We've had 85 practices and every day starts with defensive stuff. We know if we play defense and rebound the ball, you're going to have a chance to stay in games. You have to develop that mentality.

We've had a close relationship from the day he got here. I've always had a connection with the guys in (Kennedy's) program, and all the players from New Orleans over the years. But the stuff he had to go through in the fall, obviously it was hard for him emotionally. We just did what we could to help him.

We talk about our offense might slump a bit, but defense never slumps. You have to play defense all the time and we did a good job of that.

These two are outstanding hitters and that's our strength. When we pass well and play defense we win because nobody is going to stop us at the net with those two.

(The rebounding) speaks to our stick-to-itiveness. And on a day when our defense really didn't play up to its potential, our rebounding margin really carried us.

We wanted to ... play good, solid defense and see what came from it. Thirty turnovers -- we'll take that any day.