Indiana University Athletics
Postgame Quotes - Indiana at No. 10/9 Wisconsin
2/5/2017 5:04:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Postgame Quotes
Feb. 5, 2017
Indiana head coach Tom Crean
On the defensive steps the team took forward today:
"Well we wanted to be aggressive, there's no doubt about that. When you look at what we are playing without – when you add Collin Hartman to James Blackmon Jr. and OG Anunoby – we are without 35 points and 15 rebounds every time we step out there right now. You throw that on top of the fact that you are playing against the most experienced team in the country, and you can't go out there and just allow them to play how they want to play because they are very good at that.
"We needed to bring aggressiveness to the game. We need to get a lot of deflections and we were very active. At the end of the day, a couple possessions didn't go our way and a couple went their way. But our guys were in a great battle mindset and they have been great with that. I don't think the felt the burden of this at all. You have to take advantage of the opportunities that you have.
"Their effort, their energy and will to win was excellent. As usual, both teams made some mistakes, but we just needed a couple more possessions to go our way. Give Wisconsin credit, they capitalized a couple of times. Our defense was much better. They are undefeated when they shoot 45 percent or better and we knew that we just couldn't let them have an open field day on that.
"I'm sure Greg Gard will look at it and say they missed some shots they normally make, just like I will look at it and say that we missed shots that we make. Not to mention, we had a pretty good shot-maker that wasn't in there (Blackmon Jr.). But our battle and compete-level was really, really high and that's what is important."
On Josh Newkirk's recent improvement in shooting being technique and confidence:
"Probably a little of both. He was hoping into his shot early on, almost settling. You never want to hunt 3-point shots. You want to be ready when the ball is being rotated and reversed. You want to be ready to step into it and he was much better once he settled in on that. But really, it is footwork and follow-through.
"And then it is mindset. When he is on the attack offensively and defensively, you are in the flow of the game and not thinking about shooting and you head becomes a lot clearer. Most players are like that in the sense of, if you are thinking about shooting, you don't make a whole bunch. But when you get them in the flow of the game, it's amazing how much better he is.
"He and Rob played a lot of minutes – I don't think I took them out in the second half. For those guys to play the way that they did in the minutes they played, especially after the way that they played on Wednesday, I am proud of them."
On forcing Wisconsin into 13 turnovers:
"I think our aggressiveness was key. You just can't let them pick you apart because they are such a great passing team. They do a very good job of getting into the post. They do a phenomenal job of creating contact and they are rewarded for it. It is a good skill. I don't mean that in a bad way at all.
"You just can't let them pick you apart. They put everyone on the court that can shoot and rebound and defend. But they can also all pass. And that, to me, is what really sets them apart. It has for years, but this team especially. You can't sit there and them them do what they want. We brought some double teams and I thought we needed a very aggressive mindset and I thought we had that."
Indiana Players
On his improved play the last two games:
JOSH NEWKIRK: "I think I have just been taking the open shot and making the game easier for me. My teammates have been helping me, believing in me and having confidence in me. So we have just been getting better as a team."
On the defensive improvement today:
ROBERT JOHNSON: "I think we did a good job of carrying out a lot of the things that we wanted to take away from them today. I think we did a good job of really locking in and doing that. I think that was the key."
On Juwan Morgan's play, defensively, in the post against Happ and Hayes:
JOHNSON: "I think that had a lot to do with it. We tell Juwan all the time that he is a Swiss Army Knife on offense and defense because he can do a lot of different things and guard a lot of different people. When he's locked into it, I think it makes it a lot easier for everyone."
On Morgan getting confidence back after battling through injuries:
JOHNSON: "Yeah, I definitely think so. I think every game, it's coming back a little more. Moving forward, I think we need to see even more of it, because when he plays with confidence it is really good for us."
On how dangerous the team can be if they continue to play defense like this and add James Blackmon Jr. into the fold:
JOHNSON: "I think that's definitely when we are going to be clicking. We have to build on this defensive effort. We did a good job of carrying out some of the things we wanted to do. And on offense, we just have to continue to try to make the simple play."
On what makes Wisconsin so tough to play:
JOHNSON: "I think they are just good at playing at their pace. If you try to play their game, they are really good at it."
Feb. 5, 2017
Indiana head coach Tom Crean
On the defensive steps the team took forward today:
"Well we wanted to be aggressive, there's no doubt about that. When you look at what we are playing without – when you add Collin Hartman to James Blackmon Jr. and OG Anunoby – we are without 35 points and 15 rebounds every time we step out there right now. You throw that on top of the fact that you are playing against the most experienced team in the country, and you can't go out there and just allow them to play how they want to play because they are very good at that.
"We needed to bring aggressiveness to the game. We need to get a lot of deflections and we were very active. At the end of the day, a couple possessions didn't go our way and a couple went their way. But our guys were in a great battle mindset and they have been great with that. I don't think the felt the burden of this at all. You have to take advantage of the opportunities that you have.
"Their effort, their energy and will to win was excellent. As usual, both teams made some mistakes, but we just needed a couple more possessions to go our way. Give Wisconsin credit, they capitalized a couple of times. Our defense was much better. They are undefeated when they shoot 45 percent or better and we knew that we just couldn't let them have an open field day on that.
"I'm sure Greg Gard will look at it and say they missed some shots they normally make, just like I will look at it and say that we missed shots that we make. Not to mention, we had a pretty good shot-maker that wasn't in there (Blackmon Jr.). But our battle and compete-level was really, really high and that's what is important."
On Josh Newkirk's recent improvement in shooting being technique and confidence:
"Probably a little of both. He was hoping into his shot early on, almost settling. You never want to hunt 3-point shots. You want to be ready when the ball is being rotated and reversed. You want to be ready to step into it and he was much better once he settled in on that. But really, it is footwork and follow-through.
"And then it is mindset. When he is on the attack offensively and defensively, you are in the flow of the game and not thinking about shooting and you head becomes a lot clearer. Most players are like that in the sense of, if you are thinking about shooting, you don't make a whole bunch. But when you get them in the flow of the game, it's amazing how much better he is.
"He and Rob played a lot of minutes – I don't think I took them out in the second half. For those guys to play the way that they did in the minutes they played, especially after the way that they played on Wednesday, I am proud of them."
On forcing Wisconsin into 13 turnovers:
"I think our aggressiveness was key. You just can't let them pick you apart because they are such a great passing team. They do a very good job of getting into the post. They do a phenomenal job of creating contact and they are rewarded for it. It is a good skill. I don't mean that in a bad way at all.
"You just can't let them pick you apart. They put everyone on the court that can shoot and rebound and defend. But they can also all pass. And that, to me, is what really sets them apart. It has for years, but this team especially. You can't sit there and them them do what they want. We brought some double teams and I thought we needed a very aggressive mindset and I thought we had that."
Indiana Players
On his improved play the last two games:
JOSH NEWKIRK: "I think I have just been taking the open shot and making the game easier for me. My teammates have been helping me, believing in me and having confidence in me. So we have just been getting better as a team."
On the defensive improvement today:
ROBERT JOHNSON: "I think we did a good job of carrying out a lot of the things that we wanted to take away from them today. I think we did a good job of really locking in and doing that. I think that was the key."
On Juwan Morgan's play, defensively, in the post against Happ and Hayes:
JOHNSON: "I think that had a lot to do with it. We tell Juwan all the time that he is a Swiss Army Knife on offense and defense because he can do a lot of different things and guard a lot of different people. When he's locked into it, I think it makes it a lot easier for everyone."
On Morgan getting confidence back after battling through injuries:
JOHNSON: "Yeah, I definitely think so. I think every game, it's coming back a little more. Moving forward, I think we need to see even more of it, because when he plays with confidence it is really good for us."
On how dangerous the team can be if they continue to play defense like this and add James Blackmon Jr. into the fold:
JOHNSON: "I think that's definitely when we are going to be clicking. We have to build on this defensive effort. We did a good job of carrying out some of the things we wanted to do. And on offense, we just have to continue to try to make the simple play."
On what makes Wisconsin so tough to play:
JOHNSON: "I think they are just good at playing at their pace. If you try to play their game, they are really good at it."
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
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