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Head Coach Jay Wright

Opening Statement

"Good to get a win but I think we all watched what happen and we have to give credit to La Salle. We got out-played, they were better prepared for the game and they really shut down our perimeter play and they forced us into one on one situations and shut us down defensively and we could not guard their guards. We just have to give the other team credit and thank God for Donte and Phil for making great individual plays to get us the win."

On Mikal's crucial shot

"Another big play. They forced us into one on one situations and they are actually a little better than us at that. We usually play as a team and pass around to everyone but they stick to a few key players so it took our guys to make their own individual plays and Mikal (Bridges) missed a shot and got it right back and tapped it in which was another big play."

On if this a game to build on

"We will learn a lot from this game. Everyone asks me about these Big Five games and these teams know us, they know the players, so they always come up with the best game plans against us so we always learn from these teams how they will play against us."

On Phil Booth's big defensive blocks

"Those individual plays are as big as the plays offensively. He's a veteran, he knows situations, he knows the scouting report, those were plays that were really important cause on one of the plays La Salle's Pookie Powell was driving and Phil (Booth) knew he was a driver and I think it shows how important it is to have big time guys making big time plays."

Guard #10 Donte DiVincenzo

On playing more one on one individual play

"We were just trying to play our way but they were just doing a great job with their game plan and towards the second half we had to tough it out and grind to the finish. Like coach said they were trying to force us into more one on one situations and we just had to grind it out to the end to be successful."

Guard #5 Phil Booth

On making key defensive stops

"They did a great job at moving the ball. On the first play I was late getting to ball and luckily I was able to get in front of Pookie (Powell) and make the stop. On the second, Pookie had it going and I was just trying to make a play and was able to get in front of the lane and make the block."

On how much pride he takes in his defensive play

"More than offense. I think our whole team prides on defense more than the offensive side overall. We get more excited about making a stop than making a shot and I think our defensive play makes us win and that certainly is what got us the win today."