JT3 on Dean Smith: "I was truly fortunate...to sit, listen and learn from him."

College basketball lost a legend today when former North Carolina coach Dean Smith passed away at the age of 83.  Earlier, former Georgetown coach John Thompson, Jr. whose Hoyas lost the '82 Championship to Smith's Tar Heels, issued a simple "I loved him" statement.  Below is JT3's:

"I am very saddened to hear of the passing of Coach Smith. He was a pioneer who not only was exceptionally forward thinking and innovative as it related to play on the court, but he also scripted the blueprint on how to manage and run an entire program. I was truly fortunate, at a young age, to sit, listen and learn from him."