Player Teleconference Comments

March 11, 2003

Tom Coverdale
Over the last four years, there has been a lot of controversy involving the basketball team, can you talk about playing under those same situations this season?
"I think it's something you realize when you come here because this program is looked at under a microscope. You know what you're getting yourself into because of the level of this program."

Have you talked to the freshmen about how to survive in these type of conditions with the ups and downs this team has experienced?
"I think at this point in the season they know what is going on and what to expect on Thursday. Basically you just have to block all that other stuff out and concentrate on basketball. I think if we win, we're in but if we lose there's still a shot. There's no reason to think about losing this game, it's just a matter of going out and playing like we have."

Do you think that as a team you underestimated Penn State?
"We definitely underestimated them. For one reason or another, we weren't ready to play as a team and it showed. We thought we were just going to show up and win the game. I think it's a wake up call and we'll be ready to go on Thursday."

When Coach Davis says that the seniors need to take control of this team, and says you have to be the guy, what does that mean to you?
"It's something that I've known all year. Same with Kyle and Jeff, we know we're the guys that have to get things going. That's your job when you're a senior, you have to take the blame for the losses because you've been there and you know what to do."

You say that the team definitely didn't show up, 20-some games into season, how does that happen?
"I think we got too confident after winning a couple games. We knew that Penn State had only won one game. That's just something you can't allow to happen."

Is it an advantage or a disadvantage that you lost to them on Saturday?
"I think it's a big advantage that we lost because the same thing isn't going to happen two games in a row, we know what can happen if we don't play our kind of game and we're not going to let that happen again."

Through the season, you have reacted well to Coach Davis' challenge of having more senior leadership, do you sense that that will happen again this time?
"I think we will. I think we have to. Everybody on this team is fed up with people talking about how disappointing we are and how bad we've been. This is our shot to win the Big Ten Tournament and that starts on Thursday."

Can you comment on making the Honorable Mention All-Big Ten team?
"Those are great honors for individuals. As far as us as a team, right now it doesn't mean much. It all comes down to Thursday in our eyes. It's great, and we can look back on that when the year is over, but right now we're focused on Thursday."

Regarding the Big Ten Tournament
"We're going to be ready to go on Thursday. We're ready to go. We know we can beat anybody or lose to anybody on a given night. We're ready to play."

What do you have to do to recapture the magic of last season? Was it the defense or the makeup of the team?
"I think it was the combination of the two. It was probably the closest team I've ever been on as far as everyone getting along so well. We also understood that every possession on defense was life or death. As far as being a team this season, we're a lot closer than we were before because of everything we've gone through. Playing tough defense is definitely a toughness issue. It's basically buckling down, saying `I'm not going to let my man score.' We need to help each other out more, we're just relying on our man, not counting on everyone else."

Kyle Hornsby
Can you comment on the depth when it comes to the Big Ten Tournament and playing four games in a row?
"I think it's an important part of this Tournament. If you keep winning, you're playing four games in four days. You need to be able to play a large number of people. We've got nine or 10 that can get in there and give you significant minutes. It's going to be to our benefit that we have that bench."

Do you think he says those things to push buttons or does he mean something else?
"I think a lot of times he says those things to push buttons, but I think on occasion he says those things and he means something else. He pushes buttons because you're not giving what the team needs. It's tough to figure either way, but he says those things because there is something you're not doing that he desires."

Bracey Wright
Can you comment on playing in a tournament situation with single-game elimination?
"It will be a new experience, especially with certain things we have right now. It's going to be a lot of pressure, people expect a lot from this team. I think with everything that's happened with this team, the freshmen are definitely ready to go."

Knowing that your father influenced your game, can you talk about what he's told you?
"Growing up I was always around him, watching him play different tournaments, different events. Playing against him he told me a lot of things. He taught me not to force things, to be patient within my game, that the level of competition would get tougher as I got older."

Has he given you any advice lately regarding this team and situation?
"To keep your head in it, don't get down on yourself or your teammates. With all the things going on right now, your teammates are your best friends and you have to stay positive through everything."

How does your back feel?
"It's the same as it's been. I'm not worried about that. That's not even in my thought process right now."

Talk about the mindset of the team going into the tournament as far as the NCAA Tournament.
"Our mindset is we have to win and that's the bottom line. If we beat Penn State, that will put us in the Tournament. With a win over Michigan, that will definitely shed some light on our season. If we win like we're supposed to and do the things like we're supposed to, we'll be in the Tournament. If we don't, we'll be in the NIT."

Can you comment on making the Big Ten All-Freshman team, but not getting Freshman of the Year?
"Daniel Horton had a good season at Michigan and him being a person I grew up with from Dallas, I'm glad that he won it his freshman year. Right now, getting the individual awards, for me it's good but it's titles as a team, that's what I'm looking for."

Can you comment on your frustration with the team and what it's done and where it's going?
"It's frustrating when a team starts out so well and drops off like we have and have so many up and downs like we did. During the Penn State game, that was something that never should have happened. We weren't ready to play. That looked really bad on our part. But, that's why you play. We have to get better, correct the things we did wrong. I know Thursday we'll be ready to play."

3/11/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball