Pitt: "They Wanted To Go Play"

South Carolina State associate head coach Rio Pitt met with the media after the game against NC State.

(On what was said in the locker room after Tyvoris Solomon collapsed)
“Before we went out there, we asked if they actually wanted to play. Coach Garvin, he said it’s up to the players. We walked in the locker room and said, ‘Hey guys, what do you guys want to do? It’s up to you guys if you want to continue playing or not.’ They said, ‘We’ll do what Ty would do, and Ty would tell us to go out there and play,’ and that’s the response the guys gave us. We let them decide what they wanted to do, and they wanted to go play.”

(On whether it was a unanimous decision)
“Yes, it was an absolutely unanimous response. Our coaching staff and administrators said it was up to the players. That’s what we asked and not one person raised their hand and said they didn’t want to play.”

(On the quick response to the situation)
“(We’re) very thankful. Thank God first. We had some guys gather in prayer while the EMTs were responding, and we’re just thankful for it. You have all these things in place for a situation like this, but you don’t actually say, ‘Hey, let’s practice this situation.’ Praise God he’s okay.”

(On the situation showing that there are more important things than basketball)
“This is sport. This is entertainment at the end of the day. Friends and family always come first, and moments like these just give you a quick refresher and put things in perspective.” 

(On how the team is holding up)
“They just want to get to their teammate.”