Post-Game Quotes
2/22/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 22, 2009
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Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo
Opening statement...
I'm still not sure about this game and how it went. The way I look at it is in segments. I thought defensively we were very good. I thought the first half the turnovers hurt us because they got three layups and two threes off of our turnovers. Our half court defense was very good, but I also thought their defense was very good. We just could not make a shot and then we started to get impatient and started to jack up shots. At halftime we said we have to go inside with the basketball and we cut the score to two points and then we started jacking up three-pointers again. That was disappointing, but there are a couple guys you really have to give credit to. I think Walton did an incredible job when we had him on Krabbenhoft in the first half. Then when Hughes was hurting us we put him on him and he did an unbelievable job on him as well. Delvon Roe continues to grow a little bit, and Kalin Lucas came around in the second half. Wisconsin is a very good basketball team, and to hold them to 31 percent shooting I think speaks volumes and I also think our rebounding was great. I have a function to go to after this at my house with the 1979 team, and I have a feeling Jud is not going to be very happy with them, except for the win because we did not show good shot selection or patience and that was disappointing. I thought it was going to be our day when I started Herzog, and I did that because I didn't put him in at Purdue when I put everyone else in. The kid has worked so hard, and has been in here everyday so I apologized to him and told him I was going to start him the next game.
On the 1979 team being here today...
My mentor was here, and we looked like a dysfunctional group here so that bothered me. And then we had Magic here right behind me with all his stardom, so yeah that was pressure. But more importantly I wanted to win it because all of those players have continued to come back and call back and that I think speaks for continuity in a program. Gus recruited some of those guys, and then Jud took over, and I think that is one thing I have been able to do is keep that rolling, thanks to Earvin and Gregory supporting me early and I think the rest jumped on. It was fun because we had them in the locker room after the game. I told our players if they have enough care and enough courage they will do what these guys are doing for you.
On Goran Suton's game...
I was not really happy with him for 35 minutes to tell you the truth, and I told him that. I was really disappointed when we were trying to go inside and we started jacking threes instead. I don't know why he eventually decided to go inside, but finally I told Walton too, that if he doesn't get it inside I was going to threaten him too. We did a lot better job the second half getting it inside and it made a big difference. Goran has to bring it every minute of every game and as happy as I am for him, don't think he's off the hook. He has skills and abilities to do a lot of things, and so how I am going to get that out of him in the next three weeks because that kid could be a very good player.
On playing full court defense...
It was effective because I think we wore them down a little bit. They only made 15 field goals and of those 15, like I said there were three break away layups in the first half because we said here take the ball and go down there and lay it up and we will sit and watch. I think they have guys that play a lot of minutes and one of the things we were trying to do was wear them down a little bit. We couldn't play Korie Lucious because he is sicker than a dog, so he was not able to do anything which hurt us a little bit. Walton and Lucas really picked it up and when we went inside it was a lot better, so maybe we learned a lesson today.
On what made the team turn around and take the lead...
I told them in the huddle that they were too fragile and we were taking the gloves off and to be honest with you that's what we did. Everyone has to do what they have to do to get their point across and I was not very pleased with the way we were playing. I do not want to take anything away from Wisconsin because they played pretty well, but you have to admit some of those turnovers we were just throwing the ball away. A couple of those were Raymar Morgan's because we was a little out of sync but we will get him back here hopefully by the end of this week. It's amazing because some people are self motivated, and others need people to motivate them. I don't need anyone to motivate me, but sometimes players do. Sometimes coaches have to be psychiatrists and juggle a bunch of different personalities but sooner or later you will find the right way to do things and find a winning way to win.
Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan
On what happened during the final 10 minutes of the game...
Well, life is about tempo and pace in a lot of things that we do. When they were making their run, which you know teams are going to do especially at home, you need to get a bucket to squeeze between. We missed some shots around the basket that always seem like they're easy sitting there watching but evidently they weren't as easy as they looked because they didn't go in. The two three's couldn't have come at a better time for them. Six points on two possessions can really stick a dagger in, especially if you're not getting something at the other end. I think we tried making some great passes instead of good passes and we didn't finish on our shots. They also turned it up defensively.
On how rebounding affected the outcome of the game...
You can only hold the dam back so long. When the dam broke, guys fed off of that. Our guys tried, but we just didn't have the answer.
On how his team wasn't able to counteract Michigan State's second-half run...
When it started, we just didn't answer very well. The best way to do that is to get something around the basket to quiet the crowd. You have to get the ball up and out and not play off of a miss, especially when a guy drives and falls down without being fouled or touched. That gives them the advantage at the other end and that's how you get into trouble.
On senior Joe Krabbenhoft not having any rebounds...
Sometimes you are opportunistic and can get some, sometimes you can get your hands on some without being credited with one and sometimes the other team does a pretty good job of blocking you out and not giving you those opportunities. It can also be due to the fact that if you're matched up with a shooter, you have to get back so you're not going to the glass. That's not unusual for our three men when we're playing Michigan State.
