Rollins College
Tom Klusman—Head Coach
Game notes:
I think the game summed up our season. It was very disappointing and
frustrating. Every time we try to make runs we just can’t make any shot.
Eckerd played good defense, but we had good opportunities. We just stop hitting.
On Faber and Muhizi:
These two guys are tremendous leaders, tremendous young men. They’ve
won a lot of games for the Tars over the years. These guys learned that
there’s more to life than a basketball game. These guys have one heck of
a year. I’ll miss them, this program will miss them. We’ve got a lot of
work to do next year. We’ll see what we can do over the spring and the
summer and see if we can bounce back for next year. These two young men
have been hurt all year and you have not seen the way they can play. They’ve
never used it as an excuse. You know they are beaten up and hurting, but
not once did they ever complain. Their hearts are in it, but their body
isn’t. These aren’t the same two players that played for us last year,
but they’ve never used it as an excuse. That’s why they are the classy
young men that they are. They are fun to be around, always upbeat and I
love them to death.
On Plummer:
We knew he’s a good player. They scored 63 points. I don’t know how
you can win when you keep shooting thirty-one percent and fifteen percent
from threes. I don’t know who you think you’re going to beat. In our last
four games we’ve shot thirty one and thirty one to night. We just haven’t
put the ball in the basket. I know Plummer’s good, but to hold Berg to
ten. We’re very happy with that. You need to score more than 63. That’s
pretty much it.
Eric Faber—G, Senior
Playing at Rollins:
What can you say other than it’s amazing. Being able to play in front
of my family at home. This man (Coach Klusman) has been like my father for
four years. He’s made me a better man and a better person. I’ll always remember
that and I think him for it. Being able to help out the program in the last
four years like we’ve done means a lot. This wasn’t how we wanted this year
to go, but that’s life. We’ve had some good memories. 20 years from now I
won’t look back on this game, this game is over. We’ve had some great times
together that’s what I’ll remember.
Placide Muhizi—C, Senior
Similar to what Eric said, but for me coming from Rwanda it was a different experience for me. I didn’t know a lot of people here and I didn’t know much about the system. I got the opportunity to play at Rollins and when I look back after four years I’ve learned a lot. We’ve had a lot of success. Coach taught me how to play basketball and more importantly taught me how to be a better person. The four years we’ve been in this program, down the road there will be a lot of things we can look back to and really appreciate the time that we spent with Coach Klusman and the time that we spent at Rollins.
Eckerd College
Tom Ryan—Head Coach
Game Summary:
I thought we played with a lot of intensity, very aggressive. We’ve
had spurts this year, but I was proud of doing that for 40 minutes with a
lot of intensity.
14-2 run after the media time out
They did a great job of making adjustments. He (Plummer) got a lay
up and Steve maybe got a three. When we play the defense, I think we feed
off of it offensively. We go on those runs because of our defense and the
intensity it provides.
Greg Plummer—G, Senior
On his play:
I think I was aiming at the backboard instead of the rim in the first
half, I really wasn’t making shots. The difference between now and the beginning
of the season I force it. In the past I guess trying to take over the game
has really hurt me. I guess just making the play instead of making the game
with one shot. Just make that one play. When one person makes a play that
motivates the other players. Down the stretch that’s what matters
About all the tight games this year:
I used to just hang my head. Right now it’s going to come. After I hit the
first shot it was fine. I made a lay up and I hit the two three-pointers
in a row and I thought, I’m there. If I force it I keep messing up if I stay
in the flow of the game, everything else is going to come.
I was
Steve Berg—G, Junior
Down the stretch I always play with confidence. I’m always ready. I always think that I can make the shot, or make that pass, do what I have to do to finish the game off and get the W.
Whenever we’ve played good defense I think we’ve won. All of our losses came when we didn’t play with heart. It all comes to how we play defense.
