GopherLady
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Here are my quick notes from the presser. Lots of good nuggets. Tubby doesn't care who they play next, but Rodney was fixated on the Iowa-Northwestern game on the TV in the media room. Wonder if they players have a preference?
Doc Sadler:
• I thought both teams, especially the 1st half, played very hard. 38-30 at half, when you look at two teams that struggled to score baskets, I don't know about Coach Smith, but I had to question how good our defense was. We cut it back to 2, and they went on a 9-0 run and that was pretty much the game. We gave up some easy baskets in the 2nd half, and that's inexcusable. The one thing you can control is not dropping your chin, it's hard, but you need to learn how to do that. You're talking about coaching against one of the top 5 coaches in the country, it's fun to compete against guys like that.
• Rodney has been a good player all year, but he makes spectacular plays, you'd think he ended up with 40 points.
• Anytime you've got Coach Smith sitting on the bench, you've got a chance at the tournament, he's that good.
Rodney Williams:
• On if he was trying to match Blake Griffin with that dunk - no, I just went in there and try to get some contact. It was just something that kind of happened. ... I got a good dunk out of it.
• This was one of our biggest games, going into the BTT is like a new season. If you can go with confidence, anything can happen.
• They put in all the work, the seniors, for these four years. It was very important to go out there and play hard for those guys.
• I think no matter who the seniors are, it's important to get that last win for the seniors, they work hard every day, it shows how much you appreciate them.
• Sid - if you guys both played up to your ability, you may have a chance of winning a game or two. Rodney smiled.
• IT's good to get a few dunks in to get some energy into the building.
• Coach told us we had 23 assists tonight which I think is our season high. We had 5 players in double figures. It's good for us to see that.
• Is this your last game in Williams Arena? Rodney - Nah, you'll be seeing a lot more of me.
• I think we have a chance to beat Iowa, I definitely think if we close out the games the right way, we have a good chance of beating them.
Ralph Sampson:
• I enjoyed my last game here at the Barn, the fans were great, my family came out. We pulled together and came up with the win.
• We still have the feeling here about making a run in the BTT, getting everybody on board, and attacking every game like the last because it could be. What we need to do to win - play Gopher basketball
• Him going down early in the season, and recognize him tonight, it showed the support he still had. (on Trevor)
• Chip had a really good game tonight. He had a great time out there shooting, he was feeling it. He came out and carried us when we needed him to.
• I was very excited to see my family come out tonight. Trying not to get too excited, didn't want to get too geeked up and have an asthma attack.
Tubby Smith:
• This was a good win for us, Nebraska is a team that's been struggling, and we have been too. I hope everything works out with them, it's their 1st year in the Big 10, it can be a rude awakening, as it can be to any team.
• We got to send Ralph and Trevor off with a win, they have been good for the program. Ralph has been with us all four years, and has gone to 2 years of NCAA play. Through it all, he's been very positive and consistent. It's the coaches fault, we could have done other things, you don't surround someone with the right people. I've always been able to sleep comfortably knowing I'd have no issues with Ralph. I'd love to coach him for quite a few more games, I liked his energy today, and the entire team's energy. No one expected us to be 6-12. Our fans saw a team that's upbeat, and our future is bright. Chip played outstanding. We had a good balanced scoring, we won the battle on the boards, took care of the basketball. All the things you need to do to win, we did.
• Chip and Joe have struggled the last few games. Chip is a 2 guard that hasn't shot the ball that well. He made his FT's today, and he struggled with that before. We haven't had a guy that could just get hot. I can't remember, when the team is not playing well, we need someone to say "my shot's going, play me, get on my back team."
• We finished the game the right way, taking care of the ball. By and large, we went 19-24, we'll take that anytime. Defensively, the guys were active and talking, we stayed a lot with the zone. We've had trouble guarding people man to man. A lot of that has to do with youth, strength, and understanding how our defensive scheme works.
• Assists, the greatest thing you can do. They also assisted each other defensively.
• I remember by senior day, your gut is….but you have excitement, Ralph had energy and missed a few that he makes in practice, but he did what we needed him to do.
• On Rodney's dunks - I guess that helps him. It's 2 points, you don't get any more than you would for a lay-up. Most teams will guard against that. Thought Rodney attacked the basket, so he'll get dunks, when he plays with that extra energy.
• No preference on Iowa or Northwestern. We have to be ready and prepared, and we'll get to that tomorrow, doesn't matter who it is.
Doc Sadler:
• I thought both teams, especially the 1st half, played very hard. 38-30 at half, when you look at two teams that struggled to score baskets, I don't know about Coach Smith, but I had to question how good our defense was. We cut it back to 2, and they went on a 9-0 run and that was pretty much the game. We gave up some easy baskets in the 2nd half, and that's inexcusable. The one thing you can control is not dropping your chin, it's hard, but you need to learn how to do that. You're talking about coaching against one of the top 5 coaches in the country, it's fun to compete against guys like that.
• Rodney has been a good player all year, but he makes spectacular plays, you'd think he ended up with 40 points.
• Anytime you've got Coach Smith sitting on the bench, you've got a chance at the tournament, he's that good.
Rodney Williams:
• On if he was trying to match Blake Griffin with that dunk - no, I just went in there and try to get some contact. It was just something that kind of happened. ... I got a good dunk out of it.
• This was one of our biggest games, going into the BTT is like a new season. If you can go with confidence, anything can happen.
• They put in all the work, the seniors, for these four years. It was very important to go out there and play hard for those guys.
• I think no matter who the seniors are, it's important to get that last win for the seniors, they work hard every day, it shows how much you appreciate them.
• Sid - if you guys both played up to your ability, you may have a chance of winning a game or two. Rodney smiled.
• IT's good to get a few dunks in to get some energy into the building.
• Coach told us we had 23 assists tonight which I think is our season high. We had 5 players in double figures. It's good for us to see that.
• Is this your last game in Williams Arena? Rodney - Nah, you'll be seeing a lot more of me.
• I think we have a chance to beat Iowa, I definitely think if we close out the games the right way, we have a good chance of beating them.
Ralph Sampson:
• I enjoyed my last game here at the Barn, the fans were great, my family came out. We pulled together and came up with the win.
• We still have the feeling here about making a run in the BTT, getting everybody on board, and attacking every game like the last because it could be. What we need to do to win - play Gopher basketball
• Him going down early in the season, and recognize him tonight, it showed the support he still had. (on Trevor)
• Chip had a really good game tonight. He had a great time out there shooting, he was feeling it. He came out and carried us when we needed him to.
• I was very excited to see my family come out tonight. Trying not to get too excited, didn't want to get too geeked up and have an asthma attack.
Tubby Smith:
• This was a good win for us, Nebraska is a team that's been struggling, and we have been too. I hope everything works out with them, it's their 1st year in the Big 10, it can be a rude awakening, as it can be to any team.
• We got to send Ralph and Trevor off with a win, they have been good for the program. Ralph has been with us all four years, and has gone to 2 years of NCAA play. Through it all, he's been very positive and consistent. It's the coaches fault, we could have done other things, you don't surround someone with the right people. I've always been able to sleep comfortably knowing I'd have no issues with Ralph. I'd love to coach him for quite a few more games, I liked his energy today, and the entire team's energy. No one expected us to be 6-12. Our fans saw a team that's upbeat, and our future is bright. Chip played outstanding. We had a good balanced scoring, we won the battle on the boards, took care of the basketball. All the things you need to do to win, we did.
• Chip and Joe have struggled the last few games. Chip is a 2 guard that hasn't shot the ball that well. He made his FT's today, and he struggled with that before. We haven't had a guy that could just get hot. I can't remember, when the team is not playing well, we need someone to say "my shot's going, play me, get on my back team."
• We finished the game the right way, taking care of the ball. By and large, we went 19-24, we'll take that anytime. Defensively, the guys were active and talking, we stayed a lot with the zone. We've had trouble guarding people man to man. A lot of that has to do with youth, strength, and understanding how our defensive scheme works.
• Assists, the greatest thing you can do. They also assisted each other defensively.
• I remember by senior day, your gut is….but you have excitement, Ralph had energy and missed a few that he makes in practice, but he did what we needed him to do.
• On Rodney's dunks - I guess that helps him. It's 2 points, you don't get any more than you would for a lay-up. Most teams will guard against that. Thought Rodney attacked the basket, so he'll get dunks, when he plays with that extra energy.
• No preference on Iowa or Northwestern. We have to be ready and prepared, and we'll get to that tomorrow, doesn't matter who it is.
