LUTE OLSON
On Wisconsin:
The biggest thing involved in preparing for a team like Wisconsin is
that you know you are going to have to play defense for 25-30 seconds
each time down the floor. They are going to be setting a lot of screens
and doing a lot of cutting, so we have to have a lot of communication on
the floor. Wisconsin is not a denial team, they are a containment
team. They rely a lot on their big guys down low, and their guards to
do a great job. They are a lot like Stanford, so it's not a big
adjustment for us.
RICHARD JEFFERSON
On Wisconsin:
Both our styles are very conflicting where we are a fast break team and
they are a slow down team. We do play half court offense fairly well
with Mike (Wright) posting down low and with Gilbert (Arenas) and myself
cutting to the bucket. I think if we can get our sets and get a lot of
movement we will be fine.
On Wood's encouragement from the bench:
He's making sure we're focused. He had a lot of words to say at
half-time against Jackson State. He's been pretty good with the
encouragement.
On the loss of Woods:
It evens things out more (without Woods in the line-up against
Wisconsin). I think we are able to play a fast paced game and a slower
paced game. I think Wisconsin's whole game is a half court set and if
you can make them get out of what they want to do then we have a better
chance of winning.
On the seven man rotation:
I don't think it's a problem. Most teams in the tournament only play
seven or eight men. Some teams do go a little bit deeper but I think
right now we've had that seven man rotation for a long time so everyone
is used to the minutes they are getting.
MICHAEL WRIGHT
On Lute Olson:
I feel pretty good about the job he has done. We've had a crazy
season. A lot of people have been injured and a lot of people were down
and he just worked with the team that he had. He really prepared us for
every game that we played.
On the loss of Woods:
Our defense is a lot less gambling (without Woods in the line-up). When
Loren was there we knew he was there behind us to block the shot and now
we have to use our speed and do anything we can to help the team win.
