April 1, 2009

Scott Drew
Opening Statement
Excited about the victory last night, excited about the championship game. As far as people asking if we got sleep, we will sleep after the tournament is over. We are going to start off with Lace and CJ, because college kids like to eat breakfast at 11 o'clock. We will get to them now so they can get downstairs and eat.

Curtis Jerrells
On playing his last game:
"I haven't really thought about it, I am just trying to keep playing but if this is going to be the last one, due to what we have accomplished, it is not like we have fallen short or anything. Like I said before, it is not the NCAA tournament, we are in the NIT but whatever you are doing you should be fully devoted to it. You should give it all of your effort and that is what we have done and we are in the championship of the NIT."

On winning tomorrow night:
"It would mean a lot. We didn't come into this tournament to lose. Our mentality is going to be the same."

On thinking about playing his last game:
"I don't think so because I want to win. Once you think about all of these other things it affects maybe the game and maybe the team. I am going to approach it like a regular game and we are going to go out and win it."

On his four years at Baylor:
"I have a lot of memories. Each day spent with the guys and the coaches is special in itself. Like I said, I can talk to you all day about memories."

On Penn State:
"We watched a lit bit in the first half and when we got to the room we checked them out a little bit. From what I saw, they seem to be a physical team. Coach has been stressing that, we have been playing different teams in different conferences who are supposed to be more physical than us. We play three guards so we are always undersized but we have been doing a good job preparing and performing."

On playing in the NBA:
"I have been auditioning for four years (laughs). I try not to think about those kinds of things and try to let my game speak for itself. Last night I got hot and appreciate my teammates being behind me. The same thing happened in the second half for this guy (Lace). That's what makes us, we just ride with whoever is doing it and we ride with whoever is doing it."

LaceDarius Dunn
On the team:
"We are playing with a lot of confidence right now. I think it came from the Big 12 tournament. I think we came in there with a chip on our shoulder and I think it carried on to here. Our team, our coaches know what we have to do to work hard and make it happen. I think if we continue to play like that we will be sizzle."

On the seniors:
"It means a lot. It is their last game at Baylor University. Them being seniors, they are going to the real world. It will be a great feeling not just for me but for them knowing they went out with a bang. That is what I am here for. I think we are going to go out to play hard not just for the coaches but as a team, as a family and for the seniors to go out with a bang."

More on the seniors:
"They are like big brothers. It started last year as a freshman. I really appreciate that and I learned a lot from the seniors. They have been here four years and told me what it takes to be successful and I really appreciate them for that."

On next year:
"I am not looking to next year until this year is over with. We have one more game left in the season. It is for the seniors, let them go out with a bang before they do whatever comes. When next year comes, we will focus on that."

Scott Drew
On scouting Penn State:
"We started that process last night, today we'll watch a lot more game film on them and obviously start going over scouting reports with the players and they will get very familiar with it. Very similar match-up as our team because they are very good at the perimeter and play a three-guard lineup throughout the game. That is something we match-up well with and at the same time if you like good guard play, you will see a lot of it and that will be something exciting for the fans."

On who Penn State plays like:
"Normally I am pretty good at coming up with that but give me a couple of hours. We have only seen two games. If we get to four or five games then I will tell you who they play like."

On tomorrow night's game:
"It is always about what we do at the same time we will be thorough just like the same as Penn State is. We will get as much information on them as we can, their tendencies, what they like to do. Again, we both match-up well against each other and obviously it is going to be exciting for both teams."

On Penn State's fans:
"All coaches realize any road win is a great win. You get those road wins it really builds team chemistry and camaraderie because its basically you versus the world when you are on the road. Penn State had a great following last night so basically it will be like a road game for us tomorrow."

On the seniors:
"I think anytime you can come into a program and walk away as the winningest class to ever step foot on the campus is something that speaks for itself. More than just that they have been class individuals that represent Baylor University in the right manner. They have been great models and representatives. There are countless stories on them signing autographs or talking to little kids or doing the things like that, that people might not know that really again make them the role models we want to have Baylor University. The big thing too is that it is a tough to graduate in four years. Three of them are on track to do it and the fourth already has his degree. That again speaks highly of what they have done and Baylor University, what a great job they do to make sure kids get their degrees."

On the program overcoming adversity:
"Adversity and tough times builds character. That was something that was difficult for all of us. It was even more difficult when we started playing games. I have used the example, it is like waiting till February to open a Christmas present and its not what you wanted. Because we were so far behind everyone else we weren't so successful. That was tougher to deal with than waiting to play almost."

On winning the championship:
"There are only two teams that end their season with a win. That is the NIT and NCAA tournament. We have been second twice in two tournaments. In the Anaheim, ESPN tournament we finished second to Wake Forest and then we finished second in the Big 12 tournament. We would love to finish first in one."

On playing a Big 10 school:
"I know starting in the conference tournament, the Big 12 tournament, you start off beating Nebraska, then you beat Texas and Kansas and you are on a roll, you feel like you can play and compete with anybody in the country and that is what we have done. We have had a chance to play everybody in every major conference except a Big 10 school so it is fitting now that we get to play a Big 10 school."

More on Penn State:
"Their perimeter is very good so because of that if we play zone we have to contest those outside shots. They also good at getting in the paint so we need to control penetration. (Jamelle) Cornley is also very good inside one-on-one. Anyone that is playing, if you are a final six team playing in the country, you are pretty good and we know we will have our hands full."

On the impact of postseason play:
"We want to take care of business and finish out this year but in the grand scheme of things, it just raises the bar for everybody else in the program and the people coming into the program. For the people who are in the program, last year going to the NCAA tournament, having a chance to experience post-season we were excited to get there but now, it is not just getting there. I think that has led to us being successful in the NIT. Having an opportunity to do what we have done in the NIT, I think, will build future postseason play for us."

More on the seniors:
"You don't like to get emotional in the mornings. I think the easiest thing I can say is they came in as young men and they are leaving adults. They came in as teenagers and are leaving adults. They are going to be successful in life. They are going to be successful after basketball. If they continue to play basketball, they will be successful. Mentally, physically, spiritually, academically, they have all grown. That is why coaches want to coach. One, it is about competition and winning but it is also about helping young men reach their goals and dreams. That gives us great joy and excitement as a coaching staff to see them mature and grow like they have over the four years."

NIT Championship Press Conference
Penn State
April 1, 2009
Penn State Quotes in PDF Format

Head Coach Ed DeChellis
On tomorrow night's game:
"Obviously we are very, very happy to be in this position, to play for a National championship in this tournament. I thought we played pretty well in the first half and in the second half in spurts but Notre Dame was a very competitive team and they weren't just going to fold the tents. They came back and made some big shots and did some things to hurt us, we were fortunate enough to make a couple of free-throws that we needed, get a win and move on. Baylor is a very good basketball team. In the conference tournament they beat Nebraska, Texas and Kansas, says volumes about your program and the team Scott (Drew) has. We are going to have our hands full tomorrow night. They are very long, athletic and they can score the ball. Anytime you can score, that is a great trait to have as a team. Hopefully we can hang in there with them."

On Baylor University:
"Kurt (Kanaskie) (assistant coach) has seen a lot, it his scout. I have seen several things early. We will walk through this afternoon. At this point in time of the year, it is not so much what we know but what we can convey to our players in a very short period of time. Kurt can watch 8, 10 tapes, it was his scout coming in, but we need to convey that to the players in an hour meeting today, an hour practice, another hour meeting tonight and then shoot around tomorrow. We will try to get the basics, what we think are important things regarding Baylor to our team so they understand it."

On his team:
"I think we compete. I think that is one of the best traits you can talk about for a team. We have been in situations that have not looked very promising for us...down 10 with four or five minutes to go in the game and our kids have found a way to win. I think as a coach, that is the most important thing. We never give up, we preserve, we are going to continue to play and try to make some plays and find a way to win the game. I think we do some things pretty well. I think we defend sometimes pretty well. I think we can score sometimes pretty well. We go into droughts like everybody but I think we are pretty solid. For us, it is all of the intangibles. Are we are a great rebounding team? No. Are we a great shooting team? No. We don't do anything great but what we do is compete. The kids like playing with each other, they share the ball, they are having fun and I think at this time of the year, that is the most important thing."

On David Jackson's injury:
"I had breakfast early with Doc, he (Jackson) has not gotten out of bed. He will not do anything today and we will see if he can do something tomorrow."

On his team's play:
"I think it is a couple of things. Individually, we are playing with more confidence. I think this tournament has really helped us with that. I think Drew Jones had a good game last night. He has played well in the NIT tournament. I think that has helped him. That is what a tournament can do for you. This has been a great, great tournament for us and a great experience for us. To play the teams we have been able to play and have some success has helped give our kids the confidence. Individually, we have played better, but as a team I think we are feeding off one another and that is great to see and be a part of."

On the season:
"We started August 1st because we had a foreign tour. We started practice August 1st so it has been eight months. We have been together for a long time. I think that is what I was trying to hit on. Our kids, after eight months, these other coaches will tell you , usually you are trying to run out of the gym and have had enough of one another. Our kids, yesterday we were practicing, they wanted to stay and shoot, and fool around, playing H-O-R-S-E, a couple of shooting games they play. They enjoy being in the gym and playing with each other. I think that speaks volumes about who we are and how we get along as a team."

More on Baylor University:
"I don't know if we can match their athleticism. If we were running races, they will probably beat us but we are playing basketball. We just have to try to neutralize it as much as we can. I think they are long, they are athletic, I think they can score. If we were in track I think we are in trouble, maybe we are in trouble in basketball. I don't know. We have to figure out a way to neutralize that, do what we do, play to our strengths and see if that is good enough tomorrow night."

On the Baylor Program:
"Scott (Drew) has done an unbelievable job. He has done great. The program went through a lot and he has been able to put it back together again. He has done a remarkable job with the team and the program. I am very happy for him and what he has been able to accomplish."

On playing against the zone:
"I think you have to make some perimeter jump shots but I don't think you can settle for that. You have to attack it inside-out. You have to get the ball to spots where we think we can attack it and not settle for quick jump shots. I think that is what the zone wants you to do. I think you can take time off the clock, I think it makes them continue to guard in the half court and have some patience. I think that is the word our guys will hear today and tomorrow, patience. Attack inside-out, not outside-in. We want to get the ball into the gut of the zone, have dribble penetration, we want to go towards the basket, we don't want to just catch and shoot but you have to make some perimeter shots. There is no doubt about that."

On winning the NIT Championship:
"There is only going to be two teams that will walk away with wins. Everybody else is going to end up with nothing but a loss. Anytime you win a championship in the national tournament, for me, it is an opportunity for our kids to cut down the nets. To see the smiles on their faces, all of their hard work and dedication they have put in our program. Seniors like Jamelle Cornley, Stanley Pringle, Danny Morrissey and Will Leiner a walk on kid who has been with us for four to five years and have worked extremely hard. To see the fruits of their labor pay off and be champions is a tremendous thing. It is something to remember for the rest of their lives and I will remember and our staff will remember. So we are grateful to the players we have, the jobs they have done this year. We are very appreciative of that. Our university is, our fans are. To win a championship is icing on the cake. As a team now , you get a little selfish, now you come this far but there is only going to be one team walk away the champion. We are all winners but there is only going to be one champion."

On the fans:
"I thought our fans were tremendous last night. Hopefully, we will have a great turnout here Thursday night. They are loading up. They are selling more tickets and loading more buses. It is a four hour ride for