Postgame Quotes: Arkansas

Nov. 22, 2016

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Minnesota Head Coach Richard Pitino

Opening Statement...

"Good win for us. I thought, defensively, 28 percent in the first half was terrific. We guarded the three. [Dusty] Hannahs is one of the best three point shooters in the country, so we did a really good job on him. Offensively, our balance has continued to be a great strength for us. Nate Mason is just being so solid for us, seven assists. We had some turnovers at the end that we needed to take care of, but any time you're winning by double digits versus a good SEC team with talent, we're proud of it. We'll take off tomorrow, then we'll regroup and get ready for Friday."

On being pleased with the team defending the three...

"Very pleased. It's not been a a strength of ours so we really addressed it. That's normally on the guards, but if they set up all the screens, it's on the bigs. I thought we, from a scouting report standpoint, did a really good job on those guys."

On the team taking a step forward due to the last couple games...

"They feel good about themselves. I think they beat a really good Texas-Arlington team. They beat a much improved St. John's team. Arkansas will be in the thick of it in the SEC, so they should be confident. They've worked hard. They've stayed humble throughout the tough offseason. They've been eager to prove themselves on and off the court. Very proud of these guys. They deserve success right now and they're getting it."

Graduate Student Akeem Springs

On his run in the first half...

"I think our team is a lot more confident with defense and offense. I think we can credit the run to our defense. Once you get some stops, it makes the game easier for everybody. "

On helping the team after Dupree McBrayer got taken out...

"You always want to be ready to step up. Everybody on our team is ready to step in and contribute when it's their time and whenever it's possible. I think that's all you can ask for."

On he and Reggie Lynch bringing maturity to the team...

"I think we bring it, but what the team went through last year matured everyone, so I think if you don't look at the classification, we have a mature group of guys. What they went through last year, you can either fold under it or mature from it and I think, as a group we're all mature. Reggie and I have been through more games maybe, but I think we're all mature."

Junior Nate Mason

On the 25-4 run...

"Our last couple games we went on big runs like that. It was definitely good to get going and our defense sparked. In the second half, we kind of got away from our defensive strategies. We kind of let them drive middle a little bit."

On creating scoring moments...

"Coach Pitino and all of the coaching staff just gives me confidence. They trust me enough to do that. I just go out there and try to do the best that I can do."

Arkansas Head Coach Mike Anderson

Opening Statement...

"We turned the ball over, when you turn the ball over you can't score, then they start pressing a bit. We didn't establish the inside, I'll give Minnesota credit with packing their defense. We didn't do anything on the inside so it allowed them to also press our perimeter, so let's give them some credit. But when you turn the ball over, that is one thing we pride ourselves on taking care of the basketball and we dug a hole, that is what took place, we dug a big hole."

On Minnesota's three point shooting tonight...

"They made shots, they made shots. I thought they were incredible."

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Players Mentioned

Reggie Lynch

Nate Mason

Dupree McBrayer

Akeem Springs

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