Northeastern University Athletics

Head Coach Bill Coen on the team's resiliency this season
"When we got together as a group our first meeting, we played a little video; basically, the theme was “keep standing”, because life comes at you different ways. And I think that’s what this team did, all year long, they just kept standing. Guys played through flu, illnesses, bumps and bruises, everybody just managed to kind of... stay in there and keep standing. And today proves it’s all worth it."

On what he learned from his 2015 NCAA Tournament experience
"When we took the floor that day I didn’t know if we were going to win or lose, but I knew we were going to compete, and I’ll say the exact same thing about this group right here."

On Vasa Pusica
"He’s got that uncanny ability to seize the moment. He’s not afraid to take a big shot or make a big play, and the other players are allowed to borrow that confidence from him in those big moments. He’s done it time and time again for us and we’ll need a monster effort from him as well as some of our other guys."

On what is so special about this team
"I think the shared sacrifice, and the total buy-in to elite teamwork... They know what teamwork’s all about, and how they have to give up themselves in order to be successful, and when you have guys do that and buy in, that’s the beauty of team sports, that you can really achieve more than you’re supposed to."

Senior point guard Vasa Pusica on advancing to the NCAA Tournament against Kansas
"It’s all you could ask for. I wanted to play someone big like that, and I couldn’t be more excited about it."

About being tabbed underdogs
"No matter who we play, we were going to be underdogs against those teams, but as coach said we had a lot of injuries throughout the year. Our record would be much, much different if we had everyone healthy though, so I don’t think we were a 13/14 seed when it comes to quality of our team and, you know, that’s all I can say about it."

Senior forward Jeremy Miller on playing Kansas 
"Absolutely.  Because they’re a big school... KU is known for their basketball team, and we’re known for our academics, but we also have a really good sports program. So, I like going in knowing we’re the underdog.

On If they’re going to be nervous or loose
"For everyone this is our first [trip to the NCAA Tournament]. So, we’re just going to keep standing like the video we watched in the beginning of the year. We just go to keep grinding, keep standing, keep pushing; we should be winning in games, and I hope we do it. Despite KU’s experience, we’re not gonna back down for that. We’re still hungry."

Junior guard Jordan Roland on feeling intimidated
"Not at all. I mean, I think we played one of the toughest non conference schedules in the country, so that’s kind of we do at this program, we play high-major teams and I feel, like coach said earlier, we’re just going to give it our best shot, we won’t be intimidated, and win or lose we’re going to play confident.”

On what’s going through his mind when they hear who they’re playing against
"I feel like it just kind of got real in that moment, you know what I mean? You win your conference tournament, you kind of just celebrate, and now it’s like ‘alright, now it’s time to get to  work’."

Junior guard/forward Shawn Occeus on getting down to business
"For me once I heard it was Kansas I was ready to play right away, no nervousness. A team like that, you want to go up against. You want to go up against the best to be the best, so for me I’m ready to play."

On why people should pick the Huskies as an upset
“Because of our chemistry, our versatility, and, honestly, we don’t really care if people write us off or pick us. We know we’re able to beat teams like that, so when we do, I just hope they don’t try to run on the bandwagon, because we’re a confident bunch and we’re confident we could beat any team in this country.”