Indiana University Athletics
Postgame Quotes - Indiana at Penn State
1/18/2017 11:58:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Postgame Quotes
Jan. 18, 2017
Indiana at Penn State
Indiana Head Coach Tom Crean
(On BTN) On how he's feeling after a last-second win like that:
"I'm not really sure. The last time I felt like this, we hit a buzzer beater against Kentucky in 2011. We almost gave the game away, and as a coach, I'm not very happy about that. But as the leader of these guys, I'm excited about the way that they played, considering everything we went through in this game.
"There were a lot of tears in that locker room (at halftime) because nobody knew what was going on with one of their fallen brothers. And I hated to leave a guy (Anunoby) that was crying. That wasn't easy but we found a way to win the game. So I am proud of them for that."
(On BTN) On the last play that resulted in the game-winning shot by Blackmon:
"It was a set action. We had him refuse the screen because we knew that they would switch it. He got open easier than I thought he would get. Thomas Bryant set the screen. He did a great job of timing up the screen with James. Then James got a couple dribbles in front of him and did a great job. It's a fitting way to end the night for them, and I am proud of them. But we have to be better closing games, no matter who is out there."
(On postgame radio show)
"I don't know if people realize how hard it is when an injury like that happens. There is just like an emptiness to guys. I think fans would understand when they feel it in their own families. There's an old saying that Doc Rivers told me and that is 'A parent is only as happy as their unhappiest child." And I think a team is like that. Not the unhappiness, but when someone is struggling like that or they are hurt.
"But they overcame it. They literally overcame it and we never got shook. Even when we were losing the lead. We didn't get shoot. We didn't have the urgency we have to have. Our best inbounds passer needed to catch the ball, but our two other in-bounders – one was in a boot and the other was in the locker room. And I have to do even more to have guys that have that comfort level late in the game. You would like to have three in-bounders, but you probably have to have six or seven for situations like this.
"Rob (Johnson) stepped in there and did a great job, because you want the ball caught by certain people. We were able to overcome it. That wasn't the Watford shot, but it was the same play run on a different side. Literally, Thomas Bryant did the Cody Zeller screen and James just came down that side of the floor.
"What I told James after the game was that his footwork was perfect. The dribbles were perfect. The follow-through was perfect. He stayed in his shot. A lot of times when you are taking a last second shot, it is so easy to get out of character – not hold your follow-through, leg kick or do something – but he has the presence of mind at the end of the game to take the shot at the right time and he knocked it down. It's a very excited locker room."
On moving on towards Saturday's game against Michigan State in Bloomington:
"I know everyone will be there and be excited about Saturday. We are playing a very tough basketball team with a hall of fame coach. We need our crowd's energy at a fever pitch, because I don't know how many guys we are going to have. We really, really need our fans. These guys deserve it. We have the best crowd in the country and we really need them to bring it all on Saturday afternoon."
James Blackmon Jr.
On the last play:
"Coach just told me 'I don't care if you miss it, just do what you do. Shoot the same shot you shoot every day in practice. And I got my feet right and I knocked it down."
On battling through injuries to teammates during the game and giving up a 14-point lead but still finding a way to win:
"It was very emotional. We had guys that fell down, but the next man was up and we were prepared for that. We knew that Penn State was going to fight back, but we just had to stand our ground."
On the team hitting its stride at the right time:
"Definitely. This could be a game to get us going. Every day in practice, we compete against each other and get each other going, so we just want to continue to build on this win."
Jan. 18, 2017
Indiana at Penn State
Indiana Head Coach Tom Crean
(On BTN) On how he's feeling after a last-second win like that:
"I'm not really sure. The last time I felt like this, we hit a buzzer beater against Kentucky in 2011. We almost gave the game away, and as a coach, I'm not very happy about that. But as the leader of these guys, I'm excited about the way that they played, considering everything we went through in this game.
"There were a lot of tears in that locker room (at halftime) because nobody knew what was going on with one of their fallen brothers. And I hated to leave a guy (Anunoby) that was crying. That wasn't easy but we found a way to win the game. So I am proud of them for that."
(On BTN) On the last play that resulted in the game-winning shot by Blackmon:
"It was a set action. We had him refuse the screen because we knew that they would switch it. He got open easier than I thought he would get. Thomas Bryant set the screen. He did a great job of timing up the screen with James. Then James got a couple dribbles in front of him and did a great job. It's a fitting way to end the night for them, and I am proud of them. But we have to be better closing games, no matter who is out there."
(On postgame radio show)
"I don't know if people realize how hard it is when an injury like that happens. There is just like an emptiness to guys. I think fans would understand when they feel it in their own families. There's an old saying that Doc Rivers told me and that is 'A parent is only as happy as their unhappiest child." And I think a team is like that. Not the unhappiness, but when someone is struggling like that or they are hurt.
"But they overcame it. They literally overcame it and we never got shook. Even when we were losing the lead. We didn't get shoot. We didn't have the urgency we have to have. Our best inbounds passer needed to catch the ball, but our two other in-bounders – one was in a boot and the other was in the locker room. And I have to do even more to have guys that have that comfort level late in the game. You would like to have three in-bounders, but you probably have to have six or seven for situations like this.
"Rob (Johnson) stepped in there and did a great job, because you want the ball caught by certain people. We were able to overcome it. That wasn't the Watford shot, but it was the same play run on a different side. Literally, Thomas Bryant did the Cody Zeller screen and James just came down that side of the floor.
"What I told James after the game was that his footwork was perfect. The dribbles were perfect. The follow-through was perfect. He stayed in his shot. A lot of times when you are taking a last second shot, it is so easy to get out of character – not hold your follow-through, leg kick or do something – but he has the presence of mind at the end of the game to take the shot at the right time and he knocked it down. It's a very excited locker room."
On moving on towards Saturday's game against Michigan State in Bloomington:
"I know everyone will be there and be excited about Saturday. We are playing a very tough basketball team with a hall of fame coach. We need our crowd's energy at a fever pitch, because I don't know how many guys we are going to have. We really, really need our fans. These guys deserve it. We have the best crowd in the country and we really need them to bring it all on Saturday afternoon."
James Blackmon Jr.
On the last play:
"Coach just told me 'I don't care if you miss it, just do what you do. Shoot the same shot you shoot every day in practice. And I got my feet right and I knocked it down."
On battling through injuries to teammates during the game and giving up a 14-point lead but still finding a way to win:
"It was very emotional. We had guys that fell down, but the next man was up and we were prepared for that. We knew that Penn State was going to fight back, but we just had to stand our ground."
On the team hitting its stride at the right time:
"Definitely. This could be a game to get us going. Every day in practice, we compete against each other and get each other going, so we just want to continue to build on this win."
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
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