Northwestern University Athletics
Quotes From the NU-Penn State Men's Basketball Game
2/21/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 21, 2001
EVANSTON, Ill. - Postgame quotes from the Northwestern and Penn State head coaches following Wednesday's 62-61 win by the Wildcats...
NORTHWESTERN COACH BILL CARMODY
What he said in the huddle down the stretch:
"I reminded the guys of the game at Penn State when we had a lead in the second half, and they came storming back and scored a lot of points in a short time. I felt good that the same thing didn't happen again. We tightened up our defense a little bit, and they got hesitant with the lead."
On Northwestern's first half:
"That we were up at the end of the first half was pretty amazing. When you have 12 turnovers in the first half, it's not often that you're ahead. In the second half, we only had two turnovers. We took care of the ball a little bit better. So at the end, it's anybody's game."
On Northwestern's offensive scheme:
"We just said `let's keep trying to get the ball inside and see what we can do.' They overplay every pass on the perimiter defense. We got back in the first half because they were overplaying so many guys that Jitim and Collier, for that little stretch, brought the ball up the court and went all the way to the basket. They couldn't pass to anybody, but they could beat their guy."
"You have to be able to defend your own court."
On Tavaras Hardy's play tonight:
"Tavaras gave us an inside presence which we have not had that often this year, but he scored inside which was very good."
On Jitim Young's final NU basket:
"He stayed with it and stayed with it until we had to go, and he saw an opening and knifed to the hoop, which was a continuation of his good play for the last month."
PENN STATE COACH JERRY DUNN
On Penn State's last possession:
"We had the ball in the right guy's (Joe Crispin) hands, and there was no need to call timeout."
On Northwestern's last possession:
"We went with a zone defense. We just didn't do a good job keeping the ball in front of us."
On Penn State's defense:
"Our interior defense was very, very soft. I thought Northwestern played like men. Tavaras Hardy did anything he wanted to do inside tonight."
On Northwestern's offensive success:
"They're a good team. They were very patient. We tried to take their three-pointers away, but they were able to grind it out and get some good shots inside."
On Penn State's offense:
"I thought we started off well, we shot the ball poorly. We shot 30 percent from 3-point range and 37 percent for the game, and you can't win doing that. But Northwestern played very well."
