A lot of people tried to write us off before the Big Ten started and here you have a guy who is leading the conference in scoring during conference games, he's undersized but he gets the job done and when the game is on the line he's going to hit big shots. He definitely steps his game up against ranked opponents. I just think he deserves it. |
Coach was trying to throw different stuff at them. When they were in the zone, he wanted me to work the wing. If they had gone man I would have gone back to the (point), but being in the zone he wanted a shooter on the other side. It was something new that he put in. |
Coming out in the second half, we didn't match their energy. That cost us. |
I can't afford to play like that on the road, how I did today, I just got out of my character. I don't know. |
I can't name anybody else in the conference who I've seen get quadruple-teamed at one time and still score 22 points. That says a lot for a 6-6 player who gets most of his points in the paint. |
I didn't do a good job of picking my spots and when to be aggressive. I think I was doing a good job of getting to the free throw line but I stopped being aggressive and I just can't do that. |
I don't think you're going to find a team in the country where their backcourt does that and they're going to win a game. |
I haven't seen him smile this much all year. That's a good thing. Seeing him relaxed is definitely going to relax the players. |
I hope to lead this team to a Big Ten championship and make a run at the Final Four. I'm just being honest. I know a lot of people are going to write us off but I think we can do it. We have the players and we have the coach. |
I just want to get into the (NCAA) tournament and bounce back from this loss. |
I knew we could do it. People might not believe us when we say we knew we could do it when the season first started, but there was just something about this team, starting last summer when everybody was here, that it just felt like it was going to be a special season. |
I know guys are starting to feel more confident. This whole week has definitely been a confidence booster, especially for the young guys. |
I know I'm up for the challenge because that (NCAA) game was one I'll never forget. I saw how our guys were acting in the locker room after losing the last game of the season. I don't want to feel like that. I hate that feeling. I know the game is going to be very intense. |
I think a lot of teams look at us as kind of a weak team that doesn't like to mix it up. When we're out there, everybody has to bring that physical presence because right now no one person is bringing it. |
I think that may have been a factor into his decision, too. |