Oct. 20, 2003

On the team in general:

"We've had a couple of good days of work with our team. It's amazing to see the positive effect depth has on the team and how much chemistry can be an advantage to that depth. With that depth, our players, particularly our seniors, are setting the bar at a higher level. It's been some good, hard work the last two-and-a-half days and with the longer preseason we'll be able to get a lot of stuff done. I want us to be healthy after all of this, but I also want the guys to get in there, knock each other around and with that; I think the team will get stronger. With this year's team we'll be able to run more with the ball and handle the ball a little better."

On Senior Forward Rickey Paulding:

"Paulding is getting on guys and a taking a strong leadership role in practice. He's started to get on some guys on their play at times and they've responded well to that and have taken that positively."

On Paulding and Senior Arthur Johnson:

"AJ has been playing outside of himself lately. The Pan-American games made them hungry, there they we're able to work with, and go up against some real competition. The big focus for both Rickey and AJ was an improvement in ball handling skills. Having kids that have come from the same school helps in that they give support to each other. In the same light, they've been able to say things to each other honestly without getting mad at each other. It's been the same thing with this senior group, they get on to each other quite a bit, and I think that makes a strong team."