Jim Larranaga Quotations

We both agreed that this was something that doesn't represent George Mason University or our basketball program. That we needed to take immediate steps to send that message not only to Tony, but to the rest of our team and to the rest of the athletes who represent George Mason.

We're a bunch of no-name guys playing in the biggest sporting event in the world and loving it.

When the horn did it at the end, and it was blaring in my ears, I put the managers on the line and made them run. How funny do you think that was to our players?

When you consider we've done something for the first time in the school's history, and only the second time in conference history, you should be excited about that.

I didn't want him to think for a second that if we didn't get in, it was his fault. I told him one lapse of judgment would never define an entire season.

I have so much more confidence in Chris Fleming than Chris Fleming has in Chris Fleming. Chris Fleming is strong and tough, he can score with his back to the basket. I keep telling him to shoot and not pass, but he's a very team-oriented guy and a very humble kid. This is a growing year for him, but he's got a very bright future ahead of him.

He (Carter) was great. Not just the three pointer, but everything he did on the floor tonight. I do think that got us back to thinking positively again because there was a stretch in the second half where we got a little bit frustrated because we couldn't score.

There are so many great coaches who never get to the major level. I hope that I do represent them here.

I think it certainly has helped us. Each of our seniors is actually in their fifth year. . . . they are older guys and I certainly think their maturity and experience help us. It helped us throughout this season and particularly in the NCAA run.

I think the dome is a factor for a team that's never played in one. Lamar Butler was quoted yesterday saying he'd never even been in a dome. There's a problem developing the proper depth perception.

Our league has had an incredible season from top to bottom and start to finish. The league is at its all-time best.

I think one of the objectives of any professional organization is to find diamonds in the rough, what they affectionately call 'sleepers,' somebody that no one else knows about. Jai Lewis is as talented an athlete as I've ever been around. His hand quickness and foot quickness are incredible.

We don't feel the stress maybe the higher seeds feel because we're emphasizing to the kids to have fun with this and not to put that pressure on themselves, not to put other peoples' expectations on themselves.

What we stand for is far greater than whether we win or lose on a basketball floor. We are all educators. Our responsibility is to teach these youngsters, whether they're basketball players or any other student-athlete we're working with, to set the right example.

The players were dancing in the aisles. The kids were screaming 'George' ... 'Mason.' The pep band was playing. If you can't get excited for this, what can you? It was great. You live for this.

We have emphasized all year long not to put people on the foul line. Does it concern me? Before every game I'm always concerned about stuff like that. So far, we've got a very good group of smart players.

Everything that I am as a coach, it was formed there.

Everybody expected us to win the national championship. I could observe the amount of pressure that we all felt trying to get to the Final Four.

Offense on the outside, defense on the inside. The defense has to move and find somebody to block out, and you're not just blocking out your own man, you've got to find somebody. We've been doing it all season long, and getting better and better in that category of the game.

The whole idea is to stay upbeat, positive, totally committed to what we want to do and what we want to accomplish, but just to do it in a relaxed atmosphere. It's not to feel like ?Oh my goodness, we're here now at the Final Four.

They don't really care that maybe we weren't supposed to get in. They were excited to show what they were capable of doing on the court and let people decide for themselves who they are and how good they are.

It's been really great for these players ... to see not only the university community embrace them but the whole country. I think we all feel like it would be great to be the underdog and to be the overachiever. I think we can all identify with that attitude and personality. This team has embraced that.

I told them I'm going to have more fun than any other head coach in the NCAA Tournament, and I want you guys to have more fun than any other team. When I said that, I'm not sure exactly what I meant, but boy, it's sure been true. ... It's been an absolutely fantastic magic carpet ride.

Does it concern me? Before every game I'm concerned about stuff like that. We've got a very good group of smart players. Jai Lewis and Will Thomas especially are very intelligent.

I hope that the message that George Mason made it to the Final Four is not about winning, it's about doing things the right way.

I hope his doctor is very smart and knows what he's talking about because that would be awesome.

I don't know how he does it. He's the most unique athlete I've ever been around.

I didn't see it myself. But in just talking to him, I know Tony and I knew he had done something that he was ashamed of. I could see it in his face.

These guys are loose. They are having a ball. They are having a lot of fun. They like playing for George Mason University. They like what they have been able to accomplish. They have not felt the pressure of expectations. They have basically continued to do what they have done every day this year, which is to have fun playing ball and playing with each other.

Just remember, their fans think their players are supermen. We'll we're the kryptonite, and we're going to win.

I always tell the kids, You know what's great about going the extra mile? There's very little traffic.