The first thing we have to do is understand that this team is very explosive, and the team they've been to this point won't be the team we see on Thursday. We can't play their record. We have to play their ability level.

The great thing about Anthony Winchester is that he is very tough-minded and always responds to challenges ... . I think he showed that on the defensive end tonight and really showed it on the offensive end by hitting 10 of 13 shots.

He adjusted a play tonight so that he could get a catch. It's a situation, because of our lineup, that we never, ever do. That tells you that that's a guy who's worried about if he's going to get the basketball. I told him in the locker room that I was going to tell you guys and I wasn't going to cover for him anymore. If he doesn't grow in that area, we're going to have a hard time being as good as we can be.

I don't think there is anybody in the country that has done a better coaching job than Monte. His kids showed an unbelievable amount of toughness and resiliency with what they have had to deal with off the court and their injury troubles. They finished the year playing really well and competed like they always do.

Hopefully we'll have the same student turnout that we had the last time ESPN came for the Louisiana-Lafayette game.

I hope that it helps. We usually have nine or 10 in double-figure (minutes). You hope in theory that it's going to help.

I'm unbelievably proud of my team and what they accomplished this year. I thought we gave a great effort tonight against a lot of odds with injuries and being on the road.

They were better in absolutely every single area of the game, not only how they performed in the game but the energy they played with. They did an outstanding job. We got off to a slow start, did not attack their pressure well, and it just snowballed from there.

They did an outstanding job. We got off to a slow start, did not attack their pressure well, and it just snowballed from there.

It's almost like we're being put in a bad position no matter what we do.