Northwestern University Athletics
Post-Game Quotes
1/12/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 12, 2008
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Northwestern Head Coach Bill Carmody
Opening Statement ...
"It's tough to win on the road and it's even tougher to win on the road with a young team, and Michigan came out today with a young team, on the road, and it seemed to me that they were the aggressor, certainly in the first half. When you're down 20 points at the half and, for the most part, you're not quitting, but it's pretty much over. They came ready to play, and I thought our defense was very bad in the first half. We just accepted guys cutting, we reacted to everything and we didn't force them to do anything. They made the first move, the initial move, all the time; it's such a big whole. In the second half, we came out a little bit and played. Even in the first couple minutes, we got some steals and got our hands on some balls. We didn't always capitalize, but it seemed like a different half there. It's a lot easier to do that kind of stuff, to score and do stuff offensively, when the game is over, which I've said before. We need guys to make shots when it matters, early in the game, getting your feet under you so you don't fall behind. I just didn't see the intensity, defensively, that I thought we needed. In the second half, the effort was measurably better, but it was just too far gone by then. I just thought Michigan stuck it right to us, and I guess that they were the aggressor for the entire game."
On the play of Kevin Coble ...
"He made shots. When they came up on him, he drove by them. He was pretty decent around the basket. I didn't expect it today or this soon, but it was a very good game for him, offensively. His defense needs a lot of work, as does the whole team."
On the play of Northwestern besides Kevin Coble ...
"I told the guys, to me, at halftime, it didn't matter, and in Minnesota, about the shooting. Good shooters are getting good shots. I know in the first 10 minutes, we got good shots by guys that can make them, and they weren't making them. But I'm more disappointed about the hardness of play, the intensity. I see what you're saying about different guys not making a lot, but I think they're too concerned about making this shot and that shot and not guarding their men."
Michigan Head Coach John Beilein
Opening Statement...
"Our players are so happy and the coaches are because we've had a rough go of it for the last month. Our kids are happy, and hopefully it will increase how positive we are and our confidence."
On Michigan's ability to score on Northwestern...
"They have two different defenses that we haven't seen since really the Brown game. It's been two months since anybody's played a match-up zone or a 1-3-1. We're trying to teach those gaps in film. We say, "Listen, this is where you don't run any more plays, you have a gap." That's what we're trying to teach.
On the impact this win has on the team...
"They believe in themselves. That's the big thing right now is to believe that this hot is open. When you get a win, the bounce in your step is really different. Whether it's a one-point win, a 10-point win or a 30-point win, they come into practice the next day appreciating how important the win is. You practice better after a win."
On the difficulties his team has faced...
"We told the team adversity will bond you somehow. We just have to stay with it and don't let anything hold you back. Just keep believing in yourself. Good things are around the corner. How far is that corner? We don't know. Today was a good thing, now we'll move on."
