main statements from the conference call
Coaches involved in the 2004 Coaches vs. Cancer Classic convened in a conference call. The call displayed the field?s diversity. Memphis coach John Calipari said his team would engage in a ?book burning ceremony? with publications that ranked his team in the top 20. ?Because we must be reading this stuff and believing it,? Calipari said. ?We?re not playing well right now.?
One of Savannah State?s top players isn?t expected to play because of an ankle sprain, another because of academic ineligibility. ?I?m just hoping just to be competitive with Memphis,? Savannah State coach Edward Daniels Jr. said. ?I?m honored to play them. We?re working hard just to make sure we don?t make our school look bad.?
George Mason coach Jim Larranaga mentioned his team?s youth ? no seniors ? after a school-record 23 wins last season.
IPFW Noll laid out the basics ? his five sophomores, a junior, a senior. The Mastodons won?t be able to showcase their biggest asset; NBA hopeful David Simon isn?t expected to play this week while recovering from a torn ACL. He participated in three practices since being cleared for contact. He will travel to Memphis, Noll said.
?I?m very disappointed, ? because it would be great for the fans,? Noll said. ?He?s a very gifted athlete and a 3.3 (grade-point average) student in pre-med/chemistry.
?It?s good for our other young kids to play without him early.?
