Villanova 67, Seton Hall 55
THE MODERATOR: We have Coach Neptune and Eric Dixon and Jordan Longino will be here momentarily. Coach.
KYLE NEPTUNE: Proud of what our guys did out there. I thought we were really good defensively and withstood their runs. They've done that to everybody. They just keep coming after you no matter what. You could be up 30, 40. Somehow they always find a way to claw their way back.
Shaheen Holloway, he is one of the best coaches in our league. He always has his team prepared. They're nasty. They're tough. Again, proud of the way our guys competed.
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. Eric, just take us through that spurt. You hadn't scored until they pulled within eight and then you kind of went on a run there yourself, and Wooga had that big dunk. Did you think now is the time I have to assert myself in this game?
ERIC DIXON: It's a feeling and picking spots. Wooga and the guys were playing great basketball, and they kind of forgot about me a little bit, so I just took advantage.
Q. Right after halftime, the Pirates came back with more energy scoring. That first time out, what did you talk about, Coach?
KYLE NEPTUNE: We knew this is what they do. I said in the beginning, you look at their entire season. They've been down, it seems like, almost every game, and somehow they find a way to make it a one, two-possession game all the time, and just the way they play, the way they coach, they just keep coming after you. I thought our guys did a good job of staying calm under pressure. We had some key baskets. We were solid with the ball. At some key times, they did force some turnovers, but I thought, all in all, we did a good job.
Q. Kyle, when you are evaluating those turnovers and some of your sloppy play -- I know the games between you guys are never pretty. Is it more what they did to you, or do you look...
KYLE NEPTUNE: You have to give them some credit. If you look at the games this year that they've played, they've had numerous games like that where teams are up 20, 25. Somehow they get it to a one-possession game. It's just what they do. They do a great job of it.
Again, like I said, Shaheen Holloway is one of the best coaches in America. He always has his team prepared. They come after you for 40 minutes. I give them a lot of credit for that.
Q. Coach, can you talk about the way you guys jumped out from the start? Especially how the last game ended with you guys having the lead, and you were able to finish them off this time around. What was the big difference?
KYLE NEPTUNE: I thought our guys did a good job handling their pressure in key moments. They did get some turnovers, but I thought we did a good job attacking their pressure to score. I thought we were solid down the stretch. We got to the rim, got some key and-ones and finishes around the basket. I thought they were key.
Q. For Eric or Jordan. You've played UConn twice this year, played it pretty tough both times. What are you expecting tomorrow night against them? What kind of challenges do they present?
JORDAN LONGINO: We know UConn is a disciplined team. We've had two close matchups with them during the season, so we know we have to come out and defend, rebound for 40 minutes and execute our game plan, and we'll be good.
Q. For the players. For tomorrow's game against UConn, how are you preparing mentally for it?
ERIC DIXON: I think right now we're just focused on going back and getting rest and getting fluids and making sure our bodies are as ready to go as possible.
Q. For Eric first and then Jordan, the same question: You have been in this situation before where, you know, being in this tournament, a loss could end your season. How do you guys balance knowing that if you just happen to have a bad night, the year could be over, and in your cases your careers, versus the relaxation, kind of the readiness you need to have to be able to play at your best? In an elimination situation like that, how do you balance those two things that seem to be in competition?
ERIC DIXON: Lucky for us, we treat every game like the Super Bowl. The last game we just played was the most important game of our season, the most important game of my career. The next one coming up is going to be the same thing, most important game of my career, most important game of the season. That's how we treat every single game.
Q. Kyle, for you a similar question. You guys know what you need to do to get to the tournament. How have you messaged this week, and how are you treating this run that you have to go on?
KYLE NEPTUNE: I think Eric Dixon kind of spoke for all of us. We've come out, and we treat every game like it's our most important game of the season because it is. So we're going to go back, get some rest, you know, watch a little bit of film, maybe walk through a little bit of stuff tomorrow and couple out and have another Super Bowl.
Q. For Coach Neptune, obviously you have the country's leading scorer in a player like Eric. A lot of attention and focus is pointed his way. You guys had a lot of contribution from different guys tonight. How important do you feel like that's going to be the rest of the tournament being able to try to lead your team to a championship?
KYLE NEPTUNE: Yeah, obviously we've got a lot of talented guys on our side. Just look at the first half. I don't think Eric scored in the first half, and we had a pretty big lead. I thought we were moving the ball. I thought we did some good things offensively.
We know obviously Eric is a great weapon to have, but we've got a lot of other guys that can step up and make plays.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports