When you're faced with this type of situation, it's not going to be easy, ... but it's doable as long as there is time on the clock.

Being thrown into that situation is not easy, particularly when you don't expect it. You sign with a team as a freshman and expect to come in and have that buffer year. Then all of a sudden a month or a couple weeks before training camp, we say that one of you guys has to be ready to play against Notre Dame if something happens. I think they've handled it well.

He's had some other things from a mental standpoint. When you're dealing with that type of situation, it's got to affect you from a mental standpoint.

We made it dramatic. But that's why Coach (Van) Chancellor and Coach (Bill) Laimbeer made the moves. They knew it wasn't going to be easy. They had the foresight to look at who they were going to be playing the last 10 games.

I play basketball because I love it. This was enjoyable, and I'm still motivated to get to the finals.

The situation in Houston was refreshing,