Post-game press conference notes

[lou v]

Matt Painter

Doubling Swanigan: Tried to keep as much a skill as we could on the court...We put a balanced team on the floor...We wanted as much point entries from Vince Edwards as possible...Tried to put them in the toughest possible situation to double the post.

Another tough night for Law: We wanted to make it difficult for him to get shots in rhythm...Dakota Mathias did a great job guarding him...Did a good job taking good shots (to limit NU breakouts).

Free throws: If you look, that's the one thing in common for the games we do well in.

Edwards had another big game vs. NU: The 4 is their help guy...We wanted to get inside as much as possible and Vince would be open and be able to capitalize.

Will game carry over: I hope...You want close games...The more you can get in that you win, it helps your confidence...We're different because we don't go to a point guard (down the stretch). We get the ball to our horses (Swanigan).

Atmosphere: They've had great atmospheres here...but this is the best, no question about it...They earned it...They played great basketball, so it's great to see the crowds come out and support it.

 

[lou v]

Chris Collins

Just thought it was a great college basketball game. I hope you guys enjoyed it...Swanigan got a couple big buckets...Tap gets a great look that would've tied the game. Sometimes things happen like that...I'm really proud of our team...I think we're playing really well right now...I'm excited going into the post-season.

18-round boxing match is over: We were able to win more rounds than we lost...We did that...We viewed this as an amazing opportunity against a championship-level team...We got down 59-50 and came back. I'm really proud of that....There's no way there's ever been a crowd like that, today...They just made a few more plays than we did.

Lumpkin: He's just a warrior. I love that guy....Just his presence, his look, his fight. He's been a rock for me for these four years.

Didn't shoot as well from 3. We had 4-5 really good looks...Then maybe that last two minutes turn out differently.

Future: It's about keeping these guys fresh...We're coming up to end of (academic) quarter...Want these guys to get ahead because these next two weeks they'll be traveling....We'll be fresh, rested and ready to go.

Won five road games...Not too many other teams have done that...Until you hear your name called, you're not it...To me, you throw everything in the Big Ten Tournament. Let's not focus on what's coming down the pike, let's focus on the Big Ten Tournament.

Back to crowd: It was a special day. That crowd. It was everything I've dreamed of here....National TV games, sold-out crowds, that's what we aspire to. That's what good teams in this league have.

Swanigan: It's not easy to battle a guy like Swanigan...He's not just a power guy...He's the best player in the league, he might be the national player of the year...I admire that guy...I thought Dererk battled him all night...He got his 20 and 14, but he had to take 15 shots...I thought Edwards getting that 25 was the difference in the game...You know Swanigan is going to get 20.

Confidence: We're confident again. We're playing well again...Our level of play is in a good spot...I like where we're at...We're in a good spot.

Law's rough night: 13 shots is a lot of shots...I wanted him to be aggressive...I wanted him to take good shots...I feel good. If we can get Scottie and Vic 24 shots, I think that's good. That's a lot of shots....They just didn't shoot it as well.

 

[lou v]

Bryant McIntosh

Atmosphere: When you come here, it's what you dream of...That's the best atmosphere I ever played in, and I come from a great background of Indiana basketball...It was a special way to close out the arena.

Staying fresh: We're getting a couple days off...We have to get into the gym...Hopefully we can shoot it a little better next game.

Breaking assist record: Didn't know I broke it until after the game...Probably something I'll appreciate later on. Right now, I'm just upset that we lost.

Taphorn's miss: I thought we got him a pretty good look...(It's hard) to come off the bench and make a shot, especially when you're cold...It's tough to be him right now. I know he's upset...The highs and lows are rough right now. We believe in him....It was a great play, we executed it perfectly. He just came up short.

Lumpkin: Sanjay's going to be the toughest guy to let go...His toughness, his desire to win the game, his willingness to do the gritty work that not everyone appreciates or sees.

Pardon's post game: Dererk's really smart. His basketball IQ is right there with Olah...(Talks about big jumper and his confidence)...He's made tremendous growth.

What saying within team about NCAA tournament? We just have to focus and go try to win a Big Ten championship....It will be a tremendous opportunity for us.

 

[lou v]

Sanjay Lumpkin

Pre-game ceremony: I definitely knew I was going to cry...Best part was going through the tunnel and seeing all the guys. They've become my family.

Preparing for tourneys: Take time to get our bodies right, get in the gym and work on us.

Emotion of game: Seeing ovation from the crowd really got to me...I'll give you tears right now...It's just a special place to me...It's good to know we're still playing basketball after this.

They're a great team, the kind of team you play in the tournament...We treated today like a post-season, NCAA tournament game.

We tried to give a great sendoff for Welsh-Ryan...We just fell a little short.

We all came to this school to play this many games that mattered in March.

Every game from now on is win or go home. We've got an opportunity to play for a championship twice...The reason I came to this school was to be a part of history...We're not satisfied, we're not there yet.

 

[D_C_B]

Am I the only one wondering for the first time in my entire life whether the quarter system is a trouble point for us at tournament time?

Never thought about that before - for obvious reasons.

Good problem to have!

Finally!!