John Pelphrey Quotes (19 Quotes)

Everyone contributed tonight as a team and I couldn't be more proud of how our guys competed tonight. It was a hard fought physical basketball game tonight and our guys found a way to dig it out.

We had a tough day today. We played a better basketball team. Physically we had a tough time getting around them, a tough time getting to the hoop. We tried. We were courageous. We played hard. Florida was just better today.

We have been working really hard here the past three years. We've had some hurdles like all rebuilding jobs. This year we have more players. We have more experienced players. The first-year guys we have signed are making contributions. We're kind of getting it from everywhere. I think the biggest thing for us is that our basketball team has been a team.

They are outstanding, the best we have played so far in terms of those guards and their shooters. It was not one of our better efforts just in terms of executing the game plan. I think Tennessee had a lot to do with that.

It's not like we hang our hat on one or two guys. It's everybody getting involved. From Day One, we've talked about serving one another, building a chemistry, and they have done that.

They have the ability to compete with anyone in the country. It's hard to compare them to the 2000 team. They are better in one sense, they won more games in the regular season. But that team really didn't get hot until the buzzer-beater against Butler.

I don't see it helping either side because I haven't been around their program for four years. I'd be shocked if he had any idea what we were doing or knew anything about our personnel before this week. If anything, we might have a slight advantage because we get to see them a lot on television. Our games aren't really televised that often.

People don't know how much we missed him. He gives us incredible leadership. Academically, he has it figured out. He's not any smarter, just more organized.

This is a basketball team that had our number last year. I am very proud of our team. FIU is one of the most physical teams in our league and it showed tonight.

This was a great college basketball game tonight. Western Kentucky is one of the best teams in the Sun Belt and they made the last play to get the win.

I know everybody likes to make it out that you get judged by your success in the NCAA tournament. He's had some success. He will have that again. I hope it's not (Thursday).

I feel very fortunate to win the award. There are some great coaches in this league... Basketball is a team game and any award that I win is a direct reflection on how hard our team works.

They have the components to compete in every single basketball game they're going to play in. It's just that time of year. You've got to play well. But they have the ability to compete with anybody in the country.

I don't think either one of us liked ... the fact that somebody's season is going to be over after this game. But it is what it is. We don't control who we play in the NCAA tournament.

I think the NCAA has a funny sense of humor with regards to pairing us up with Florida. They did the same thing to my old roommate Travis Ford last year when he had to play Kentucky in the first round.

They have the components to kill people in every single basketball game they are going to play in. They have the ability to compete against anybody in the country.

I'll never forget that day. Before we had our game day practice, Mike comes bouncing into my office. He said, 'Coach, my mom's coming to the game tonight.' He said, 'You don't understand, Coach. This is the first time she's ever seen me play.

The next three months, I know I had to drive him nuts. Always the same questions. I look back and see how much patience he had, it was incredible. But that's what makes him such a special person.

We are very excited about Charles and Philip coming to South Alabama. They are outstanding people and students who have a world of basketball potential... We certainly look forward to both of them making contributions to helping our team as freshmen.