Rutgers Basketball HC Steve Pikiell talks Maine Postgame
Rutgers Basketball Head Coach Steve Pikiell met with the media following the Scarlet Knights’ win over Maine on Monday night inside of Jersey Mike’s Arena.
Following the game, Steve Pikiell spoke with the media to offer an immediate reaction to his program’s performance and talked about what he saw in the second game of the season.
Full Press Conference Transcript
Steve Pikiell — Opening Statement
“Tip of the hat to Maine — they played hard. They had a kid come off the bench, Isaac Bonilla, who hadn’t scored a basket all year and he hits four 3s. I knew they were going to be a tough out. They hold the ball, and with the pace they play at, I knew it was going to be one of those kinds of games.
“But we did enough for some minutes there. I thought we looked really good at the start of the first half and again at the start of the second half. I challenged Dylan Grant at halftime — he had zero points and one rebound. He had to play, and he did a good job.
“Dennis Badalau bounced back from the other day and had 19 points. Darren Buchanan Jr. does a lot of things for us. But we certainly have to play better. We’re still figuring some things out, but we showed some real signs in stretches.
“Obviously, the rebounding — they’ve heard that enough — and we were plus on the backboards. We are showing good signs, but we have to get better. It’s still early, and guys have to give us some really good minutes. It was Dennis’ night tonight, it was Dylan’s night in the second half, and Darren does a lot of things for us. I’m enjoying how Darren fits with our players because he can do a lot.
“But thanks to the fans for coming tonight. This was a good 2–0. That was the goal of the game and we’ll keep it moving.”
Steve Pikiell on Turnovers and Rebounding
“With the pace they play at, we were on them for rebounding and a double-double. And I’ll tell you — Bryce Dorch, eight rebounds in 12 minutes. I tell these guys all the time, you have to be ready. I don’t know whose night it’s going to be. The other night it was Reek’s (Tariq Francis). This night it was Dennis.
“I was pleased with the backboards. We still gave up too many. That is a game we should hold them in the 50s. We left too many points at the free-throw line, but some good things. We have to get to 40 [good] minutes. We probably got to 18 really good minutes today, and we have to figure out how to get to 30 minutes and then 35. Guys have to understand how important every minute is.”
Steve Pikiell on Players Being Ready
“I tell these guys — you just have to be ready. You never know what it is going to take. Veterans like DG (Dylan Grant) played well. Jay Mike (Jamichael Davis) has been fantastic. I officially named him captain today — he earned it. He’s in great shape, plus-14 in the game. He does a lot of things.
“Obviously, E (Emmanuel Ogbole) offensively did some good things tonight, and he remains one of our best pick-and-roll defenders. And then obviously Bryce — our four returning guys really helped us a ton. That experience — you see them getting better, and Bryce is always ready. He’s a good defender and he does really good stuff for us. I was proud of him. He stayed ready the whole time.”
On Dennis Badalau Bouncing Back
“The first game he had some looks that he normally makes, but he was still plus-25 in the game. He does so many good things for us. Today, you saw him get it going. He can shoot it, he can put it on the deck, he’s a good passer.
“As he gets more comfortable with the pace and the different styles teams play — like this team wants to play in the 40s and 50s — he will get better and better. He is a worker. These three guys — Dylan Grant, Darren Buchanan and Dennis — work. They’re good practice players too, which is really important.
“He has good size and we have to keep figuring out how to utilize him for the matchup problems he causes. You saw DG cause matchup problems too. We’re moving him around — we snuck him into the middle of the zone. Once we got the ball into the middle of that zone, we had good opportunities. But Dennis — he has to keep getting better. I appreciate him.”
Steve Pikiell on Dylan Grant’s Double-Double
“First double-double, so I’m proud of him. In the first game it was 17 and 7, then 10 and 10 here. He’s gotten so much better — he’s putting the ball on the deck.
“But the thing I liked is I challenged him in front of his teammates at halftime, and he went and played in the second half — and we needed him to. There’s growth there, and he’s still young in his basketball game.”
Steve Pikiell on Character Built Through First Two Non-conference Games
“I think we’re learning a lot about each other. I thought we should have held this team in the 50s. They got 60 last game and 53 this game, so our defense has improved.
“I think we have a chance to be a good scoring team too. We can’t leave that many free throws on the docket. Dennis is too good of a shooter to be 3-for-6. He’s a 6-for-6 guy. But we’re growing. One thing is we always get better, and I think this group is.
“We have more pieces on the bench that are going to have to start raising up their game too, because we have some guys that can do some things.”
Steve Pikiell on Dylan Grant’s Performance
“I know you guys see it too — he’s just a better player this year. He’s more confident. He gets to the rim. He can really handle the ball too. I was really proud to challenge him — he can’t have a half like that. He’s too good of a player, and he had a really good half.
“For him to get his first double-double in a game where, in the first half, he wasn’t doing a whole lot is a really good sign. Now he’s going to string two of those together and get a 20-20 night. That’s the goal.”
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