Playoffs Quotations

We've played with a lot of confidence and that's been the key so far. Hopefully, we can take more confidence into the playoffs.

Playing in the playoffs is the best basketball in the world, and if you can learn under that pressure, succeed under that pressure, it gives you more confidence the next year.

Making the playoffs three consecutive seasons is a great accomplishment.

I don't just think regular season. I think playoffs. World Series. That's how I think.

The playoffs are the playoffs. You just play who is put in front of you.

I have people that I'm close to that give me things to read throughout the season, and in particular in the playoffs and the postseason.

More student-athletes would be able to travel and to dress on the field, and it would give institutions the ability to bring more people along for the playoffs and for the title game. Making a profit is an individual institutional decision, but our motivation is to help them not spend as much money and be able to celebrate the event. This will hopefully allow people to do that.

One of the key goals at the beginning of the season was to get the county championships back. Today was the deadline for the state playoffs with the power points. So now we go into that arena. That's our next challenge -- that's the next thing we have to look forward to.

I wish the state would go ahead and seed the playoffs so that we wouldn't be meeting this early. We'd likely have to play eventually, but to see one team go home really before its time doesn't seem right.

I wouldn't want it any other way. If it's the game deciding if we're going to go to the playoffs or not, I want to be out on the mound just like every other pitcher on this staff wants to be out on the mound.

I was so excited, because I wait for this chance for five years. Everyone wants to play in the playoffs because it's a good occasion to learn something new. It's pretty tough. I think it's made me a better goalie. I'm not nervous. I feel pretty cool.

If we get in, we get in. The playoffs are something you don't really want to think about at this point. You just want to get a win.

If we don't play well, we're not going to get to the playoffs and we won't play deep into October. It's ours to lose. There's a lot of teams fighting for spots.

I guess I'm just on a higher stage out there in the playoffs and more people are recognizing some of the little intangibles I do, and it makes me that much better.

We had a young team and we had a lot of sophomores who got a lot of quality playing time. We have quickness and speed and have athletes coming. I don't see why Astronaut couldn't be in the state playoffs this upcoming year or the next year.

My goal for next year and the playoffs is to be able to create plays. Be a playmaker.

Like everybody says, he's got to get to the playoffs -- that's the key. All this he's doing now, he's been doing that. But you've got to make the playoffs.

Oh yeah, ... Playoffs for sure. We could definitely make a lot of noise. We could make a run to win it all.

Obviously you want to make the playoffs as a first priority, but along the way you want to finish as high as you can. This road trip gives us a lot of confidence, because they were all tough games.

Of course the playoffs are still on our mind. We're in a position for the last playoff spot with a few other teams, but we can't worry about them. We just have to continue to go out and win games.

Of course there is more intensity. And the refs get a little tight too. It is the playoffs and nobody wants to lose a game and everybody is out there trying to win.

One of the ways to make playoffs is to win your division. That was something we set out to do right from the start. We've got to keep pushing in that direction.

One thing we can carry into the playoffs is the fact we've been so consistent. This team should feel good about what it accomplished.

One of our mandates with Vancouver is development and they'll decide whom we develop and who we don't. The other side to this is that we think we've got a pretty good team here and we'd like to have a shot. We're going to be in the playoffs and if we can keep a similar (roster) we have a chance to compete and do well. Obviously, we'd like to see the group stay the same but if certain guys get called up or are moved and go to the NHL, we'll be happy for them. We'll just have to wait and see.

My goal the day I had the surgery was to be ready for the playoffs ... and I'm close. Hopefully, the doctor will feel everything is fine and I'm going to be ready soon. That's what I want.

No one gives us respect. They do, but kind of begrudgingly. But we haven't beaten anyone in the playoffs yet, and we need to win playoff games to get respect. Everyone in the room knows that.

Plus, it's a physical conference, so we are pretty much ready for the playoffs by the time the season's over.

Nederland is always such a sound and solid football team. Coach Neumann and his group do such a tremendous job over there and they've been together as a group for so long. I think they've been to the playoffs 10 straight years or so. They always have some good-looking kids. They look the same as they did in 1981. They have big kids that work hard year around. They look like they're just cut from a different mold. They just seem to reload every year with the tremendous depth they have. Another key to their success is that they don't turn over the football. They've won a lot of games over the years doing that.

Obviously football is my first sport. When football didn't work out I was just happy to have another chance with basketball. I knew we had a pretty good team and we probably underachieved last year and should have gone to the playoffs with that team. What ever way I can get to the playoff I'm happy.

Obviously I love playing when it comes down to crunch time. I like the playoffs and those last games against BC were big for us for home ice. The puck has just kind of been falling in for me. Hopefully I can continue that this weekend.

Obviously making the playoffs is your first priority, but along the way you want to finish as high as you can.

Obviously the division (title) may not happen, but the opportunity to get into the playoffs is there, and that's what we want. We don't have to wish on any other teams to win or lose. If we win, we're in -- and that's all we can ask for.

Obviously, their game plan was to go after our skill players, and that's posturing for the playoffs. That's the way the playoffs are. You earn every inch of space on the ice. I think the officials are going to have to take control of some of the situations. I thought they did a heck of a job tonight in that respect.

Now we are going to the playoffs on a positive note and we'll see what happens tomorrow night and prepare for whoever we play.

Now we're 0-0 and everybody goes and plays. The playoffs are what you wait all season for.

No players on this team have ever won a playoff game, ... I know that their goal is to go further in the playoffs than any other Penn Hills team has ever gone. The seniors can say that they've made the playoffs. They can say that they've won a section championship. But none of them can say that they've advanced in the playoffs. I think that is their biggest goal this year.

Peyton's tough. I talked to him after the game. He's been through this before (the Colts are 3-6 in the playoffs under Manning). He'll be OK. He knows they just have to go back to work at it next year.

Right now is the time you want to start winning. Win on the road, then go to the playoffs and keep winning. That?s how you get to a Super Bowl.

Right now every win feels great. Were playing for the playoffs it's right there for us if we continue to play well.

I don't how they do it. It's the start of the playoffs and we had guys going up to the (American Hockey League), and they had guys coming down.

I don't even pay attention to that any more. We're just going into the playoffs trying to get ourselves better. We want to keep playing great basketball like we've been doing and hopefully end up playing in June.

If we continue to play like this, we've got to stop thinking about playoffs and start thinking about trying to edge our way into the playoffs, and we don't want to do that.

If things don't go our way we should be in the playoffs but I'm convinced we've still got a chance of finishing in first place.

If we can get healthy, we'll be a really good team. If we're beat up going into the playoffs like we've been all year, it'll be a battle.

If we can handle their press, make our shots and make it a half-court game, we have a chance. We play a schedule that prepares us for anyone in the playoffs and now all we need is one more win to get us to state.

Last year we were 18-16, and the playoffs start, and the next thing you know, we're in the finals. Pretty cool. This year, we expected to win.

We know we are heading to Baton Rouge and they are the No. 5 team in the state. We will have to be ready to play. We are very familiar with them because we play them every year. They are well coached and very experienced. We are excited about moving on in the playoffs to take our shot at them.

We're not doing anything much different than we did all year. The only difference now is that it's playoffs and we're showing more commitment to the task. We're getting on them and that's what we have.

There are times you go through the season and, I'll say it, it starts dragging a little. The playoffs, every game, every shift means more. It always means something, don't get me wrong, but in the playoffs it just means more.

When you come head-to-head with those kind of teams and beat them, then you get the feeling that you can take yourself up a couple of notches on the totem pole. Right now, I think we're a team that can make the playoffs if we stay healthy and continue to play the type of basketball we're playing.

We need to look in the mirror. If we're going into the playoffs with the wrong attitude, it'll be over early for us.

We're looking at getting him 50 games, plus the playoffs. He didn't even play 50 last year combined with the playoffs (Flaherty played 48 total), that's why I've been careful with his playing time and rest time.

Losing to Citrus put us behind the eight ball a little bit. We want to make the playoffs and win a district title, and we gave up a big opportunity against Citrus. Now our backs are against the wall a little bit.

Six games away from the playoffs and we are still refining some aspects of our play. We need to work on finishing checks, but overall I am pleased with the way this team responds to adversity and generates opportunities. We've got six games left to get better - to be playoff ready.

Since then, we've played in every type of ball game you can think of. We've learned a lot from it and hopefully it'll carry over into the playoffs and get us to where we need to go.

Mentally and physically, this has been the most difficult, most exhausting, most frustrating season I've ever had. Being an Astro my whole career, I felt the same way about this team that a lot of people did, that this was the year we'd get through the playoffs and into a World Series. And I felt that I was letting the team and the city down.

She does all the little things for us that need to get done. I think her ankle was a factor in some of the shots she took (Friday). As every day goes by, she'll get to practice more and more and get a little stronger. With (WIAA) playoffs rolling around, we hope to get her close to 100 percent.

Making the playoffs is always the number one goal. We want to take care of that and then go further than we did last year. The goal is always to improve.

Making the playoffs last year is a huge part of our success this season. We played very well the second half of the season and managed to get in as the fourth-place team. I think that was really the beginning.

So many people projected us not even to make the playoffs 2 1/2 weeks ago. We have big things to look forward to right now.

Seven yellow cards is the most we had in a game all season. I think it a game like this with the state playoffs at stake, emotions run high.

She's been doing well and her spirits are up. We'll see how she reacts when playoffs begin.

I lost control of myself a couple times in the playoffs. I have to keep cooler in the future.

The playoffs is all about showing heart and playing together.

We won our pool, then lost in the first round of the playoffs to Plum. It was a bit disappointing, but we're hoping to do much better at Saturday's Seneca Valley tournament.

We won't be successful in a playoff game like that. We'll take the win and learn from our mistakes. It's easy to whine and cry. But we'll whine and cry our way right out of the playoffs if we do that.

We won the county baseball championship four years in a row and were in the state playoffs each year.

Kevin has literally played every single minute up until today's game. I didn't want to go into the playoffs without Steve Cronin getting some playing time.

Guys stepped up towards the end of the season and even though we were going bad we had a taste of not making it to the playoffs and I think guys got refocused again and played like we did the whole first half that last week and carried it on into the playoffs.

He just bulldogged it and jammed it in. That's how you win the playoffs because the skill is so even. It's heart, determination and gritty hard work.

He knows what's going to happen out there because his attention to detail is so great. Because he has great control of the game, ... as long as you're not turning the ball over and doing stupid stuff, ... you've got a good chance to win almost every game. We keep the score low, defend well, and that's the Rick Carlisle style. That's why he's in the playoffs all the time.

There are teams that have been in the playoffs in the past that have lost a lot of money.

There are a lot of similarities there. Of course in the regular season our numbers are better and in the playoffs their numbers are better. Sometimes in the national tournament you can throw those numbers away .

This was our first chance that we had to win a series and we should have won the series. And the way you make the playoffs is by winning series. You don't give series away.

I could see the line moving down a little bit. Carolina has been impressive in the playoffs so they might get a lot of action at 3 ?.

Growing up you're watching the playoffs and you're watching how exciting it is. You see heroes being made every game, every year. It was a great moment for me. Something I'll never forget.

Frankly, it wasn't a conscious choice to go after big leaguers. They became available to us and they're good guys who can play well. One of the things that we've always done here I've always built a team for playoffs in April. Part of that is having players with experience and the guile to get it done when it's (crunch) time. That's what we're looking for.

From the first day of the playoffs the pitching always has been good.

Getting to the playoffs is tough. The sections are more balanced and it's getting harder and harder to make the playoffs. Any team that makes the playoffs has to be pretty good and they're all battle-tested to come through their sections.

From one year to the next, Chris has improved so much. You could see it in the playoffs last year. His big thing is his skating. He's such a great skater that he can play forward and defense. And he's got the best hands on the team, stick-handling wise.

From a development standpoint, even just to practice every day with the pros, I think would help his development. We're going to send him into Grand Rapids and he'll be there through the end of the regular season. Then we'll make a decision whether he remains there for the playoffs or does he then go back home.

I feel much better today than I was feeling in the last couple of days. It is nice knowing we are in the playoffs now. If we have two good games now, from here on in, we achieve our goal.

I am excited about the opportunity to coach in the ABA and for a team that made a great run in the playoffs last year. It is a terrific opportunity for me and I look forward to taking this team to the ABA championship.

If a big call is made in the last 30 seconds or five minutes of a game, if there's a call made that keeps a team out of the playoffs or knocks them out of the first round, and it starts costing teams money, that'll be the litmus test,

If an official puts his whistle away, they should put the official away for the rest of the playoffs. How long you work in the playoffs is discretionary, and that depends on how well you're working. And if a guy decides he's putting the whistle away, then he's done.

For us to sign Chris Simms for our future is something that is extremely exciting. (He is) A young man that has continued to improve, help our team make the playoffs and win an NFC Southern Championship, and a guy that we will continue to build our football team around.

I don't think I was a year too late or a year too early in retiring. If the Seahawks had been in the playoffs a year later, I might have had some regrets.

For whatever reason - whether it be the other team playing better than us or us not taking full advantage of opportunities we were presented - we had opportunities to go further in the playoffs if we made it to the playoffs. So you can't say this team has gone south. We just haven't gone as far as we possibly could.

For us it wasn't so much about winning or losing. It's about showing up and proving to ourselves that we belong with the best team in the NHL. We show up with no effort by so many guys, that's just embarrassing. I don't know how to explain it, but there's definitely an issue here that we'll have to resolve before the playoffs start.

For two days George has been stressing that if the playoffs started tomorrow this is the team we would play against. We wanted to make a statement.

For us right now, getting home-ice advantage in the playoffs is absolutely critical. We want to get as high up the ladder as we can because of how competitive it is right now. Every home game we get as an advantage is important.

I expect to see some good games. We have come a long way to this point in our season and Silver has not been in the playoffs for a couple of years.

I expect us to be in the playoffs next year. We've got a great group of young guys and hopefully it will stay together. I think we can build off the finish we had to this season and do some great things next year.

I expected to make the playoffs and to be district champions. I knew it was going to be hard with the young team we had.

I expect every team in the state playoffs to make a run. It doesn't matter how far ahead you are. And I expect us to make those free throws in the end.

I don't think you can play for that. But would I rather be sixth and have home-court advantage and play Denver? Yes. I don't want to give Denver something to put up on the bulletin board. Obviously, I'd rather be at home to start the playoffs. It would great to be home. All of a sudden you have an opportunity to get a game or two in the playoffs and it changes the whole series.

I don't think you ever go into a season admitting anything to anyone that you're going to win the Stanley Cup, you're not going to make the playoffs or you are going to make the playoffs. I knew that they were going to be a good team as soon as we had them together in training camp.

I don't think you're going to hear anything about Phil's next step in the NBA, if there is a next step in the NBA, until a new champion is crowned. I don't think Phil is going to accelerate the pace of any discussions. He has obligations that are non-NBA related. As it turns out, his calendar of engagements ... frees itself right around the time the NBA playoffs conclude. That's the time when we could really jump into it if there are serious offers.

I don't think we're going to play football in the playoffs. Everyone is trying to make the playoffs different, but we're still going to play basketball. Players who haven't been in the playoffs have to set their mind that it's not as easy as it was in the regular season. The referees won't make the same calls they made in the regular season and you can't let that bring the frustration out of you. That's the biggest adjustment.

I break the season down in three different parts. First you have the conference season, then you have the (Public League) playoffs and then the championship. Playing Hyde Park in a conference game is the start.