Dec. 19, 2006

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Marquette

Head Coach Tom Crean
"Our number-one goal was to have defensive intensity for as long as we could get it. When you are expecting perfection on the defensive end, tonight is as close as we have gotten to it all season. Our guys were really prepared to play against a physical, battle-tested team in Oakland. Our guys had a lot of respect for them. We gave up too many shots in the first half, but began to shut them down in the second half."

"When we reverse the ball, it gives us opportunities to drive. When we push the ball up the court we create. When we wanted to, we got touches in the post. Those things were the most important aspects for us tonight. The guys played the game in smart, concise way. We didn't start settling for jumpers. The game dictates in certain ways and we stuck with it tonight."

"Everyone on the floor had the ball moving crisply. Our guys are growing up as basketball players and we really need to continue to build on that. They are learning rapidly how we win. How we win may be different from other programs and is something we need to continue to get better at, and we are learning that."

Dominic James
"Our intensity started on the defensive end, that is how we get going. We get into a flow on the offensive end when we pick it up on defense; we get more stops. When we cause them to turn the ball over, we get more chances to score."

"We need to continue to get every involved, make everyone feel like they are a threat and we will get open shots. As long as everyone is touching the ball, we will get open shots."

Jerel McNeal
In regards to his six steals...
"This is the way I play, especially when guys cross over in front of me. I do think of it as timing. If I get a hand on it, I can knock it away and give someone a chance to grab the ball."

On his work with Ousmane Barro...
"It is something we work on every day in practice. Coach always talks about our big men dropping into the alley areas. He would get open and I was just dropping it off to him."