University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Player Quotes
2/12/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Junior Guard Blake Hoffarber
On the loss:
"Obviously it hurts a lot, and I felt like we weren't on top of our game today. I felt like we had a good week of practice, and coach was getting us ready, but we just didn't execute."
On the shift of momentum in the second half:
"I felt like every time we made a run they sucked the wind out of us. They would always come back and hit a shot. We've just got to work on making the stops defensively and keep pushing the ball."
On the difference between last year and this year for the Gophers:
"I think we've just got to keep working hard. We've had a lot of distractions this year, and that's had a little effect on us. When someone like Al [Nolen] isn't playing after he's been playing the whole year for us, it's tough. I think we've just got to get our focus back."
Junior Forward Paul Carter
On whether the team lacked energy at the beginning of the game:
"I felt like we came out a little slow and towards the end we got a little fired up, but we just didn't execute defensively at the end of the game."
On whether the team has changed over the last year:
"Even though we've had a lot of ups and downs our team chemistry is still great. Losing Al definitely hurt. He's a great point guard, but Devoe [Joseph] has been stepping up. We still have little aches and pains, but we're definitely working through it. We're going back to the drawing board after this game."
On Michigan's DeShawn Sims' success:
"You've got to give him credit. They ran great plays for him. DeShawn Sims has always been hot in this building. He plays hard. He's a big strong kid."
