Mark Patton Quotations

We have to focus on the next game and not think about UAB or the tournament. We got them down there so they're going to be ready to fight us here. We have to get ready for UCF.

Of course it's been nice being home this week.

He was trying to send a message to us to get out there and play as hard as we could. We hadn't been doing that up until that point. He sent a message to us and that's just good coaching. He was coaching his heart out.

He's a good shooter. If he gets open, he can hit and run off some points.

I think it's going to be important to stay focused and use that adrenaline. It's the last game here but I'm going to treat it as any other game and play hard.

It is a great thing for him to have read so many books. You just don't usually hear that about a first-grader.

That felt pretty good. It was a good pass from (Humphrey) and I figure there's no better way to end four great years than that.

Mark was big for us. We wanted to go big against them but they're a scrappy team. Mark hit some shots and we were able to go inside-out.

It didn't surprise me to be honest. I've seen him shoot that same shot in practice.

I thought I'd be an extra. Then it comes to this. I'm honored to be a part of it.

That's unacceptable and we came out in the second half with better effort and played team ball.

The press got us back in the game. We got some turnovers and some easy baskets. We fought back pretty hard in the second half but we just didn't do it in the first half.

We didn't play with the intensity needed and dug a hole. We have to put more pressure on and work through our system. Inconsistency was a problem. It's one game at a time and we've got a week to prepare.

Yeah, he did. We were playing soft and he saw that. He was trying to challenge us to go out there and bring it to them a little bit. From that point on, we did.

We had a couple of people who didn't show up due to other commitments, and we've also had a couple of injuries that hurt us. If we had our whole team I felt like we could have easily finished fifth, and perhaps challenge for fourth.

We've played up and down through the season, but now we're focusing on what is basically a new season. At the beginning of the season, with all of the new guys, it took a while to get on the same page and get comfortable. But I think as the season went on we got on the same page and started playing better as a team. Lately, we've had a little more success as a team.

We missed pretty much all of last week so we can use this week to get things straightened out and get caught up. That's the important thing.

As they talked to me more, it seemed like it was going to be a bigger part than I first thought.

First of all, I'm going to finish up this season. After the season I'll see if I can play (professionally).

I've never done anything like this. It was a new experience. I couldn't pass this up.

Coach really lit a fire in me to be more physical with their big men. We got more aggressive with them.

That turnover at the end was a big play for them.

They are a scrappy team. They're not big but they have guys that are physical and they're able to make up for that.

It wasn't too bad. I wasn't star struck. I didn't have that much to say. I just had to be myself.

It was a lot of us not hitting shots, but Tulane worked hard to make sure we didn't have open looks. And maybe we didn't have the effort we needed to have.

It's fun to play in those games and we've done well. We can't forget how we played well in those games before. We've got to do the same thing and just come out and fight.

It's fun to play against these top teams. We usually play pretty well.

It's been a great opportunity to play at home. Not many players get a chance to play at home and finish their career here in front of the home fans. I can't wait.

That's something we've learned as the season goes on, how to play smarter. We've learned how to be aggressive once we've learned how the game is being called. Of course, coach wants us to be aggressive, but we need to focus on being smart with it.

It's special when you know somebody looks up to you. I'm happy for him. It's kind of honoring to know that you are a role model. We have to do good things and influence them in a good way.

It's definitely very satisfying, but the difference between this year and last year is that we have to step up after this game and play hard.

It's definitely refreshing to be home after a long road trip like that. You get a couple of days off and recharge.

They came back at the end of the first half but we came right back at them to start the second half. The big thing was that everybody contributed tonight.

I'm honored to be a part of such a great group of players. That list, right on down, deserved it. They can all really play.

I'll be ready. I like football a lot. I'll get better as time goes on. I'm looking forward to it.

He's probably put in more work than anybody and it's a good reward for him to start a game.

I'd have to say this was our most consistent 40 minutes at home.

I'd rather have that win and get in the championship game.

An audition? I don't know. I guess it kind of turned out that way. It was pretty easy. I've done all this before.