Post-Game Quotes

Arkansas vs. Bucknell

NCAA Tournament

March 17, 2006

American Airlines Center – Dallas, Texas

Head Coach Stan Heath on the game…

"We’re obviously disappointed. We thought we’d be able to stay here longer. We certainly didn’t take Bucknell lightly and we weren’t looking past them at all. They’re a very good basketball team."

Heath on junior guard Ronnie Brewer’s offense…

"We probably could have done a better job of trying to find ways to get him the ball. But they really honed in on him. They chased him pretty good on screens. When he got a little bit open somebody would rotate on him pretty good. He’s a very unselfish kid. Late in the game he tried to take things over and make some plays – and he did. It might have been one of those games where maybe we should have tried to kick-start him and get him going for a twenty-, twenty-five-point game."

Heath on the press…

"I just didn’t think it’s in our best interest to play for forty minutes of that style when the depth is going to catch up to us. The first thing that happens to you if you press a lot is you’ve got to be worried about your legs. The last thing I need right now – when we’re struggling a little bit making shots – is to all of sudden fatigue two of my best scorers with extended defense."

Heath on his team’s defense…

"I know there’s been a lot of questions addressed to the defense, but heck, we held them to 38 percent shooting. That’s great defense. I’ll take that any night."

Junior guard Ronnie Brewer on dealing with Bucknell’s screens…

"It was difficult trying to get around them. They were really big on cutting you off and screening hard. I still feel we played good defense. We were containing shots when we got through the screens, and made them put the ball on the floor. We just have to give it up for Bucknell."

Sophomore center Steven Hill on the play of Bucknell…

"One thing I give them credit for is that they ran what they wanted to run the whole game. We played hard but we just gave up too many points."

Senior guard Jonathon Modica on the Razorbacks’ loss…

"They got a lot of big-time shots. There wasn’t much we could really do. I give a lot of credit to Bucknell for doing that."

Head Coach Pat Flannery on his win…

"I thought from our perspective that we had to go out early athletically, and make them respect us. We did a great job with that in the first half. Then in the second half we got to a place where we did not know what to do. We were tentative and tired because we did not go as deep as we wanted to. Arkansas was a team that we knew would get after it on the boards and we did a great job against that."

Flannery on Bucknell’s three-point shooting…

"Three-pointers are part of the game. Obviously we have some guys that can shoot the basketball, that’s why it ended up being along the perimeter because they were so strong physically inside. They took advantage of the situation."

Senior Guard/Forward Charles Lee on Bucknell’s 11 three-point baskets…

"I think we were just feeling it today. They’re a team that is really good defensively helping each other. When we were getting in there to penetrate, I think we did a good job of looking out. I really think the big guys did a good job screening for us also and getting us open. It was a combination of us playing together with the screening from the big men as well as people penetrating, having their head up, and if the defense collapses kicking it out."

Lee on making baskets late in the shot clock…

"We practice it every day in practice. Our coaching staff really gets us prepared for every situation that we could possibly face during the game. It’s something that we feel very comfortable. There’s no sense to jack up a shot within our offense, because we feel like we can get any shot we want at any point. That’s the type of confidence we have."

Junior Center Chris McNaughton on Arkansas’ inside defense and several early blocked shots…

"As you could see we didn’t have a whole lot of inside game after that. I’ve already talked to Darren (Mastropaolo) about that and how we need to step it up a notch on Sunday because we can’t just rely on three-point shooting like that."

Senior Guard Kevin Bettencourt on hitting several timely threes…

"I wasn’t surprised because we’ve played a long time together and they do a good job of finding me and getting me open. In terms of when they come, I just shoot them when I’m open. If they happen to come at a time when we need it, then it’s just a bonus. If I’m open I’m going to shoot it, that’s my role on the team."