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Q&A: Alex Illikainen Talks Relationship with Coach Pitino, Thoughts on Gophers and Recruitment
By Chris Monter
http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/325024?referrer_id=388419
Alex Illikainen, a 6-9 2015 junior from Grand Rapids, is considered one of the top players in the state in the Class of 2015. Illikainen has helped lead Grand Rapids to the Class AAA state boy's basketball tournament for the third straight year.
Illikainen talked to GopherHole after playing in the Timberwolves Shootout. He had 17 points and 13 rebounds before fouling out with six minutes left in a 59-36 loss to Lakeville North.
Gopher Hole: Have you had a chance to make many college games this season?
Alex Illikainen: Yes. I went to an Iowa State game and a Creighton game.
Gopher Hole: Did you go to two Creighton games?
Alex Illikainen: Yes. I went to Chicago State (December 29th) and the Marquette game (December 31st).
Gopher Hole: So you stayed that whole weekend, right?
Alex Illikainen: Yes. I got to see everything.
Gopher Hole: What was the atmosphere like there? I know that they had a big crowd against Marquette in their Big East debut.
Alex Illikainen: The Chicago State game was a little laid back because of the holiday crowd, but for the Marquette game, they brought all the fans. 17-18,000 fans, so it was awesome.
Gopher Hole: Any plans to go to any Minnesota games?
Alex Illikainen: I am going on Sunday.
Gopher Hole: Have you had a chance to watch the Gophers on TV much?
Alex Illikainen: I got to see them play against Michigan, but other than that, I haven't gotten to see them, so I am excited to go down there and watch them.
Gopher Hole: What are you hoping to see out of them tomorrow in terms of style of play?
Alex Illikainen: Just move the ball and use everybody. Get the team spread out and attack.
Gopher Hole: How many offers are you up to right now?
Alex Illikainen: Twelve.
Gopher Hole: Wisconsin assistant Greg Gard was here to watch you as was Minnesota head coach Richard Pitino and assistant Ben Johnson. That has to make you feel pretty good to have those kind of coaches coming to watch you play today?
Alex Illikainen: It is awesome.
Gopher Hole: Is it hard to get back into the 9:15 start time mode? You do it during the AAU season, but it is tough to play that early in the regular season?
Alex Illikainen: It was rough. Getting down here (9:30 Friday night) and getting up and trying to get warmed up and get your shot down was pretty tough. I had their big guys double team me, so it was pretty hard.
Gopher Hole: How about your season so far? I know that you have been a bit up and down with two starters having some injury issues. You are currently 8-3. How pleased are you with how things have gone so far and how about your own individual play?
Alex Illikainen: We have been getting better every day. We started pretty rough and getting better and better. Today, we played great defense. We got some guys who did great all around. We just didn't work quite well together and didn't get the job done.
Gopher Hole: Do you think that playing these type of teams like Lakeville North, that made the Class 4A State Tournament last season, is going to help you improve and get ready for the playoffs?
Alex Illikainen: Yes. It is going to teach us what we can't do. We can't have lazy passes. We can't do all that stuff, so it definitely helps to make it easier at the end of the road.
Gopher Hole: What was it like to play in a NBA arena?
Alex Illikainen: It was awesome. Different feel with the backboard and the lights. It was cool, though.
Gopher Hole: Did it take some time to adjust to the longer court and background?
Alex Illikainen: Yes, mostly having nothing behind the board and the open space. It was hard, but I started to little more comfortable.
Gopher Hole: It is kind of nice weekend for you to get a chance to watch an NBA game Saturday night and a Big Ten game Sunday.
Alex Illikainen: Yes. It is a big thing coming down here to the Target Center for us.
Gopher Hole: Any other plans to go to some college games in the next couple of months?
Alex Illikainen: I am going to try to get to see everywhere, so that I can figure where my head is at, so I am going to try to see Oregon and Cal and wherever else I can fit in.
Gopher Hole: Have you even thought about when you would try to decide on a school? Would you decide before your senior year or have you even thought that far yet?
Alex Illikainen: Earlier, I had said before my senior season. I am thinking in the fall sometime, maybe a little before.
Gopher Hole: What are your feelings about the Gophers. Obviously, the old staff had recruited you and now you are being recruited by Coach Pitino and Coach Johnson. What are you feelings about Minnesota right now?
Alex Illikainen: It is a good place with Coach Pitino there and Coach Johnson. I have been talking to them a lot and I have known Coach Johnson for a while (he had recruited Illikainen at Nebraska), so it is good.
Gopher Hole: What would it meant to maybe play for the home state school if that is where you decided to go?
Alex Illikainen: It would be really cool. It would be special. Having everyone there. My home state. Being able to go home and all that kind of stuff. It would be real cool.
Gopher Hole: I know that you have two sisters who play college hockey out East. I'm sure that your parents would love to see them play more often. Would that mean something more to play closer to home so they could see you play since they can't see them as often?
Alex Illikainen: Absolutely. They get to come home in the summer, but I am pretty sure that basketball doesn't allow you to come home as much. You get a couple of breaks here and there, so it would make it a lot easier.
By Chris Monter
http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/325024?referrer_id=388419
Alex Illikainen, a 6-9 2015 junior from Grand Rapids, is considered one of the top players in the state in the Class of 2015. Illikainen has helped lead Grand Rapids to the Class AAA state boy's basketball tournament for the third straight year.
Illikainen talked to GopherHole after playing in the Timberwolves Shootout. He had 17 points and 13 rebounds before fouling out with six minutes left in a 59-36 loss to Lakeville North.
Gopher Hole: Have you had a chance to make many college games this season?
Alex Illikainen: Yes. I went to an Iowa State game and a Creighton game.
Gopher Hole: Did you go to two Creighton games?
Alex Illikainen: Yes. I went to Chicago State (December 29th) and the Marquette game (December 31st).
Gopher Hole: So you stayed that whole weekend, right?
Alex Illikainen: Yes. I got to see everything.
Gopher Hole: What was the atmosphere like there? I know that they had a big crowd against Marquette in their Big East debut.
Alex Illikainen: The Chicago State game was a little laid back because of the holiday crowd, but for the Marquette game, they brought all the fans. 17-18,000 fans, so it was awesome.
Gopher Hole: Any plans to go to any Minnesota games?
Alex Illikainen: I am going on Sunday.
Gopher Hole: Have you had a chance to watch the Gophers on TV much?
Alex Illikainen: I got to see them play against Michigan, but other than that, I haven't gotten to see them, so I am excited to go down there and watch them.
Gopher Hole: What are you hoping to see out of them tomorrow in terms of style of play?
Alex Illikainen: Just move the ball and use everybody. Get the team spread out and attack.
Gopher Hole: How many offers are you up to right now?
Alex Illikainen: Twelve.
Gopher Hole: Wisconsin assistant Greg Gard was here to watch you as was Minnesota head coach Richard Pitino and assistant Ben Johnson. That has to make you feel pretty good to have those kind of coaches coming to watch you play today?
Alex Illikainen: It is awesome.
Gopher Hole: Is it hard to get back into the 9:15 start time mode? You do it during the AAU season, but it is tough to play that early in the regular season?
Alex Illikainen: It was rough. Getting down here (9:30 Friday night) and getting up and trying to get warmed up and get your shot down was pretty tough. I had their big guys double team me, so it was pretty hard.
Gopher Hole: How about your season so far? I know that you have been a bit up and down with two starters having some injury issues. You are currently 8-3. How pleased are you with how things have gone so far and how about your own individual play?
Alex Illikainen: We have been getting better every day. We started pretty rough and getting better and better. Today, we played great defense. We got some guys who did great all around. We just didn't work quite well together and didn't get the job done.
Gopher Hole: Do you think that playing these type of teams like Lakeville North, that made the Class 4A State Tournament last season, is going to help you improve and get ready for the playoffs?
Alex Illikainen: Yes. It is going to teach us what we can't do. We can't have lazy passes. We can't do all that stuff, so it definitely helps to make it easier at the end of the road.
Gopher Hole: What was it like to play in a NBA arena?
Alex Illikainen: It was awesome. Different feel with the backboard and the lights. It was cool, though.
Gopher Hole: Did it take some time to adjust to the longer court and background?
Alex Illikainen: Yes, mostly having nothing behind the board and the open space. It was hard, but I started to little more comfortable.
Gopher Hole: It is kind of nice weekend for you to get a chance to watch an NBA game Saturday night and a Big Ten game Sunday.
Alex Illikainen: Yes. It is a big thing coming down here to the Target Center for us.
Gopher Hole: Any other plans to go to some college games in the next couple of months?
Alex Illikainen: I am going to try to get to see everywhere, so that I can figure where my head is at, so I am going to try to see Oregon and Cal and wherever else I can fit in.
Gopher Hole: Have you even thought about when you would try to decide on a school? Would you decide before your senior year or have you even thought that far yet?
Alex Illikainen: Earlier, I had said before my senior season. I am thinking in the fall sometime, maybe a little before.
Gopher Hole: What are your feelings about the Gophers. Obviously, the old staff had recruited you and now you are being recruited by Coach Pitino and Coach Johnson. What are you feelings about Minnesota right now?
Alex Illikainen: It is a good place with Coach Pitino there and Coach Johnson. I have been talking to them a lot and I have known Coach Johnson for a while (he had recruited Illikainen at Nebraska), so it is good.
Gopher Hole: What would it meant to maybe play for the home state school if that is where you decided to go?
Alex Illikainen: It would be really cool. It would be special. Having everyone there. My home state. Being able to go home and all that kind of stuff. It would be real cool.
Gopher Hole: I know that you have two sisters who play college hockey out East. I'm sure that your parents would love to see them play more often. Would that mean something more to play closer to home so they could see you play since they can't see them as often?
Alex Illikainen: Absolutely. They get to come home in the summer, but I am pretty sure that basketball doesn't allow you to come home as much. You get a couple of breaks here and there, so it would make it a lot easier.
