University of Minnesota Athletics
Postgame Quotes: Minnesota Crookston
11/1/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Minnesota Head Coach Richard Pitino
On the team's improvement in the second half…
"Better second half, obviously. Free throw shooting was obviously an issue at 13 for 25. It's funny, a lot of them were freshmen. That's why you play exhibition games because you get the nerves out a little bit. I thought the fouling was better in the second half. JR and Kevin fouled too much. Overall it was good, a step in the right direction. It was good to play a game against other competition."
On the team's athleticism this season:
"Well, we're a shot blocking team. You saw Buggs, shot blocking. I think Murph can block shots. A lot more dunk potential, the crowd likes that. Yeah, I think so. I think it's more athletic top to bottom."
On Jordan Murphy's play at the power forward spot:
"I played Joey at the 5 today, and Murph at the 4. I thought he was really good, we started throwing him the ball at the post. Joey and him are different. Joey is a more of a pick and pop forward. Murph can certainly hit the 3, but he's really good at the block."
Freshman Jordan Murphy
On making his first appearance for the Gophers:
I was really nervous in the beginning and I think I'm still nervous now even after the game.
On whether he expects to have as many dunks and blocks throughout his career:
Yeah hopefully, I'm just really trying to do what helps us win.
On finding success in the post in the second half:
Yeah, Coach has been telling me to post up more and that's how we played. I haven't posted up in a while but when I got here they told me to post up and that I was decent. It's been a little different but I got used to it.
On playing in front of more fans at Williams Arena for the first time:
It was nervewracking. I mean the Maroon-Gold Scrimmage was cool but that was a different level. It was exciting and now the freshmen have a taste of it.
Sophomore Nate Mason
On the play of the freshmen:
I feel like they responded well, once we get into the actual season they will adjust. They got their feet wet this game and they were nervous but it looked like they got all the jitters out, hopefully.
On Jordan Murphy's play and whether it was a surprise:
He has been bringing it every day and I think he's going to be a big time player for us.
On struggles at the free throw line and trying to improve:
Yeah for sure, we lost a lot of games by one or two points and we're definitely making it a big time part of practice.
On getting going slowly:
I think, yeah, it was just everyone's first time on this stage in front of this crowd for the younger guys.
Redshirt Junior Charles Buggs
On the team's shot blocking success tonight:
"The big thing was shot blocks because we've never really had that securing the shot block in the past. Coach has been pushing for this. That's the biggest thing"
On how he has improved:
"I'm getting pushed more. I've got to push more to help the whole team out on defense."
On defensive play:
"Push the defense: that's the biggest the thing. We can't lose that defense and our defense communications."
