Dec. 20, 2003

Recap| Box Score| Notes

Head Coach Stan Joplin

"I was really concerned watching DePaul because they are really big and athletic. They really push the ball up the floor. We wanted to get back in transition and stop their fast break."

On Keith Triplett's scoring 29 points in second half:

"I have a rule that I don't let a player that picks up two fouls in the first half get a third one before halftime. I thought in the first half Keith wasn't aggressive enough and missed some opportunities to take the ball to the basket. The second half he was a lot more aggressive. We also put Keith on (Drake) Diener in the second half because he was lights out in the first half and that really helped us."

"I tell Keith that if he wants to be Player of the Year in the MAC that player is usually on the team that wins the MAC Championship and goes on to the next level like a Bonzi Wells, Wally Sczerbiak and Chris Kaman. Hopefully, Keith can lead us to a MAC Championship and it can be a win-win situation for himself and the University of Toledo.

On recruiting in Chicago:

"We have two players (Rashay Russell and Florentino Valencia) from Chicago and I told them we would play DePaul. This is the first time we've recruited Chicago and we were able to get two good players that are in our playing group. Hopefully we can come back and get another player that will make me a better coach."

On the win being a positive for the MAC:

"Our league is very tough and well coached. Once you get in league play teams know you so well and you just have to execute. Last year we started off well and laid an egg, but this year our offense is a lot smoother because we have a point guard."

Senior guard Keith Triplett

"I wasn't aggressive enough in the first half after I picked up the early fouls, but our bench picked it up and kept us in the game. My teammates were counting on me in the second half to score and I had to pick my game up."

"I told (Delonte) Holland I was going to heat up in the second half. He told me I had zero points and I said don't worry because I'm going to heat up."