Dec. 22, 2003

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Villanova head coach Jay Wright on his team's performance against Columbia:

"Everyone will have a lot of reasons as to why we didn't play well tonight, but a good team doesn't buy into any of those excuses. I'm just glad that this is a win that we can learn from."

"One of the reasons I was annoyed was because we settled for a lot of three-pointers tonight, especially early in the game. We have to react better to being comfortable."

"When you play at home, you want to come out and just take it to somebody. But that is just one part of a season, and we will learn from it and move on. We have a chance to be really good."

Wright on Joe Jones' Columbia team:

"I don't want to make it sound like everything is on us for not playing well - we have to give them credit. Joe has done a great job with that team, they are a good team that has been in every game this year. ."

"Columbia played hard, unselfish and intelligent tonight. They also play great defense. That is the way we have to play once the Big East starts."

Columbia head coach Joe Jones on his return to Villanova:

"It sounded like a good idea when me and Jay talked about this in April, but it didn't feel like a good idea today. It was fun leading up to it, but I didn't want the focus to be on my return - it should be on the kids."

Jones on Jay Wright and Villanova:

"I have been extremely close to Jay, he has been a mentor and a friend. I have great respect for the way he carries himself and the way he runs his program. They are going to have a great year."

Jones on his own team:

"We've been able to get better and improve because of the guys I have. We trust each other, and they have a certain level of toughness. They are fed up with losing, and they are committed to turning it around. We are going to have our share of special nights."

Villanova guard Randy Foye on tonight's game:

"We didn't come out to play hard enough, we were a little too relaxed. Whether it's Duke, Kansas or any team, you have to put them away, and make them respond to your actions. Coach Jones deserves credit though, he had them ready."

Villanova guard Allan Ray on tonight's game:

"We settled for a lot of jumpers and we weren't talking on defense. We learned a good lesson tonight."