Bob Thomason Last Quotations

I thought they were supposed to pick teams, not conferences. Last year, the Big West got two (berths) because we deserved to go and Utah State won the tournament. This year, they were almost over fair. Utah State and Air Force had to be bubble teams, and if you have four or five bubble teams, you pick two and two or three don't get in. Cincinnati should have gotten in, but Syracuse ended up winning the (Big East) tournament. The Big East still got eight teams in. Cincinnati kicked itself out.

Last year we could handle bigger teams. This year that's definitely a concern of mine. We had a team that could match up with anyone last year. We don't have a team like that this year.

I think they will be good, I just don't know how fast they'll be good. I don't know if early we'll be as good. I don't like to say we're not going to be as good. We'll be what we are. We'll work our tail off and try to win every game and see what happens. I didn't think we'd be 18-0 in league last year, either.

I think this is probably the best team we've played in the first round the last three years.

Last Saturday morning, the day of the game (the Big West tournament final against Long Beach State, a 78-70 victory), I get a call from my dad. My son's wife just had our first granddaughter back north (in Walnut Creek), so as soon as the game ended, I had some pizza with the players and went to bed, and the next morning at 5:30, I drove back up to see them, had to go 101 because the Grapevine was closed, and then drove to Stockton for the selection show. I haven't had time to celebrate, but I'll be able to celebrate that every day.

Our guys played perfect basketball over the last three minutes. The first game of a tournament is a little tougher, but we handled it. We got through it, and now we know we need to play a great 40 minutes for a chance to go to the NCAA Tournament.

They'll be absolutely ready to go. We won't fool anybody. Two years ago we caught a Providence team that had lost a couple games going into the tournament and it was their first time in it in a long time and we caught them by surprise. Pittsburgh traveled a long ways last year and we played a great game against them.

I couldn't be prouder of the guys that participated the last two years. They set a great standard for our program. They're great role models and great kids.