Jerome Allen post-game transcript

Since the video of Jerome Allen's meeting with the media was almost completely inaudible, here is the transcript of his quotes:

Jerome Allen To battle last night, and then to come back tonight with the right focus, and to pay attention to details, and to be somewhat locked in, and the things you try to accomplish is just a testament to just their desire.

On Harvard’s defense in the second half: We said regardless of what’s going on, let’s trust one another, let’s play for one another and continue to defend. When the ball’s not going in the basket, if you defend, you’re still giving yourself a chance to win.

Having coached and played at Penn, the significance of the game: The atmosphere was great. Even when we played them in Philadelphia, it was a sellout in Philly, it was a sellout here. And this is what college basketball is all about, in my opinion. Whether it be the alumni coming out to support, the student bodies going up against one another, I just think it’s great. There’s nothing like college basketball.

On Zack Rosen's will to win: Like I said, Zack’s made tough shots all year. And the shots he made tonight, I wasn’t surprised. He had some shots when we played them in Philadelphia, the same type of shots that didn’t go in. I just want him to continue to be himself, to continue to trust his teammates, continue to defend. They all played for one another.

On what wasn’t working offensively in the first half: We turned the ball over 10 times in the first half, and it’s hard to win at the Division I level if you don’t value the ball. And we gave up six or eight second-chance points. Even though their bigs are very athletic, it’s about will and about throwing the first punch. In the first half, we kind of got a little relaxed, didn’t value the ball. But to their credit, they stuck with it.

On the growing legend of Zack Rosen: I truly, truly appreciate the fact that I have an opportunity to coach him, because he wants to be coached. He works extremely hard — whether it be diving on the floor for loose balls, or if he’s the last guy to leave the gym — that’s Zack, and it’s a direct function of the work that he’s put out, and for no other reason. ... I tried to tell him, ‘Yeah, we won the game,’ and I looked at him, and he was telling the guys, ‘Hurry up, let’s go in the locker room. Let’s go home, we still got work to do,’ and because I saw that demeanor, I know that he’s locked in and that he wants something more.