Quotables: Northwestern at the Wooden Legacy Tournament
11/20/2018 2:48:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Northwestern heads west to play in the Wooden Legacy, an eight-team tournament hosted at Cal State Fullerton. Read what the Wildcats are saying in advance of the holiday jaunt...
"What I love is that for the first time in his career he's healthy. He had a surgery in the offseason that was able to correct some stamina issues that he was going through. That wasn't his fault. He's been able to gain some muscle, he's gotten stronger, he's just playing like a fifth-year senior that's a very good player, which he is. And he's been our leader, him and Dererk [Pardon] and Jordan Ash. Those three guys have done a fantastic job leading us and I'm not surprised by it … He knows this is his last go-round."
— Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins on Senior Vic Law
"Sometimes what gets lost because Dererk is such a good player has been Barret's development. Barret has gotten better. He finished the season really strong last year. With injuries, he was able to get a lot of minutes down the stretch … I thought he played very well. He's had a great offseason … I have confidence that he can come in and do the job and he has … It's a nice luxury to have a couple big guys that are veterans that can give you good minutes at that spot."
— Collins on Junior Barret Benson
"I think we're very excited. In the past, we've always been in those four-team deals. To go out and get three games in four days and I think the field is very competitive … It's a great opportunity to go out there and find out who we are while still having a chance to play for a championship."
— Collins on the upcoming Wooden Legacy Tournament
"I think the year off taught me a lot. I was watching a lot of film last year and didn't play. You wouldn't think so but taking a year off from the game, then trying to come back there's stuff you have to pick up. You lose it when you don't play in the game. I think I'm just playing my game, I'm comfortable, I'm happy."
— Redshirt junior A.J. Turner on coming back after sitting out last year
"What I love is that for the first time in his career he's healthy. He had a surgery in the offseason that was able to correct some stamina issues that he was going through. That wasn't his fault. He's been able to gain some muscle, he's gotten stronger, he's just playing like a fifth-year senior that's a very good player, which he is. And he's been our leader, him and Dererk [Pardon] and Jordan Ash. Those three guys have done a fantastic job leading us and I'm not surprised by it … He knows this is his last go-round."
— Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins on Senior Vic Law
"Sometimes what gets lost because Dererk is such a good player has been Barret's development. Barret has gotten better. He finished the season really strong last year. With injuries, he was able to get a lot of minutes down the stretch … I thought he played very well. He's had a great offseason … I have confidence that he can come in and do the job and he has … It's a nice luxury to have a couple big guys that are veterans that can give you good minutes at that spot."
— Collins on Junior Barret Benson
"I think we're very excited. In the past, we've always been in those four-team deals. To go out and get three games in four days and I think the field is very competitive … It's a great opportunity to go out there and find out who we are while still having a chance to play for a championship."
— Collins on the upcoming Wooden Legacy Tournament
"I think the year off taught me a lot. I was watching a lot of film last year and didn't play. You wouldn't think so but taking a year off from the game, then trying to come back there's stuff you have to pick up. You lose it when you don't play in the game. I think I'm just playing my game, I'm comfortable, I'm happy."
— Redshirt junior A.J. Turner on coming back after sitting out last year
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