Indiana University Athletics
Big Ten Coaches Weekly Teleconference - Feb. 16
2/16/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 16, 2015
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BLOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana head coach Tom Crean joined the other Big Ten Conference men's basketball head coaches on the weekly teleconference Monday morning. Below is a transcript of what Coach Crean had to say.
On having Hanner back to prepare for Purdue:
"I think it's extremely important. It provides a different kind of length and size, and we have to do a really good job of moving our post defense around. We have to do an even better job of moving Purdue around when they're on defense. We are looking forward to that and holding down a position where they have to guard or make a decision if they're going to guard the court.
"You can't give players like A.J. Hammons one steady diet of how to play. They are very good at maneuvering it and making moves. I think those are fine, it's getting to a comfort level. We need to be more vocal especially if you look at last night, more proactive, and getting in position more quickly. He got caught a couple times, so just being active will help him do what he has to do defensively."
On Jordan Fuchs getting playing time against Minnesota:
"The one thing that it gave Jordan, which gave him a lot of success at the time he was on the court, was that he got the initial experience. He got on the court. It wasn't a pre-determined decision to not play him in the second half, it just worked out that way. It's his first full week with us, even though he was with us a lot last week. I think he'll get better every day. Putting in the extra work and doing what he needs to do for football - I think he'll gain confidence, gain technique and the fundamentals will come back to him. We told him last night after the game that we need him to be a competitor and the tough guy that he is and let the rest of it come from there. After that initial time from playing last night, I don't think it could have been any better for him."
On excessive number of injuries in Big Ten this year and their effect on the title race:
"I have to really think about that. I think my first year in 2008, there were a few injuries but not to the longevity of this. I think it affects it, no doubt it does, because everyone is changing.
"Look at Wisconsin. They're fantastic but they lose a key guy in the game and they don't play with Kaminski and they lose early in the season on the road. I think it's true anytime key players are coming out for injuries. And when games are fast like this, you've really got to have a group of upperclassmen to carry the load when those key guys are out. In this league, usually it's an older league with older guys that you can maintain it. But any time you are taking a key guy out, everybody else has to step up in their role and they may not be ready for that. Some still aren't.
"I think it becomes a big determining factor when the games are so close and the margins for error in this league are so slim, because of the closeness of teams right now. So I don't think there is any question it plays into it."
On the key to the team's offense last night against Minnesota:
"Speed. Not just the speed of the game but speed of moving without the ball and the speed of the ball moving, attacking the press and having really good recognition for the most part. Sometimes our turnovers were errors of comission rather than omission. That's going to happen when you're on the attack, I understand that we need to clean some of that up.
"I think the key to the game was limiting Minnesota to one shot. That was really key. And on the other end we were able to turn some offensive plays into baskets. But when you have a team that has the size, depth and experience, especially with the starters that Minnesota has, they're going to compete to get second shots and we did a really good job of not letting that happen."
On Kevin "Yogi" Ferrell being omitted from some national awards lists:
"I pay so little attention to those types of things and didn't know about it until last night when someone mentioned it to me. I think you have to ask those people who make those decisions. I'm not sure who they are or who votes on that. I don't think there is any doubt that you have to question that. We're on national television every night and he's had a terrific two years going into this year and he's done nothing but get better this year.
"I think I need to spend more time looking at that and learning more about it. But I don't think you can work as hard as Yogi does and spend as much time in the gym and leave those sessions and be in the film room and then spend a lot of time worrying about the outside stuff.
"Yogi has got a very big picture in his mind with a short-term focus, if that makes sense. He's not wasting days and he's not wasting segments of days. A great example is Friday night, we were practicing until 6:10 p.m. or something like that. He's there two hours later, back in the gym. That's common, that's not uncommon for him.
"You have to question those people that make those decisions. Yogi and our team are not trying to win a popularity contest. Those things should be done on performance and I'm not sure how those decisions get made but Yogi is performing. He's performing at a high level and a very consistent level, and he's only getting better. I think that will remain and I don't have a better answer than that as to why that would happen."
On playing Purdue at home:
"It helps a lot. There is a tremendous energy at home especially in the Big Ten and ours is second to none. I know their people who are looking forward to it and I know that our people are looking forward to it. But we have to play much smarter, tougher, sound and much better defensively and really keep the game at an attack level whether it's the full court or the back court. Those are some things that they did a really good job of when we were there.
"I think everybody that follows Indiana or cares about Indiana, they're looking forward to the game on Thursday night. We had great crowd energy last night and I think it will be even more for Purdue."
