The only fly in the ointment was that goal in the first half in one of their infrequent trips (in the Wizards' defensive end). There were a couple of decisions we needed to make better. Then we got a little apprehensive after that. We were teetering a little bit. Two-zero leads in the recent past haven't been good to us.

The only reason he came back (for his senior year) is because he wanted to spend another year with his teammates and win a national championship. That was the No. 1 goal in his mind. When I walked out on the floor, that was the first thing he said.

The players never like hearing it, but I told them before the game and at the half, the reason we're where we are is because we have played defense and done an incredible job on the boards. I told them at the half that I didn't understand why we don't have 10 to 12 charges. They were going to the goal out of control, ducking their heads. And I said 'somebody step up,' and they did.

The playoffs are a different mindset and a different season. Our main goal is to go in healthy and we'll be alright.

The point of any cartoon in any newspaper is to challenge belief systems. We knew it would offend, but that doesn't make it the explicit goal of the cartoon.