Post-game press conference notes

[lou v]

Chris Collins

Another really good win...Our defense was the story of the game...We were a little fortunate (with Blackmon and Onunoby out), but the players they have are still good....Tried to take away fast-break points and make them score in the first half....Barret Benson, Nathan Taphorn gave us great minutes...Really proud of McIntosh, he really controlled the game...Always big in the conference to win at home.

Taphorn injury: Rolled his ankle at end of the first half...Sprained ankle.

Bryant's performance after tough outing last year: Bryant loves his state...Means a little bit more....Emotions got the best of him last year in Assembly Hall, tried to do too much...I was proud of him.

Defense: Tougher minded team...First year, we couldn't score it all, so we had to play great defense...We are not a one-man band...Pardon two nights ago goes for 19 and 22, he didn't have a field goal tonight...Try to make teams take tough shots, hit the boards...We're not big...It's what they've done, it's nothing I've done.

12 rebounds for Law: We knew our big guys were going to wrestle inside, so our guards had to rebound...Law on Robert Johnson, didn't have block out responsibilities, got a lot of rebounds off of the top.

Lumpkin: Sanjay was awesome tonight. He was equally the star (with BMac) tonight...He was guarding the post or helping at times. He was all over the place...I love his effort, I love what he brings. He's the heart and soul of the team.

Atmosphere: It was awesome...It felt like big-time college basketball...Just enjoying this process...We appreciate the fans supporting this group, and I hoped that would be the case.

Dealing with success: I worry about it every second...worry about what could derail what you have going good...I'm proud of the success, yet I know how much basketball we have to play...Soften up the littlest bit, you crash down to reality in this conference...Every day, we talk about the present....Our guys are having fun, competing, enjoying the moment.

Benson PT: It's huge...When Pardon was out those 8 games, he started every game and got a lot of valuable experience...Got a lot of minutes because of the size of Indiana... I'm proud of Barret...There's no better teammate on the team...He's just a young big kid...The future of our front line is in really good hands with those two (Pardon and Benson).

 

[lou v]

Tom Crean

BMac's game: We didn't guard him that well. We let him get to his right hand too much...He played well, he's a good guard...he's improved.

8 minutes without FG: We weren't making enough shots. We weren't getting it inside...We let them get runouts and get confidence....The story of the game in the first half was the difference in turnovers and points off turnovers....Missed free throws.

Different about NU defense: There a good team. Chris is a great coach with a great staff....They've got older guys...They've had a chance to build. They're fifth or sixth in the country in blocked shots...We left some points on the board with FTs early on, we gave up too many turnovers.

Dealing with injuries: We just keep getting better...I'm highly confident...Reinventing part of it is certainly there, but we just have to keep improving...You can't do anything about that (injuries). I don't have any worries about that.

Getting the ball inside: You take what the game gives you, and in this game it was getting it inside...There were times we shot it too quick.

Leadership of team after Michigan loss: They responded, absolutely....They (Northwestern) is a really good team, and we had some opportunities we didn't take advantage of....Injuries not an excuse for not being in your man's face, not calling out screen...We'll keep getting better.

 

[lou v]

Sanjay Lumpkin

Last year's loss: Motivated us for this game, as well as how big this game is for us right now... We just have to cherish this game.

Steal and slam: At first I wasn't sure it went in or not, then the crowd erupted.

Heart and soul of team: Every day I try to do what it takes to win, if that means guarding a 6-10 big guy or take the charge...I do whatever it takes for this team.

Defensive effort: Whenever we have two games prep, we feel like we can lock up defensively...always on same page, so locked in on our prep...know that sometimes we won't shoot the ball well, but our defense will always be there, game in and game out.

Breaking Bryant's ankles: Feel like I have advantage when a big guy is guarding me on the perimeter...that's one of my favorite moves...I didn't realize that he fell.

Maturity of Law and Lindsey: It's great to see the development...they're both extremely gifted athletically...They're just getting started.

Nervous at start? I wouldn't say we were nervous...neither team shooting the ball that well...Matter of time to settle into the game.

NCAA tourney talk: Something in back of our minds...We get that question every day...Take it one game at a time...You can't look forward to anything.

 

[lou v]

Bryant McIntosh

10 family members and friends were here for the game.

Last year vs. this year vs. IU: Last year felt jittery playing in front of family....Got caught up in emotion...This year just focused on helping my team win.

Defense: Our pack-line defense is really though in the paint...We really dig when they hit the post...It's tough to score, that's what everybody wants to do, go inside out...Coaches do a great job of preparing us. We do a great job executing as well.

Recruited by Indiana? No. Consider it? I would've considered it. Did it bother you? They recruit nationally, more than they do Indiana. That's just part of how they recruit...It's a business, I understand that....I had to find a school that fit me...and I found it.

Team's ability to deal with attention: We're really hungry. We're not satisfied with what people are saying about us. We don't read that stuff... We know it can go as fast as it came...We'll either do something special and be different, or we'll be like every other Northwestern team. That's it. It's an easy job for you guys.

Box and 1 vs. him: I was surprised. We weren't prepared for it...Teams might do that, we'll have to prepare for it.

First airball: It slipped....Everybody shoots one, it's all good.

Changing the culture: It's special. That's the end of the story. It's going to be really special when we do it...We have to be tougher, but we can be really, really good...That's the fun part... This is over. This isn't the same Northwestern.

Tougher? We have to make tougher plays. They bullied us on the boards early...There's a lot of things we can grow from....We're never satisfied with a win.

 

[ricko654321]

Bryant McIntosh

10 family members and friends were here for the game.

Last year vs. this year vs. IU: Last year felt jittery playing in front of family....Got caught up in emotion...This year just focused on helping my team win.

Defense: Our pack-line defense is really though in the paint...We really dig when they hit the post...It's tough to score, that's what everybody wants to do, go inside out...Coaches do a great job of preparing us. We do a great job executing as well.

Recruited by Indiana? No. Consider it? I would've considered it. Did it bother you? They recruit nationally, more than they do Indiana. That's just part of how they recruit...It's a business, I understand that....I had to find a school that fit me...and I found it.

Team's ability to deal with attention: We're really hungry. We're not satisfied with what people are saying about us. We don't read that stuff... We know it can go as fast as it came...We'll either do something special and be different, or we'll be like every other Northwestern team. That's it. It's an easy job for you guys.

Box and 1 vs. him: I was surprised. We weren't prepared for it...Teams might do that, we'll have to prepare for it.

First airball: It slipped....Everybody shoots one, it's all good.

Changing the culture: It's special. That's the end of the story. It's going to be really special when we do it...We have to be tougher, but we can be really, really good...That's the fun part... This is over. This isn't the same Northwestern.

Tougher? We have to make tougher plays. They bullied us on the boards early...There's a lot of things we can grow from....We're never satisfied with a win.

"This is over. This isn't the same Northwestern." I'm guessing Chris wouldn't want to put a target on ourselves really, but I almost feel like NU Marketing could use that on campus (and in the city) to stoke the enthusiasm a little bit more.