Jan. 12, 2012

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VILLANOVA, Pa. -

Villanova Head Coach Jay Wright

Opening Statement

"They loaded two guys to Maalik [Wayns] every time and extended on him. I thought they did a good job on Dominic [Cheek]. Dominic adjusted and tried to drive the ball. He is our best free throw shooter. When you do things like that against a team like that, nothing much else matters. I think that was our difference. They did a good job on our perimeter scorers and I have to give them credit.

Q: Most people would say that their bench is a good team in itself. Is it hard to guard against that much depth?

"I think that is what makes them a good team. The fact they have guys like Waiters, Fair, and Southerland. You could argue that they might be starting, but you can't argue their success. Those kids being that unselfish and playing a role like that makes a great team. I really think that is a credit to those kids and that program."

Q: How hard is it to simulate against that kind of zone? I'm sure you practiced against it.

"It is tough. We have a decent sized team, but it is just their anticipation. They are always smacking the ball and are in the passing lanes. If you don't do that every day you then you don't have the same instincts they have. They have great instincts in that zone, they really do. They are very well prepared personnel wise. They made adjustments based on their shots in the second half. It is almost impossible to see."

Q: Do you think playing games like this is going to pay off even though tonight was tough?

"Ty Johnson really struggled tonight. We have all seen a lot of really good and experienced guards struggle with that zone. That's what I wanted to talk to Ty [Johnson] about. A lot of great guards have struggled in that zone and it is a great experience to go against it. I hope he learns a lot from it. It is tough when your freshman point guard is learning and you're losing, but it is what it is."

Q: Can you talk about Cheek and Wayns shooting only 30 percent from three.

"I think good shooters have to learn how to go against defenses that are geared to stop that. They were always secondary guys that played off of Fisher and Stokes. They did a great job on Maalik Wayns. They denied him and loaded two guys to him in the pick-and-roll. Towards the end of the game he tried to get to the rim and was called for a charge. They really did a good job on him."

Villanova Forward JayVaughn Pinkston

Q: Could you describe what it is to go up against these guys defensively because they are not only really long but very quick off the floor.

"It was tough in the beginning because they are so long, as you said. It's tough for me not being that tall, but I think we did a good job down there. Me, Mouphtaou [Yarou] and Markus [Kennedy] did a good job down there going up getting fouled and getting to the free throw line."

Q: Does it affect your shooting when you are shooting that five or ten footer?

"A little bit because they are so long."

Syracuse Head Coach Jim Boeheim

Opening Statement

"We defended as well as we had the past two games. I thought we really played well. The second half they started to trap and we didn't handle the ball well and attack the defense very well. Our defense slipped a little bit as well. We played so well the first half that we had enough margin for error. It was pretty much similar to the other game."

Q: Can you talk about ten of your guys scoring in the first half.

"We have been able to play about eight or nine guys for the most part all year. We should be getting stronger in the second half, instead of weaker. James [Southerland] I thought had a good night and had some open looks. We have been shooting the ball well from the three-point line. The first half we had some really good looks and shooters in good position, but we just didn't make them. Our defense was good and Dion [Waiters] had a really good half and we got some separation. We were playing very good offensively."