Postgame Quotes - Indiana at Georgia Tech
3/14/2017 11:48:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Postgame Quotes
March 14, 2017
Indiana head coach Tom Crean
Opening Statement:
"What we have to do is get better. This game tonight, at times, was a microcosm of our season. There were times where we were really good, just like there were times when we were really good during the season. When we were healthy, we beat two number one seeds and were coming off a Big Ten Championship. Obviously we have had the injuries we have had and the inconsistency that we have had. When we were good, we were really good and when we weren't, we weren't.
"Inconsistency was a huge part and it was in this game too. We didn't get off to a great start and then we got back in it. There was absolutely no reason for us to be as late as we were a few times defensively by coming off the ball and allowing them shots. But we got back in it, like we do. The turnovers hurt us. It wasn't like it was going to change 30 games in where one or two guys were going to take the mantle of the team. We made too many mistakes and we had to switch defenses. But to me, we have to get better with the ball and get better with decision making. We have to get stronger with the ball and better with our finishing. Those are things we have to improve.
"I'm proud of the resiliency of this team this year. Obviously the record wasn't what we wanted. We had great wins and tough losses. We were in a ton of games that didn't go our way at the end. We have to learn and grow from that. Everybody has to be able to accept what they have to get better at. The program is in great shape, the team has to get better. There's so much good structure with what we have, but our team wasn't where it needed to be. I don't think you win two championships in four years and not have a really strong program. But facts are facts and our team wasn't as good and we have to improve that.
"The guys that are going to be back have to get better. The new guys that we have and will get have got to get better. I have to get better and everybody has to get better. That is our plan."
On struggling against the zone early:
"We weren't near physical enough with our screening against the zone early. We didn't play through the middle enough. And then what happened was we really wanted to flood underneath, and a couple times we did. We just stand around too much. It's mind boggling to me because we don't practice that way.
"But we wanted to get under the zone. There are some similarities with our recent games against Iowa. When you get to this point in the season, you have to try to give them some similarities. Things like 'They run this cut like so and so and they run this zone like Iowa'. This was a little different because we wanted to get behind the zone more. And not only cut behind the zone but also drive it. And we didn't do as well. We are not a 'screen the zone in the middle of the floor' team, we are a 'post and seal the middle of the zone' team. And we didn't do a very good job of that. And again, we missed some shots and rushed some shots. But we also had a couple times where we took a dribble and passed it instead of just passing it. And we meant to pass it, but you have to move it quick against a zone. We eventually got what we wanted.
"When we start the season next year, you aren't going to want to look at that lineup. We didn't have enough rebounding out of that lineup. We can't have nights where we get 18 guard rebounds or 24 guard rebounds and then come back the next game and not be as good. We have to get tougher on the boards.
"There were times when we were among the nation's leaders in rebounding, but we have to sustain that. We have to be better offensive rebounding the ball, because we didn't think the blocked out very well at all from what we saw on film. And we didn't take advantage of that with enough offensive rebounding."
March 14, 2017
Indiana head coach Tom Crean
Opening Statement:
"What we have to do is get better. This game tonight, at times, was a microcosm of our season. There were times where we were really good, just like there were times when we were really good during the season. When we were healthy, we beat two number one seeds and were coming off a Big Ten Championship. Obviously we have had the injuries we have had and the inconsistency that we have had. When we were good, we were really good and when we weren't, we weren't.
"Inconsistency was a huge part and it was in this game too. We didn't get off to a great start and then we got back in it. There was absolutely no reason for us to be as late as we were a few times defensively by coming off the ball and allowing them shots. But we got back in it, like we do. The turnovers hurt us. It wasn't like it was going to change 30 games in where one or two guys were going to take the mantle of the team. We made too many mistakes and we had to switch defenses. But to me, we have to get better with the ball and get better with decision making. We have to get stronger with the ball and better with our finishing. Those are things we have to improve.
"I'm proud of the resiliency of this team this year. Obviously the record wasn't what we wanted. We had great wins and tough losses. We were in a ton of games that didn't go our way at the end. We have to learn and grow from that. Everybody has to be able to accept what they have to get better at. The program is in great shape, the team has to get better. There's so much good structure with what we have, but our team wasn't where it needed to be. I don't think you win two championships in four years and not have a really strong program. But facts are facts and our team wasn't as good and we have to improve that.
"The guys that are going to be back have to get better. The new guys that we have and will get have got to get better. I have to get better and everybody has to get better. That is our plan."
On struggling against the zone early:
"We weren't near physical enough with our screening against the zone early. We didn't play through the middle enough. And then what happened was we really wanted to flood underneath, and a couple times we did. We just stand around too much. It's mind boggling to me because we don't practice that way.
"But we wanted to get under the zone. There are some similarities with our recent games against Iowa. When you get to this point in the season, you have to try to give them some similarities. Things like 'They run this cut like so and so and they run this zone like Iowa'. This was a little different because we wanted to get behind the zone more. And not only cut behind the zone but also drive it. And we didn't do as well. We are not a 'screen the zone in the middle of the floor' team, we are a 'post and seal the middle of the zone' team. And we didn't do a very good job of that. And again, we missed some shots and rushed some shots. But we also had a couple times where we took a dribble and passed it instead of just passing it. And we meant to pass it, but you have to move it quick against a zone. We eventually got what we wanted.
"When we start the season next year, you aren't going to want to look at that lineup. We didn't have enough rebounding out of that lineup. We can't have nights where we get 18 guard rebounds or 24 guard rebounds and then come back the next game and not be as good. We have to get tougher on the boards.
"There were times when we were among the nation's leaders in rebounding, but we have to sustain that. We have to be better offensive rebounding the ball, because we didn't think the blocked out very well at all from what we saw on film. And we didn't take advantage of that with enough offensive rebounding."
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