Feb. 25, 2017 Recap | Final Stats | USATSI Gallery 
VILLANOVA, Pa. -
Villanova Head Coach Jay Wright
Opening statement: Just a great way to finish. I know you guys ask a lot about if you think we are getting worn down with playing six or seven guys. I don't think so, I think we can do it. I have to answer your questions, but it doesn't do us any good saying 'We are worn out.' It's not an excuse. Other teams have things to deal with. Again, today wasn't pretty. I think it just speaks to the leadership and characters of these seniors. Are they tired - Yeah. Are they worn down some - Yeah. It doesn't matter. It can't be the reason you lose. Maybe you were tired and you didn't concentrate, or we didn't rebound - that's what happened. That's the way we look at it. Whether you're tired or not doesn't matter. You still have to get it done. These guys did it. I'm so proud of them. It's senior leadership. It's talented players and senior leadership.
Question: Villanova clinched its fourth straight BIG EAST regular season title tonight. What does that say about Villanova basketball?
JW: Honestly, it's really talented players and having guys that help each other win and get better. Nobody wins anything without really talented players. Our guys are really good and so talented. When you win championships, the players are talented. They're really good. Over the years, these guys have played with some great players that have taught them, and these guys became great players and they (
Josh Hart and
Kris Jenkins) are teaching him (
Eric Paschall). He's going to be a great one. That's really what Villanova basketball is all about. It's hard to get those guys here. It's hard to keep getting better like they do. That's really what has happened over the last four years. It's hard to keep that going.
Senior guard Josh Hart and senior forward Kris Jenkins
Question: Josh and Kris, can you talk about the range of emotions today? With senior day today and saying goodbye to the crowd?
Josh Hart: Yeah, it's definitely emotional. The beginning is more se for the parents and celebrating them. We give them all the credit for raising us. After that, the game is all business and we have to play 40 minutes of Villanova basketball. This game isn't about the seniors, it's about the next step in our journey. We fought and we battled. I'm proud of us for that. It was great to do all of that.
Kris Jenkins: Just like Josh said, it's more for our families and the student body, because we have a lot we want to accomplish this season. We're moving forward to our next game.
Redshirt sophomore forward Eric Paschall
Question: What was the key to your play today? How comfortable have you felt the last few weeks on offense?
Eric Paschall: Just listening to these guys (
Josh Hart and
Kris Jenkins) and making sure I have my head clear every game. They do a great job of telling me what to during games. I try to go out there and play hard, play together, and play smart with pride. That's what I try to do.
Creighton Head Coach Greg McDermott Opening statement: Well obviously Villanova has a terrific basketball team. I was proud of our guys in the first half that we were kind of able to withstand a pretty good run and be down ten and get back to the locker room all tied up. I even thought we started off the second half relatively well, but our inability to play without fouling and you put Villanova in the bone six or seven minutes into the half, the way they can control the ball and put different guys in spots and be able to isolate, you're asking for trouble. That's exactly what happened, our inability to guard them without fouling and then our 16 turnovers to their 10 was just too much to overcome.
Marcus Foster
Question: How was Villanova's style of play different from the last time you played them?
Marcus Foster: I don't think they are different at all. They are the same team that plays hard and to beat a great team like that, you have to limit your mistakes. They are a real good team.
