IU vs. Pittsburgh: Player Press Conference

March 23, 2003

GAME #5
INDIANA VS. PITTSBURGH
MARCH 23, 2003
INDIANA PLAYER QUOTES

SENIOR GUARD TOM COVERDALE
General Comments
"I think Pitt was definitely one of the best defensive teams that we faced all year. I think we could have played a little bit better both offensively and defensively, but there's nothing we can do about it now. They're a good team. You have to give them credit."

On scoring drought in first half:
"I think we were trying to execute our stuff, but they were just trying to take us out of it. They did a great job of not letting us score off of stagger screens, which we did a lot this year. Their big guy inside played great post defense and really took us out of what we did. We have to execute at times like that and we didn't."

On Julius Page's defense:
"He's probably the best defender I've faced my whole career. He's so quick and he's a great anticipator. He sees what's going to happen before it happens. It's pretty tough to get a shot off against him."

FRESHMAN GUARD BRACEY WRIGHT
General Comments:
"I think it was a game early that we could have won, but we got down and we never could regain a lead. Pittsburgh kept applying the pressure and ran off with it."

On not putting a run together like he did against Alabama
"They applied a lot of pressure and took us out of the things that we wanted to do offensively. I think we were rushing a lot and weren't as patient as we should have been."

SENIOR FORWARD JEFF NEWTON
General Comments:
"I'm just going to give credit to probably the best team in the tournament. I just wish them the best of luck."

On fall after being ranked #6 in December:
"We had too many defensive lapses. We didn't run our offense efficiently. There are a number of things that happened. Those are the things that a good team has to find a way to fight through."

On why Pitt is one of best teams they faced this year:
"They probably are one of the best teams that we have faced this year because of how unselfish they are as a team. They play good team defense, probably the best team defense that we've seen."

Indiana University Athletics

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