University of Minnesota Athletics
Postgame Quotes - Minnesota vs. Southeastern Louisiana
12/24/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Minnesota Head Coach Tubby
On Southeastern Louisiana’s athletic play...
“They were very athletic. We tried to get them under control and we couldn’t always beat them off the dribble. They were quick and athletic and we had to really work hard to get in their face on shots.
On bench scoring...
“We’re playing a lot of guys a lot of minutes. The energy and enthusiasm was great. I think that most guys will play hard no matter what happens. Players like (Travis) Busch and (Blake) Hoffarber really stepped up and so did (Lawrence) Westbrook. They all played well tonight.”
On lack of focus defensively...
“We have to step up defensively and that was a really big concern for us. We need to do a better job containing their players and they exposed that tonight.”
Junior guard Lawrence Westbrook
On the win...
“It was important for me to have a good game. I wanted to come out on the right foot and be aggressive and help my team. I think [Southeastern Louisiana] was a good team; they’re pretty athletic and they had good shooters. But I think any time you come off a big win like we have, especially going into the holidays, sometimes guys might not be focused. We picked it up there in the second half and got the victory.”
On how the team feels at this point in the season...
“I think it’s exciting for everybody because it’s our first time playing for a ranked team in college. Everybody looks at us as an opportunity to get a big win against a ranked team. We know that we’re going to get everyone’s best shot. But that’s great I want everyone to be gunning for us because it’s going to make us a better team in the long run.”
On how he approaches coming off the bench versus a starting role...
“I think that I’m more aggressive when I come off the bench. I know that I have to provide a spark; I have to be aggressive when I go out there. I want to come off the bench and be a lift to the team; I know that I have to be attacking.”
Sophomore guard Blake Hoffarber
On the team’s approach this even vs. Southeastern Louisiana...
“Before the game, we knew it was important not to have a letdown and ruin a big win. I feel like we got things done tonight; I think we were fine.”
On responding to Southeastern Louisiana’s athleticism...
“We’re happy with the way we responded, but we know that we are going to have to do a better job rebounding the ball. We’re going to have to emphasize that when we play games like this. We going to have to start boarding; we’re going to work on boxing out, because if we’re able to get back to the fundamentals and box out, it’s going to be hard for them to get rebounds without coming over the top and being called for a foul. We just have to stick to the fundamentals when we play athletic teams like this.”
Southeastern Louisiana Head Coach Jim Yarbrough
On atmosphere at Williams Arena...
“I think we blocked the crowd out of our minds pretty well. The one thing that killed was every time we got the score within six or seven they’d pull away to about twelve. We thought we’d get back in it but we couldn’t quiet do that. Brandon Fortenberry was a little gimpy before the second half and I don’t think he realized what he was actually capable of. We tried to play other guys to give him some rest.
On change in second half...
“I think the intensity that Minnesota always starts the second half with really bothered us and got them a bit of a working margin. Minnesota came in and we settled down but we never came all the way back. It’s amazing how a ball game can turn around within two minutes and it’s very difficult if they continue to play, run, and put pressure on both sides of the ball. It’s not a game where they just took over but they just did enough to keep that margin.”
