243 Quotes by Kelvin Sampson

Give that kid credit for making tough shots. He kept MSU in the game.

He gives Texas an identity. An important part of being a good team is you're going to be known for something. P.J. gives them a toughness and orneriness because that's the way he plays.

I really didn't know Jimmy when he applied for the job. I knew he was a worker, a good recruiter and a good people person just from watching him recruit over the summer. The head coaches know who all the workers are.

He's a unique player and he kind of does what we need.

If you told me before the game we would have a 29-20 rebound advantage and shoot 54 percent (28-for-52), I thought we would have won. It felt like they shot 105 percent.

He was in a group that could have made it or not made it. But I said there's no way we're going out of this country playing on a team without P.J. Tucker. That's one of the things the USA teams have missed in the past. We've taken cookie-cutter kids instead of kids with big hearts who know how to win.

I think a big part of tonight's win was having been in so many of these things. I didn't see anybody lose their composure, I didn't see anybody lose their poise. I think we're getting better at being in these close situations.

Kevin is the epitome of a student-athlete. He has all the values we really emphasize here.

I just think he's a good player that fills a need for us. Every time he and I have talked, I left with a good feeling.