Braviere: Coach, you always say that the next one is always the most important. How big is the game on Thursday and then onto Saturday?

Samuels: Well, the most important thing has been decided and that is home court in the first round. And I think there are two most important factors are that we want to build momentum by playing hard and aggressive going into the tournament, and plus I think our kids will really respond to a disappointing loss at Southeast Missouri.

Braviere: You talked about building momentum. I guess the best thing for your team is that they will be having the last two games in Lantz, because your team has played so well here…

Samuels: We talked about that immediately after the SEMO game. We’re not on the road the rest of season; we are either at home or at a neutral court. And this gives us a great opportunity to get peak momentum going into Nashville.

Braviere: For the seeding it likes like you might be able to get the No.2 seed if everything works out for your team…

Samuels: Well, that was lost when Murray State beat Tennessee State (Tuesday) night.

Braviere: So then the highest seed you could would be the No. 3 seed?

Samuels: You know, head to head doesn’t decide it. And if there is a tie it would go Tennessee Tech, then Austin Peay.What is really going to decide it if SEMO finishes fifth because Murray swept them, and we split.

Braviere: To be honest though coach, does it really matter who you play?

Samuels: Home court is the one that matters. You know, maybe it matters when you get to Nashville, because there is the No. 1 vs. the No. 4 and two versus three. But I think at that stage, at a neutral court … but then at that stage, it may not make a difference.

Braviere: Morehead State has Ricky Minard, who has played very well this season. What are some things you guys can do to slow him down?

Samuels: Well, I think we are going have to defend him. Whoever has him individually has to be aggressive and intense in guarding him.

Braviere: Do you have an idea on who might get that assignment?

Samuels: Probably Henry (Domercant), Kyle (Hill), maybe Rod (Henry).

Braviere: They also have Kyle Umberger, who can put the ball in the basket. He’s 6-foot 7-inches and can shoot from farther out on the floor. Is he another player that concerns you?

Samuels: He concerns me because he has always been a tough matchup for us, and probably everyone else in the league. He’s not your typical low-post player, but that is where he goes to work. He’s crafty and he is a very smart player.

Braviere: When you guys went there they were up big and your team came back…

Samuels: That’s not been atypical now.

Braviere: That’s true, but were some of the things they did to get up on your team?

Samuels: They shot the ball extremely well in the first half, they execute their offense very well and our defense was flat-footed. And what I mean by atypical is that they had a big lead against Murray there, and SEMO. They are a team that gets great starts and has trouble hanging on.

Braviere: Then on Saturday you have Eastern Kentucky coming in and they might not be the best team in the conference, but could there be a more ideal team to get them in here because your team knows they can’t overlook them because of the upcoming tournament?

Samuels: I don’t look at the psychological, as they may indicate. I think the real test of an athlete is, do you play as hard as you can every time you step on the court? And that should be an emotional night with it being senior night.

Braviere: Do you think that will be an advantage for your team with all of the adrenaline pumping from it being senior night?

Samuels: I’ve had things work both ways. I’ve had teams really excited about playing and not play well at all and vice versa. Not to mention senior night is kind of a gamble too, with some players not being able to control their emotions.

Braviere: Even though EKU isn’t the best, they do have John White and Spanky Parks, can you comment on the things they do for them?

Samuels: Well, White against us down there shot the ball from the perimeter very well, and Spanky Parks is being used off the bench and he is a very athletic kid that can penetrate. But they also have Lavoris Jerry, who was the leading scorer for them the last time we played them.