University of Tennessee Athletics
UT-Louisville Postgame Quotes
March 27, 2008 | Men's Basketball
Tennessee Head Coach Bruce Pearl
On the match-up???
"Tonight???s game doesn???t take much away from the finest season in the history of Tennessee basketball. No team has accomplished what this team accomplished this year. We struggled all night long and Louisville deserves a great deal of credit for that. We were in foul trouble all night ling. Wayne Chism got in foul trouble early and that affected out game. The guys battled all night, but it wasn???t enough against a team as talented and well-coached as Louisville."
On Louisville???s size on defense???
"Their length bothered us on the perimeter, getting the ball to the post, as well as under the basket. The size bothered us when we got close to the basket. We probably didn???t drive it as well as we could have, but that???s what zones do."
On Louisville???s offensive spurts and how Tennessee countered???
"They had 14 turnovers at halftime and probably turned the ball over several more times early in the second half. Then they didn???t turn the ball over at all. It was a good adjustment that they made. They got to the rim and got to the foul line."
Sophomore Forward Tyler Smith
On his feelings when down by 1 point???
"Yes we felt good. We kept fighting, but they are a good team. We were able to get the score down, but they were able to pull away."
Senior Guard JaJuan Smith
About the adjustments made/caused by Tennessee???
"I got two quick fouls, which gave me three fouls. That made me play a little bit back."
From the Locker Room
Sophomore Forward Wayne Chism on Lousiville???s physical style of play and the game going that way???
"You know I was playing physically and our team was playing physically but sometimes when that happens you become over-aggressively and that???s what happened to us tonight. That happens sometimes when you play physically."
Senior Guard Chris Lofton on how far Tennessee came as a team this year and over his career???
"It was great to be here for the last four years. I wish we could have gone farther but I guess it???s the way it goes sometimes."
Louisville Head Coach Rick Pitino
On the match-up???
"First, I want to congratulate Tennessee on an unbelievable season. They played, like us, a really tough schedule. They had a tremendous season and it???s not easy to lose this stage in the season but they have a lot to be proud of. They are a terrific basketball team. You got to fight on every possession to beat them. Our guys did and we???re proud of them. (Andre McGee) is working his tail off and he had had a great year. Inch for inch and pound for pound, he???s one of the best point guards in the nation. (Earl Clark) just keeps on getting better and better. He had a big game tonight."
On Louisville defense???
"One of the key???s on defense all year has been changing it up. I think if you give any team a steady diet of one defense it???s not quite as good. We extend our zone almost like a half court trap. We don???t give the wings good looks, especially on Earl???s side as he???s quite long and T-Will???s great athleticism as well. Our defense has stayed constant most of the year."
On the key points of the game???
"I just kept reminding the guys that every time we needed a bucket what we had to do. We had to use back screens. They did a tremendous job of that. Derrick Caracter played real well tonight. He did an excellent job in all phases of the game. He gave us a big lift when we needed it. The guys are playing together playing really well."
Junior Guard Andre McGee
On the defense this season???
"Coach really talked about denied pressure. Lot of turnovers in the first half but we stepped it up in the 2nd half and made them throw the ball out of bounds a few times. It has gotten a lot better."
Sophomore Forward Earl Clark
On who he was upset with in the first half???
"I was upset with myself by turning the ball over a lot. I wasn???t mad at coach."
On what happened in the 2nd half after struggling in the 1st half ???
"We wanted to come out and be aggressive. In the first half they kind of pushed us out of our offense a little bit. Coach told us to make hard cuts and we got open looks."
On your size possibly being a mismatch for Tennessee???
"I really don???t see it as a mismatch for Tennessee. They have been playing guys my size all season so I really don???t see it as a mismatch."
On defending Chris Lofton...
"I tried to push the screen, and every time he was on my side just try to get the ball and get up and jam him. I tried to make it a tough shot for him."
From the Locker Room
Senior Center David Padgett on playing North Carolina???
"We have not talked about them at all to be honest. Our focus was completely Tennessee and our coaches were going to have us well prepared. Its tough for one day, but that???s the beauty of the tournament. Obviously they are pretty good, they are the number one team in the country."
Junior Forward Terrence Williams about winning???
"The Sweet 16 was sweet. Everybody enjoyed that, we had a week off to prepare. And now we have not even a day, we have a couple of hours and then we have to get back to work but as of now its fun. A lot of these guys haven???t been to this point, so it is fun to see them having fun. My teammates have gone out there and played well and have not been nervous, and I tip my hat to them."
Sophomore Forward Derrick Caracter on if North Carolina is the best team they have faced this season???
"I think that they are the best match-up as far as each position goes. They are great in each position, and they have a good bench that is pretty deep. They are not the number one team in the country for nothing. We just have to go out there on Saturday and see there strengths and weaknesses and go from there. We have to stay focused and try to win the next game."
