University of Minnesota Athletics
Postgame Quotes: Georgia Southern
12/9/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Minnesota Head Coach Richard Pitino
Opening Statement...
"This was one of the most unselfish games that we've played in a long time. Twenty one assists amongst Amir, Nate and Dupree was really, really good. Shared the ball really well. We got open looks because of it. If you watch the game, they're getting good shots. That's why they hit 12 threes. That's 49 percent in the first half. We really battled from a rebounding standpoint. That was a really good . Eighteen offensive rebound was really good. We got out on the break, which I think we're always pretty good at. Major step forward that we needed. Overall, extremely happy for it and we move on tomorrow."
On responding to Tuesday's game...
"All we really talked about was that we have got to do a better job on rebounding. We had six offensive rebounds all of last game, and when you look at our team, we've got to get out on the break. We've got to generate points from other areas and we did that tonight. Thirty percent was tremendous. Holding Tookie [Brown] for four points is obviously a very good player. We really did a good job. It was a great response."
On Dupree McBrayer's game tonight...
"I thought he played very well tonight. Five assists, no turnovers, three steals. Rebounds for 18 points. I thought he did a lot of really good things. It's good to see him get going. He's playing with a really good confidence and a really good effort."
Georgia Southern Head Coach Mark Byington
On feeling in locker room following the game....
"I'm embarrassed. We have some prideful guys in the locker room too, and they're embarrassed too. That's not what we're all about, and we didn't show up tonight, and we're going to have to make some changes. I've got to figure out some different things to do with the guys we have right now. The biggest thing is, I don't mind getting beat; I just don't like not competing. I felt like we didn't compete the whole 40 minutes tonight. We've got to make some changes in order to get out of this right now"
On keeping guys positive during game...
"We kept challenging the big kid, Lynch, inside. The emphasis in the scouting report was not to challenge him, to drive and make the extra pass, and we didn't do that. In the first half, we didn't execute the game plan. We did not want Mason to get loose and we did not want Springs to get loose, and they made six 3's in the first half. Then, the game got real easy for them. They had a big lead, so the shots were easy, and we weren't pressuring. The game got away from us quick, and we weren't competing enough to get back in it. Right now, we just lack some things. It's on me. It's bad preparation. It's bad scheduling. The one thing we've got to do, as I've told the guys, the only thing they've got to worry about, is sticking together. I'll make some changes and fix what we've got to fix."
Sophomore Dupree McBrayer
On shooting ball well...
"I think Nate set the tone, and I just followed behind him. Once us two started going, I think that gets everybody going, so that was the big thing."
On trying to show offensive improvement from last year...
"I just try to be confident. I got the confidence from New York, so I play with a swagger. Just taking good, open shots will lead to a bucket here, a bucket there. Once I start rolling, I feel like I can get going. Nate does a great job trying to get me the ball. Amir does a good job trying to get the ball in my hands, so I just keep rolling from there. I stay on the attack."
Junior Nate Mason
On good response from Tuesday...
"Coach talked a little bit about it in the locker room. It was definitely big and showed a lot of maturity from our guys about just responding to the lack of effort and lack of intensity that we played with in the previous game. So, it was definitely a good response. We've just got to respond even better Sunday."
On unselfish play...
"Coach is just instilling to us in practice, move the ball and drive close outs. I felt like everyone was on the attack from the get-go and it was hard to stop us. Once we got unselfish, it was really hard to stop us."
On playing with chip on his shoulder due to lack of recognition...
"I really don't talk about it. Obviously, it bothers me, but I try to come out everyday and just try to improve a little bit. But like I said, as long as we win, I don't really care about that stuff."
