Jim Calhoun Tough Quotations

We did it, but it's tough to get all the way through. It won't surprise me to see somebody playing a fourth game in four days, the league is like that this year. This was the most games that came down to last three minutes, at least our most in 10 years and yet we were 27-2, which means we were there to finish the deal. But in a one-game tournament anything can happen.

If we're No. 1 in April, it would be great. Right now we'd like to be No. 1 in the Big East, which is going to be tough to do. ... We've got some bears coming up. We've got all kinds of trials and tribulations.

He's becoming a tough guy not to play. You know he's going to guard folks. You know he's going to fill the lanes; he's a great fast break player. And you know he's tenacious.

There is nobody like him. When you watch Roy play, from a coaching standpoint, he's everything you want a player to be. He has composure and seems to want the ball in tough situations.

The ability to take somebody off the bounce is incredibly important. It's really tough to defend a guy who can go by you.

will be a very tough out in the NCAA tournament.

We know they have a very good defensive team. We know they hung tough against Villanova. We're looking forward to going down there and not having a letdown. We have much bigger fish to fry.

When you watch Roy play, you're watching, really, from a coaching standpoint, everything you want a player to be. He can pull up and make mid-range shots. He can pass the ball. He can rebound. He plays with great composure. He seems to want the ball in tough situations.

We were a little sloppy, but they had a lot to do with that. Maybe two months ago we might not have been tough enough to hang on and increase that lead. We seem to be getting tougher.

To get through this league is one of the most difficult walks you're going to have. I've never seen a league like this. I've never seen as many tough, tough games as this league has provided.

The thing that scares me always the most and the thing I caution our players on is that next week, you go home. You go home for the Big East tournament. And then next time you go home, we pack up the uniforms. And this team is good enough to get to Indianapolis. Will it get to Indianapolis? I have no idea. ... Maybe the first round of the tournament some team gets up, plays us tough and we don't execute.

Seeding is important. If you get a No. 1 or No. 2 seed, you make things much easier on yourself. That's really what you work for all season. At the same time, what bracket you're in a makes a difference, too. I'd rather be a No. 3 seed and get an easier bracket than a No. 1 seed with a tough bracket. But if they want to give us a No. 1 seed I won't argue.

They've caught some magic in my opinion and they're feeling really good about themselves. When a team feels good about itself they're really tough to beat.

They made threes, Sheridan hit some tough baselines. I don't know what adjustments you'd like us to make for Allan Ray's 28-footers.

They are a tough, tough basketball team. They made our life awfully, awfully miserable. We thought the game was going to be as easy as it was early.

They're a good basketball team. They're going to be very tough out in their league. We gave up 24 points in a very short period of time.

It seems like there are more overtime games, more tough games and the reason is there are more good teams. Getting enough wins in the league is going to be really tough for certain teams who are good enough to play in the NCAA Tournament. Some teams are going to play really well and lose.

It's a tough road for anybody. That's just the nature of the schedule. Everybody's doing it.

It's a bear. Three games in a row that will all be tough for different reasons. I just hope we're ready to go and we get through that.

The Big East championship means a lot. To go through 16 games in this terrific league with all its tough places to play and come out of it at 14-2, I couldn't be prouder of these kids. These kids sacrificed so much and became the epitome of what a team is.

I know Denham was very tough on them going into the locker room. I could hear it. There were a lot of words being thrown around.

Am I finding a team with more resolve and more focus? Yeah. No question. You don't need 100 tough guys. You don't need 100 warriors. You need a couple leaders that can get you that. It becomes contagious.