GopherLady
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Here are my post-game notes, not verbatim as always:
Ethan Happ:
• A mixture of happiness and exhaustion. We didn't play great the whole game and we battled back, to come out on top after a long game like that, it was elation.
• Coach said we haven't played our best basketball yet, so let's do it in these 5 minutes. We still didn't but got the W.
• The coaches have been telling me something all year long, and I finally started doing it. My teammates have been getting me to finish.
• Did you try to bank that free throw? My Mom didn't raise a liar, so no.
• MN has always played hard, but they are getting guys that can shoot the ball. Their bigs are good defensively. They knocked down some good mid-range jump shots.
Greg Gard:
• Whenever you get on the road in this league, in a hostile environment against a much improved team this league…it's so competitive. One heck of a college bball game today, proud of how our guys gutted it out. Happ didn't start the greatest, but found a way to make an impact. Happy for our guys, heck of a battle, and happy to come out with a few more points.
• At the end of regulation - did you consider taking a timeout? I did - they were scrambling, they didn't have their D set. If he didn't lost the ball, I don't know what he gets.
• We didn't stay up tight enough on Springs
• They're good players, I've seen Amir since he was in 8th grade, he comes from good stock. He's a good player, Curry is a good player.
Richard Pitino:
• Obviously, tough one, but I thought it was a great college basketball game. I don't normally enjoy coaching during the games, but I kind of enjoyed it. They just made one more play. Akeem made a big play in regulation, and I thought it could have gone in at the end. I thought we were a good team tonight, if you don't see where this team can go, you're probably not paying attention. I thought it was a great game.
• Amir was terrific, Eric was, Bakary stepped up…not much I can gripe about with these guys. I tell them, you're still sitting at 15-5, you have 2 OT losses.
• Konate was terrific in the 1st half, he did a lot of good things. Reggie was really good, unfortunately he fouled out.
• Last possession - Bakary was supposed to set a down screen for Akeem, but kind of rushed up. Players make plays at the end of the day.
• Dupree played really well, Akeem was terrific.
• On Dupree not starting - didn't bother him one bit. I told him, it's not anything you're doing, I just don't like the flow and the sub patters. He can play the 1 or 2, and could sub Nate or Akeem. I think we'll stick with it, I don't think he cares.
• Eric's length was really good, I think he's going to be a really good player.
• On the team responding? I hope so, they need to be positive. I don't see a whole lot of negative to look at from tonight, besides that we lost. We can only get better. We were tough to defend, we made winning plays. After the PSU game they shouldn't have been encouraged, or after the MSU team. These guys need to be excited about where we're at.
• I wouldn't trade this environment for anything in the world. We don't need it vs. WI though, we need it every night. We need it vs. Maryland. That is a fun, fun environment, our guys feed off it, that's what the Big 10 is all about. I get why people gave up on our team last year, I wouldn't spend my money either, but this is a fun team to cheer for. This can be really really special when it's good.
• It's hard when Bakary is in, you don't have the low post threat, I'd say Nate got a good look, Eric got a good look, Wi is a good defensive team.
• Akeem hit a big one at the end of regulation, he's got that quick release. You have to make tough shots at the end of games, Bronson did, we did not.
• He (Akeem) was better off the dribble, I liked a lot of what he did today. I thought he made some winning plays on the defensive end. When he's good off the bounce, he's tough to guard.
• Amir getting banged up - it's the Big 10, physical league. He's a tough kid. He's thin, you may not think he's tough, but he's tough, extremely tough, going to be a special player, makes big shots. He played 41 minutes as a freshmen, and he battled and didn't want to come out.
• At the end of regulation with Amir? Greg said it may be an intentional? Pitino: You trying to get me in trouble? Maybe, that's not why he lost. (I didn't get the whole Pitino answer here)
• On Nate - 10 assists, I thought he got good looks, he'll be fine, I don't worry about him too much. He'll get it back.
Amir Coffey:
• We're disappointed, but we battled until the end, they just made one more big play than we did.
• Atmosphere - it was great, I didn't see many open seats, I want to thank the fans for coming out and supporting us.
• We see the things we need to work on as a team, we get better from it and smarter from it. We need to make adjustments.
• Having Akeem in the line-up, he's a great shooter and opens up lanes for me and Nate.
• It was an OT game, high intensity, packed house.
• Craziest atmosphere you've played in? Yeah. (Akeem whispers, Michigan State).
• Having a week to rest after taking a hard fall, I could get a lot of rest, take light reps in practice.
• It's a physical league, you've got to go into every game expecting a dog fight.
• Coach Pitino always says don't get too low or too high, need to take what we need from this game and move on.
Akeem Springs:
• Regulation shot - I have to give credit to my coaches and teammates for having confidence in me, we practice that.
• They're a tough team, that match-up with them, they're so patient, if you see their offense, it's literally a one on one, and you can't help because they're all capable of shooting. They're ranked for a reason. You have to take your hat off to them.
• On starting - it was a goal, yeah, I always saw myself as a starter, it wasn't something I was really focusing on. I want to be able to do all the little things.
• On Dupree - He's been a starter all year, I didn't expect him to have a bad game, he's a good player, I expected him to have a good game.
• Nate and Jordan - they both put the work in, I feel like good things will happen to you. He's the same person that went out and had 30. He's working hard at practice, basketball gods didn't want him to shoot this game. I'm not worried about either one of them.
• We've got another chance to get them, gotta get ready for next game.
• We didn't want to lose. I don't think we're too down, but as a team we're a competitive group. We don't like to lose, we're ready to go get one, get it back on track.
Ethan Happ:
• A mixture of happiness and exhaustion. We didn't play great the whole game and we battled back, to come out on top after a long game like that, it was elation.
• Coach said we haven't played our best basketball yet, so let's do it in these 5 minutes. We still didn't but got the W.
• The coaches have been telling me something all year long, and I finally started doing it. My teammates have been getting me to finish.
• Did you try to bank that free throw? My Mom didn't raise a liar, so no.
• MN has always played hard, but they are getting guys that can shoot the ball. Their bigs are good defensively. They knocked down some good mid-range jump shots.
Greg Gard:
• Whenever you get on the road in this league, in a hostile environment against a much improved team this league…it's so competitive. One heck of a college bball game today, proud of how our guys gutted it out. Happ didn't start the greatest, but found a way to make an impact. Happy for our guys, heck of a battle, and happy to come out with a few more points.
• At the end of regulation - did you consider taking a timeout? I did - they were scrambling, they didn't have their D set. If he didn't lost the ball, I don't know what he gets.
• We didn't stay up tight enough on Springs
• They're good players, I've seen Amir since he was in 8th grade, he comes from good stock. He's a good player, Curry is a good player.
Richard Pitino:
• Obviously, tough one, but I thought it was a great college basketball game. I don't normally enjoy coaching during the games, but I kind of enjoyed it. They just made one more play. Akeem made a big play in regulation, and I thought it could have gone in at the end. I thought we were a good team tonight, if you don't see where this team can go, you're probably not paying attention. I thought it was a great game.
• Amir was terrific, Eric was, Bakary stepped up…not much I can gripe about with these guys. I tell them, you're still sitting at 15-5, you have 2 OT losses.
• Konate was terrific in the 1st half, he did a lot of good things. Reggie was really good, unfortunately he fouled out.
• Last possession - Bakary was supposed to set a down screen for Akeem, but kind of rushed up. Players make plays at the end of the day.
• Dupree played really well, Akeem was terrific.
• On Dupree not starting - didn't bother him one bit. I told him, it's not anything you're doing, I just don't like the flow and the sub patters. He can play the 1 or 2, and could sub Nate or Akeem. I think we'll stick with it, I don't think he cares.
• Eric's length was really good, I think he's going to be a really good player.
• On the team responding? I hope so, they need to be positive. I don't see a whole lot of negative to look at from tonight, besides that we lost. We can only get better. We were tough to defend, we made winning plays. After the PSU game they shouldn't have been encouraged, or after the MSU team. These guys need to be excited about where we're at.
• I wouldn't trade this environment for anything in the world. We don't need it vs. WI though, we need it every night. We need it vs. Maryland. That is a fun, fun environment, our guys feed off it, that's what the Big 10 is all about. I get why people gave up on our team last year, I wouldn't spend my money either, but this is a fun team to cheer for. This can be really really special when it's good.
• It's hard when Bakary is in, you don't have the low post threat, I'd say Nate got a good look, Eric got a good look, Wi is a good defensive team.
• Akeem hit a big one at the end of regulation, he's got that quick release. You have to make tough shots at the end of games, Bronson did, we did not.
• He (Akeem) was better off the dribble, I liked a lot of what he did today. I thought he made some winning plays on the defensive end. When he's good off the bounce, he's tough to guard.
• Amir getting banged up - it's the Big 10, physical league. He's a tough kid. He's thin, you may not think he's tough, but he's tough, extremely tough, going to be a special player, makes big shots. He played 41 minutes as a freshmen, and he battled and didn't want to come out.
• At the end of regulation with Amir? Greg said it may be an intentional? Pitino: You trying to get me in trouble? Maybe, that's not why he lost. (I didn't get the whole Pitino answer here)
• On Nate - 10 assists, I thought he got good looks, he'll be fine, I don't worry about him too much. He'll get it back.
Amir Coffey:
• We're disappointed, but we battled until the end, they just made one more big play than we did.
• Atmosphere - it was great, I didn't see many open seats, I want to thank the fans for coming out and supporting us.
• We see the things we need to work on as a team, we get better from it and smarter from it. We need to make adjustments.
• Having Akeem in the line-up, he's a great shooter and opens up lanes for me and Nate.
• It was an OT game, high intensity, packed house.
• Craziest atmosphere you've played in? Yeah. (Akeem whispers, Michigan State).
• Having a week to rest after taking a hard fall, I could get a lot of rest, take light reps in practice.
• It's a physical league, you've got to go into every game expecting a dog fight.
• Coach Pitino always says don't get too low or too high, need to take what we need from this game and move on.
Akeem Springs:
• Regulation shot - I have to give credit to my coaches and teammates for having confidence in me, we practice that.
• They're a tough team, that match-up with them, they're so patient, if you see their offense, it's literally a one on one, and you can't help because they're all capable of shooting. They're ranked for a reason. You have to take your hat off to them.
• On starting - it was a goal, yeah, I always saw myself as a starter, it wasn't something I was really focusing on. I want to be able to do all the little things.
• On Dupree - He's been a starter all year, I didn't expect him to have a bad game, he's a good player, I expected him to have a good game.
• Nate and Jordan - they both put the work in, I feel like good things will happen to you. He's the same person that went out and had 30. He's working hard at practice, basketball gods didn't want him to shoot this game. I'm not worried about either one of them.
• We've got another chance to get them, gotta get ready for next game.
• We didn't want to lose. I don't think we're too down, but as a team we're a competitive group. We don't like to lose, we're ready to go get one, get it back on track.
