Indiana University Athletics
Indiana Quotes Prior to Road Game Against Purdue
2/28/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 28, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Indiana men's basketball team prepares for a rivalry affair with in-state foe Purdue on March 1. The game is slated for 8 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN Plus. The game can also be heard on the IU Radio Network. Following practice, Indiana head coach Mike Davis along with sophomore guard/forward Robert Vaden and senior guard Marshall Strickland talked about the upcoming Big Ten road affair.
Head Coach Mike Davis
On the Purdue rivalry and it potentially being his final game against Purdue:
MD: "It is a big game for us because we are trying to win a road game. It is a big game for them because it is Senior Night, and it is Indiana-Purdue. I am quite sure they will be up for the game, and hopefully, we will be up for the game. It has always been a big game for us and a big game for them. I am not going to look at it as my last Purdue game, I am looking at is as an important game for us."
On the key to the game:
MD: "It is going to be important for us to come out and match their intensity. We need to come out and play with a lot of intensity and concentration."
On Robert Vaden after he struggled for a stretch before having a big game against Michigan State:
MD: "Vaden is a big part of our offense. With Robert, Marco (Kilingsworth) and (Marshall) Strickland, we need two of those guys every night to step up and play really well for us to have a chance. He just wasn't shooting well, but I hope the Michigan State game is a start, and that he is back."
On playing better recently on the road despite losing to Penn State and Illinois:
MD: "We are getting better. Our guys are getting better. I can tell. We just have to make sure that we take advantage of our opportunities. I thought we gave one away at Penn State. We had the game in our control most of the way until the last four or five minutes of the game."
Sophomore guard/forward Robert Vaden
On the Purdue game:
RV: "It is a rivalry game. It is Purdue-IU. It is one of the biggest rivalries in the country. We just have to come out and work hard to get the win. "
On having big games against Purdue:
RV: "In high school, you play your rival and you try to have your best game. The same goes for Purdue. They are our biggest rival, and I try to get up and have my best game against them."
Senior guard Marshall Strickland
On the rivalry:
MS: "It has been exciting. I remember all the games against Purdue being high energy. The crowd gets excited. It doesn't matter how good or bad either team is each year, it is always a great game."
On what IU needs to do against Purdue:
MS: "You throw the records out, and I think we really have to match their intensity. We really have to execute on defense and get up and down the court. If we can do those things, we have a chance to get a win."
