Jan. 30, 2006

Recap |  Final Stats

Marist Head Coach Matt Brady

On losing large leads:

We have had a lot of big leads shrink in the second half.  We need to pay attention to details and limit runouts, offensive rebounds and our turnovers, otherwise the other team will find a way.  If we let down our guard for 2-3 minutes, with the explosiveness of the guards in this league, we could lose games.

I was not a happy guy in December with us losing big leads.  I said before the season that we were going to be in every game.  I like our chances in every game we play. 

On the play of Loyola's Andre Collins:

I thought we did a terrific job on him, he scored 30 points but took a lot of shots to get there.  With him, you need to help and play your best defense.  I think he handled himself very well tonight and he is a credit to Loyola

Fouls/Bench help in foul trouble:

It is getting frustrating for me because we are trying very hard to not foul in the post.  We had two really good players in Miles and Shae play well, but they have played better and will play better.  We are a team that find ways to win.  We may have a few who step up to make shots but we have a lot of guys who make plays.

Junior guard Will Whittington

We didn't play well in Baltimore, we watched film and we could tell we were letting them get open shots.  We weren't focused.  Andre Collins took 27 shots, but he is going to get his average and we stopped their other guys tonight.  I don't know what it was tonight, but Loyola wasn't sharp. 

Junior forward Miles Orman

One of the thing coach always talks about is our hustle plays and that is what has been separating us from other teams.  When I get in the game I try to make the most of my minutes.

Junior guard Jared Jordan

People talk about my assists, but honestly, getting the assists is up to the other guys making shots.  It's kind of misleading, I just throw the ball to them.  They have the hard part, honestly.

Loyola Head Coach Jimmy Patsos

That was a great game, great atmosphere, really good place to play. We just didn't convert in the end, made some turnovers and missed shots.  We lost Whittington and he is ridiculous in this building, he doesn't miss.  We are learning.  We are a program that has had one winning season in 20 years and we are building.  I look at our 11-8 record and I remind our kids that we should be proud of that.  I wish we could have won tonight, but our kids fought hard.  We stopped at Yankee Stadium on the way up here, saw what real champions do and we want to build towards being better.

Difference this game:

We beat them on a three-pointer last game so it wasn't like we won big.  Whittington was 0-6 at our place and 5-9 here. 

On the play of Jared Jordan:

He is a great player.  The most depressing thing about coaching him in China [with the MAAC All-Stars] was finding out how good he was.  He is a good kid.  He is one of those guys who sat next to me on the bus and we talked.  I taught him that happiness comes from within.  He saw me coaching and said "You don't look very happy."  He's really a terrific player, reminds me of Steve Blake, has that little fire and surprises you.  At first people might say he isn't that great, but over the course of the game you find yourself saying, "Woah, he's pretty good."

On the MAAC:

I think we deserve 2 NIT bids but there is no doubt that one team, only one team from this league will make the NCAA tournament.  Whoever wins the tournament will go.  This is a good league, but we won't get two bids. 

On struggles of late:

You build and do the best you can.  Marist is rolling, their last loss was to us but I doubt Matt reminded them of that.  There is nothing missing, we are playing better teams who are seeing Andre for the second time and have been on the road.

Loyola guard Andre Collins

I actually think I had a better game today than I did at home.  I did a little more tonight, did some different things, not just hitting threes.

Loyola forward Hassan Fofana

 Coach has always been a hard worker and a fighter and he teaches us that.  He fights for every single win and that is what he is doing at Loyola, building, building.