Steve Alford Basketball Quotations

I'm a Christian first. I'm a family guy second. As much as I like coaching, as much as I like basketball, it's third, fourth, or fifth down the line.

Maybe your anxiety and nerves are different. Every year it seems we're on the brink and not knowing how many games we had to win or in '01 knowing we needed to win all of them to get in. It's a different feeling this year. There's the pressure that we think we're a pretty good basketball team and winning one of the two Big Ten championships is out there.

My only focus is on our team. All my efforts and passion and enthusiasm are on this Hawkeye basketball team.

It hit us at a good time. We hadn't had a break for a while. We got away from basketball Sunday, and we got away from it (Wednesday).

We appreciate the hard work and efforts that Rich and Greg have extended on behalf of this program over the past seven years. With 46 wins in the last two seasons and six straight winning seasons, they have contributed to a lot of the successes we have enjoyed. In my long?term commitment toward the future, I wanted to move Brian to director of basketball operations and felt these moves were necessary for the continued progress of the program.

We've been ranked three times coming in here. But it's a lot different than years ago. This is a very good basketball team that's only going to get better.

It was the same scenario. The last 5 minutes, I just thought they were the tougher basketball team.

As in the past, search committees and interested officials from other programs with openings for a head basketball coach have initiated contact. I'm flattered with the interest and the recognition of the outstanding season we had this year. With that success, comes attention and speculation that I cannot control. I have not scheduled any interviews with any other institutions.

You've got two guys that have probably done more for Illinois basketball than anybody in the history of the program. That says a lot, because there have been some great players here.

They've got an incredible resume, this is a very good basketball team, and we know that. They aren't going to be intimidated or worry about playing a Big Ten opponent.

Fans will see intense basketball and competitive games. It will be a great prelude to what will happen in the national tournament.

In the last five minutes, they were the tougher basketball team. They got the stops they needed, and we did not.

You create shots for yourself by what you do without the ball more than what you do after you get it

We try to stress the little things because little things lead to big things.