Post-game press conference notes

[lou v]

John Groce

That was a really good team...That's a very good team, well coached...we feel very fortunate to come away with the win...Our defense is what stands out to me both halves...When the ball goes in it makes you look a little bit better...We had several players do a lot of different things...A key was the start, when we didn't shoot it very well...but our defense continued to work and we competed...until we started making a few shots to get back into it.

Lucas: Today was his most complete game...Worked hard defensively on a player whose a handful, McIntosh...Made timely shots.

8-man rotation: Didn't plan it going into the game...Liked the way they were playing together...Finke earned more minutes today...He had three steals and made timely shots for us.

Momentum: Hope you can gain momentum, but we've talked...about staying in the moment...not dwell on the past or look to the future.

Illinois outscored NU 30-13 in bench points: Our bench was huge...We got contributions from everyone who played today.

 

[lou v]

Chris Collins

Just a tough loss...I thought both teams played hard...I thought we had 5 turnovers at the end of the game...Credit Illinois. Finke hit a big 3 and then a big shot in the lane...Our turnovers were costly at the finish....It's a long season, lots of ebbs and flows...just gotta keep playing.

BMac's six turnovers: There's a lot on his now when you take 16 points a game off the floor...He had 3 or 4 turnovers in the last 2 minutes...He missed his first 8 shots and made 8 of his last 12, when their whole game plan was to stop two games...I'm proud of those two guys.

First-half 15-0 run: I feel like the game is a long game...Called timeout to regain our poise...They got a couple layups...

(My computer froze here, so I missed some quotes)

How do you get back on track: Gotta keep playing. Started 1-2, went to Nebraska and got a win…This league is crazy…Everyone is good. If you don’t play well, anyone can beat you…I thought our effort was great…Turnovers and bad shots…You gotta play smarter.

Playing smarter? I thought we rushed shots…We were a little bit too eager…Especially in middle of second half…When we executed we got good shots…Then down the stretch, we just didn’t get good shots…

Sanjay: Played him on the wing…He gets a lot of his stuff when he plays power forward…We’ve got a find a way to get more production out of him.

 

[lou v]

Pardon

How do you stay up with Wisconsin and Maryland next: You just take games one at a time and keep your head down.

Finke's big game: Sometimes you just have to tip your cap.

 

[Alaskawildkat]

Collins:
"Playing smarter? I thought we rushed shots…We were a little bit too eager…Especially in middle of second half…"

If one goes back to the in game threads this seems to have been a major concern that was being expressed. Glad to see that Coach Collins recognized it which suggests it will be addressed in preparing for our next game.

One thing that no one has mentioned though is the size differential that at least appeared on TV to favor the Illini. That appeared to be a factor in not being able to get off good clean shots. It repeatedly appeared like Don Quixote was trying to throw over or around a spinning windmill each time a shot was trying to be made.

I got the impression that the rushed shots were at least in part a consequence of the players trying to take advantage of the brief intermittent seconds that they found the windmill wasn't spinning in their face.