University of Minnesota Athletics
Postgame Quotes: Wisconsin
1/21/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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Minnesota Head Coach Richard Pitino
On today's game...
"Obviously a tough one but I thought it was a great college basketball game. I don't normally enjoy coaching during games, I actually kind of enjoyed it. It was players making plays at both ends. I thought they just made one more than we did. Bronson [Koenig] made a tough shot. I looked at it, could we have guarded it better? I don't think so, I think he just made a great shot. Akeem [Springs] made a big shot at the end in regulation. I thought his was maybe going to go in at the end too. I give them credit; they were a very good team. But I thought we were a good team too tonight. "
On the last possession of the game...
"I thought the only thing was Bakary [Konaté] was supposed to set it down for Akeem [Springs] because Akeem was feeling it. Bakary kind of rushed up, he should have spaced it, but at the end of the day, players making plays and not to say our guys did not. I was happy with everything."
Team's response to this game...
"They need to be positive. You never know how people respond. I don't see a whole lot of negative to look at from tonight besides the fact that we lost. They should feel like we could be a really good team in this league and we can only get better. I thought we were tough to defend today and I thought we made winning plays. They need to be encouraged."
On today's environment at the Barn...
"I wouldn't trade this environment for anything in the world. We don't need it versus Wisconsin though, we need it every night. I get it if you don't want to come in November, fine, but we need you versus Maryland...That is a fun, fun environment and our guys feed off of it. That is what the Big Ten is all about. I get why people gave up on our team last year. I don't blame them. I wouldn't spend my money to watch that team either. But this a fun group to cheer for and that is what the Big Ten is all about. This place can be special. Really, really special when it's good and I think we can get back to that."
Wisconsin Head Coach Greg Gard
On his thoughts on the young and improved Gopher team...
"They're all good players. I've seen Amir since he was in 8th grade, freshman maybe. He's a good player. Comes from pretty good stock, you know Richard (Coffey). He's a good player, Curry is a good player, and they're a more complete roster than what they had going through last year. They've been playing pretty well. "
On if he was concerned about a potential foul call at the end of regulation...
"I wasn't worried about a foul; it was more about whether it was going to be an intentional foul. They were not in the bonus, so they would have just taken the ball if there was any time left. What they determined was that if there was a foul, it took place after the horn, therefore no foul. But I wasn't worried about a foul per se, but rather if it was going to be intentional, because if it wasn't intentional the game is going to overtime. "
On Ethan Happ's confidence and maturity levels...
"I think he doesn't fluctuate as much with his confidence. He is much more consistent obviously. Maybe a year ago if he starts like that where he's two for six, or however he started early. That would have impacted him for a longer stretch, and he is able to now put that behind him and keep playing."
On his strategy feeding Happ the ball in the second half...
"It's based on what we see through the course of the game. Some of them are right within the flow of our offense, within the swing, some of them are called special. Some are a result of making an action that was for Nigel or Bronson that ends up opening stretches a little bit and allowing the post to be occupied. It's always an emphasis, I don't think we ever say that we're not going to throw it inside. We've always done that, so it's nice to be able to get production there. I think the points in the paint were 44-22, so yeah, that production was pretty good."
Graduate Student Akeem Springs
