Mark Gottfried Team Quotations

We're not good enough to look past anybody or have letdowns. Every team we play can absolutely put it on us when we're not playing well or at a high level.

Last year we felt we had a team could really make some damage in this tournament, and we didn't do it. So for our returning players, I think there is a little bit of the attitude that we want a chance to do this a lot better than we did last year.

If, in fact, South Carolina had won, my hope would have been that the last team on the board, regardless of conference, would have been the one eliminated, not a team from our league. I don't know that anybody knows the answer to that question. I don't think it's important at this point in time.

I think it's a good decision. I think he's got a chance to be one of the premier forwards in the nation next season. He became a leader on our basketball team this past season, and I think he'll continue to mature as a player. And I'm also excited because he's on track to graduate next spring.

I think it's easy to get down. Our team is going to be a little bit unsure how we're going to score and how we're going to play without Chuck. We're going to be very positive and just believe in these guys.

I think we're playing a team who is playing as well as they've played all year long. They beat Florida twice, and they beat Mississippi State pretty bad.

I will be completely miffed if this team hasn't done everything that we've been asked to do. I think Ron (Steele) said it best, 'It's out of our hands.

Our team just needs to be careful of that whole concept of whether we're a bona fide NCAA tournament team or not. We've got to play better.

Look at their team and the personnel they have. I think everybody in this league would all agree Arkansas is good enough to handle everybody in this league. They played terrific in Tuscaloosa. We were fortunate enough to win.

I wish we would have played the same schedule and won a few more. I don't want to play a soft schedule and the kids don't, either. I want to play a national schedule that gets them exposure. It's going to make our team better.

I think our team looks forward to playing Ole Miss again. That team beat you once, and you look forward to playing again. It's only human nature.

I think he realizes he needs to be more aggressive. He didn't have to look for his shot as much last year because we had ( Kennedy ) Winston and ( Earnest ) Shelton . The team needs him to be a scorer and he's done that.

I think they're a top 15 team in the country. I'm not sure there are 15 teams better than them. We had key defensive stops at key times. Collectively, the defense won the game for us.

Those of us who know him know his background. He led his team to two state championships. He's an unbelievable winner, and we would not be here without Ronald Steele.

You'd like to put some magic potion on your team and have them play like that every game.

We're a team that's got to get better. We're our own worst enemy -- whether it's free throw shooting, whether it's missing lay-ins or containing the ball defensively, we've just got to play a lot better.

We're a team that needs to avoid foul trouble. It hurt our ability to score. That was a big factor.

This team is much more physical and athletic than that Stanford team. They're also a much better defensive team.

This was the definition of a team win.

We're disappointed, but I couldn't be more prouder of a basketball team than I am right now.

Florida's a team we're going to watch advance through the tournament.

First of all it's going to be a tremendous challenge. They are ranked third in the RPI and eighth in the AP. They are very underrated and will pose problems for us. On the other hand, our guys are very excited about having the chance to upset a team that is highly ranked.

Felix is the only guy on the team that can make the pass. We practiced it and had guys throwing it all over the gym.

There's still things within our team that we're trying to figure out. We need to play better.

There's no magic wand you can wave over your team. I know the one response you cannot have is to get down and get disappointed. I don't think our team will do that. Injuries are part of the game. When I was in Kuwait coaching, there was a sign that said 'Adapt and overcome.' That's what we are going to have to do.

This is devastating for our team as it gives us only 10 scholarship players and a thin backcourt. We'll have to play a small forward at the guard position this year. We'll have to adjust.

This particular team has made me very proud of them. The reason is, they certainly could have accepted the fact that losing a great player, a proven player for us, a guy that we all knew could get baskets in key points in the game. Lose that guy and the easiest thing to do is build in excuses.

That's the definition of a team win on both ends of the floor. We were as balanced offensively as we have been all year. Defensively, we were as fundamentally sound as we were all year.

They made a believer out of me. They have so many different weapons to defend that can attack you. Every team you play at this point is pretty good. But they are really good.

Chuck will still lead this team even though he'll be on the sidelines. Winning always gives you a lot of confidence. We are going to start today and we are not going to roll over. We are not going to make excuses, pout and whine. We are going to buckle down, be positive with one another and play.

I don't want to take anything away from Birmingham-Southern, but they're a very hard team to prepare from in one day. It's hard to get them out of the pace they want to play.

We have a great chance to be an NCAA basketball tournament team if we take care of business night in and night out in our league. Records are deceiving. You can schedule your way into a 10-1 or 11-0 record. I have learned that you're not going to trick the NCAA tournament selection committee.

Have a vision. Sell your program. Your team is going to reflect you.

Alabama needs to be a team that continues to play well. I've sat on every different side of this thing, guys. Until Sunday night when they call your name, nothing's for sure.

The fun thing about our team right now is I think each guy is making key contributions at key times. You can go through everybody on our roster. They're all making key plays. That's all you can ask of them.