When we're executing and blocking shots and playing defense and you don't get us in a situation where we have to create plays, we're absolutely terrific. But we're a flawed team.

That's the price you pay. And that's the price you want to continue to pay. We're not playing better or worse because of any kind of pressure. We're just not playing as well.

I wish we were playing tonight. Especially after our experience last week.

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.

I think as we've gotten down to the time of the season where you're playing for a chance at a Big East championship, playing to get a bye in New York and, obviously, playing for seeding in the NCAA Tournament, there's no room for experiments or getting young kids some experience.

He was a Hall of Fame coach in his own right at UMass, ... But playing in the Yankee Conference, he was never going to get the recognition.

I don't want our kids playing the scoreboard because, quite frankly, we won't always be here at the Civic Center. In the second half we matched baskets and we won by five. I don't think we should do that. We should take more pride in what we're doing.

If we're not playing defense and I call time out, I can tell you right now it's going to be X-rated. I'll go after some people or make some changes. It's not like this is the middle of the season and we can get it done next time. We're all here and it's a perilous journey. It's a wonderful journey, but the band plays on if you lose.

Neither of the two kids will be in a Connecticut uniform practicing or playing until at least the end of this semester. When they return is up to the school administration.

I don't think anybody I've ever had could get as hot as he can get. The other night, if we had played him 28, 29 minutes, he would've had over 40 points and I don't think he would've missed a 3-pointer.

In those 11 games, we did all kinds of things. We played and got better during this period. And I don?t know if we ever peaked, per se, nor did I want us to.

It's the first time he's done that in his entire career. It's the first time he's been able to maintain that. He played exceptionally well, I was really happy for him.

It reminded me of a Big East game, probably back in the early 90s. (St. John's) took us out of our offense early, played us very physical and did not allow us to get into a flow.

It was really fitting that Denham had such a great game. He was a horse out there, as far as handling the ball, especially when Marcus played such a poor first half. We sat Marcus down, talked about the Dow Jones and some other things. He came back and got us going.

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 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.

They're faster, quicker. Are they better? It's hard to convince me of that after the way Padgett played against us.

They gave us fits. I don't think we shot well, but we played well.

It was tough, Albany just played great basketball. My hat, my gloves, my shoes, I'm going to tip all of them to them, because they were absolutely terrific.

Could he have played (Friday)? Probably. But obviously we didn't need him.

The other night, if we had played him 28, 29 minutes, he would have had over 40 points. And I'm not sure he would have missed a 3.

We've played in spurts, not always a full 40 minutes.

We didn't shoot well (39 percent). But we played well. We played better than we did in our previous two wins over St. John's and Louisville. Providence was young and tenacious and gave us fits. But we were more athletic and more experienced.

We haven't played defense really well the past couple of weeks and that was just highlighted there.