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Postgame Quotes
Miami 95, Virginia 93
Virginia Head Coach Dave Leitao
“Over the course of 40 minutes, you have a game that is dictated by certain things. We started off the game sluggish defensively and it took us a little while to pick it up. We didn’t get as many deflections or support that we had been getting recently. We lacked in there just a tad in the first half and we didn’t do any of it in the second half. Unfortunately, they realized that and they got 25 quick points in the first eight minutes. Psychologically and structurally on defense we played catch up basketball from there, and you just can’t do that against a good team in their gym. They made a number of shots at the end of the shot clock which is, in my belief, caused by the fact that they’re playing with some feelings and confidence because we’re not presenting as much of a united front on the defensive end. I’ve always maintained that those shots when you’re open in the end with the shot clock are either going to go in or not go in based on how you feel more than anything else. I think we made them feel too comfortable tonight.”
On Lance Hurdle’s three-pointer to put Miami up 94-90 with eight seconds remaining …
“Over the whole course of the second half I don’t think we played very good defense. Like [Lance] Hurdle or anyone else who hit those shots, start of shot clock or end of shot clock, it is because there isn’t as much presence on the defensive end, which allows a player to feel more confident. So when they get a shot like that they’re more apt to make it than not make it.”
On Jack McClinton’s performance…
“He’s a good player, he’s a hard worker, he’s a good kid… I said it before the game that he’s as dangerous a shooter as there is in the country. He flies off screens and has terrific body control to get his shot off and shoots it with range. It takes a concerted effort to stop him. He’s hurt us in the past and he hurt us today.”
On delay of the game…
“There were two teams that had to be delayed, so if it had a negative effect on us, then it would have had to have a negative effect on them. I don’t think, one way or another, it helped or hurt us and it was the exact same for them.”
On the challenge of the quick turnaround in playing Georgia Tech on Monday…
“You know it’s a challenge we’ve done it already, Thursday Saturday. There’s different times that teams in this league have to do this. We’ll regroup and recover from this. Fortunately, it’s an afternoon game that gives us a few more hours and obviously we can’t get a whole lot of basketball stuff done tomorrow, just more preparation than anything else and see how we feel come Monday night. It’s not something that I can control.”
Miami Head Coach Frank Haith
“It was a great ball game and a great win for us. I thought our guys found a way, despite all of the adversity and distractions. It could have hurt us, but we found a way to win the game. Our guys in the second half came out with some pop offensively, but [Sean] Singletary is a hell of a player. When he’s on a roll like he was today, he is basically unguardable, particularly when he gets to the free throw line like he did. He’s not going to miss free throws. The only one he missed was the one he tried to miss, and he’s a hell of a player.
“But, I want to give our guys some credit. We made some big plays and some big shots too. Jimmy [Graham] had a career high. I’m sure TV was excited about Singletary and Jack McClinton going at each other. And Eddie Rios eight assists was outstanding, particularly when Lance Hurdle got into foul trouble. And then Lance comes back in and makes some big plays too. So all in all it was a great team win. Dwayne [Collins] got into foul trouble so we didn’t have his presence and we missed that a little bit. But all in all, it was a great win and a great team win.”
On if they are a tournament team…
“I hope. Obviously I would like to say yeah, we are in right now,’ but you just don’t know. Our resume is really good. It’s only the 10th time in the history of the school to get 20 wins, and we are excited about all of that. Seven ACC wins. Three out of four years we have been in this league we have won seven games. This year in particular when you look at our strength of schedule, our RPI, our games against top-100 teams I think we are 8-5 versus top-100 RPI teams I don’t know that you can point to anything that can hurt us now. We want to protect our home court we’ve got a huge game coming up Wednesday against Boston College.”
On the significance of 20 wins…
“It is very special, especially when you look at the big picture and where we’ve come from. From the beginning of the year, picked last, started the season out hot, then all of the they aren’t for real’ and then you lose games. Then you come back and win some tough ball games on the road and get on a roll basically, and win some really big ball games. It is special. I am happy for these guys; they have been through a lot in terms of what we went through last season. I’m just happy that they are able to have some success on the basketball court.”
Quotes courtesy of Miami Sports Information