Jim Les Quotations

We usually have a 24-hour rule to celebrate or pout after a game. We moved the clock up a little bit. They were jubilant on the floor, but by the time we got back to the locker room, they were looking at me like what do we need to do next.

I was scared to death. I didn't know if they realized what we were facing, all the different things they're experiencing. I was nervous about it. I wasn't sure they were comprehending the magnitude of our opportunity. But they seem to be able to enjoy it and step back focus on it at the same time.

Hopefully the trickle-down effect from the exposure we received and from the experience we have can carry us now for yearly runs like this.

He was absolutely a project. We thought maybe by his junior year he'd be ready to make an impact.

That was an awfully good basketball team we played. And I think in order to win this game, we had to play our 'A' game. The reason we didn't is because of what they do and how they play.

You always in the back of your mind are comparing yourselves to those teams that play on TV, to those upper echelon teams To me, it's a great opportunity to see where we're at.

We needed to play our 'A' game tonight, and we didn't play our 'A' game. But that was because of what they did. That's a very good basketball team.

We needed to play our A-game. And I think we didn't play our A-game. The reason we didn't was because of what they do and how they play.

We play in a major basketball conference. There are some awfully good players here. Some players who were snubbed a little bit at the higher schools, and they've got a chip on their shoulders.

The fact that the administrators and the community here welcomed me back with open arms says a lot about what they think of their own. They handed me the keys to drive the car and with that I've taken a lot of pride and responsibility in trying to restore Bradley basketball to a level everyone can be proud of.

We don't want this to be a one-and-done. Heck, I want to put pressure on myself to make this a yearly event, and that will trickle down to the expectation of our players having gotten a taste of this.

We weren't finishing games. There were stretches where we just shut down during the stretch, especially on the road.

We don't want them to take for granted that there's a lot of support for Bradley basketball. So many people commented on how they stood the entire game. I didn't see that from the Kansas fans. I didn't see that from the Pitt fans. Our fans gave us fire. I want our guys to acknowledge it. I didn't tell them to go into the stands. They took that on their own.

Bradley basketball is back on the map in a big way. I am proud to be a part of it.

Being a player is more of a personal satisfaction. Now it's like being a part of the tradition and history of Bradley basketball and being a part of putting it back on the map. ... Seeing all the people now that have been affected. It's more fun to be a part of that.

At this point sleep is way overrated in my opinion. What little sleep I did get last night, my wife said I had a smile on my face. ... There's plenty of time down the road for sleep, so we'll worry about that later.

It was a long day. It was even worse today. I thought it would get better as it got closer but it actually got worse. The hours and minutes got longer.

Apparently, it was for a show of emotion for the second time after a call. That's the way it was explained to me.

They're just awfully talented. They're getting great production from their bench and do a number of things well. Our defense is going to be tested.

It's a great feeling, probably as good a feeling as I've ever had. It's just beautiful. These guys have been working their tails off. They dropped a lot of sweat and a lot of hours and they deserve the moment.

I told the team after the game not to hang their heads because that was an awfully good basketball team we played. We needed to play our 'A' game. The reason we didn't was because of what they do and how they play.

It's bittersweet. When we get back home and sit back and look at our body of work for the year, I think this team, this program can be extremely proud. Now it's the goal to continue to build on it.

I'm a cheesecake connoisseur, and it was awfully good.

I'm a big Bill Self fan and I enjoy watching his teams play. I've probably seen too much of them.

Being part of this program spanning 30 years ... to see the jubilation on the faces of those people, and getting the calls and text messages from people enjoying this run, that gives me tremendous pleasure. Bradley basketball is back on the map in a big way.

Being in this league, this is my fourth year and I've got a lot of respect for the level of basketball. We're continuing to make this upward climb to get national respect.

These guys worked themselves into this position and nobody gave them anything, much less a chance. It's great to see Bradley put back on this stage. It's something that has taken a lot of work, but it was certainly worth every ounce of sweat by a lot of people.

The last three to four weeks of the season, he has put us on his back, and our team rallies around him.

The locker room was pretty subdued and business as usual. We want to be proud, but there's still work to be done.

Obviously, ISU will be primed for revenge and wants to get that bad taste of the last game out of their mouth.