University of Minnesota Athletics
Postgame Quotes
2/21/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Minnesota Head Coach Tubby Smith
Opening Statement:
"Well, I thought tonight's game was about balance, and I thought we had that tonight. We had our big guys in double figures and did a good job on the boards. Everybody that came into the game did their job. Certainly, Indiana is a team that is struggling right now and we've been there before. I thought our guys made a conscious effort to come ready to play tonight. Our leadership tonight was outstanding; Damian (Johnson) and Lawrence (Westbrook) did a good job in setting the tone for us early on by attacking the basket, being smart, and playing tough hard-nosed defense. Then, you look at our 24 assists on 31 field goals, and that's a good job of sharing the basketball and playing unselfishly."
On Minnesota playing zone:
"Well, we did back off the press, which helped us a lot. We have been giving up too many easy baskets, so we've been just trying to get back and make it tough on people in the half court. The zone has been affected because we really have not used it much, and when we are playing our bigger lineup, we have to utilize that. I think it helps them to stay out of foul trouble."
On Indiana shooting three-pointers:
"I think we did a very good job there, of limiting their number of threes and they did good job of limiting us. Blake (Hoffarber) was 0-for-1, first game he didn't have a three in a long time, I bet. He played very sound and did a good job, we have been getting out there to contest a lot of shots, as well."
Indiana Head Coach Tom Crean
On the game:
"I thought the scoring of the game was certainly that their shooting was better. They continued to make shots, but I think our guys continued to really battle even though we got down. We went small because we just weren't getting it done, and we needed to put some speed into the game, so I went that way at halftime too. I thought it gave us some energy. I thought the ball moved better for us in the second half. Even though we really didn't threaten, I did learn a lot and see a lot. Like I told these guys all week, I'm not going with traditions, I'm going with energy, and that's the only way we can really attack."
On what went wrong for Indiana:
"I think it was a tough night for Christian [Watford], though I was really impressed with the way he kept battling through it. He kept up with nine points. I thought that was a positive. I thought our offense in the second half was really a microcosm of where we sit. The more we move the ball, the more it reversed. There's nobody that faster defensively than the speed of that basketball. When we stand and dribble, and when we stand and look we could take anybody out of the stands to guard us, and it wouldn't make a difference."
Minnesota Guard Lawrence Westbrook
On carrying the momentum from their last two wins into their game against Purdue next week:
"I think any win is big. These two are really big going into Purdue. They're the number four team in the country, and it's at home, so I think that us playing well against these two teams is going to be good for us going against Purdue."
On playing more zone defense:
"We've got two of the best shot-blockers in the country in Damian [Johnson] and Ralph [Sampson III]. We've been working on the zone a lot in practice, and it paid off in the game."
Minnesota Sophomore Forward Ralph Sampson III
On how the Gophers created open looks in tonight's game:
"I believe that we shared the ball a little more. We set our screens which also allowed us to get people open this time, and people knocked down shots."
On facing double teams:
"Last game I think they saw that they needed to double team down in the post a little more, so this game they did try to do that. We had to make the adjustment to delay the shot, and when they came to trap throw it out to an open man."
On the difference in the Minnesota team from the last time they faced Indiana:
"I feel we came together a lot more as a team. Our team camaraderie is a lot higher than it was back then, and right now we know our place, and where we stand in the conference. We're playing with a little more urgency right now."
