, I was guarding my man.' So then you start just guarding your man you are playing pickup basketball. It should be team defense."

Indiana University Athletics

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