Indiana University Athletics
Indiana Head Coach Mike Davis Quotes vs. Michigan State
2/26/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 26, 2006
Recap
Box Score
Indiana Player Quotes
Michigan State Head Coach Quotes
Indiana vs. Michigan State
February 26, 2006
Indiana Head Coach Mike Davis Quotes
Indiana Head Coach Mike Davis
Opening Statement:
MD: "I thought that we played today the way that we had been playing earlier in the season. Our attitude is getting back to where it needs to be. Our concentration is getting to the point where our guys are going out there and playing with a free mind. It is very important that we play our style of basketball, and our guys play freely. I definitely have been a better basketball coach over these last few games and in practice. To get [Robert] Vaden, Marshall [Strickland] and Marco [Killingsworth] going with all three guys scoring in the same game; it has been a while since we have had that. I thought that Errek Suhr did a wonderful job with his energy. Ben [Allen] and [Sean] Kline also played well. Kline came in and did a great job of running the floor and keeping pressure on defense. Defensively, I thought that we did an excellent job except during one stretch in the second half. They did a great job of making shots and making plays, but once we settled down and regained our composure, I thought that we did a great job."
On Errek Suhr's play late in the game to foul out Michigan State's Paul Davis:
MD: "It was a great play. He stood in there and took the charge. Both Errek and Marshall are two guys that I know when they set a screen, they will set the screen and not hide from the contact. That was a big play. The turning point of the basketball game was fouling [Davis] out of the game because he is a phenomenal basketball player."
On Indiana's four seniors:
MD: "Marshall was my [player] first sign [a national letter of intent]. I am very excited about the way that he is playing basketball right now. He is really playing the way that I have always envisioned him playing. He is relaxed, and he is playing both the one and the two positions for us. He made some big plays against Penn State and made some big plays today.
Sean Kline, with the injuries that he has suffered here over the last couple of years, it has really taken away from him being a very productive player. I appreciated his energy and the effort that he has given every day in practice.
Lewis Monroe is a guy that really works hard in practice. He really pushes the other guys in practice from a defensive standpoint. There is some good basketball left in Lewis for us this year.
I thank Marco for coming here and playing for me. He has been a very good basketball player for us, probably a first team All-Big Ten selection. He has had some tough games, but at the same time, he has had some wonderful games. You have to think about the games that he has had when he was very good and he is no different from any other player at any other level. I would really like to thank all four guys for giving me the opportunity to coach them."
On the play of Marco Killingsworth:
MD: "The difference between us and Michigan State was that Paul Davis had four fouls and Marco had three, which allowed us to go to him. [Marco] made some big time plays for us down the stretch of the game. Just having him there causes problems. I thought that Robert Vaden stepped up and made a big time shot when Marco passed the ball out to him."
On having Landon Turner speak during Senior Night:
MD: "Here is a guy that was a big-time player here at Indiana. Unfortunately, he got into a car accident, otherwise he would have been a first-round draft choice. He never had a senior night and he was excited about [the chance] when I called. For him, having the opportunity to come out and thank the fans of Indiana, I felt like it was the perfect time for him to have a Senior Night."
On this being his final game at Assembly Hall:
MD: "I won my first game as a coach here and I won my last game. Over the last two years, we have been 15-1 in conference play at home. I just thought about everything [at the end of the game]. The opportunity to be the coach of Indiana; people have been very nice to me, my family has definitely benefited from me being the coach here. I am really emotional, but at the same time, really excited about the fact that I have grown so much over the last six years. I thought about the players that have gotten better every year. I thought about Coach [Donnie] Marsh, Coach [Kerry] Rupp, and Coach [Sidney] Green. Just to be able to bring three former head coaches and put them on the staff is really special to me. I cannot explain to people how appreciative I am about this opportunity."
