Feb. 4, 2008

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Postgame Press Conference
Marist at Siena
Feb. 4, 2008

Siena Head Coach Fran McCaffery

Statement: I'm very proud of our team tonight. I thought we really competed. I don't think we played a picture perfect game, but we played a very good team, a very well coached team and I thought we competed. I felt it was important that we out-rebound somebody and we did that. The fact that we were able to establish early that we were going to pound the glass, I thought that was good. We had an uncharacteristic eight turnovers in the first half. That was disappointing, but we were trying to be aggressive. The second half we only had five. I thought Ronald Moore in the second half played really well. To see Tay Fisher come back the way he did tonight, was probably the key for us; with all due respect to Alexander Franklin. Tay exhibits great leadership on a regular basis and he pulled the guys together tonight. He wanted to make sure there was not a repeat of what happened Saturday. So I'm happy for the team, I'm happy for him.

On Josh Duell's play: Ever since Josh has come back from his injury, he's established himself as one of our premier players. Early on in the season, he was trying to fit in. He's really figured out what we need him to do. He's been spectacular. He's in great shape, he gives us another weapon offensively, he's smart, he's skilled, and he's tough. We're a different team when he can stay out of foul trouble and stay on the floor for extended periods of time.

When did you know Alex Franklin would start? Probably Saturday, when the game ended. Obviously, his health is always in question. As long as he was healthy, he was starting.

Is that kind of performance what you had in mind when you started him? When he's healthy, that's the way he plays. We're a different team when he's on the floor. When he's not, things are more of a struggle for us, we're more perimeter oriented, we don't get as many offensive rebounds, he blocks shots. What he does is, he makes the other coach have to worry about what he's going to do. When he's not out there, they can worry about Hasbrouck, Fisher and Ubiles a little closer.

On Franklin's health and latest performances: Every game was a dice roll. The last three games he's been terrific. So hopefully, that will continue.

On Edwin Ubiles: The key for Edwin coming into this season was to be more consistent. He's obviously proven he can be the most spectacular player in this league. The challenge for him was to be more consistent. I played him at four different positions and he has played extremely well. I couldn't be more proud of him. His game has matured, he has matured. You're talking about an all-league player here. On leaning on the main guys: Every coach in America does. When you get in February, every coach in the NBA, in high school, in college, leans on their main guys.

On the bracket buster game (happy to get a TV game): Absolutely. The value to a program like ours is, can we get a TV game. Do we warrant a TV game. So I'm happy for our players, I'm happy for our institution. We're playing a team we haven't played before, in a different part of the country. We have enough time before and after the game to recover.

Marist Head Coach Matt Brady We have yet to play a full 40-minute game in both ends of the court. To beat Siena, you have to defend the 3-point line. To me, that's where we lost this game. We were leading the league until about a week ago, but now we've given up 53% against Rider and now 58% tonight. We'll go back to the drawing board and come up with a better way to challenge our guys and defend the 3-point line. There's tremendous parity in this league. I thought we fought, Siena fought, its two good teams. Tonight Siena was better, hopefully Friday we're a little bit better.

On games so close together: It almost eliminates (game preparation) it. You try to take away everything they do. You try not to let Alex Franklin get 20 points and six offensive rebounds and not let Tay Fisher get a whole bunch of three's. Siena has a style of play that really fits their team and we're a team that's still trying to grow up because we made some young mistakes out there.

On Alex Franklin: I think he's one of the most difficult matchups in the league because he's so strong and low to the ground. He can really make shots. He shoots over bigger guys. I thought he got going early. We're going to have to do a better job on him. He's a wide kid. He's a good player. He's a tough player.

On Franklin's health: Every time he plays us he seems to do well. I don't wish anyone harm, but if he sprains his ankle in practice this week, that'd be good for us.

On Siena's low-post play: I think Alex Franklin is a dynamite low-post player. We have some guys that can play down there too, but their not powerfully built like Alex. I thought that was the other difference in the game. We're not as strong as a lot of the other teams in this league. It's one of the issues we're trying to deal with. As our program gets a little bit older, we have to fix that.

On adjustments for next game: We can't get in offensive droughts. Turnovers hurt us. And we have to defend the 3-point line.

David Devezin On tonight's game: The full-court denial was frustrating, but I have to suck it up and just play. I just enjoy playing, so if I play the whole game, that's good.