I noticed the same thing you noticed. I told him and I have told all of our players -- nothing is given. You earn your minutes. You earn what you get. What we're going to do is put guys on the floor that are going to compete on a daily basis.

When I came here, a lot of the players told me it'd be like that. We float under the radar a lot. So I think that's fine with us.

I told them this is just the first chapter. ... The thing about the Tigers' 35-5 is that they ended as world champions.

I look at their team, and we are mirror images from the standpoint of we both have some exciting players, but because both teams are so unselfish and there's not a lot of controversy, they don't get a lot of individual notoriety. Bottom line is, both teams are about winning, and about doing whatever it takes to win.

[Shaq's nearly impeccable on-court comportment certainly earns him points with the refs.] If most players were fouled the way Shaq gets fouled--hard fouls, hacking--they'd be ready to fight, ... but Shaq just takes it and goes to the free throw line.

I've been here for five months, and this team still amazes me with its poise.