University of Minnesota Athletics
Postgame Quotes: Iowa
2/21/2018 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Recap | Notes | Photo Gallery 1 | Photo Gallery 2
Minnesota Head Coach Richard Pitino
Opening Statement:
"Great win for our guys, we came out and were ready to go and played I thought really good basketball for about 38 and a half minutes, and then we really got tired, they made some big shots, but I'm proud of our guys, I'm proud of Nate and Bakary. I know Gaston didn't play but they both played terrific and they did some awesome things. Those three seniors embody what it's all about. They've been through ups, downs, and they've never ran high. They own up to it, they stick with it, and the've been fun to coach so it's a good lesson to our young guys."
On Nate's senior night performance…
"He was terrific. He played 40 minutes, did a lot of phenomenal things. His numbers, you look at them from the points, the assists, what he's done here over a course of four years, a guy who was a three star player, but he was just such a model of consistency, it's just everyday he came and he worked. There wasn't a lot of fluff and b.s. to it, it's just work and he always did that so it was great."
On Nate's emotions after the game, him kissing the floor, and showing his appreciation to the fans…
"I would've subbed him out but, geeze, the way that they were scoring I wasn't willing to risk that. Like I said, he's fought through adversity, never made excuses, and I'm lucky to have coached a really good player like him at a young age."
Iowa Head Coach Fran McCaffery
On how Iowa cut down Turnovers in the second half...
"We tried to do what we always do, and that's get the ball moving from side to side, mix going in and out, not try to force anything. Minnesota is a quick team, they're going to be in the passing lane, I thought they were physical at the start of the game, I thought they were more physical than us. I'll give them credit for that."
On Nate Mason...
"You have some guards on that team that are a handful to guard. Mason is one of the best players in our league. He's a handful, he turns the corner and splits you on a ball screen, he's going to score. And he finds people."
On Jordan Murphy...
"We have a lot of respect for him, he's another one of the best players in our league. We've got some big, strong guys, and I thought we battled with him. That's all you can do, you have to compete with him. 10 and 10, you'll pretty much take that every game if you're the opposing coach."
Senior Guard Nate Mason
On the emotions in the locker room after the game…
"The emotions were really high, especially before and after the senior introductions. We wanted to come out and do everything possible to win. Me, BK, Gaston, we all knew it was our last game on this court and we just wanted to go out with a win."
On getting the microphone postgame to say some words to the fans…
"I had a whole speech planned out, but I decided not to do it. It was fun, and it felt like those four years went by on the snap of a finger. But we got to do it in front of the best fans in America, in front of my family, with great teammates and great coaches on my side, so like I said before we went through a lot of rough times, and just to end it like this is just amazing."
On what he wanted to say in his postgame speech that he didn't get a chance to…
"A whole lot. I wanted to thank my girlfriend, so she's probably mad about that. Y'all put that in there so she knows. Lot of other people to thank like my grandma, my sister, my family back home, friends, but I didn't get into it. I mentioned the most important people, the coaches, my mom, my dad, my teammates. They all been with me since my freshman year when we were losing every game, until last year when we were winning a lot. It's great to have people like that in your life."
Senior Center Bakary Konate
On the crowd chanting his name during the game...
"Honestly, with this crowd, and to feel that, the feeling is amazing."
On the seniors...
"Since day one, Nate, Gas and I, we have been trying to compete at a high level. We don't get the result all the time, but we always want to learn and get better every day. Especially when we play at home, because, to me, this is the best crowd in the world. No matter the result they are always cheering for us, supporting us, and that's why we get motivated to play for this team.
On his relationship with Coach Pitino...
"I think our relationship is good because I'm learning a lot from him, and his expectations for me are high. For me to be aggressive without fouling and trying to understand that, and at the same time understanding the role he wants me to play. When I came from Spain i was a different type of player. He really helped me a lot."
