An occasional feature where we compile quotes from the weekend’s meaningful games. Read on and enjoy.
“There was a lot of chanting and singing. It was a relief for them.”
-- Providence coach Keno Davis, whose Friars won their first Big East game in seven tries, upsetting No. 19 Louisville.
“For me, it was good to get back and it was fun to be in the game for a while. It was fun to have some affect on the game.”
-- Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl on his one-game return from a suspension for a non-SEC game against UConn.
“Towards the last couple of minutes I had an idea that I was close and wanted just to get one more (assist) at the end. Fortunately Brett (Valentyn) knocked it down. He missed one before that and told me he was going to get another.”
-- Wisconsin’s Josh Gasser, who needed a late assist to record the first triple-double in school history.
“I couldn’t care less about the streak. I couldn’t all along. … That’s not something that weighs in my mind. The media does a good job of talking about that, but that doesn’t mean much to me.”
-- Kansas coach Bill Self, after the Jayhawks lost their first home game since Feb. 3, 2007, a streak a 69 games.
“You can put a capital on that, you can put an asterisk beside it. It was a big win. There was a lot riding on that. You can put a huge ‘m’ … as big as you want … on that one.”
-- N.C. State coach Sidney Lowe, who watched his team beat Miami (Fla.) to snap a three-game skid.
“Zone is like playing man. Their zone is not unstoppable.”
-- Villanova guard Corey Fisher, who helped the ‘Cats hit 11 3-pointers in a win over Syracuse.
“We may be a little different team than I like. Maybe an ‘execution team.’ We have to grind it a little more than I’d like. If that’s how we have to play, that’s how we’ll play.”
-- Kentucky coach John Calipari, after a 67-58 win against South Carolina.
“Whoever is still in the Big Ten race, we’re gonna try to make their lives miserable.”
-- Michigan State forward Draymond Green. The Spartans dropped to 4-3 in the Big Ten on Saturday, well behind Ohio State and Purdue.
“It’s tough but that’s been the story of the season, when one guy goes down another one [has to] step up and I think Mav and Chip did a great job [filling] his shoes. Hopefully we’ll have [Nolen] for next game. If not, guys are going to have step up again.”
-- Minnesota forward Trevor Mbawke, whose team held off Michigan despite losing point guard Al Nolen.
“We’re getting better. I understand our record doesn’t show it, but we’re better prepared to win than we were on Jan. 1. We’ve had some hard games in hard places, but that’s the story of the Big 12. No one will feel sorry for us.”
-- Kansas State coach Frank Martin, whose team dropped to 13-7 after a loss to Texas A&M.
“Kyle Collinsworth was a big difference in this game.”
-- BYU coach Dave Rose. Collinsworth had 16 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. Star Jimmer Fredette had 42 points.
“It’s not going to be every game where I go 6-for-6, or whatever I was from the field. But I’m confident in my shot. Every day come to work and be hungry, and good things will happen.”
-- Duke forward Ryan Kelly after a season-high 20 points vs. Wake Forest.
“We started playing a little tentative, they turned up the pressure. They made plays, we didn’t.”
-- Illinois forward Mike Tisdale, after a 73-68 loss to No. 1 Ohio State.
“Once I made the move, he kind of leaned on me and that’s when the ref blew the whistle. I just aimed for the glass.”
-- Cincinnati center Yancy Gates, who banked in a game-winning shot against St. John’s.
Want more? I’m also on Twitter @MikeMillerNBC.
