University of Massachusets Athletics
UMass Head Coach Steve Lappas
December 10, 2001 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 10, 2001
ON START TO SEASON:
"I would have been happy (at the beginning of season) if you would have told me that we would be 4-2 after six games. We had a great opportunity to be 5-1 but we didn't take advantage of it.
"I'm pleased with where we are: winning at North Carolina State, beating Oregon were both good wins for us early in the development here in learning a new style and new system.
"I've been pleased with what we've done so far."
ON FAN SUPPORT:
"It's been unbelievable. My first game I walked out and everybody was clapping and one of my assistants said that they were clapping for me. I said ' What, are you kidding me?' I didn't know what that was like.
"It's been tremendous. The people have been warm and accepting in welcoming us here and it's been a lot of fun."
ON LESSONS LEARNED SATURDAY NIGHT:
"I learned that we have some tough guys that never say die. To cut a lead from 26 to four and have a legitimate shot (to win) with seven minutes left was great.
"The reason why we went down so much in the first half is because we still don't know what we're trying to do. Which is acceptable.
"I wouldn't have expected that. I didn't expect us to be where we want to be until January or February. As long as we can win some games along the way and keep our heads above water, I think we'll be okay at the end of the year."
ON IMPORT OF UCONN GAME:
"Since I've got here I've heard a lot about it. Not being from the area, I didn't realize how important this game was to people here. I've gotten hit with it in the course of being here. I've learned how important the game is."
ON PREPARING FOR UCONN:
"We have to rebound the ball. That's going to be a huge thing. They're a tremendous offensive rebounding team and they're a tremendous team in transition. We've got to rebound the ball.
"There are obviously other things in the game that we'll have to do in the game. Right now our offense is not where it will be later, but we have to really be on top of our game to have a chance."
ON DIFFERENCE FROM UCONN TEAM LAST YEAR THAT VILLINOVA BEAT TWICE:
"They're more experienced this year. They have kids that played in major roles for a year that have stepped up this season. I thought they were good last year. They're really, really good this year."
ON CONVERSATIONS WITH FORMER UMASS COACH JOHN CALIPARI:
"I've spoken with John a lot. We've been friendly over the years, so we've talked a lot since I've been here.
"I wouldn't be here if I didn't think we could win on a consistent basis.
"One thing that Calipari stressed was the importance of the community here as opposed to Villanova, where you're in the middle of Philadelphia."
ON DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIP WITH COMMUNITY:
"We do a lot of things in the area. From youth groups to Lions Club to Rotary clubs. Inviting people to our games. Just being around the community. I live right in Amherst. I did that on purpose because I wanted to be in the community. My kids go to school here, they're playing sports here. This is our home and we enjoy it.
ON WILLIE JENKINS RECENT PERFORMANCE:
"I hope it's just one of those stretches, but I don't know because he doesn't have a long history. He's not a senior that has battled through this before, so hopefully it's just a stretch that he's going through and he'll be able to pick up where he was a few games."
ON DEVELOPMENT OF MARCUS COX:
"I think it's going well. He's really working hard on the court and in the classroom. He's doing all the things that you want a kid sitting out to do."
ON ANTHONY ANDERSON:
"He's quite a player. He is only six games into his first year playing, and he leads the A-10 in assist-turnover ratio. He works hard and has a good feel for the game, and I think he's even better than he's shown."