Post Game Quotes
1/10/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 10, 2012
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Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo
Opening Statement
Well, it was one of those strange games. I felt like just like the opposite happened to us last year. We were thirty-something down and we didn't play well. I didn't think Iowa played as well as I saw them on film. On the other side, I think we played as well as we could the first half. So, it wasn't a normal game. They have been playing really well. It's just one of those things. Like I said, I've been there, done that. In respect to us, the 15 assists on 19 baskets in the first half and the 25 on 37 is probably the most impressive thing of the night for me. The unselfishness was second to none. There were times in that first half when (Derrick) Nix made some unbelievable passes from inside to out and moved the ball. I just thought guys were so unselfish. We got a lot out of a lot of guys. That's kind of what you want to do when you get Day Day (Draymond Green) almost a double-double. You are starting to see (Keith) Appling get better and better, 9 assists and no turnovers and a couple of incredible plays coming out on the break. We got (Brandon) Wood some shots. I thought we were good in all areas except I thought our bigs were a little bit slow tonight on the step ups and things at times. They were a little better later on. It's one of those games, like I said, where everything went right for us and everything went wrong for them. But I'm proud of our guys and the assist thing and I'm proud of them. A week off is sometimes beneficial but it was a little scary for me today. I just didn't know how we would we react. It was just too much practice time. I think we were all a little stale by the end. Hopefully we can grow from this. Build from this.
On if the team's chemistry with so many young guys is surprising ...
It is. It is surprising. (Brandan) Kearney did a good job today. Even (Branden) Dawson hit a couple of guys moving. But it started with (Derrick) Nix a lot and his kick outs and Day Day's cross-court passes to (Brandon) Wood. You're right. There was a lot of unselfish play. Keith (Appling) is as unselfish as a kid for a guy who was a prolific scorer in high school. He's just done a great job. Our defense was spotty at sometimes with our young guys but that unselfishness is special.
On if he has ever had a team where everyone understands their roles and they seem to embrace it ...
You know its funny Sam, I really haven't sat down and gone over it as much. We did collectively and we talked about know what you can do. A guy like B.J. (Branden Dawson) has been pretty good about that. He has not been what he is going to be, but he knows he is not a three-point shooter so he's this and he's that. I think Nix knows where he is best at. And Day Day is best everywhere. Keith is enforcing things. I can't say I have a team with as many guys that are playing roles and still guarding people as this team has been. That's why we've had some success with maybe not as one of the talented teams that we've had, but definitely one of the better chemistry teams we've had.
On if this team can mean something special ...
You know, I keep saying, I'm not sure we do yet. I think the meat of our schedule is coming up. It depends by what you mean by something special. I don't know how many games we're going to win but it's been a special team already because they've done what we asked them to do. They've defended. They've rebounded. We didn't rebound as great. That number 30, (Aaron) White, for them, is going to be one hell of a player as a freshman. I think he is going to be very good. I thought (Roy) Marble played pretty good at times too. I keep feel like I'm downgrading us. I'm really not. I just think that we have so much more to learn and we're trying to coach them right to the end. We don't want them to get casual. The freshman didn't come out with the energy that the upperclassmen did. That's what we're trying to tell A.P. (Adreian Payne) and B.J. (Branden Dawson) that they have to play harder, longer. Keith and Day Day and Austin and those guys are doing that. We still have some work to do. If we get that out of them, and we get B.J. playing like I think he can, I think we have a chance to be a lot better than we are. Where that takes us, I don't know because I don't know where the league is.
On how the Izzone responded tonight ...
I thought they were great. I think the one thing I would like to say is that there are probably 330 schools that would love to have the Izzone any day of the week. We are hopefully one of those 17-20 that you have to perform a little better. That includes our team. That includes them. That's the way I look at it. Players shouldn't get their feelings hurt if we are pushing them to be the best. I don't think students should get their feelings hurt if we are pushing them to be the best. Last year, people pushed me. I just got mad and went to work. That's what I think you are supposed to do. They're good. I'm just looking for great. Tonight, they took a step in that direction as our team did.
On if he is shocked on how far along his team ...
I was definitely shocked for this game. We had a combination and we played above what we can play and they played below. They just did not play as well as I've seen them play. They have been playing awfully well lately. Even with some losses, they've played well. Fran has done a great job with this team. Tonight wasn't their night. Like I said we went through that last year. But, if I was to be honest, we were making more shots than I thought we would. Our defense has been better than I thought they would be for a young perimeter team. We are responding. Day Day did a great job in the huddles not letting things get away. We're responding. When you challenge a guy for the most part, he's gearing up and getting the job done so that's a good plus.
Iowa Head Coach Fran McCaffery
On ball movement in the first half...
We were trapping ball screens early and our rotations were not what they needed to be and it's a very good passing team, a good shooting team, especially when they're open. Appling did a real good job with the trap so we got out of it. Early on, it was our rotations that were ineffective.
On defending the post...
I would have to go back and break the film down. We had a number of break downs. Before I put another game plan together, I would want to watch this one. You either double the post, you double ball screens, you do one or the other or you do part of it during different parts of the game. They're big and strong and what I have in particular are smaller posts. Our bigger posts, defensively, gave them a lot more trouble, but then that lineup doesn't score the ball as well for us.
On keeping the players up ...
You got to do two things. Number one, you got to self reflect on your own performance and be honest with yourself. That's not only the players, it's the coaches too. What could we have done differently? Did we give them too much information, do we need to give them more information. You got to look at the film then honestly assess who did what. What was good? What was bad? Then continue to believe in yourself and believe in each other and try to get better. We start Saturday zero-zero. I think we'll play better.
On Michigan State scoring...
They have a number of good players and a number of double figure scorers. I think the key for us here would have been to get off to a better start. Once they jumped to a lead, they're at home they got a lead, they're comfortable shooting three's. They're comfortable in the post. They are a team that averages four three's a game and they made six in the first half. They were open, but they were also up by 15.
