Tom Crean (basketball coach)

"The game of basketball is one of the greatest teachers of life there is. It teaches you first and foremost to believe in yourself. You must develop physical and mental toughness in order to succeed because there's going to be many disappointments and setbacks along the way. You learn quickly that basketball is a team game. You must be unselfish and accept the role that helps the team the most. Basketball teaches you the importance of setting high standards and never accepting anything other than your best effort."

"I am a firm believer that you can't have people in your program who just want to win; you must have people who are committed to winning. Players that learn the value of hard work, commitment, teamwork, and sacrifice are the ones that make their teams great."

"No coach ever stops learning. That's what makes the great coaches great. They strive to learn more every day and they never stop asking questions."

"I'd like to get a lot done in a short period of time. ... Your head coach won’t be real patient. Trying to keep it in perspective? Yes. Real patient? No."

"We have a responsibility to CARE. Thank God we’re at a place that has the tradition of this program."