Indiana University Athletics
Connecticut Head Coach Quotes
2/4/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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Indiana Head Coach Quotes
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Indiana vs. Connecticut
February 4, 2006
Connecticut head coach Jim Calhoun Quotes
Opening Statement
JC: "Indiana really pushed us during the game. I thought the game was going to get away from us. Indiana's fans should be congratulated for creating an incredible atmosphere. With this kind of atmosphere, their kids can feed off it. Then we went back to who we are and what we are and played good defense the last eight minutes of the first half. I think our best player on the court, Rudy Gay, stepped up when he needed to and our inside game is starting to come around. It was their spread and ability to shoot threes and our power on the inside. I think we eventually got the power inside and the balance of transition and hitting outside shots. But they would not quit. They kept coming back and we got a little sloppy, which Indiana had something to do with that. I think both teams walked off the court exhausted. Indiana is a very good team."
On the effect of Marco Killingsworth's second foul in the first half:
JC: "It was big. There is no question he was having his way to a certain degree. I think we made a pretty good adjustment at halftime. We decided not to double him as much and try to three-quarter front him. You do not want to completely front him because they do a good job of clearing the weak side out and throwing the ball over. I think that took him out of his rhythm. We tried to initiate some contact with him. We tried to bang him and make him catch the ball a little further off the block and make it much more difficult for him to catch it. He is still going to score. He is a terrific basketball player. Indiana is a very good basketball team, but I think there were moments in the game where we were very special. For an eight- or nine-minute stretch, we were very special."
On Indiana:
JC: "I saw Indiana play earlier in the season. I think what happened is if they had (D. J.) White, the game changes. They can develop a power game and do not have to rely on one guy. The question was asked about when Killingsworth picked up his second foul, did the whole game change? The game did change, and the score changed. It's really hard to adjust because we have two kids in there. They do not have the luxury of a second post player that would make them so much better. Indiana is a very good basketball team that has one of the greatest traditions in our game. Mike (Davis) is doing a very good job here. They played today against a team that many people think is one of the best in the country. As a visiting coach, I know this is a heck of a place to play."
