Indiana University Athletics
Previewing No. 12 Indiana at Penn State
1/7/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 7, 2012
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana head coach Tom Crean, along with sophomore Victor Oladipo and junior Jordan Hulls, talk about the Hoosiers' game at Penn State on Sunday, Jan. 8.
Head Coach Tom Crean
On Penn State:
"They are a very attack oriented team. They drive and space extremely well."
"Billy Oliver looked like Tom Gugliotta against Purdue. He is a major league shot maker."
"Sunday will be one of the toughest games we play all year."
"Coach Chambers' teams get after it every possession and you can see that they play really well together. They have a number of guys who are playing bigger roles and they are responding to the challenge."
"Tim Frazier is playing as well as anyone in the league and he does a great job of getting in the lane as he looks to score or facilitating for others."
On coming off of Michigan win:
"After watching the film (against Michigan), I told our guys that was a big-time win. Every win in the league is big and we have done a good job of preparing only for the task at hand. I think that is a by-product of a maturing, player-led team. They are very aware of picking each other up when someone may need it or delivering a tough message if the situation calls for it."
On heading back out on the road:
"As I said before, a defining moment for our team this year was our win at Evansville. Our approach was outstanding and we have built off that experience which has allowed us to play pretty well away from Assembly Hall."
More on the Michigan win:
Sophomore Victor Oladipo
On playing on the road:
On the team's defense:
On what the team needs to do to be successful:
Junior Jordan Hulls
On playing on the road:
On the team's defense:
On what the team needs to do to be successful:
"We toughed it out and found a way to win and again, with having a guy, Will (Sheehey), that is such a big part of our team not be out there but to have Derek Elston
On preparing for Penn State:
"We have to prepare in practice and compete at a high level. Our coaches do a great job of getting us ready ."
"We know the mentality you have to take if you are going to win on the road."
"We take great pride in having to get stops in close games. During timeouts, you can see how we have come together and are communicating better."
"We have to play great team defense. We have to get out on their shooters and win the 50-50 balls. They play really hard and hustle and we have to match and exceed their effort. It will be important for us to contain Tim Frazier. He is an outstanding player."
On the team's success this season:
"I think our team has improved its maturity. We are a completely different team this year and all the adversity we faced has helped us and carried over to this year. There is no panic in close games because we believe in ourselves."
"Going on the road and getting the wins early in the season has helped this team tremendously."
"I think the hard work we put in the offseason has made us tougher. We know that when a team punches you in the mouth, you have to come back right at them. For us, our defense has been the reason for our success."
"Our mindset is next man up. We know that a lot of different people at different times can step up and make a play that helps us win games on either offense or defense. We have done a good job of being unselfish and worrying only about getting the win."
