Jim Whitesell Quotations

We are going to have to play great to beat them, we know that. We're really excited about it. We have great respect for them.

We needed a point guard, and I didn't think we had one. I came up and watched him the last day, and I think he was nervous because he knew I came to see him. We finally said let's do this. The day before classes started, we got him signed.

Loyola is a very good school academically, and he wanted to go to the school of business. We don't have a major where we can hide a kid here. Our school of business is top-notch. He is, to me, a really true life story about a kid who would not give up. He's just a warrior. He'll make a great employee wherever he decides to go.

(Momentum) manifests itself by winning. Part of it helps your psyche ? you feel more confident coming off a win than a loss. ... Maybe you don't panic when things aren't going as well as they should because, 'OK, we've had success.' It's a big part of anything in athletics, no doubt.

I'd be happy to take that call, too. We'd love to play one more game. We all will be going to mass (this) morning.

I always knew this was what I wanted to do.

He hasn't complained one time. We were hoping to sit him down for two weeks so it could heal a little but we couldn't afford to do it.

He does all the small things for us. He gets guys in the right spot and is kind of a coach out on the floor.

We think Courtney can step in and contribute right away. He comes from and excellent junior college program that traditionally is a national power. We are thrilled to be bringing a Chicago product back home and this is proof of our commitment to recruit the Chicago area. Courtney will fit in nicely as both a basketball player and as a student. We are excited to add him to the program.

Hopefully, this will give us a shot in the arm. I firmly believe anyone can beat anyone in this league.

I think it's a Catch-22. You're always going to run into one kid who says, 'I want to go to Ames, Iowa, or Cedar Falls.' Then there some who want to stay home. You have to find the right one.

We are behind Blake 100 percent. This is not an uncommon step for a player of Blake's caliber. We are assisting Blake and his family throughout every step of this decision-making process.

We're really thankful. It's a decent rivalry without over-the-top crazies. They saw a good game.

We need him. It might be a while before we get him back.

We got a couple of timely baskets to keep that short lead there at the end.

They had us back on our heels, so we said we have to talk about defense.

It seemed like an eternity to me. We just couldn't get going there.

I'm disappointed in how we played the last two minutes.

He's the ultimate team guy. There was one guy who wasn't buying into what we were doing and we felt like we needed some more help in the front line.

He shows so much heart and is so determined. He will never give in. Chris has just been a lot of fun to coach. He's a really tough kid and a real hard-working kid. He really believes in himself, and it would have been easy for him to give up.