Post-Game Quotes
2/28/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 28, 2009
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Bill Carmody Quotes
Opening statement
"We knew coming in it was going to be a close game and a hard-fought game because they play in a lot of close games and we play in a lot of close games. We knew it was going to go back and forth, staying within striking distance. I'm sure they were thinking the same thing, that it was going to come down to the last couple of minutes, and it did. The first half, our defense was very good and then they seemed to get a little bit of a feel for it. [Jake] Kelly was penetrating a little bit. Then we went to a 1-3-1 (zone) and that definitely was not the ticket tonight. Kelly was banging them and different guys were making shots, so then we went back to our match-up for most of the second half and I thought that was effective. It comes down to a guy making a last shot or missing a shot. Michael Thompson...we're not winning that game without that kid today. We were down by seven and there was a timeout and he came out and hit three. He knew that Craig [Moore] wasn't going too well and they were all over Kevin [Coble] and he really stepped up for us. It was really good. Craig hit some foul shots and a big three there so he came through in the end. Every game we've had this year, except for a few, has been close. I'm just very happy for our seniors and now we've got to go on the road. Iowa is a team where you hate to play those guys because they've got a lot of guys hurt and they play everybody tough. They're well-coached and they play hard as hell."
On Craig Moore's play and the 3-pointers he hit down the stretch...
"It was about time. The guy's a good shooter. Eventually he's going to knock them down. He was really choked up at the beginning of the game and he played like he was choked up for about 35 minutes. Then he came on. Again, Mike Thompson bridged the gap. Eventually, Craig is going to come out of that funk. He did and that was great."
On the play of Hawkeye sophomore Jake Kelly...
"He's a very good dribbler. He's like a snake. He's serpentine. He's crafty as can be. He slides around guys and it doesn't look like he's moving that fast. He's 6-5 and when he gets into the lane, it's hard to get up with him because he's crafty. He shoots the balls from different spots, little flips and all that. He's a good player and he's at the top of his game right now. His last three games have been fantastic."
On Senior Day and finishing with a 13-4 home record...
"It's just great. The guys put in a lot of time. For Sterling Williams, this is his fifth year here because he redshirted his first year. And Craig, Marlon Day, Patrick Houlihan, a couple of managers. (We finished) 13-4 (at home) and they were exciting games, ups and downs in those four (losses). The guys played hard and we had a nice crowd out there. That was good to see. I'm just real happy for them because it gives you a little something going on the road. Now we've got two tough games on the road. You want to be in good spirits going out there."
