University of Minnesota Athletics
Postgame Quotes
1/24/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 24, 2015
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Senior Guard DeAndre Mathieu
On the last shot at Nebraska...
I don't know. I thought it was good. It felt good. I feel like I just don't have good luck right now, as far as that. That's like three last seconds that it's came down to me. I haven't been successful, so, I mean, I'm due. I'm due for one to go my way.
On returning to the starting lineup...
It felt like any other game. When I'm off the benches, it didn't really matter. I just go out there and try to make plays and try to get the team going.
On Coach Pitino's confidence in him...
I know he has confidence in me, so I just go out there and play. I mean, that definitely allows you to play a little more freely when you know that coach has confidence in you, so that really helps. That's probably why I played pretty well today, because he told me that.
Illinois Head Coach John Groce
Opening statement...
"The game was won in about a seven minute stretch of time, from the 15 minute mark in the second half to the 8:03 mark. During that seven minutes, Minnesota outscored us 18-3. I thought that was the game and the difference in the game was that short burst. The same thing happened to us in Columbus. We were up at the half, we were up at the first media timeout in the second half, the same kind of thing happened today. I think Minnesota really imposed their will during that run. I thought we had some sloppy turnovers during that run that Minnesota generated. One was with their full court pressure, another we were soft in the zone, and those turnovers certainly contributed to their run. At the end of the day, that stretch really did us in. I give Minnesota credit. I think beyond a shadow of a doubt, the best two players on the court were Andre Hollins and Mo Walker. It wasn't even close. Those guys imposed their will. Obviously, Walker had the double-double. Hollins has scored 31, 21, and 28 [points] in three consecutive games. I thought he was terrific. I thought he made big shots and timely plays. We had no answer for either one of them; Hollins throughout the game, and Walker in the second half. they crushed us on the glass in the second half. I thought they were physically tougher than us on the backboard. That was really disappointing. I thought we had some guys who didn't man up on the glass. Coming out of some of the later media timeouts, I thought Minnesota looked fresher, more conditioned, sharper. Our guys wilted a little bit during that time. That is unacceptable. Offensively, you can't start 6 for 26 on 2 point attempts to start the game. You have to man up and stick the ball in the basket. We shot the ball well from 3 point range. I thought we took care of the ball well, other than that 18-3 stretch. That seven minute stretch really was the story of the game. Minnesota was able to impose their will. Andre Hollins and Mo Walker were by far the best players on the floor today."
Illinois Head Coach John Groce
Opening statement...
"The game was won in about a seven minute stretch of time, from the 15 minute mark in the second half to the 8:03 mark. During that seven minutes, Minnesota outscored us 18-3. I thought that was the game and the difference in the game was that short burst. The same thing happened to us in Columbus. We were up at the half, we were up at the first media timeout in the second half, the same kind of thing happened today. I think Minnesota really imposed their will during that run. I thought we had some sloppy turnovers during that run that Minnesota generated. One was with their full court pressure, another we were soft in the zone, and those turnovers certainly contributed to their run. At the end of the day, that stretch really did us in. I give Minnesota credit. I think beyond a shadow of a doubt, the best two players on the court were Andre Hollins and Mo Walker. It wasn't even close. Those guys imposed their will. Obviously, Walker had the double-double. Hollins has scored 31, 21, and 28 [points] in three consecutive games. I thought he was terrific. I thought he made big shots and timely plays. We had no answer for either one of them; Hollins throughout the game, and Walker in the second half. they crushed us on the glass in the second half. I thought they were physically tougher than us on the backboard. That was really disappointing. I thought we had some guys who didn't man up on the glass. Coming out of some of the later media timeouts, I thought Minnesota looked fresher, more conditioned, sharper. Our guys wilted a little bit during that time. That is unacceptable. Offensively, you can't start 6 for 26 on 2 point attempts to start the game. You have to man up and stick the ball in the basket. We shot the ball well from 3 point range. I thought we took care of the ball well, other than that 18-3 stretch. That seven minute stretch really was the story of the game. Minnesota was able to impose their will. Andre Hollins and Mo Walker were by far the best players on the floor today."
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