Bob Thomason
Bob Thomason
Robert Lesley "Bob" Thomason, Jr.is a retired American college basketball coach. He coached the University of the Pacific Tigers men's basketball team for 25 seasons from 1988 to 2013...
basketball christmas looked needed since team tired
We just looked like a tired basketball team. We haven't had a day off since the day after Christmas, and we looked like a team that needed a break.
anyone bigger concern definitely handle last match team year
Last year we could handle bigger teams. This year that's definitely a concern of mine. We had a team that could match up with anyone last year. We don't have a team like that this year.
air almost bubble cincinnati deserved east eight ended five force four gotten itself kicked last pick state supposed syracuse teams three utah west winning won
I thought they were supposed to pick teams, not conferences. Last year, the Big West got two (berths) because we deserved to go and Utah State won the tournament. This year, they were almost over fair. Utah State and Air Force had to be bubble teams, and if you have four or five bubble teams, you pick two and two or three don't get in. Cincinnati should have gotten in, but Syracuse ended up winning the (Big East) tournament. The Big East still got eight teams in. Cincinnati kicked itself out.
everywhere guys happens hungry people proud prove rest taken team whatever
Our guys are hungry to prove people wrong. This team has taken a lot of flak. Everywhere you turn, people are questioning how well this team can come around. I just said, 'Give it time. Give it time.' Well, here we are, and whatever happens the rest of the year, I'm going to be proud of this team.
best last played round team three
I think this is probably the best team we've played in the first round the last three years.
coached credit game half hit percent second shots team tough
They hit a lot of tough shots. You've got to give them credit for making the shots they had to. I don't know if I've ever coached a game where a team shot 70 percent in the second half and we still won.
absolutely against caught couple fool games great last lost pittsburgh played providence ready team time tournament traveled ways year
They'll be absolutely ready to go. We won't fool anybody. Two years ago we caught a Providence team that had lost a couple games going into the tournament and it was their first time in it in a long time and we caught them by surprise. Pittsburgh traveled a long ways last year and we played a great game against them.
drop early guys learned lose proud stayed teams tough win
I couldn't be more proud of our guys. A lot of teams drop down to .500 when they lose that many players. We didn't know what we were going to do early in the year, but these guys just battled, stayed tough and learned to win even when they don't play their best.
chances
We weren't going to take any chances with him.
anybody capture country guys hard lost seven
It would be hard for anybody in the country who lost seven players. You never know how guys are going to respond, but our guys have responded pretty well. Now, we have an opportunity, and we have to capture that opportunity.
monster
Esparza was sensational tonight. He had a monster game.
nine playing
Sanders didn't play the first nine games, but he's back and playing at a different level.
eight elite final george gold good mason might national next sweet wins won
I've always said you might not ever see a mid-major go to the Final Four. When a mid-major wins a game, especially if it's not a good seed, if they play a powerhouse, getting to the Sweet 16 is like going to the Elite Eight. Going to the Elite Eight is like going to the Final Four, so George Mason has already won the national championship. If they win the next two games, they'll have won the world championship. They'll have to give them a gold medal.
adversity beat change defense goal might rebound shoot
We know that if we play well we can beat them. Our goal is to play better than we did. We might not shoot better, but we can play defense and rebound better.