University of Minnesota Athletics
Postgame Quotes: Minnesota 76, Penn State 79
3/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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Richard Pitino, Minnesota head coach
Opening Statement
Obviously a tough one. They made plays, started just taking us off the bounce one-on-one. We tried a bunch of different things and none of it really worked. I didn't like our energy coming into the game and I thought we played with much more energy in the second half. But a little bit fitting that we lose our last regular season game on a three-point heave, probably a 25 footer challenged shot because it just hasn't quite gone our way this year. I'm not saying we are unlucky but I don't know if we've been lucky. You look at against Michigan State it went our way, that's why we got the win. We had a lot of close ones, lost them, but you have to give Penn State credit.
On defensive strategy...
We tried switching some ball screens, they took us of the bounce, they were really good in one-on-one hurting us. Loose balls really hurt us in the first half, just not getting right to the ball. But again they made really tough shots and they made some great plays give them credit.
On low energy to start the game...
I think it's technically 11 o'clock for everybody. I didn't think anyone had any energy. I thought the building was a little quiet and then I thought it got going. But no, I'm not surprised by it. We try to get them going.
On Andre Hollins struggles in the 2nd half...
Totally lost his confidence in the 2nd half.There was one possession, I don't even know what he was doing. He shot a weird mid-range jump shot, just lost it a little bit. I tried to calm him down, you know, because he came out really playing and then he lost that confidence a little bit.
Mo Walker, senior
On the second half fight...
We kind of let them get off to an early start so by the time the second half came around they had high confidence. And we needed to stop and get a loose ball and we didn't get it so they capitalized off that. Had a big shot at the end of the game and won the game.
On doing everything possible to win on Senior Day...
Yeah, I was fighting. I put my arms to the side and at the 8-minute media time out I told them the team is going to go as far as we go and we are going to have to carry this for us. And you know Andre came out the first half had a great game and hit a bunch of shots for us and I tried to pick up where he left off and you know finish the game at the end of the stretch. But like I said he hit a big shot.
On the upcoming Big Ten Tournament...
I think all the guys in this locker room are fighters and are going to fight to the end no matter what. Win or lose we are all going to leave it all out on the floor and play hard. I think we have a run in us, I think we can do great things and that we can shock a lot of people because a lot of other people are just over looking us because of how the season went.
On trying to get the team energized in the second half...
Yeah I was, I was trying to pick everyone up. I was just trying to fight and trying to win the game. It was, Senior night and I wanted to go out on a bang, we went out in a bang but kinda in the wrong way but you know I was just trying to pick everyone up.
Joey King, junior
On the fight of the team in the second half...
Yeah, we just wanted ot do it for our seniors and the second half we were just so focused on coming together as a team and getting the win. So having to give away a contested shot like that, it's tough.
On the energy in the first half...
The first half a little flatter than we wanted it to be, I know coach was disappointed in us. The second half ya know we came out and really competed to win the game. It was tough.
