Indiana University Athletics
Quotes from Dec. 17 Practice
12/17/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 17, 2002
Bloomington, Ind. -Head Coach Mike Davis
Regarding the Kentucky game:
"I think Kentucky is a Final Four team. They have a lot of great players. We haven't had a great game yet. Michigan State beat Kentucky last weekend and I think Michigan State made some big shots down the stretch. Kentucky will be even tougher for us. This is a great game to play."
When asked about a comparison between former Kentucky head coach Rick Pitino's teams and the current Hoosiers:
"His guys made shots, ours guys haven't. But, we have the potential to be really, really good. So far this season, somebody in the lineup hasn't been there because of injury. (Tom) Coverdale, Bracey (Wright), (George) Leach - we haven't had all five guys out there at once."
Keys to the Kentucky game:
"Their size inside and the transition game, especially in the first five minutes of the game. We've given up maybe four to five baskets in the transition game, that's not bad. But we have to have a good transition game against Kentucky to be successful."
On his team in general:
"The thing I like about this team is that they are leading the Big Ten in rebounding - who would have thought that?"
George Leach
Regarding head coach Mike Davis' comments that this team hasn't played its best yet:
"Coach always demands more of us. We're winning, we don't take that for granted but we are still learning."
Regarding how assistant coach Ben McDonald has helped his game:
"He's helped me to not think too much and just play. He has made me and (Jeff) Newt(on) more of a presence on the court."
When asked what it feels like to block a shot:
"I want to know what it feels like to have a shot blocked. But, blocking a shot feels just as good as making a shot and just as good as a dunk."
Regarding what it takes to be a good shot blocker:
"Anticipation, timing...you have to try to not foul all the time. Mainly it's the anticipation and timing, though."
Marshall Strickland
With regard to rivalry games:
"Purdue was similar to the Maryland game and its intensity. It's great to go out and get a taste of that. You can't prepare for (a game like Kentucky). You have to have faith in your system and your offense. What is tough about going into big games is that a lot of guys get caught up in the officiating and the crowd and let the crowd take them out of the game."
Tom Coverdale
Regarding facing Kentucky and their tradition throughout the nineties:
"We feel like we have got just as good a tradition as Kentucky. We feel that we can beat anybody if we play well."
When asked if the rivalry sticks out in his mind:
"What sticks out in my mind is the last two years, that feeling going home for Christmas, losing to Kentucky."
"This is a really big game. Our goal at the beginning of the season was to be undefeated going into the Big Ten season, so this is a big game."
Jeff Newton
Regarding the fact that this is the second straight rivalry game for the Hoosiers:
"This is a big game for both teams. We've lost to them two years in a row going into Christmas."
Regarding the team's performance this far into the season:
"I knew we would come out hard with good defense but I've been surprised by the offense and the way the freshmen have come out this season and the way they can get to the basket."
Regarding individual competition:
"It doesn't matter who is out there, I go against them just like I go against the next guy."
