Northwestern University Athletics
Postgame Quotes
2/5/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 5, 2011
Recap |
Box Score |
Photo Gallery 
|
Photo Gallery
Northwestern vs. Illinois
Welsh-Ryan Arena
Feb. 5, 2011
Postgame Quotes
Northwestern Head Coach Bill Carmody
Opening Statement...
"We got knocked down pretty hard in Champaign earlier. This wasn't revenge or anything like that, I don't think that way and I don't think any of our guys do. You play 18 games in conference play and it's one of them, but it's still really nice because it's Illinois and secondly just because of the way they handled us down there. We've lost some tough games in conference: Michigan State by three, Michigan State in overtime, Ohio State by one, and so it's just real nice to get a signature victory here. I thought the guys listened to the game plan. Coach [Mitch] Henderson gave a very good scouting report and for the most part we stuck with it and a lot of guys came through at different times and made big plays. I'm just really happy for the guys. You know we had a few days off this week, some less coaching going on so maybe that's something to think about in the future. With all that snow and stuff we missed a few days, what do you think Mike - that coaching is overrated?"
Mike Thompson, "No, coaching is great!"
Carmody, "Ok, then you're going to play."
Mike Thompson, "Thanks, Coach."
On the defensive surge by Illinois...
"In the first half we came out and Drew [Crawford] hit some shots and JerShon [Cobb] was playing pretty well. We got a lead and then they put the heat on and we couldn't handle it as well. We weren't getting the shots we should be getting. We made a little run in the last minute and a half (of the first half), which is important I think. We started the second half pretty nicely, but then they put the heat on us again and it seemed to bother us. Usually we tell our guys with that kind of pressure that that's when we should really be good because of the way we do things offensively, but they didn't quit. They just kept coming at us, kept coming at us and made big plays. I wouldn't say we were lucky but we were fortunate."
On the today's game plan down low...
"I think in the second half we brought it out a little bit then we went back to throwing the ball down to Luka [Mirkovic] and Davide [Curletti] and I think just a little stretch there where we threw it down a few times; Luka scored a little bit, got fouled, took a couple shots I wish he wouldn't have taken there but I think it made [Mike Tisdale] start to think about something other than offense. He's very tough when he gets within seven feet. We just wanted him to think about something besides just coming down and posting up for us."
On fouling with a 3-point lead...
"That's what we did today. That team shoots 41 percent from three-point range. They have a bunch of guys: [Bill] Cole, [Demetri] McCamey, [D.J.] Richardson. I mean even to the end, he hits the buzzer three there. They were going to hit it because they're a very good team and they make big plays. We weren't going to make them make the foul shots."
On the importance of this victory...
"It just depends if we keep winning. We've been blown out twice by Wisconsin and Illinois. Even Purdue we played pretty close for about 35 minutes at their place to start the season. The other losses we could have won, maybe we get over the hump and get that nice victory. It is certainly great for our guys, we can enjoy this for a little bit and go on to the road for a couple games and see what we can do there. But this is certainly an important victory."
Illinois Head Coach Bruce Weber
Opening statement...
"Obviously it's frustrating and disappointing, not for Northwestern, they played their hearts out. They got embarrassed at our place, and responded. We told our guys they would have great energy, and they did. They got off to a good start. Coach [Jay] Price, who had the scouting, circled [Drew] Crawford, said he had one of his worst games at our place and he was going to come back; he got them off to a great start. For us, it's Groundhog Day. It's the same story whether you go to Indiana, Wisconsin, Penn State, or here, you can't get behind, and you can't start a half bad. We've got to get some consistency. Mike Davis had played really well, and today it wasn't that he wasn't giving great effort, he just didn't finish some plays. Brandon Paul did some very good things for us, but he gets tired, and he has some slippage as he goes. That's where it comes down to consistency, so the burden doesn't fall on him totally. I thought Bill Cole was very consistent, and Meyers Leonard gave us some nice minutes and some energy. He can do some things - he's physically gifted - that allows him to defend and do some things. Again, you've got to give a lot of credit to Northwestern; they really executed down the stretch and made big shots. We have a good break, hit a three, get a foul - the intentional foul in the first half - we just don't take advantage and finish it. Just a little thing, but Brandon [Paul] has a free throw to go ahead. Maybe you go ahead and it makes a difference, but we didn't make it; now you've got to get some stops. To their credit, they executed and made shots. I thought Juice, Michael Thompson, was very special and played like a senior. He played very determined, like he wanted to win a game at home."
On how Illinois tried to defend Northwestern after watching the Ohio State game last week...
"There's nothing - we pressured a little more - but they are still going to run their delay. You've got to guard them the last 20 seconds, you know, they're still running the same stuff. I thought we had a little bit of luck getting out and pressuring them, and kind of discombobulating them a bit, but now you've got to have the right players to do that. If three or four guys pressure but one guy doesn't, it doesn't do you any good. All four guys are busting their butt and one guy is standing there, they just pass the ball to that guy and then we're in trouble."
On the importance of the last minute of the first half...
"It's huge. We make the comeback, and then it's disappointing when we don't capitalize. I used my timeout, we called a play at the one-minute mark, and they went to do it, but the seniors have got to see that there's 17 seconds on the shot clock when we start running the play. That's a killer because it's two points. I'd rather have no shot than for us to throw up a shot at 16 seconds. It's not the only thing, you've got to start well and start the second half well, but we didn't do it."
On whether he has talked about the tournament with his team...
"I did it two weeks ago. I said every game is a tournament game, you never know which one is going to make or break you. I thought maybe we gave them a little sense of urgency each game. Again, it's Groundhog Day with the way we played. We can't get off to good starts, and never capitalize when we have chances."
