North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State-Louisville coaches quotes
12/21/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
NC State head coach Jim Valvano
"If I told you our game plan, it would be incredible how close we came to accomplishing it. At the half, we wanted to stay tied or within a bucket or two, and we did that. The second half, we wanted to control the tempo and get the lead, then maybe spread it out a little bit. We had a chance.
"The game plan went according to what we wanted, but we just couldn't get the lead.
"I told our guys to keep this thing in perspective. We had a good effort against a very good team in their place. I am not down and I don't want one of my teams to be.
"I feel better about my team now. Before we went into this game, I wasn't sure we belonged in the top 15 or 18 teams in the country but now I am sure. We're capable of beating anybody. There are about 100 dynamite teams in the country this year and after coming here and playing as well as we did, I believe we are one of them, one of the best teams in America.
"We need to develop an inside game and we have showed that we have potential for it tonight. But consistency is the key. It was the best that they've played, but they have to keep developing. This bodes well for us. McQueen got those rebounds and Charles, for a sophomore, showed he has potential.
"It was important that we play well on the road in this game because we have some tough road games coming up."
On Charles' jumper to make it 42-41: "That was a critical point when the game was at 42-41 and we couldn't get anything. If we get the lead and the ball, then we're going to spread things and try to sneak in on some easy shots inside like we did in the first half. But we just never got the lead."
Louisville head coach Denny Crum
"NC State's so big that we were inside-conscious to begin with. You always say 'They won't beat us with those long shots.' Well, at halftime I had a change of heart. I figured Whittenburg might do that very thing. In the second half, to pressure him a little more, we gambled inside on McQueen. He doesn't seem to shoot, and they don't seem to throw it to him much. It seemed to work.
"We just got on Whittenburg a little tighter.
"We played well defensively and made some real team plays on helping out.
On Scooter McCray: "People don't give him the credit. He's such a stabilizing force and makes so much happen for us. He had only six points but without Scooter we wouldn't be winners.
On Lancaster Gordon's five points: "Lancaster had a tough time early, but then he did what any good player does. He reached down and started doing other things. He passed to Jeff (Hall) for a couple of jumpers and made a big steal.
