University of Tennessee Athletics
UT-WKU Post Game Quotes
December 15, 2007 | Men's Basketball
TENNESSEE HEAD COACH BRUCE PEARL
On tonight's victory:
"This was a great win and a great game. My hats are off to the Sun Belt Conference. When we started coming here three years ago this is what I imagined. I can't tell you how much I appreciate the Volunteer fans for helping out and being here. It was a great atmosphere and I can tell you right now our kids appreciate it. We have made a lot of progress in 11 or 12 days. It was a good win."
On the debut of J.P. Prince:
"I think we were all excited for him. He has been on the shelf for awhile. I knew he would help us but I didn't know how quickly he would do it. You can see that he really has a chance to be special. He makes us a better basketball team and is unselfish. We are going to be a lot better with him in the rotation."
On Tennessee's chemistry tonight:
"We came together as a team and our chemistry is better. We lead the nation in assists and we lost Dane Bradshaw ??? the leading assist-turnover guy from our [2006-07] team. We had 26 baskets on 21 assists and it is wonderful to see our guys do that. We are going to have to shore up our rebounding. Brian Williams is certainly going to help. He established himself a little bit and I might have to stay with him."
On the Sun Belt Classic:
"Yes, we will keep doing them. If you would have asked me two hours before the game I might have a different answer for you. This was a road game but the Vols travel. We had enough people in the house so when we did a good thing we could hear it and our kids appreciate that. We have Middle [Tennessee] in this building in a year or two. We have been here for three years in a row and I hope to continue."
SENIOR GUARD JAJUAN SMITH
On the play of Brian Williams:
"We were not surprised because we know what Brian Williams can do. He brought us energy and gave us a big lift at the end. We have to give a lot of credit to him because he stepped up. He has been really patient and he came out and played well tonight"
On his performance tonight:
"I was really excited to get out there and play. I know I had to be patient and I came out and got a big [shot}."
On the debut of J.P. Prince:
"We are really happy where we are and there are a lot of teams that want to be in our posiition. We have to take this win, put it behind us and go get the next one."
SOPHOMORE GUARD J.P. PRINCE
On playing his first collegiate game with Tennessee:
"It felt really good. I want to thank Coach Pearl and all the players who have taken me in since I got here. My other teammates made it easy. After I got my first dunk I was ready to go."
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