Arron Afflalo Quotations

When we were down nine, it became a kind of desperation time for us. But three minutes is a long time.

We know how tough it is in Oregon and we know both of them are very good teams. We don't expect a cakewalk at all. Neither one will be easy.

We're a pretty dominant defensive team right now. It's not just one guy. It's a total team effort on defense.

We're a pretty dominant defensive team right now.

My job is to stop the opposing team's best guard, just limit him as much as possible.

Obviously it was desperation time, down nine with three minutes to go. You've got to bring it all out.

Obviously, it was desperation time, being down nine with three minutes to go. But three minutes is a long time with only a nine-point lead.

Obviously it was desperation being down nine with 3 minutes left. But 3 minutes is a long time and nine points is four possessions. We were very fortunate tonight.

Personally, I really don't try to look back on games too much. That's the worst thing to do, to get caught up in the way things went last game. I mean, for one, you can't look back on it and learn from that experience.

I was running around celebrating with the rest of my team. But I saw him laying there in tears a little bit. I just felt for him. He's a great player. There's really no reason for him - outside the fact that he's a competitor and wanted to win - that he has to cry. He's a great player and he's going to have a great (NBA) career. He should definitely keep his head up.

I felt for him. He has no reason to cry. He's a great player who played a great game.

He doesn't play like a baby on the court.

He does all the little things -- taking charges and defending guys. He's very good and he improved throughout the year. You can just see it in his confidence and swagger on the floor. He knows what makes him a good player.

He mentioned it a lot to us. He gave us a lot of examples.

He's just so sharp. He's aware of everything, it's like he's whatever age. He just knows so much, and he's done so much for this school, you just want to listen.

He was here to do the same thing I wished to do -- help restore the tradition of winning ways.

(Guarding Morrison) isn't something you ask for. It's a job, whether it's Adam Morrison or whoever the top player is on the opposing team. It's something we do night in and night out. I'm going to approach it like I approach every other game. My job is to limit him as much as possible. I've had my share of experiences throughout the year. It's just another game for me.

Jordan is one of our top scorers. When he's in double digits, this team is going to be that much better.

I was just trying to mainly guard the 3-point shot. But, he's (Steele) so quick, he made a sudden stop and gained enough space to get a look. Fortunately, it just fell short.

I saw him lying there in tears and I just felt for him. He has no reason to cry. He's a great player and he's going to have a great career.

I saw him laying there in tears. I felt for him a little bit. He has no reason to cry. He should definitely keep his head up. That's easy to say when you won the game and your opponent lost. But I just really wanted to see him still in a good mood.

Our heart and everything we do on the floor is always a tribute to him, whether he's healthy or not.

It does feel good, at least for a half. But the thing was, at halftime, I really wasn't worried about me scoring. I had two points, but I'm maturing in a sense I'm not going to force shots like I did the past weekend. That's part of being a team player. I don't want to be passive, but I'm not going to go out hunting shots anymore.

That's the only team that's really beaten us this year.

We'll be very good next year. This team knows what it takes to get to this point. We should be right back here, hopefully.

We'd probably lose. That's what is keeping us on top. Our defense leads to easy buckets on offense.

We're definitely focused on Saturday. There was no dumping water or things of that nature. We're on a six-game mission, one game at a time.

We don't see ourselves as the favorite. The teams that made it to the Final Four are all good teams, just like us.

We've lost three games at home this year. To make up for that, we have to win on the road. We know what this trip means.

Yeah, we did hear those comments. That's just his personality. I'm sure he didn't mean anything malicious by it. I'm sure he was just trying to fire up his team.

We didn't achieve the ultimate goal. I feel incomplete.

When you're on the court, it's strictly about that.

We're trying to carry on something that John Wooden started. Winning this is more meaningful that what it appears. At least to us.

We're not playing for just our team, our university. We're trying to carry on something that John Wooden started.

This team is still very good, despite all the injuries, despite all the unfortunate circumstances and obstacles we've had to overcome. I still think we can win. All these injuries are tough, but all you can do is laugh at them, get in rehab and recover.

We knew if we played at that pace, we weren't going to win. We're a pretty dominant defensive team right now.

What was tough for (Belmont) is that we generally don't let up. Our defensive pressure started to take a toll, and we fought for every bucket.

We just played with a lot of energy at the end. Obviously, it was desperation time. We were very fortunate tonight.

We just needed to execute. We were getting good shots. We were just missing them. What changed was on the defensive end.

We have different personnel than the '95 team. We have tough, tough guys who are willing to do whatever it takes to win.

Being turnover-free and rebounding, those are coach's two main things. And he's definitely a defensive-minded coach.

The tough thing about it is we generally don't let up. I think our defensive pressure starts to take a toll after awhile and they start to struggle for each and every bucket. And when we're up 20, that one bucket doesn't seem as gratifying, it feels like just another point. That's why we keep that pressure on and hopefully just overcome them with that.

The shot clock went down and I have no problem taking that shot.

I wanted to congratulate him on a good year, but I didn't want to do anything dramatic, like hug him for an hour.

Right now, we're on a mission. There's nothing individual about myself or Jordan or anyone else on this team.

Right now we're co-Pac-10 champs. We're definitely not satisfied with that. We'll enjoy this bus ride and enjoy tonight, but after that, it's business as usual. ... Being co-champs was not one of our goals. It was being Pac-10 champs.

Defensively, he's just long. You know, he has the ability to change shots if he's not blocking them. He plays with a lot of energy.

Defense wins championships. He (Howland) always uses other teams as examples in every other sport to show that the top defensive team in that sport generally is the winner.

As far as the shot goes, I was definitely aware of the fact that I had a horrendous first half, but I'm fortunate that my teammates still had faith in me to take that shot.

At home, you're sort of expected to win. On the road, no matter who you play, the home team can win. We know that, and it helps us get ready, I think.

You're down like that, and time is not on your side.

They knew how to handle every double-team, they passed out of it great and then they made open shots. They didn't turn the ball over. Everything our defense is designed to do, they were able to go against that.

This is the second game in a row we came out turning the ball over. The pressure is probably what caused it. When you get in a game like this, you can't turn the ball over.

It wasn't just me. It was a lot of guys. ...I knew once I relaxed, he would hit three or and get a dunk and it would ignite the whole (Memphis) team. That'd be disastrous.

It's no problem. Just approach everything one thing at a time. When you are on the floor, you focus on the floor. Same way for school. I have a new task at hand each day.

That's the first priority, representing what's on the front of this jersey.

It was kind of frustrating watching him bring his team back into it. He was doing a lot of moving and he had three guys screening for him. He was running free wherever he likes.

It was longer than four or five minutes, that's for sure. It seemed more like four or five hours. But it was well worth it. It's one of the primary reasons we're still playing right now.

It was great to start out like that. When you get the crowd behind you and you start like that, it tears the other team's heart out.

I knew all along this team could be at the top and remain at the top, because we definitely have the personnel. If we put our mind to it, play 'D' and do all the right things, play for each other, we shouldn't lose.

I knew I couldn't relax for a second against him. I couldn't let him get open for a 3 or drive for a dunk, because I knew that would ignite their whole team.

I have to credit my coaches for that one. We watched plenty of film on (Carney) as a team. Whenever I face a guy who's the other team's top scorer, I'm always well-prepared.

I haven't (studied) much yet. I'll do some when we get back from practice.

I definitely feel a bond with Jordan. Him being from L.A., I got plenty of opportunities to see him play. I definitely knew I'd be coming into a school with another talented guard, and you have to enjoy that.

He's not a stiff at all. So he's able to make plays up high.

I could hear them yelling to each other to watch out for me. They were matching up with us pretty good.

This is a good opportunity to see how I can compete against NBA players. If I'm able to do so, that will assist my decision, but otherwise, I will be coming back to a great situation. We have a great team and I would love to be a part of it. I had a lot of fun this year.

You've got, supposedly, the best player in the country. You've got two big winners, two West Coast teams. It will be a treat, especially for all of the TV viewers who don't normally see us.