Coach Slessinger's Quotes Following Saturday's 97-86 Win Over Northwestern State

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Overall thoughts on the game
"It was really a fantastic team effort. We, of course, were led by Christavious, who played like he was 20-feet tall today rather than five-foot, six and three-quarter inches. We're really proud of him. He's battled through some adversity this year. We had great efforts by everybody that came in across the board. I'm very proud of the team and we're blessed to have an opportunity to go to the Southland Conference Tournament and compete to go to the NCAAs."
 
On if it was easier for his team to focus knowing that they had to win to get into the SLC Tournament
"I don't think it was either. We just wanted to come out and play well. The guys knew [the situation] but we kind of deemphasized it and said, 'Hey, we have to go play. We have to get one stop and then try and get one basket.' We really tried to simplify it and not overanalyze it. Northwestern State made an incredible run in the second half and came to within five, but our guys kept their poise, made some shots and got some stops."
 
On the performance by junior guard Christavious Gill
"When you look at a program builder and the guys that come in, they buy in to what you're doing. We're really lucky. We were his only scholarship offer coming out of high school. Having worked in Natchitoches for 11 years, I've known that kid since he was in eighth grade. For what he doesn't have in height, he has in guts and heart. He's a great kid who comes from a great family, and he just needed an opportunity. This was a great payoff for him and it's an affirmation that when you work hard and you care about your team more than yourself, good things will happen."
 
On the way his team shot the ball today
"I thought we took good shots. Obviously Christavious having that kind of night helps our percentages. We played in rhythm, didn't get outside of ourselves and stuck with what was working."
 
On playing Southeastern Louisiana in the first round of the SLC Tournament
"It'll be the third time we play them in 14 days. Coach Ladner is doing an incredible job with that program. They've been as hot as a firecracker finishing the second half of league play. He's a phenomenal , miraculous coach that does a fabulous job. Their kids are very well disciplined. They execute. They are really, really good players. We're going to have to play our best game of the year to be able to beat them."
 
On the peaks and valley his team has gone through during the regular season
"We talked a lot within the program about trying to develop character. I don't want to get too philosophical, but we're really blessed to have these kids for four or five years. We have to try and get them ready for the next 40 years. If this season of ups and downs is the worst thing that happens to them in their lives, then they've had a pretty good life. If these ups and downs that we've gone through can help them later on, then that's pretty good. The constant and the reason we've been able to stay so close in so many games – and trust me, I'm not happy losing close games…I want to win all these games – is they have great attitudes, they really like each other, they believe in the team and they kept working their tails off every day. And that comes even after some of our worst games. When we came back from Central Arkansas, we got off the bus and probably had our best practice of the year because they knew we had to fix it. I don't mean to get corny, but they're really good kids."
 
On the importance of giving senior forward Kevin Hill at least one more game in a UNO uniform
"It's huge. He and Travis were here from Day 1 when we got back to the Division I level. They fought through two years when we knew we couldn't play for anything as far as championships and postseason go. Kevin is one of our all-time leaders in blocked shots and rebounding. What a career for a guy that had one scholarship offer. Thank God it was from us. He's an honors student. He's been an academic all-conference guy. He and Travis will both graduate in May as honors students. What a good reflection that is to what we're trying to do with culture and program building."