The Gophers got their first Big Ten win of the season on Saturday with an 89-80 victory of Rutgers. Senior guard Andre Hollins had the second highest scoring game of his career with a game-high 31 points. The sports betting information sites had the Gophers as a favorite in this game with it being at Williams Arena and the team responded. Below are post-game quotes:
Eddie Jordan
• Richard had his team prepared. He had a good scheme today. You can’t spot a team 26 points and try to win on the road. They did a lot of good things, they utilized his strengths with Hollins coming off the screens. They deserved to win. They could very well be 4-1 right now. They played so well in every game. They’ve got quickness. His defensive scheme forced us to have the turnovers that we had.
• We didn’t do these technically correct to defend some cross screens. Some of that was our un-doing, some of it was their scheme to find people in the post.
• On Williams Arena – I’ve always like the raised floor. You feel like you’re on the stage, it was different for me to coach that way. As long as no one gets hurt going for a loose ball.
Richard Pitino:
• Obviously it feels good to get off that tough losing streak. The message to our guys is that we’re not un-lucky, we may not have been lucky, but we need to start creating our own luck. I feel like every time we lost, it’s always a question of Andre Hollins, he does a lot of good things beside scoring the bball. If he doesn’t make shots, he does a lot for our team. That was obviously difficult for our guys to lose so many close games, I’ve never seen so many close games in a short span of time.
• The reason why I stuck with Andre…I don’t really look for offense…if you’re not making shots, as long as you take good ones, I’m going to roll with you. I never really had a doubt because he does all those other things. He’s an awesome kid, a good player, and awesome representative of this University, and a great kid to coach.
• Mathieu brought a great spark off the bench, one of the reasons he’s coming off the bench is because we needed to be bigger. We were too small against Iowa. It’s hard for a kid who started every game to come off the bench, but he didn’t pout.
• You try to be positive, we built leads on good teams – everyone says you blow leads – but at least we weren’t down by 20. Joey hit some nice shots, he’s shooting that one dribble pull up. Mo was really good. I’m happy for these guys. That was a tough couple weeks, they never don’t show up and not play hard.
• I thought today it would be really tough because it’s natural after you lose 5 games in the league. I like the fact that we were tight knit, blocked out all distractions, and they were positive. Getting that 1st win was big.
• They’re going to feel sorry for themselves, and they’re going to feel unlucky. Create your own luck. All it takes is one win to feel good again. I’ve never seen so many close losses in a short amount of time.
• Bakary – He fouled, but he did some good things. I think he’s going to be a good player. I wanted to play Gas today, but he hurt himself in practice yesterday, he hurt his IT band.
• He’s not playing great certainly, and his free throw shooting – it’s not necessarily Elliott, but we have to develop Bakary.
• Nate Mason could be really special if he could make his free throws. His nickname is one for 2. He’s a calming influence. I’m excited about our young guys.
• When I re-watched the film, we weren’t tough enough, not physical enough during the Iowa game. In the world of sports today and social media, it just happens, when you lose, you can’t hide.
• I think confidence changes with a win. Confidence also builds toughness. They played looser today. Guys in that locker room, we all stayed together.
Mo Walker:
• With all of these games that could have gone either way, it feels good to be on the other end.
• It feels really good to see Andre have that kind of a game, I know he’s been putting a lot of work in. He’s got a few extra workouts in, making sure his shot is falling and what not. It’s showing, it’s paid off today, he had a big shooting night. It energizes everybody.
Nate Mason:
• I was happy to get a win, it means a lot, we need to keep it going
• We picked it up from previous games we learned*from it
• Was there ever a point where you lost confidence? Nate: No.
Andre Hollins:
• I just have to remember it’s my last year and you have to have fun. When Austin Hollins came back and visited he told me – you’ve just gotta have fun.
• Mo, Elliot all the bigs, even the guards were setting screens for me and I was getting wide open shots. I was feeling good.
• Who do you play for? We play for each other, we play for each guy in the locker room. We work as hard as we can, day in and day out.
• Mo said you had been putting in extra workouts, what are you working on? Working harder, putting up extra shots.*I came in last night and got some shots in so I could get a good rhythm.
Bakary Konate:
• (On playing for the 1st time since Purdue) It was amazing really, I was very surprised when Coach gave me this opportunity to try to help my team.
• Every practice is like a game for me, I try to learn every day and play hard.
• What has he improved upon? Talking defensively, I try to get every rebound, and box out and challenge every shot. *
Deandre Mathieu:
• Whatever I can do to help my team, I’m going to do it. It’s all about the team.
• If it’s tough not starting? Starting games is cool but it’s all about who finishes, and I just want to help my team.
• Nate Mason is playing really well, he’s been playing really well all year.
• Sitting on the bench is never fun, but if it’s what’s got to be done to help the team win games, I’ll do it.
• On the post game atmosphere – A lot more happy. Look! Nates smiling over there, guys are smiling. The last few games there wasn’t a lot of smiling, no talking, guys had their heads hung. To see guys are upbeat and positive is a really good feeling.
• You guys went to Nebraska last year….(Dre interrupts) – Yeah, and I had 7 turnovers..that won’t happen again!*
• On getting a road win – This would really start this streak off.*It would get us going in the right direction, we struggle on the road, that would really help our confidence.