Post-game press conference notes
- Thread starter lou v
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A very terse Fran McCaffrey
Biggest issue: I would say this...pretty much everything.
I think they're a very good team...they played very well...they're a team that's really connected, playing well together. We were disjointed tonight...
Jok: They were up close and tight on him. Back was bothering him, which is why he took him out. They (NU) were working hard.
Fran had several very short responses to a few other questions:
Did you see it coming? No
Was there some light in the second half? Very little.
Biggest issue: I would say this...pretty much everything.
I think they're a very good team...they played very well...they're a team that's really connected, playing well together. We were disjointed tonight...
Jok: They were up close and tight on him. Back was bothering him, which is why he took him out. They (NU) were working hard.
Fran had several very short responses to a few other questions:
Did you see it coming? No
Was there some light in the second half? Very little.
Chris Collins, wearing a T-shirt
Our best 40-minute performance of the year...every time they hit us with a run, we hit 'em back...what stands out the most to me is the way we shared the ball...29 assists on 37 made field goals.
Our preparation defensively was good...Vic did a great job (on Jok), just chased him around...he also got some clean shots that he missed...
My guys play really hard...I hope you guys see how hard they play every night...fan support was great...he dreamed of a night like tonight when he took the job...
BMac and Scottie: Both really good...they like to view themselves as an elite backcourt...they can both score and handle...Tonight was vintage B-Mac, man. He was awesome...It was his game tonight...
40 minutes, not a good/bad half: It's one game. I hope that it means more complete games...
Anything different for B-Mac: He was sick early in the week...he had nothing in the Rutgers game. He was struggling. He had to gut that one out...Starting from Minnesota game, he's back to having fun playing.
Pardon: Dererk's a terrific player. He's just our anchor....He and Sanjay lead by action...bring a lot of strength to the team...now you see Dererk's ability to produce offensively...helps when you have a little guard, B-Mac, giving you dunks.
On Hankins (players were at the game yesterday): We're family...it hit home with a lot of us...She was in the gym all the time, playing her music, shimmying...we play in her honor.
Defending Jok: Tried to prevent him from hitting 3s and getting to the free-throw line...try to make him get one point to one shot...just didn't want him to get easy baskets.
Our best 40-minute performance of the year...every time they hit us with a run, we hit 'em back...what stands out the most to me is the way we shared the ball...29 assists on 37 made field goals.
Our preparation defensively was good...Vic did a great job (on Jok), just chased him around...he also got some clean shots that he missed...
My guys play really hard...I hope you guys see how hard they play every night...fan support was great...he dreamed of a night like tonight when he took the job...
BMac and Scottie: Both really good...they like to view themselves as an elite backcourt...they can both score and handle...Tonight was vintage B-Mac, man. He was awesome...It was his game tonight...
40 minutes, not a good/bad half: It's one game. I hope that it means more complete games...
Anything different for B-Mac: He was sick early in the week...he had nothing in the Rutgers game. He was struggling. He had to gut that one out...Starting from Minnesota game, he's back to having fun playing.
Pardon: Dererk's a terrific player. He's just our anchor....He and Sanjay lead by action...bring a lot of strength to the team...now you see Dererk's ability to produce offensively...helps when you have a little guard, B-Mac, giving you dunks.
On Hankins (players were at the game yesterday): We're family...it hit home with a lot of us...She was in the gym all the time, playing her music, shimmying...we play in her honor.
Defending Jok: Tried to prevent him from hitting 3s and getting to the free-throw line...try to make him get one point to one shot...just didn't want him to get easy baskets.
Scottie Lindsey
Second half: Came out more fired up to try to put it away.
Coming together: This was our best full 40 minutes all year...
On the dunk: It felt awesome...very fun for us to play like that...I was glad the crowd was into it.
On he and B-Mac combining for 44: He's my roommate...it was a great feeling, just awesome.
On beating Iowa: Just as happy as I was with other wins...wins aren't easy in the Big Ten...every game is a struggle...
Second half: Came out more fired up to try to put it away.
Coming together: This was our best full 40 minutes all year...
On the dunk: It felt awesome...very fun for us to play like that...I was glad the crowd was into it.
On he and B-Mac combining for 44: He's my roommate...it was a great feeling, just awesome.
On beating Iowa: Just as happy as I was with other wins...wins aren't easy in the Big Ten...every game is a struggle...
BMac
Second half: It speaks a little bit to our growth, our maturity...when you have a 14-point lead, you make it a 20-point lead...we've been on the other end...it was big to do that to them for a chance.
Scoring: When I put the ball in the basket, it enables me to do the things I do best (assists)...Hit floater in first half...that's when I knew I had it going...
Atmosphere: It was tremendous...
Lobs to Pardon: Trying to make the right play...bigs were stepping up...so lob or creative pass to give him the ball...fun last couple minutes with him...
Elite backcourt? Our backcourt is tremendous...we're all versatile weapons. That puts a lot of pressure on other teams.
On Law: He guards the other teams best player...finishes through contact...finds a way to will the ball into the basket...he's lethal, especially when he has it going.
Are you happy again? Coach and I had a great sitdown Jan. 4 at his house...the happiness, the joy, just in every day life. I give him a lot of credit for that. He's become like a father figure to me...personal things, I don't want to get into that.
Second half: It speaks a little bit to our growth, our maturity...when you have a 14-point lead, you make it a 20-point lead...we've been on the other end...it was big to do that to them for a chance.
Scoring: When I put the ball in the basket, it enables me to do the things I do best (assists)...Hit floater in first half...that's when I knew I had it going...
Atmosphere: It was tremendous...
Lobs to Pardon: Trying to make the right play...bigs were stepping up...so lob or creative pass to give him the ball...fun last couple minutes with him...
Elite backcourt? Our backcourt is tremendous...we're all versatile weapons. That puts a lot of pressure on other teams.
On Law: He guards the other teams best player...finishes through contact...finds a way to will the ball into the basket...he's lethal, especially when he has it going.
Are you happy again? Coach and I had a great sitdown Jan. 4 at his house...the happiness, the joy, just in every day life. I give him a lot of credit for that. He's become like a father figure to me...personal things, I don't want to get into that.
Great feeling walking out of Welsh Ryan tonight. Pardon is a big difference maker. There were some great passes by BMAC. Excellent perimeter shooting. This win should be a confidence builder. We have a week to prepare for Ohio State. Should be a fun week at practice. The coaches have done a great job of preparation.
My only slight criticism is that with a huge lead I would have liked to see Benson and Ash get more minutes in final 8 minutes of the game. They can use it. I also do not want to see a starter injured in garbage time.
Go Cats!
My only slight criticism is that with a huge lead I would have liked to see Benson and Ash get more minutes in final 8 minutes of the game. They can use it. I also do not want to see a starter injured in garbage time.
Go Cats!
I didn't realize how strong Pardon is until seeing him live. He was throwing people around and kept possessions alive on the glass. He was a beast out there.
If the moose grew stronger we would likely win championships in all sports.
The strength and conditioning coaches have done a nice job building up our players. Taphorn, Lindsey, and Law are much stronger than when they entered the program. Law made a few baskets down low tonight that he couldn't have made as a skinny freshman.
Just think how Pardon will likely grow stronger over the next two years.
Wait deja vu
Crazy to think that Pardon has 2 more years here after this one. He's already the best real big I've seen at NU since Eschmeyer.
Gorgeous pictures. Very cold, but gorgeous.I guess this week's moose sighting is working for basketball as well.
Do you think Pardon is playing like a tall midget?
I think he's a legit, talented B10 center and is playing very well so far, much more so than some "tall midget". Our guards need to get the ball to him more often. Olah developed into better than a "midget" as well.
No, I think all previous centers (including Olah, who I liked) were way behind the All American Evan Eschmeyer. Including Dererk 2/3 of the way through his Sophomore season. But at this point Dererk is the second best Center I have seen at NU. Although Andre Goode is in the conversation.
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Then Eschmeyer was a giant next to average to above average Pardon and Olah. IMO, a "tall midget" is Mirk compared to Rowley and Ajou.
I realize it's just semantics, and funny at that (Ajou a "short midget").