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What they said about the weekend in college hoops

An occasional feature where we compile quotes from the weekend’s meaningful games. Read on and enjoy.

“We have a chance (to be special). Now let’s go take it up a notch.”
-- Kentucky coach John Calipari, enjoying a 78-63 win vs. Louisville.

“The second one went down, and then I hit another one. After that, you just start feeling good and getting into a rhythm.”
-- Purdue’s E’Twaun Moore, who hit seven 3s and finished with 31 points in an 82-69 win against Northwestern.

“I can take anybody off the dribble. Simple as that.”
-- Georgetown guard Chris Wright. He scored 17 second-half points in an 86-75 win over DePaul.

“He announced to the team that he has to get to the basket more because somebody at Christmas dinner told him that. Well, I’ve been telling him that for three-and-a-half years, [the media] has been telling him, the fans have been telling him -- somebody at Christmas dinner finally got to him.”
-- Illinois coach Bruce Weber on the newfound aggressiveness of point guard Demetri McCamey. McCamey scored 21 points in a 69-61 win vs. Wisconsin.

“I can’t think of the last time that we went 10 straight minutes in a zone. I really can’t. It could be a decade. I can’t even remember, and I don’t forget many basketball games. That saved us.”
-- UConn coach Jim Calhoun, reflecting on a 66-61 win vs. South Florida.

“He hit one 3 to get him going and he looked over to the bench. I was kind of like, ‘Here we go.’ ”
-- Duke guard Andre Dawkins, after teammate Nolan Smith hit four-straight shots – including three 3s – in a 74-63 win against Miami.

“That’s the way basketball is supposed to be played. … They’re such a dominant team, and they’re so good at so many positions that you can’t let guys do things that they don’t normally do.”
-- Indiana coach Tom Crean, disheartened by an 85-67 loss to Ohio State.

“In my opinion, Kansas is on top.”
-- Miami (Ohio) forward Antonio Ballard, declaring the Jayhawks the nation’s best team after an 83-56 loss.

“I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about the past. We talked about it before the game: Never let a memory outdo a dream. We need to focus on what’s ahead.”
-- Butler coach Brad Stevens, whose team won its record 22nd straight Horizon League game.

“We didn’t shock the world. We weren’t Chaminade, we weren’t Hoosiers. They are very athletic, they’re very skilled. They are a very good team.”
-- Occidental coach Brian Newell after a 93-50 loss to San Diego State.

“Blame it on the Christmas rust.”
-- Texas A&M coach Mark Turgeon, who watched his team rally for a 66-57 win against McNeese State.

Want more? I’m also on Twitter @BeyndArcMMiller.