Dec. 13, 2016 Recap | Final Stats | Photo Gallery 
Villanova, Pa. -
Villanova Head Coach Jay Wright
Opening statement: Obviously a good win for us. Temple is a very good team and we played well. I thought the first half, their defense was outstanding, our defense was outstanding, and then we made a couple plays at the end of the half that broke it open. I thought you saw two outstanding defensive teams in the first half. I thought the end of that first half was big and we did it off of our defense. We couldn't really score on them. We got a couple steals, a couple turnovers there, and got easy baskets, and it all came from our defense. Their very good, obviously, they beat two of the top 25 teams and beat a team in our league. They are going to be a very good team and we have great respect for Temple and we value that win.
On Josh Hart going off with 22 points in the second half: Wow, I didn't even know that. The beauty of that is that I didn't know that, he didn't know that, he was just getting good shots. They are really good at keeping you in front of them and contesting your shots. I think they key is, he doesn't lose his composure. There's a lot of guys that would come off a 37 point game and have two in the first half and start panicking. He just keeps making the right play and let it come to him with his defense. That's what makes him a great player.
On beating Temple on an average of 20 points in the last four years: We got a good run here, with a lot of good players. We came out of the locker room with Shane Clark, Kyle Lowry, Daniel Ochefu, and Kevin Rafferty. Those were a lot of good players and that's what any top program has. We're very fortunate to have these top guys on this run with us, especially Josh and Kris, and Darryl Reynolds. This senior class, they have been impactful since they were freshmen. They've played with other great players also.
On being the number one ranked team and opponents challenging you: It's the hardest thing you have to face, it really is. Thank god we went through it last year, and it was hard. When I say hard, it's a challenge and I'll take that challenge any day of the year. It is difficult and again, having Josh, Kris, Darryl, it takes the players to do it. The coach can only say it so much, these guys get their teammates prepared. They have much more impact on the team, even than I do and I don't know if you can come from what we did last year without doing it with our seniors. Without our guys, I'm not sure if we could do it. It wasn't easy.
Captain Guard Josh Hart
On the three seniors going through Big Five play undefeated: It's an honor, definitely humbling. The Big Five tradition, we have great teams every year. It's something that 10, 20, 30 years down the line, we'll look back and think it's pretty cool, but right now there's no time to celebrate. We need to get ready for our next game against American.
Captain Forward Kris Jenkins
On the three seniors going through Big Five play undefeated: Everything that Josh said. We've been on a great team, with some great players. Like he said, when we're done playing, it's something we'll look back on and say wow that's a big accomplishment, but right now were just focused on the next game.
Temple Head Coach Fran Dunphy
On the start of the game; Villanova's defense or not making shots: Mostly their really good defense. I thought we figured it out a little later on towards the end of the first half. We were able to get some shots, but we weren't able to finish them to the rim. I thought our defense in the half court was pretty good, but we let them loose. Jenkins made a couple of threes, when we talked so much about not letting him get his feet set. Josh Hart's threes in the second half were daggers for us and we didn't have a whole lot of time to respond. I do think we figured it out a little bit better. We were taking the ball to the basket a little stronger in the second half. Villanova is a really good basketball team.
On Big Five Basketball and Villanova's program: I think it's a terrific basketball program overall, it always has been though. Jay has done a wonderful job of putting it all together. This is a pretty special group. Hart and Jenkins have done some unbelievable things as a two-some, but they were really good last year and they were really good the year before. They are going to continue to be good, especially because they have a good leader among them. It's up to the rest of us to do what we can to be a better basketball program as well, which we all are trying to do.
#4 Daniel Dingle
On the thoughts coming into this game: There were no nerves coming into this game. Emotionally, we were just very hyped to play. We weren't nervous out there at all, we were just ready to compete. One or two plays probably changed the game.