Newshttp://www.hoophall.com/news/en-US2012-02-06T16:56:51ZSquarespace Site Server v5.11.81 (http://www.squarespace.com/)Basketball Hall of Fame Announces Final 11 candidates for 2012 Bob Cousy Awardhttp://www.hoophall.com/news/2012/2/2/basketball-hall-of-fame-announces-final-11-candidates-for-20.htmlStaff Member2012-02-02T22:35:34Z- February 2, 2012 -

Springfield, Mass. – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield,
Massachusetts announced today the 11 finalists for the 2012 Bob Cousy Collegiate Point Guard
of the Year Award. The annual honor, named for Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic Bob
Cousy, recognizes the top point guards in college basketball. An original list of 60-plus
candidates was trimmed by a Hall of Fame appointed, nationally-based committee to the below
list of 11 student-athletes.

“We are excited to announce this years final 11 candidates, as they all exemplify the skills and
talent necessary to make an elite point guard” said John L. Doleva, President & CEO of the
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. “The Hall of Fame looks forward to watching these
players compete for one of college basketball’s most prestigious awards.”

“The list is getting harder and harder to trim down” said Ken Kauffman, Chair of the 2012 Bob
Cousy Award. “We have so many elite college point guards that represent what Mr. Cousy
epitomized as a player.”

Beginning Wednesday, February 6th, via the Bob Cousy Award’s website –
www.cousyaward.com – fans will be able to vote for the top point guard. The player that
receives the most fan votes will receive one vote toward the final committee vote. Fan voting
will run one month – beginning February 6th and will conclude March 6th.
Previous winners of the Bob Cousy Award have included Jameer Nelson (St. Joseph’s),
Raymond Felton (North Carolina), Dee Brown (Illinois), Acie Law (Texas A & M), DJ Augustin
(Texas), Ty Lawson (North Carolina), Greivis Vasquez (Maryland) and last year’s recipient
Kemba Walker (Connecticut). For more information on the 2012 Bob Cousy, log onto
www.CousyAward.com.

The current listing of 11 finalists for the 2012 Bob Cousy Award will be narrowed down to 5
players on March 8th. The final five players in contention for the award will be presented to Mr.
Cousy and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee. The Hall of Fame committee is made up of
top college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, Sports Information
Directors and Hall of Famers. The winner of the 2012 Bob Cousy Award will be awarded at the
Hall of Fame’s Class Announcement on Monday April 2nd in New Orleans as part of NCAA
Final Four weekend.

About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame:

Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the Birthplace of Basketball, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame promotes and preserves the game of basketball at every level – professional, collegiate, men
and women.

2012 Bob Cousy Award 11 Finalists
Pierre Jackson, Baylor
Scott Machado, Iona
Casper Ware, Long Beach State
Phil Pressey, Missouri
Isaiah Canaan, Murray State
Kendall Marshall, North Carolina
Aaron Craft, Ohio State
Matthew Dellavedova, Saint Mary’s
Scoop Jardine, Syracuse
Damian Lillard, Weber State
Jordan Taylor, Wisconsin

]]>2012 Spalding Hoophall Classic All-Tournament Teamhttp://www.hoophall.com/news/2012/1/16/2012-spalding-hoophall-classic-all-tournament-team.htmlStaff Member2012-01-17T01:11:48ZAs compiled by MassLive.com

All Tourney Players:
National: Shabazz Muhammad, Bishop Gorman
Local: Tyler Nelson, Central Catholic
Girls: Breanna Stewart, Cicero North

2012 Hoophall Classic All-Tournament First Team
Shabazz Muhammad, Bishop Gorman
Nerlens Noel, Tilton
Tyler Lewis, Oak Hill
Aaron Thomas, Brewster
Kyle Anderson, St. Anthony

2012 Hoophall Classic All-Tournament Second Team
Dominic Artis, Findlay
Kris Jenkins, Gonzaga
Katin Reinhardt, Mater Dei
Grant Jerrett, LaVerne Lutheran
Jabari Parker, Chicago Simeon

2012 Hoophall Classic All-Local Team
Tyrell Springer, Central
Tyler Nelson, Central Catholic
Joe Crapps, New Leadership
Jaylen Brantley, Wilbraham & Monson
Kamali Bey, Wilbraham & Monson

]]>Seven Games plus Skills Challenge Nationally Televised on ESPN Networks During Basketball Hall of Fame’s Five-Day 2012 Spalding Hoophall Classichttp://www.hoophall.com/news/2012/1/6/seven-games-plus-skills-challenge-nationally-televised-on-es.htmlStaff Member2012-01-06T16:53:31ZFive of the nation’s Top 6 ESPN FAB 50 teams face-off in the birthplace of basketball at the prestigious Hoophall Classic from January 12-16 in Springfield, Mass.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – With seven nationally televised games, five days of exciting action and over 45 participating teams, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s 2012 Spalding Hoophall Classic, presented by Big Y World Class Markets, will once again be held at Springfield College’s Blake Arena from January 12-16 during Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend. This year’s exciting matchups include six of the top eight teams from the ESPN FAB 50 including No. 1 Simeon Career Academy (Chicago, IL), No. 2 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, VA), No. 4 St. Anthony High School (Jersey City, NJ), coached by Basketball Hall of Famer Bob Hurley, Sr., No. 5 DeMatha Catholic High School (Hyattsville, MD), No. 6. Findlay College Prep (Henderson, NV) and No. 8 Mater Dei High School (Santa Ana, CA).

Seven games plus the Spalding Skills Competition will be televised nationally on the ESPN Networks on Sunday and Monday, four games will be televised on Connecticut Public Television and one game will be broadcast on Sirius XM Radio channel 92 on Monday.

Television/Radio Broadcast Schedule:
Fri/6:00 pm - W. Springfield Girls (MA) vs. Cicero North Girls (NY) - CPTV
Sat/12:00 pm - Springfield Central (MA) vs. Windsor High School (CT) - CPTV
Sat/6:00 pm - No. 2 Oak Hill (VA) vs. No. 23 Prestonwood Christian (TX) - CPTV
Sat/8:00 pm - Northwest Catholic (CT) vs. No. 5 DeMatha Catholic (MD) - CPTV
Sun/2:00 pm - Friends' Central (PA) vs. St. Mark's (MA) - ESPNU
Sun/4:00 pm - Brewster Academy (NH) vs. Tilton School (NH) - ESPN
Sun/6:00 pm - New Hampton Prep (NH) vs. Notre Dame Prep (MA) - ESPN3
Sun/8:30 pm - Spalding Skills Contest (Half-Court Hustle, Slam Dunk, 3-Point) - ESPN3
Mon/11:00 am - No. 34 Miller Grove (GA) vs. No. 4 St. Anthony (NJ) - ESPNU/SiriusXM channel 92
Mon/1:00 pm - No. 24 Bishop Gorman (NV) vs. No. 5 DeMatha Catholic (MD) - ESPNU
Mon/3:00 pm - No. 1 Simeon (IL) vs. No. 6 Findlay Prep (NV) - ESPNU
Mon/5:00 pm - No. 8 Mater Dei (CA) vs. Christ the King (NY) - ESPNU

The 2012 Spalding Hoophall Classic also continues its tradition of talented players by featuring more than 25 of the current ESPNU Top 100 in the class of 2012, including No. 1 Shabazz Muhammad (Bishop Gorman High School/Las Vegas, NV), No. 2 Mitch McGary (Brewster Academy/Wolfeboro,NH), No. 4 Brandon Ashley (Findlay Prep/Henderson, NV), No. 5 Kyle Anderson (St. Anthony High School/Jersey City, NJ), No. 6 Kaleb Tarczewski (St. Mark’s School/Southborough, MA), No. 7 Anthony Bennett (Findlay College Prep/Henderson, NV), No. 9 Grant Jerrett (LaVerne Lutheran/LaVerne, CA) as well as the top three ESPNU 2013 standouts Jabari Parker (Simeon Career Academy/Chicago, IL), Nerlens Noel (Tilton High School/Tilton, NH) and Julius Randle (Prestonwood Christian/Plano, TX).

On Friday night, the nation’s No. 1 girls recruit, Breanna Stewart, will lead Cicero-North against West Springfield High School. Stewart has committed to play for UConn next year.

Last year’s games were highlighted by current college standouts Anthony Davis (Kentucky), Michael Gilchrist (Kentucky), Myck Kabongo (Texas), Shannon Scott (Ohio State) and Quinn Cook (Duke). Spalding Hoophall Classic alumni who made their mark in this year’s 2011 NBA draft include No. 1 draft pick Kyrie Irving (Cleveland), Tristan Thompson (Cleveland), Brandon Knight (Detroit), Kemba Walker (Charlotte), Josh Selby (Memphis), Cory Joseph (San Antonio), and Tobias Harris (Milwaukee).

In addition to the game, Spalding also sponsors the Spalding Skills Challenge. The Skills Challenge features three events including the Spalding Half-Court Hustle, Spalding 3-Point Shootout and the Spalding Slam Dunk Contest at Blake Arena on Sunday, January 15th. An associated youth tournament, Junior Hoophall Classic, will return this year with details located at www.basketbull.org.

MassLive.com, the online home of The Republican, will provide extensive coverage of the 2012 Hoophall Classic including game stories, videos, stats, photos and player interviews. Log on to MassLive.com/HoophallClassic for complete coverage.

The Basketball Hall of Fame’s Spalding Hoophall Classic is presented by Big Y World Class Markets, with premium sponsorship from Northeast Utilities. Supporting sponsors for the Hoophall Classic are NIKE, MassMutual Financial Group and Springfield College. The RUSH, which has been added as the official videographer this year, is a company that captures highlights of sporting events, which are sent to subscriber’s smartphones and computers in real time.

Tickets for the event are $15 for adults and $10 for youth/students (18 and under). All patrons that present a Big Y World Class Market Savings Card will receive a $1 discount on each ticket purchased. For more information, please visit the official web site, www.thehoophallclassic.com.

About Spalding
Division of Russell Corporation, the Spalding Group is now the largest basketball equipment supplier in the world. Spalding is the official basketball of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), the official backboard of the NBA and NCAA, the official volleyball of the King of the Beach Volleyball Tour and the official football of Pop Warner. In addition to being the leading producer and marketer of basketballs, footballs, volleyballs and soccer balls, Spalding produces softballs under the Dudley brand. For more information, visit www.spalding.com.

About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the birthplace of basketball, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame promotes and preserves the game of basketball at every level – professional, collegiate, men and women. For more information on these and other upcoming events, please visit our website at www.hoophall.com or call 1-877-4-HOOPLA.

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For more information:
Visit us on the web: www.hoophall.com
… on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BBHOF
… on Twitter: @hoophall
… or call 1-877-4-HOOPLA

]]>Basketball Hall of Fame Announces 2012 Bob Cousy Award Candidateshttp://www.hoophall.com/news/2011/12/19/basketball-hall-of-fame-announces-2012-bob-cousy-award-candi.htmlStaff Member2011-12-19T17:16:20ZSpringfield, Mass. – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts announced today the candidates for the 2012 Bob Cousy Collegiate Point Guard of the Year Award. The annual honor, named for Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic Bob Cousy, recognizes the top point guards in college basketball. Almost 60 candidates have been nominated for the 2012 Bob Cousy Award.

“The Hall of Fame is honored to be working with Mr. Cousy once again to present this prestigious award,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “The list of candidates include the top players from across the country that have shown the same leadership, hard work and determination that Mr. Cousy exemplified on the court for many years. We are excited to honor his legacy with the winner of this year’s award.”

“Bob was an extraordinary all-around basketball player, he was a fierce competitor and a great leader,” said Ken Kaufman, Chair of the Bob Cousy Award and former president of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). “With this award we want to continue to honor his legacy and make certain that the best collegiate point guards are appropriately recognized.”

This original list of candidates will be narrowed down to a final twenty by January 1st, final ten by February 1st, and final five by March 1st. A premier Selection Committee will be appointed by the Hall of Fame to review the final five candidates in contention for the nation’s top collegiate point guard award. These Hall of Fame committees are made up of top college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, Sports Information Directors and Hall of Famers. The winner of the 2012 Bob Cousy Award will be presented at the Hall of Fame’s Class Announcement on Championship Monday in New Orleans as part of NCAA Final Four weekend.

Previous winners of the Bob Cousy Award have included Jameer Nelson (St. Joseph’s), Raymond Felton (North Carolina), Dee Brown (Illinois), Acie Law (Texas A & M), DJ Augustin (Texas), Ty Lawson (North Carolina), Greivis Vasquez (Maryland) and last year’s recipient Kemba Walker (Connecticut). For more information on the 2012 Bob Cousy, log onto www.CousyAward.com.

About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame:
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the Birthplace of Basketball, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame promotes and preserves the game of basketball at every level – professional, collegiate, men and women.

For more information:
Visit us on the web: www.hoophall.com
… on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BBHOF
… on Twitter: @hoophall
… or call 1-877-4-HOOPLA

2012 Bob Cousy Award Candidates:
Randy Davis, Ball State
Pierre Jackson, Baylor
Keegan Bell, Chattanooga
Andre Young, Clemson
Andrew Lawrence, College of Charleston
Brian Barbour, Columbia
Shabazz Napier, Connecticut
Chris Wroblewski, Cornell
Antoine Young, Creighton
JP Kuhlman, Davidson
Ray McCallum, Detroit
Seth Curry, Duke
TJ McConnell, Duquesne
Kenny Boynton, Florida
Erving Walker, Florida
Luke Loucks, Florida State
Jeff Peterson, Florida State
Tony Taylor, George Washington
James Fields, Georgia State
Brandyn Curry, Harvard
Scott Machado, Iona
Stephen Thomas, IUPUI
Tyshawn Taylor, Kansas
Marquis Teague, Kentucky
Tyreek Duren, La Salle
Mackey McKnight, Lehigh
Casper Ware, Long Beach State
Peyton Siva, Louisville
Damier Pitts, Marshall
Will Barton, Memphis
Joe Jackson, Memphis
Malcolm Grant, Miami
Trey Burke, Michigan
Kaylon Williams, Milwaukee
Dee Bost, Mississippi State
Mike Dixon, Missouri
Phil Pressey, Missouri
Will Cherry, Montana
Kendall Williams, New Mexico
Kendall Marshall, North Carolina
Lorenzo Brown, NC State
Stallon Saldivar, Northern Arizona
Reggie Hamilton, Oakland
Aaron Craft, Ohio State
D.J. Cooper, Ohio University
Jared Cunningham, Oregon State
Tim Frazier, Penn State
Zack Rosen, Pennsylvania
Ashton Gibbs, Pittsburgh
Lewis Jackson, Purdue
Matthew Dellavedova, St. Mary's
Bryan Dougher, Stony Brook University
Scoop Jardine, Syracuse
Brandon Triche, Syracuse
Wil Peters, Tennessee State
Myck Kabongo, Texas
Dash Harris, Texas A&M
Hank Thorns, TCU
Will Weathers, Troy
Brad Tinsley, Vanderbilt
Maalik Wayns, Villanova
Erick Green, Virginia Tech
Abdul Gaddy, Washington
Tony Wroten, Washington
Damian Lillard, Weber State
Trey Sumler, Western Carolina
Jordan Taylor, Wisconsin
Tu Holloway, Xavier

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]]>Big Y World Class Markets Renews Partnership As Presenting Sponsor of Spalding Hoophall Classichttp://www.hoophall.com/news/2011/12/5/big-y-world-class-markets-renews-partnership-as-presenting-s.htmlStaff Member2011-12-05T17:46:49ZSpringfield, Mass. – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today that Big Y World Class Markets will continue its partnership as the presenting sponsor of this year’s 2012 Spalding Hoophall Classic. The high school basketball tournament is in its 11th year and has expanded to five days with 46 teams at Springfield College’s Blake Arena from January 12-16. Seven of the nation’s top nine teams from the ESPN FAB 50 rankings will be participating.

“We are extremely grateful for Big Y’s commitment to the Hall of Fame and the Spalding Hoophall Classic,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. “Big Y has been a major participant in the Springfield community and their support will continue to make an impact on hundreds of aspiring basketball players from New England and around the country.”

This year’s elite programs include No 1. Simeon Career Academy (Chicago, IL), No. 2 Miller Grove High School (Lithonia, GA), No. 3 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, VA), No. 6 Mater Dei High School (Santa Ana, CA), No. 7 Bishop Gorman High School (Las Vegas, NV), No. 8. Findlay College Prep (Henderson, NV) and No. 9 St. Anthony High School (Jersey City, NJ), coached by Basketball Hall of Famer Bob Hurley, Sr.

“Big Y is proud to support one of the most celebrated events in the City of Springfield,” said John Schnepp, Director of Advertising for Big Y Foods. “The Spalding Hoophall Classic draws thousands of fans from around the region to watch some exciting basketball and we value our partnership with the Basketball Hall of Fame.”

Tickets for the event are on sale in advance at the Basketball Hall of Fame at $15 for adults and $10 for youth/students (18 and under). All patrons that present a Big Y World Class Market Savings Card will receive a $1 discount on each ticket purchased. For more information, visit the official web site at www.thehoophallclassic.com.

Big Y World Class Markets:
Headquartered in Springfield, MA, Big Y is one of the largest independently owned supermarket chains in New England. Proud to be family owned and operated, they currently operate 61 stores throughout Connecticut and Massachusetts with over 10,000 employees. Founded in 1936 by brothers Paul and Gerald D’Amour, the store was named after an intersection in Chicopee, Massachusetts where two roads converge to form a “Y”. This year, the company celebrates its 75th anniversary.

About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame:
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the Birthplace of Basketball, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame promotes and preserves the game of basketball at every level – professional, collegiate, men and women.

For more information:
Visit us on the web: www.hoophall.com
… on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BBHOF
… on Twitter: @hoophall
… or call 1-877-4-HOOPLA

]]>Second Annual Basketball Hall of Fame Springfield Rotary “Service Above Self” Luncheon Honorees Announcedhttp://www.hoophall.com/news/2011/11/23/second-annual-basketball-hall-of-fame-springfield-rotary-ser.htmlStaff Member2011-11-23T17:10:34ZSpringfield Rotary to Honor former Mayor Charles Ryan and Rebecca Lobo

Springfield, Mass. – The Basketball Hall of Fame announced today its honorees for the second annual Basketball Hall of Fame Springfield Rotary “Service Above Self” Luncheon on Friday, December 9th at 12 pm on Center Court. This year’s honorees for this year’s luncheon – who live out the Rotary motto “Service Above Self” – are the retired Mayor of Springfield, Charles Ryan and former WNBA and UConn women’s basketball star Rebecca Lobo.

“We are honored to work in conjunction with our friends at the Springfield Rotary to honor two individuals who have had a major impact on our community, the game of basketball and the Basketball Hall of Fame,” said John L. Doleva, President & CEO of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Ryan was the Mayor of Springfield from 1962 to 1967 and again from 2004 to 2008. Known for his civil service throughout his career, he left a tremendous legacy on Western Massachusetts that spanned over four decades, helping to redraft Springfield's City Charter to its current form. Mayor Ryan was also the previous head of the Springfield Library Foundation and a strong advocate for the reopening of the Library. He fought closure of the Springfield Armory and was an active fundraiser and contributor for The Elms College and Sisters of St. Joseph.

Lobo was the Massachusetts state scoring record-holder with 2,740 points in her high school basketball career for Southwick-Tolland Regional High School. She helped lead the UConn Huskies to the 1995 National Championship with an undefeated 35-0 record. In her senior year, she won the 1995 Naismith and College Player of the Year award. She has since gone on to a successful WNBA career, Olympic Gold Medal and ESPN broadcasting career once she retired, including her work as an advocate for breast cancer awareness.

Lobo and her mother, RuthAnn, founded “The RuthAnn and Rebecca Lobo Scholarship in Allied Health” on October 2, 2001 at the University of Connecticut. Scholarships are awarded annually to students studying health sciences in an effort to encourage diversity in the health professions.

Lobo is also one of the Children’s Miracle Network (“CMN”) Champions and actively supports the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (“HSF”). The HSF is the nation’s oldest and premier provider of college scholarships to Hispanic Americans.

“Both Charles and Rebecca truly represent our motto of ‘service above self’ and we are extremely honored to thank them for their work throughout their careers,” said Ed Sunter, President of the Rotary Club of Springfield.

The Basketball Hall of Fame Holiday Showcase will tip-off with Division II schools AIC and Philadelphia University at 3:00 pm. Philadelphia is coached by Herb Magee, the all-time NCAA wins leader at any level and was recently Enshrined into the Hall of Fame this past summer. A Division III matchup between Springfield College and Trinity College will follow at 5:00 pm finishing with a Division I doubleheader. The 7:00 pm game will feature UMass and Siena with the final game between Fairfield and Old Dominion University starting around 9:00 pm.

For more information on tickets to the luncheon, please contact Jason Fiddler, Director of Museum Sales at 413-231-5540 or jfiddler@hoophall.com.

Rotary International is the world's first service club organization, with more than 1.2 million members in 33,000 clubs worldwide. Rotary club members are volunteers who work locally, regionally, and internationally to combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, promote peace, and eradicate polio under the motto Service Above Self. The Springfield Rotary Club meets every Friday at 12:15 p.m. in the Mass Mutual Room at The Basketball Hall of Fame, West Columbus Avenue, Springfield.

For more information on the Rotary Club of Springfield or becoming a member, please visit their Web site at www.springfieldmarotary.org.

About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame:
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the Birthplace of Basketball, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame promotes and preserves the game of basketball at every level – professional, collegiate, men and women.

For more information:
Visit us on the web: www.hoophall.com
… onFacebook: www.facebook.com/BBHOF
… on Twitter: @hoophall
… or call 1-877-4-HOOPLA

]]>2011 Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off All-Tournament Teamhttp://www.hoophall.com/news/2011/11/21/2011-basketball-hall-of-fame-tip-off-all-tournament-team.htmlStaff Member2011-11-21T13:21:55ZNAISMITH BRACKET

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist – Kentucky

Doron Lamb – Kentucky

Tim Frazier – Penn State

Kent Bazemore – Old Dominion

Augustus Gilchrist – South Florida

SPRINGFIELD BRACKET

Julian Boyd – Long Island

Jamal Olasewere – Long Island

Four McGlynn – Vermont

Chavaughn Lewis – Marist

Jareal Smith – Radford

]]>Coaches Quotes from Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament (Day 2)http://www.hoophall.com/news/2011/11/20/coaches-quotes-from-hall-of-fame-tip-off-tournament-day-2.htmlStaff Member2011-11-20T20:00:11ZGAME #1 - KENTUCKY vs. OLD DOMINION

Kentucky Head Coach John Calipari

On teams progress
“We are what we are. We’re a young team and we’re still learning. We got out of here alive though.”

On Darius Miller’s impact
“If Darius didn’t play we probably would of gotten beat by 10 or 12.”

On how teams will play them
“I think the blueprint of let’s be real physical. Body to body, bang in there and lets play zone is what we’ll probably see until we see a zone and kill you.”

On turnovers
“We will not win in the SEC with 21 turnovers. We should have 11 or 12 as a team not 21.”

On the team
“We have a long way to go. We are a good team but we have a long way to go. If we want to be special, guys have to keep making incremental steps.”

Darius Miller on his play in the game
“I just try to get what they give me. Coach talked to us about the game plan and I just tried to do what he said.”

On Old Dominion
“Old Dominion played great. They stuck to a game plan. They got the ball whenever they wanted to in the post.”

On Marquis Teague
“When we needed a basket that kid scored.”

Old Dominion Head Coach Blaine Taylor

On the game today
“We weren’t just happy to be here. We wanted to prove we were here to win. I’m not in to moral victories but our team gave a good effort.”

On the start of the season
“I thought we had a little bit of fatigue. We played our fifth game in eight days and we have gotten better and better.”

On Hall of Fame
“The setting here is very complimentary of the Hall of Fame. We’re coming back here in December to play in the event in Springfield. The accommodations were great, the hospitality was great and the tournament was a nice experience to this point.”

On outside shooting
“I think if we would of found some more threes and hit some more we would have been alright.”

On rebounding
“We were No. 1 in the country in rebounding last year and we have a long way to go this year with this team.”

On his teams effort
“I really don’t think any kid on our team thought he played the best he can. So that is very encouraging.”

]]>Coaches Quotes from Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament (Day 1)http://www.hoophall.com/news/2011/11/19/coaches-quotes-from-hall-of-fame-tip-off-tournament-day-1.htmlStaff Member2011-11-19T22:51:56ZGAME #1 - KENTUCKY vs. PENN STATE

Kentucky Head Coach John Calipari

Why is Doron playing so well?
“His motor is going. He’s not playing a casual game like he did a year ago at times. When he’s got a motor on him you see him out there and say man is he good.”

On Doron Lamb
“In my opinion he’s the best two point shooter in college basketball. He’s a good three-point short. If he gets something 15-17 feet he’s one of those guys that makes that shot. He’s one of the best in college basketball.”

On Penn State
“They are a new team with a new coach. They are going to be fine. They hit us on a bad day. We played pretty good.”

Assessing Marquis Teague
“I’m going to keep working with him. What I told him after the game was I want people looking at him saying I want him as my point guard. I want him to run my team. I just got to keep coaching. He’s a great kid and he listens. I’m not settling for anything else than he’s capable of.”

On winning a national championship
“I would love to win national titles. That’s not my focus and not just my goal. I’d love it for the university, I’d love it for the fans. What I said is if none of my players were drafted I’d be disappointed.”

“All I want my players to do is reach their dreams. I just want players getting better.”

Penn State Head Coach Patrick Chambers

“Kentucky is a great team and you can tell they are the no. 2 in the country.”

“I think our young guys are going to grow up with games like that. We have to use this as a learning experience.”

On being down and coming out at halftime
“Pride in Penn State. Pride in what we do.

On playing tomorrow again right away.
“I think its great for the kids and players to get back on the floor right away. “

What will be different for tomorrow?
“Today was about Penn State and about us. Tomorrow nothing changes. We have to play harder and execute better. It’s about Penn State and bringing these guys together more each day.”

GAME #2 - OLD DOMINION vs. SOUTH FLORIDA

Old Dominion Head Coach Blaine Taylor

Difference in second half
“ I think the fact that my guys outrebounded them in the second half and overtime was a big difference.”

On individual performances
“I thought some guys stepped forward and did some things that don’t show up on the stat sheet. I thought getting Nick Wright back for the first game helped us from the front line and some size I thought Kent Bazemore played his best game so far. Chris Cooper was very good during the stretch when we needed it.”

On playing South Florida
“A lot of respect for the Big East Conference. A lot of respect for South Florida. We have played against that league over and over and many times successfully and we can add this one to the list.”

Minutes from Kent Bazemore
“He’s a competitor and he gave us tough minutes and gave us guts. And that’s what I’m happy with regarding Kent. He was trying very hard and was very competitive.”

On pulling out the victory in overtime
“We are far from a finished product. We are finding a way to win games.”

On younger players today
“Dimitri was a little shot in the arm. He has played well in the games to date. We finished the first half with three freshmen on the court. We need them to play well and be more ready at times. He was one of the guys that was.”

Playing Kentucky
“They are very good. We are excited to play a game with so much meaning. It’s a nice stage and platform for our university to be on. We have been in the post-season the last seven years. We have our work cut out for us.”

]]>Follow Your Tip-Off Team Stats LIVE This Weekendhttp://www.hoophall.com/news/2011/11/18/follow-your-tip-off-team-stats-live-this-weekend.htmlStaff Member2011-11-18T05:31:42ZSaturday Games:

Kentucky vs. Penn State: LIVE STATS

Old Dominion vs. South Florida: LIVE STATS

Marist vs. Vermont: LIVE STATS

Long Island vs. Radford: LIVE STATS

Sunday Games:

Kentucky vs. Old Dominion: LIVE STATS

Penn State vs. South Florida: LIVE STATS

Vermont vs. Long Island: LIVE STATS

Marist vs. Radford: LIVE STATS

]]>