University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota/Butler Postgame Quotes
11/27/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Minnesota -
Coach Tubby Smith - "I first want to commend Butler on tonight's game. They are a very scrappy team and we haven't had a chance to coach against a team like that. I was very impressed with how our defense played tonight. Our players are very selfless and proficient in passing and that really helped us out tonight."
(on the team's execution) "We made shots in the second and really attacked the basket. Colton set the standard inside and we had good all-around play from our team, especially with Damian having foul trouble."
(on how big a win this is) "When you beat a team ranked ahead of you that's a good thing. We were the underdog coming in. This will go far, but it's still early in the season. It will give us some confidence which will go a long way towards the post-season."
Colton Iverson - (on his play in the paint) "I was able to get some space inside and up top from Ralph (Sampson) on the high-low and it really got us going."
(on how big of a win this is) "We are just going to take this season one game at a time. We still have to play tomorrow, so you can't look too far ahead."
Damian Johnson - (on Butler's ability) "Butler is a very good team. They are a very disciplined and were able to draw fouls. They had a good game plan, but we were able to play well and get the win."
(on the team play in the game) "Everyone stepped up tonight. We were in foul trouble in the first half, but hit some go-ahead baskets and crucial threes that helped us down the stretch. It's great because we don't have to rely on one person to do all the work."
Butler -
Coach Brad Stevens - "Obviously, I don't feel like we played as well as we would have liked to but give credit to Minnesota, they are an outstanding team. They are an incredibly deep team. Obviously, 46 points off the bench speaks for itself. I told our guys that I'll coach them a lot better. We have a quick turnaround, so we have to make the most of the next couple of days and it's going to be difficult because when you turn around you're going to play a great team win or lose. "
"Our goal is to get better every day. Our goal is to be team first. Those are our expectations. That's the only way you can maintain any form of a program over the course of a long season. We just need to [play as well as we can and represent Butler as well as we can and these guys have really done that."
Shelvin Mack - "They had a pretty good defense. I thought I contributed a lot to my turnovers. I should have been more careful with the ball. Their defense is great though."
Matt Howard - "They are really deep. That makes them tough to guard. A lot of the open shots they got could have been preventable. We just did a couple of breakdown situations. They do have a really good shooting team but a couple of those wide open shots were on us."
