America East Men’s Basketball Tournament
March 4, 2007
Vermont-UMBC post-game quotes
Head Coach Mike Lonergan
Opening statements
“Very happy to get the win today. I want to give UMBC a lot of credit. I thought Coach Monroe did a great job throughout the year, and we knew they would be ready to play today. Our whole game plan was to limit their threes. We felt that these teams really need to shoot the threes to beat us. We did not get off to a good start defending their threes, but we hung in their after the slow start. I think Mike’s [Trimboli] bank-shot three at the buzzer to end the half really gave us some momentum and loosened us up. Our defense in the second was tremendous, going back to the way we play ?Vermont basketball’. Chris [Holm] as he has throughout the year has dominated the glass. He is finishing off his career very, very well. I thought Kyle Cieplicki scored when we really needed some points. Some huge shots when the shot clock was running down. This is Vermont’s fifth championship game in a row. I am happy to be there two years in a row. I think it is a great win for our program. We have a week to prepare for a very good team that we are going to be facing. We are happy to be here.”
Kyle Cieplicki
On the weekend
“In some ways [it was business]. Every time you come down to a conference tournament, the level of play and the level of intensity are going to pick up so much. We had to remind our young guys that there really is a big difference. Really it comes down to three games and two this weekend. We have some veterans who have been here before. We got it done and we are really excited.”
On Lonergan’s style of coaching
“Look at his record and how successful he is. You can’t argue with that. It has been a learning process and we have adjusted. We really wanted to win the game and we were fortunate to get those two threes to end the first half.”
Chris Holm
On his mindset
“My plan was that I am not going to leave without it. If we lose, we got at least one NIT game, but I do not want to do an NIT game. I want to go to the NCAA tournament. We are going to do what we have to do to get to the game.
On UVM’s size advantage
“That was one thing we wanted to focus on was getting inside because we knew we had a size advantage with a lot of teams we play against. Plus, we wanted to set the tempo and open some things for our guards.”
On having home court advantage
“In this league, the fact that it is at someone’s home court is probably the biggest advantage you have. Last year we had to go over to Albany. Luckily we get to go to our place and we get a great crowd. It will definitely be a sellout and that will definitely give us an advantage.”
Head Coach Randy Monroe:
“I’m just extremely proud of our team. I thought we played extremely hard from the opening tip off to the last seconds of game clock. We just couldn’t make any shots down the stretch unfortunately, but those guys just did a phenomenal job and when you defend like that it does take a lot out of you, but I was proud of our effort.”
On playing Saturday and Sunday
“It’s a tremendous difference, and I think that the young men who have felt very good about themselves and really confident felt good about coming into this game against Vermont. We lost to a very good basketball team and that’s nothing to be ashamed of.
On the future
“I’m excited about the future at UMBC, I think we took a step forward and I think that the young people that are coming back into our program have to continue to work hard in order for us to get back to this similar situation. “
On the seniors
“You can’t get two finer human beings then Michael Housman or Chris Pugh. Just to see those two in the game is just something that you hate to see as a coach, but I’m really proud of them.”
Senior Mike Housman:
“I thought we played really well. Whenever we’ve played a team that’s higher in the rankings it’s really raised our game to their level. If a couple of balls didn’t go in for them and went in for us the game could have been a little different. I thought we worked hard and I’m proud to have been on this team.”
“Every year the play-in game takes a lot out of you so starting in the quarterfinal makes things a lot easier on yourself. It was awesome to be in the first UMBC team to make the semifinals and hopefully this is a showing of things to come for the next couple of teams. I’m proud to be the first team to do it.
Freshman Justin Fry:
“Just playing the top team we knew we had to come out and play our best game and we gave them a run.”
“The seniors have been great to us all year, especially in a game like this ? giving it their all. It’s a little harder to see them go.”