The emotion we've gone through in the last several weeks and all the things we've dealt with already ... I think it's the best move for the program right now. There's a process you have to go through to get a coach in place. To delay that any more didn't seem like the right thing to do right now.

I couldn't be prouder of them if they had won. It kind of epitomizes what they're about and, I hope, what this program is about.

I can't tell you how much I appreciated their fans' response today. We've had a lot of battles. It was a great day for me and one I'll never forget.

I can't tell you how much respect I have for what Gary has done. He's done a great job of rebuilding and putting a lot of players in the program who fit his mold.

I didn't expect to be thinking it's done tonight, honestly. I thought we would get in.

I didn't think we were tough enough in any spot. We weren't physical enough to get it to the rim and draw fouls. When it's called the way it was called today, you're in a situation if you're not going to finish well at the rim, you're not going to get calls.

It has been the most incredible ride you can imagine.

I knew the time was right for me.

The Big 12 is a good conference, and that in itself should help us.

It's still just incredible to me that God gave me the opportunity for 24 years to be the caretaker of this program. It has been the most incredible ride you could ever imagine.