Postgame Quotes

Jan. 17, 2015

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Minnesota Head Coach Richard Pitino

On sticking with Andre Hollins through some tough games:

"It sounds silly, but I don't really look for offense. If you turn the ball over, that'll bother me, or if you don't run the offense, but if you're not making shots, as long as you take good ones, I'm gonna roll with it. Andre was doing so many other things that may not show up on a box score, and that's why I stuck with him and I never really had a doubt, because he does all those other things."

On DeAndre Mathieu's game:

"He was really good. I thought he brought a great spark off the bench. One of the reasons why he's coming off the bench wanting it bigger, we were too slow, which is not necessarily his fault. Just defensively, and rebounding, we're good, but he brought a great spark off the bench. He showed great attitude off the bench. You know it's hard for a kid who's started every single game, then he comes off the bench, but he didn't pout. He had great leadership and he provided some really nice plays."

On whether Elliott Eliason's reduced playing time was due to his play, or due to a wish to involve Bakary Konate more:

"Yeah, he's not playing great, certainly. ...He's just gotta get better. But I told myself that it's not just necessarily Elliott--we gotta develop Bakary. We gotta do it. But Elliott had a great attitude on the bench. It doesn't mean Elliott's not gonna play anymore. Every guy is valuable. I was happy with Elliott's attitude and I'm happy with Bakary's production."

Senior Forward Maurice Walker

On how it felt to see Andre Hollins hitting shots:

"It feels really good to see Andre make those. I know he has been putting a lot of work in and I know he has put a few extra workouts in and its showing. I mean, it paid off today. He had a big shooting night and we wouldn't have pulled this one out if he hadn't.

On the effect of Hollins' play on the rest of the team:

"It energizes everybody. When a shot falls the crowd goes crazy and the guys get going."

Freshman Guard Nate Mason

On if he feels a different vibe around the team:

"Oh, for sure. It's definitely about confidence and staying together. We are working on staying together and being a better team, being better teammates."

On the Gophers' defense:

"We definitely picked it up. From previous games we learned from it, from at the end of the game. We try to get a stop, don't get it, try to get a rebound, don't get it sort of day. So that's what we tried to do today-come out and get a stop, get a rebound."

Senior Guard Andre Hollins

On his smile after hitting back-to-back 3-pointers:

"I've just got to remember that this is my last year and I just have to have fun with it. You know, Austin Hollins came back and he visited for New Year's and stuff and he told me the same thing. You just have to have fun."

Rutgers Head Coach Eddie Jordan

Opening statement:

"They did a lot of good things. Obviously for us, the story of the game was 20 turnovers giving them 26 points. I told our team we can't spot a team 26 points and try to win on the road in this conference against a team that's desperate for a win. Richard (Pitino) had his team prepared. They did a lot of good things."

On the Gophers going to Andre Hollins early and often:

"In transition, playing small ball a little bit, breaking it down defensively, running him off of baselines, double screens, sometimes triple screens. Richard had a good scheme today. They executed very well and they made shots."

On Minnesota:

"I told Richard and I told our coaches, they could very well have been 4-1 by now. They were in every game. They've had some bad luck in a couple of them. But for the most part they could very well have been 4-1. They've played so well in every game. I told my team the same thing."

On whether he attributed the Scarlet Knights' turnovers to themselves or to Minnesota's defense:

"We practiced against pressure, thinking that they might pressure us. I thought we did very well against any type of token pressure they gave us. They didn't amp it up. But you've got to give them credit. You can't just come out and say they didn't make us turn the ball over. We turned it over 20 times. So if we turned it over half the times ourselves, they still did a good job turning us over 10. You've got to give them credit. They locked down. They did some good things defensively. They've got quickness on the floor. They got to Myles (Mack) early. They wouldn't let him split pick-and-rolls. They really got to his pick-and-roll, so he couldn't get free. We didn't find lanes for the roll guy. They smothered him enough where he couldn't fill back to the outlet. (Pitino's) defensive scheme forced us to the turnovers we had."

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Players Mentioned

Elliott Eliason

Andre Hollins

Austin Hollins

Nate Mason

DeAndre Mathieu

Maurice Walker