University of Minnesota Athletics
Postgame Quotes
2/26/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Postgame Quotes
Michigan (18-12, 8-9 Big Ten) 70, Minnesota (17-11, 6-10 Big Ten) 63
February 26, 2011
Minneapolis, Minn.
Michigan Head Coach John Beilein
On how Michigan has won four road games in a row:
“Look over the turnover number. When you turn the ball over on the road, it’s like a shot of adrenaline for the other team. It’s just a momentum booster. When you don’t and make them earn every shot and have control on the offensive end it makes a huge difference.”
On what the win did for team morale:
“For the spirit it’s huge, but every win is important in that way. We were down at some points, but when you have a group of young men who really believe in what they’re doing, they just pick up each other.”
On rebounding well:
“(Zack) Novak plays so big at 6-4, just to get some tough ones for us. He does a lot of dirty work that allows us to get those tough rebounds.”
Minnesota Head Coach Tubby Smith
On what was supposed to happen at the end of the game:
“He was trying to throw it to Ralph (Sampson III). We thought we could get it down low, but you got to catch it first, you can’t let the guy run around you. You got to post it up strong and be aggressive going after the ball.”
On Trevor Mbakwe’s Play, and Physicality:
“He played physical. He missed a lay-up where there should have been an and-one. Rodney got it blocked two or three times, we need to do the little things. We dominated the boards, don’t get me wrong, but it also means all the little things you have to do, rotating over. You have to make the play when it counts and in the end we didn’t do that.”
On why the team can’t finish in tight games like earlier in the season:
“I don’t know leadership maybe. We have been starting a big lineup and been a bit slow. We are missing the ability to take care of the basketball. Just careless turnovers.”
Trevor Mbakwe Jr. Forward:
Team’s mood after the game:
“Everybody was very disappointed. It was another tough game for us; another game we feel we should have won. It’s kind of the same story. We feel bad, but we’re still together. We’re still family. We’re still going to go into Northwestern like we’re making the tournament. We just have to keep fighting, and one of these days, our luck is going to turn around.”
What do you feel like you guys are playing for with the tournament seemingly out of reach?:
“We’re still playing to get in the tournament. We have two games left and we feel we can win those. This team fought hard to get into the tournament last year, and this year is no different. We’re just in a little slump right now. We still are focused and we all have the same goal in mind.”
Blake Hoffarber Sr. Guard:
On big scoring runs by opponents to end games:
“I don’t know what it is. Whether its mental focus at the end of games or people are getting tired, or something else? They start to go on a run and we just freeze. We just have to realize that we have to be more patient and move the ball around and just be confident with the ball.”
On whether this Michigan game was similar to last season’s blowout loss:
“Anytime you get blown out like that, it never feels good. Today hurts as well, especially since it was such a big game for us. To fall a little short is hard on you. You just have to put in the past. We still have two more games left and then we need to do some damage in the Big Ten Tournament.”
