Jim Calhoun Players Quotations

Obviously, we are disappointed that Jeff will miss the game at Providence, but the rule as stated in the rule book is very clear. Other players will have to step up and make up for his absence and I have complete confidence that will happen.

I can feel the emotions start to build, ... I've had conversations with my first recruit at Northeastern, with eight kids from my Dedham High School team that won 21 straight games, a lot of phone calls from my former players ... it's an exciting time for me.

Hopefully, they'll learn if they truly, truly want to be UConn basketball players and represent the state, represent themselves and our team. Give me that opportunity.

Over the last 15 years, the type of players we've had here, the fortune to be successful, we've had the bull's-eye. Now there's the added bull's-eye of a new league, being No. 1. They just pile up. That's exactly where you want to be. You want to be playing from the top. I hear guys say they like to be the underdog. But there's a reason you're the underdog. I'd like to be playing from the top any time I can.

Our veteran players made some terrific plays down the stretch.

It feels good so many guys contributed. We, the coaching staff, to some degree, have become so reliant on Rudy and he didn't have a particularly good evening and that happens to great players and will continue to happen.

I think we finally wore them down. They didn't have any more players to play.

We aren't overrated, we are misconstrued. We've got three big players and two wings but only one guard (Williams). We have to be able to create for others and we only have one guy that can do it.

Very few players are able to maintain the pace he's on. I don't think anybody I've ever had can get as hot as he can get. Ben (Gordon) and Ray (Allen) are probably better shooters, but nobody gets as hot as he does. He's done that against a whole bunch of folks. It's not the first time.

Very few players maintain the pace, obviously, he's on. Brian Fair, Ray Allen, Ben Gordon, the great shooters we've had here, if anybody could ... I don't think anybody we've ever had could get as hot as he could get. I think Ben Gordon and Ray might be better shooters, but I'm not sure anybody can get as hot as he could get.

Brandon Roy, in my opinion, is one of the top two or three players in the country.

The thing that scares me always the most and the thing I caution our players on is that next week, you go home. You go home for the Big East tournament. And then next time you go home, we pack up the uniforms. And this team is good enough to get to Indianapolis. Will it get to Indianapolis? I have no idea. ... Maybe the first round of the tournament some team gets up, plays us tough and we don't execute.

He's one of the most memorable players we've ever had if you think about just how spectacular he's been and the darts he's thrown at teams.

The first two or three passes should be used to spread the defense. Then you have a better opportunity for entry passes, because the post players will replace the back of the zone.

They find a way to win. A lot of the things that happened against Washington were plays that players make. Guys who refuse to lose a basketball game, guys who are down by five with 30 seconds to go but don?t believe they?re going to lose. And that, as a coach, you don?t teach. Maybe you try to set the mood that we?re still here, but you can?t set the mood if you don?t have winners with you.

There's a chance that one of the parents will be moving up here with one of the players if everything goes through. I shouldn't pre-judge, but in most instances like this, they face a loss of housing privileges. If that happens, one of the parents will be moving with one of the players.

It's a tribute to the hard work the kids put in because they played in the best league in the country. I think our kids should be honored. We have an awful lot of good players in this league. I couldn't be prouder of our kids.

It?s a time we have to play. I don?t think for college kids it makes any difference. I talked to players today and asked them, ?How?d you sleep last night?? They said they went to bed early ? they were in bed by 1:15 a.m.

This was a year that if you relaxed, you were going to get beat. Here's Marquette picked 12th, and they have a bye. It gives you a sense of just how strong this league is. It's almost impossible to imagine that a couple of years ago. The diversity and depth of players make it almost impossible to predict.