University of Minnesota Athletics
Postgame Quotes: UT Arlington
11/14/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 14, 2016
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Minnesota Head Coach Richard Pitino
Opening Statement…
"Obviously, that was a really, really good win. That was the one, when we scheduled, that we had it in mind. With a tournament team coming here, for us to do we did, from a defense stand point in second half. One of the best rebound teams in the country, and we are plus 15 out of glass. I think we went 28-3 run. Just to do all this right, and I think it shows that obviously this is not last year's team, and it's a totally different team with much more balance, which had six guys with double figures. It's a fun team to coach."
UT Arlington Head Coach Scott Cross
On second half frustration...
"Yeah, the first half I felt like our guys, offensively, played the right way. They made a great adjustment by switching the ball screens. Their big guys did a good job sitting down and keeping Erick (Neal) out of the paint. Once that happened we stopped moving the ball. We started pounding and started sticking and next thing you know, we are taking bad shots and contested layups. We couldn't score on them. There was a stretch for 10 minutes that where we absolutely couldn't score on them. Our intensity dropped so it was nothing but fouls or layups on the other end. They did a great job on us. Have to give them credit for executing and getting it done."
On handling a Big Ten team after previous success...
"I think our guys lost a little bit of that chip on their shoulder grit. Last year we were picked eighth in the league and we had a chip on our shoulder. It's an easy thing to just change your mindset and mentality. Our guys felt like they were just going to walk in there, up at half and keep playing and it's going to fall our way. It doesn't work that way. We are on the road, playing against a good, tough team. It's a lesson for us. I guess I would rather learn a lesson now than during conference play. At practice and shoot arounds our execution hadn't been where it needed to be. Hopefully our guys will be a little more focused moving forward."
On if shooting success in the first shows this team can compete with top level teams...
"Our offense revolves around ball movement and when that ball sticks, we are not very good. We don't have guys that can just play one-on-one and beat somebody. When we start to do that, which is kind of what happened, we stopped moving. Guys are pounding and taking tough shots. We can't win that way. We don't have the guys that can do that. Some teams may have guys that can go get you 30 or 40 play one versus five but we don't have any of those guys. We have good passing guys that are good team guys that can shoot the ball and pass the ball. We have to move the ball a lot in order to be successful."
Redshirt Junior Reggie Lynch
On the run in the second half…..
"Honestly, I didn't know the run was that big until after the game. We were just out there playing free; guarding the three, which was the biggest problem in the first half and continued to rebound, which was main emphasis for this game. So it's really just an adjustment to be free."
On what it was like at halftime….
"For me it felt like some of the new freshmen were kind of feeling down, like, 'oh there was no we can come back from this,' but me, Dupree, Nate, and all those who have played at least a year of college ball know that the game is not over by any means. All it takes is a few runs and just staying confident and it can change just like that."
On his performance tonight….
"I feel like I am a pretty efficient player, so I am happy with that. 16 minutes, I need to get that up especially when it comes to playing conference games, so just have to stay down and try to block without jumping."
On playing in front of the crowd…
"Well it was just a good feeling to just go on another run. I love these guys so much - this team is extremely fun to play with."
Sophomore Dupree McBrayer
On what Amir Coffey and Reggie Lynch bring...
"Reggie brings the toughness to the team. He is getting used to the Big Ten because he had to sit out last year, so game by game he is just getting better and Amir is doing the same by getting better and more confident. I think he needs to be a little more aggressive, but that is what freshmen do. I remember doing the same thing last thing year by doing the same mistakes, but that is why I am here to help."
On shooting the ball this year…
"I can't even say. My confidence is too high right now. I think I can make every shot."
Redshirt Junior Reggie Lynch
On the run in the second half…..
"Honestly, I didn't know the run was that big until after the game. We were just out there playing free; guarding the three, which was the biggest problem in the first half and continued to rebound, which was main emphasis for this game. So it's really just an adjustment to be free."
On what it was like at halftime….
"For me it felt like some of the new freshmen were kind of feeling down, like, 'oh there was no we can come back from this,' but me, Dupree, Nate, and all those who have played at least a year of college ball know that the game is not over by any means. All it takes is a few runs and just staying confident and it can change just like that."
On his performance tonight….
"I feel like I am a pretty efficient player, so I am happy with that. 16 minutes, I need to get that up especially when it comes to playing conference games, so just have to stay down and try to block without jumping."
On playing in front of the crowd…
"Well it was just a good feeling to just go on another run. I love these guys so much - this team is extremely fun to play with."
Sophomore Dupree McBrayer
On what Amir Coffey and Reggie Lynch bring...
"Reggie brings the toughness to the team. He is getting used to the Big Ten because he had to sit out last year, so game by game he is just getting better and Amir is doing the same by getting better and more confident. I think he needs to be a little more aggressive, but that is what freshmen do. I remember doing the same thing last thing year by doing the same mistakes, but that is why I am here to help."
On shooting the ball this year…
"I can't even say. My confidence is too high right now. I think I can make every shot."
Players Mentioned
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