March 20, 2003

Recap| Box Score| Photo Gallery

Head Coach Ben Braun

"What a terrific college tournament game. NC State was a difficult team. They did a great job spreading the floor and fighting for three's. Joe Shipp certainly made a big play and he will be noticed for all the points he scored today. That was a great play at the end of a great game."

On playing during war
"Our guys are pretty aware. They're sensitive guys who care deeply. World events still go on. We didn't play out of disrespect. The NCAA Tournament is tradition in America. Our players, while playing, have to put it out of thier minds."

On the last play
"If another guy had had the ball, we might have called a time out. You're not going to get a better shot than with Joe (Shipp). He drew the Defense to him and found the open man. He had five assists today and only one turnover. He has the ability to make the team better. He did it today."

"We forced a few turnovers, and that was good. They only had four of five in the first half, but in the second they had about 9. Our team made stops when the game was on the line. Our team battled, and made them work for every shot. Our rebounding was pretty good; we had a lot of putbacks."

On Gabriel Hughes
"Gabriel may not score a lot, but i'm glad he's staying with it. His stats won't always knock you ever. This was the culmination of what he's worked hard for this year. He's really started coming on. We don't beat NC State today without Gabriel Hughes."

Brian Wethers

About playing against Hodges
"I had a lot of respect for his game coming in. I knew he was a good player and I would have my hands full. I just wanted to compete and I did that.":

Joe Shipp

"With just a few seconds left I just wanted to get the ball in and try and make a play some way some how. I just tried to take it to the hole and it just worked out. When I passed halfcourt I tried to create and go to the basket, but when I was all the way to the basket I saw a lot of helpside defenders so I looked up and Richard was wide open and he made the play."

Richard Midgley

"I just saw Joe (Shipp) go to the bucket and he found me and I hit the shot. I wasn't really worried about what happened earlier in the game. Basically Joe got the board and took the whole team to the bucket. I spotted up and it felt good when it came out of my hand.

Amit Tamir

On the situation in the Middle East
"What happens over there, it's for the politicians. I'm a basketball player. I don't want to comment on that. I can't control it. You just have to face it."

Gabriel Hughes

"It's great to be in a game like this, especially in the tournament. We've had a great season and now that we're in the tournament, I'm not satisfied yet. I want to keep going as far as I can go."

"I welcome the contact. That's the kind of player I am. I'm not going to say I'm a dirty guy but I'll bang with anybody in the country. I like the way the referees called the game. It was great."

"Josh Powell is a good player. I want to give him a lot of credit. I told him after the game,"I respect you, that's a great game you played."