Indiana University Athletics
Postgame Quotes: Indiana vs. Central Arkansas
12/19/2018 9:28:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Indiana Head Coach Archie Miller
COACH ARCHIE MILLER: Start by saying that -- how devastating it is to hear the news about Terry Hutchens. Our basketball program has been covered by him for I think 21 years. Since I've been here, he's been sitting there in that seat every day, covered our team, covered our kids. He's been a terrific person to us.
So our thoughts and prayers go out to his family right now in this time of recovery hopefully some positives can come out of this but just really, really hard to take that news.
Terry has meant a lot to Indiana Basketball and we are thinking about him at this time.
THE MODERATOR: No one will sit there the rest of the year, just so you know.
COACH ARCHIE MILLER: As for tonight, our guys got the win. Didn't start the game very well, clearly. They got 19 points off on us, and we weren't ready to start the game, and sometimes that happens, you know, sometimes that happens coming off of a big win, a thrilling win like we had. But I thought we were able to manage that and get back.
I thought Devonte played a big role in the first half for us and the second half we were a little bit better, especially in one stretch where we were able to correct our ball screen coverage on their front court. Their front court ended up hitting I think five or six threes. We were able to switch that up with a certain lineup that helped.
And then 25 assists clearly we had some guys being unselfish, and all in all, it's a win. We're going to watch the film and we've got to get back to work, very concerned right now defensively in terms of our three point field goal defense and how many they are making in the last three games, and that's got to get corrected here as we move into Saturday.
Q. You talked about Devonte, and what update there may or may not be on Rob, but how important is he doing to be in terms of playing with that confidence on both ends of the floor?
COACH ARCHIE MILLER: He is a huge part to what we are doing and his defense. He hasn't had a great shot at it, the month of November he was hurt and he's had to play his way into games and I was happy for him to be able to bust some shots.
I think that's one thing that's than been frustrating for him in games, he hasn't been able to make good ones, and he's work really hard on his shots. He does a lot for us with he's engaged and playing well you see that stat line he had tonight, he does a lot, nine defensive rebounds, I think he had six assists, four steals, and he clearly had a heck of a night for us.
We're going to need him to step up. I don't know what Rob's situation is, he's in concussion protocol, and so you know, from my standpoint right now we're planning on having to be without him for a while and Devonte obviously slips right in.
Q. You guys have four or five turnovers in the first five minutes?
COACH ARCHIE MILLER: Yeah, really careless. We were really careless. Like I said the first half, we weren't ready to go. We almost looked like we were winded starting the game almost and the standing around, the one-hand passes, just the -- you know, not detailed, and you know, we got through it and I thought we played a better game after that but clearly the first four minutes our starting unit get off to a great start on either end of the floor.
Q. Seems like the turnovers are one of a few common themes to the slow starts. How do you go about fixing those?
COACH ARCHIE MILLER: You've got to be -- you've just got to beat it into our guys' heads how important it is to take care of the ball. The last three or four games, a lot of empty possessions and a lot of it is trying to go on your own and get away from things. To start the game, trying to get going, trying to do something, so it's not there, and again, just we've got to be better there.
And then, you know, 12 turnovers we finish with, which is fine, but you know, clearly the slow starts and some of our starts problematic definitely stems from our offensive execution and just being able to take care of it, so it's a big concern.
Q. Romeo's double-double, 11 rebounds, five assists, good all around game?
COACH ARCHIE MILLER: Good all-around game for him tonight. You know, he rebounded well. He shared the ball really well and obviously he got his -- he got his numbers in and around the rim but very complete game by him and he's going to need to continue to be that way, especially rebounding for us. He's got to give us another added weapon on the glass, both ends of the floor.
When he's able to get a couple second shots, it's big and then the way he can rebound defensively, that's a big thing for our team because we are not the biggest team at times out there and we are going to play against a lot bigger teams.
Q. His three-point shot has not quite gotten there. Is that the final step from him?
COACH ARCHIE MILLER: Yeah, it's something that all young guys go through when you get to college. It's not easy. The shots that you take on, it's not easy to get, especially for him, he's being hounded pretty good, almost every game. Just concentrate on him taking the ones that he knows he can make and that he works on every single day and we can go from there. A lot of guys have started off one way and finished really strong. I think he'll be that way.
Q. How nice was it to be able to get guys like Jake and Clifton some minutes tonight?
COACH ARCHIE MILLER: Yeah, just by mere circumstances of our competition and the games that we've played in, it hasn't been what it was and I think deem is going to get back in there. I think Clifton and Jake should both continue to find ways to keep getting better. I was glad they were able to play tonight. Always good for them.
But I see some guys not getting as many minutes as we get into Big Ten play having to play with foul trouble and injuries. Yeah, I was glad we were able to play everyone.
Q. A third score has been something you guys have been looked for on a consistent basis and Justin Smith has really stepped up in the last several games.
COACH ARCHIE MILLER: Yeah, Justin did a good job. He was on the offensive glass for one and on transition he really ran and got out and showed obviously his finishing ability.
Juwan is Juwan in and around the basket. He is who he is. And you know, that third scorer is always going to be by committee with us. I always feet that way. Tonight it was Devonte. He was able to get out there and play and have an added weapon.
Al has been that guy for us. Evan has been that third guy are to us, as well. It's going to be by committee. I think the more guys we play that are playing balanced minutes, the more guys in the stat sheet, all about the same, can't be a one-two punch and not have your other guys being able to take advantage of the plays that those guys can make for you, as well.
Devonte is obviously a veteran. He's got some capabilities to step in there and help us offensively for sure.
Devonte Green
Jake Forrester
Justin Smith
Q.Devonte, six threes tonight, talk us through the process of kind of regaining your basketball rhythm after missing several weeks with the thigh injury and when did it come together for you maybe from the outside?
DEVONTE GREEN; I'm just taking it day by day. It was a long process coming back off recovery but I've been doing preventative stuff to make it easier so that when I come back, I don't get hurt again, so that's basically what I've been focusing on.
Q. I guess as you have tried to find your rhythm again, are there things you lean on in your game, your shot, passing, defense, whatever that gets that comfort back?
DEVONTE GREEN: I would say defense, if I had to choose something, because everything starts on defense and I think once the defense starts going, offense comes with it.
Q. For any of you guys, you had I think four or five turnovers in the first five minutes and I think the last 14 minutes of the first half you didn't commit a turnover, what changed after that point?
JUSTIN SMITH: I think we kind of got our bearings within the game and we really kind of started to settle down and play how we wanted to play. The first six minutes were pretty frantic pace-wise so we were able to take a step back and really shore up the mistakes we were making and go on a run.
Q. To piggyback off that, it seems like that's been a habit for you so far this season, the first few minutes. Can you diagnose why that is, why you need four or five minutes to kind of get your bearings?
JUSTIN SMITH: I mean, no, I really don't know. I say we have to come out with a better mindset, being more aggressive and locked in defensively, focusing on the defensive side of the ball rather than the offensive side of the ball, and you know, just really being ready from the get-go.
Q. Jake, four baskets today, what led to that and how much more comfortable maybe are you now than when practice started?
JAKE FORRESTER: I'm just working really hard in practice every single day so I can translate into the game whenever I can get into the game with however many minutes I get, I just try to play the beverage I can be.
Q. Was it just a matter of being in the right spot tonight for those four baskets?
JAKE FORRESTER: Someone could say that but someone can say I can score the ball.
Q. What opened up for you offensively?
DEVONTE GREEN: I think I had a lot of open ones. That definitely helped. I think just running the offense, getting those open shots was the main thing, if it wasn't so open, I mean, probably wouldn't have went in as much.
Q. Rob obviously availed himself of a chance, when you were dealing with the injury, he came in and played well. Tonight, he goes out and he's not going to be available for a while and you knew that you were going to play a lot. Talk about that a little bit.
DEVONTE GREEN: I mean, this is go to being a long season. There's going to be injuries all over the court. It's always next man up and you've just got to be ready. You've got to be prepared for things like that.
Q. With the young guys like Jake and cliff ton, maybe not playing as much as they would like to but as one of the veterans on the team, what kind of things do you talk to them about to maybe keep them upbeat and keep them involved?
DEVONTE GREEN: I always tell them mentally, just stay with it. I all tell them, I say, it's a grind, it's a slow grind. I think that's one of the hardest things coming in to college, dealing with it. It's easier for me to pass it on to the younger guys.
Q. Just in, you called the first six minutes or so of the game, using your words, frantic. Was there a point you looked back on that there was a shot or play that settled it down?
JUSTIN SMITH: I think it was just after the first TV time out, because I feel like we went like six straight minutes, no calls, or just kind of up and down, and then once we got back to the huddle, we got settled down. We were able to kind of take a step back and really look at what we were trying to do defensively. So yeah, probably just a TV time out, just you know, getting us back to where we wanted to be.
Q. You were one point away from a career-high in points and one rebound away from career-high in rebounds. Just your thoughts about that.
DEVONTE GREEN: Couldn't get one, I guess. (Laughter).
Central Arkansas Head Coach Russ Pennell
Coach let's talk a little bit about how you guys got off to a good start and had the game tied at 19?
"I felt that we really lost the game on the defensive end. I thought we gave up some easy baskets, where we just didn't. Our rotations were bad. We kind of got them going offensively. They tightened their defense up a little bit. We are a young team we took some bad shots. What happens in games like this for us when we spot teams of this caliber those points then we get a little desperate, and I thought we played desperate. I thought we didn't share the ball as well as we normally do, and I think that led to an avalanche."
I think Indiana held you 30% shooting, talk about their defense tonight?
"I think the big thing is we couldn't score anything on the inside. We just were not physical enough. We didn't get the ball into the post area. They really pressed out on our 3-point shooters. I thought they challenged our shots pretty well. I think some of that was our impatience. I didn't like the way we just didn't get the ball moving side to side like we usually do. I credit them, I thought their pressure was good, but I think they had us scouted pretty well. They knew what we liked to do and they took some of those things away from us. "
What really impressed you about Indiana that you didn't know coming in that they did tonight?
"I thought the 25 assists. I thought they shared the ball extremely well. We knew they had an inside game and of course a couple of guys got hot from the outside. I thought they established everything at the rim. Made us over help. Which opened up a lot of three-point opportunities for them so I thought offensively they played really good."
You guys have played everyone that's pretty tough. You played St. Louis and some other teams but Louisville kind of just trounced you. Was this similar to the Louisville game?
"No, I thought we played better here. We didn't play very well at Louisville. A part of that is we had a little adversity going into that game and I thought that kind of bothered us a little bit. I didn't think we fought it as hard at Louisville. I liked our effort even at the start of the second half. We came out and cut it to 12 and I thought we battle for a while tonight where at Louisville I think we gave up the ghost pretty early."
What can you take away from a game like this that will help you in conference play?
"We have to learn how to handle adversity. When we get punched in the mouth, you know a couple of plays don't go your way. Were a young team. Nine of my 13 scholarship guys are freshman and sophomores and we can't use that excuse forever but it is true right now. What we've got to do, I think is learn to handle adverse situations and learn to battle through them. It's tough to do against a ranked opponent but hopefully we can learn some of those things and take the it into the conference."
COACH ARCHIE MILLER: Start by saying that -- how devastating it is to hear the news about Terry Hutchens. Our basketball program has been covered by him for I think 21 years. Since I've been here, he's been sitting there in that seat every day, covered our team, covered our kids. He's been a terrific person to us.
So our thoughts and prayers go out to his family right now in this time of recovery hopefully some positives can come out of this but just really, really hard to take that news.
Terry has meant a lot to Indiana Basketball and we are thinking about him at this time.
THE MODERATOR: No one will sit there the rest of the year, just so you know.
COACH ARCHIE MILLER: As for tonight, our guys got the win. Didn't start the game very well, clearly. They got 19 points off on us, and we weren't ready to start the game, and sometimes that happens, you know, sometimes that happens coming off of a big win, a thrilling win like we had. But I thought we were able to manage that and get back.
I thought Devonte played a big role in the first half for us and the second half we were a little bit better, especially in one stretch where we were able to correct our ball screen coverage on their front court. Their front court ended up hitting I think five or six threes. We were able to switch that up with a certain lineup that helped.
And then 25 assists clearly we had some guys being unselfish, and all in all, it's a win. We're going to watch the film and we've got to get back to work, very concerned right now defensively in terms of our three point field goal defense and how many they are making in the last three games, and that's got to get corrected here as we move into Saturday.
Q. You talked about Devonte, and what update there may or may not be on Rob, but how important is he doing to be in terms of playing with that confidence on both ends of the floor?
COACH ARCHIE MILLER: He is a huge part to what we are doing and his defense. He hasn't had a great shot at it, the month of November he was hurt and he's had to play his way into games and I was happy for him to be able to bust some shots.
I think that's one thing that's than been frustrating for him in games, he hasn't been able to make good ones, and he's work really hard on his shots. He does a lot for us with he's engaged and playing well you see that stat line he had tonight, he does a lot, nine defensive rebounds, I think he had six assists, four steals, and he clearly had a heck of a night for us.
We're going to need him to step up. I don't know what Rob's situation is, he's in concussion protocol, and so you know, from my standpoint right now we're planning on having to be without him for a while and Devonte obviously slips right in.
Q. You guys have four or five turnovers in the first five minutes?
COACH ARCHIE MILLER: Yeah, really careless. We were really careless. Like I said the first half, we weren't ready to go. We almost looked like we were winded starting the game almost and the standing around, the one-hand passes, just the -- you know, not detailed, and you know, we got through it and I thought we played a better game after that but clearly the first four minutes our starting unit get off to a great start on either end of the floor.
Q. Seems like the turnovers are one of a few common themes to the slow starts. How do you go about fixing those?
COACH ARCHIE MILLER: You've got to be -- you've just got to beat it into our guys' heads how important it is to take care of the ball. The last three or four games, a lot of empty possessions and a lot of it is trying to go on your own and get away from things. To start the game, trying to get going, trying to do something, so it's not there, and again, just we've got to be better there.
And then, you know, 12 turnovers we finish with, which is fine, but you know, clearly the slow starts and some of our starts problematic definitely stems from our offensive execution and just being able to take care of it, so it's a big concern.
Q. Romeo's double-double, 11 rebounds, five assists, good all around game?
COACH ARCHIE MILLER: Good all-around game for him tonight. You know, he rebounded well. He shared the ball really well and obviously he got his -- he got his numbers in and around the rim but very complete game by him and he's going to need to continue to be that way, especially rebounding for us. He's got to give us another added weapon on the glass, both ends of the floor.
When he's able to get a couple second shots, it's big and then the way he can rebound defensively, that's a big thing for our team because we are not the biggest team at times out there and we are going to play against a lot bigger teams.
Q. His three-point shot has not quite gotten there. Is that the final step from him?
COACH ARCHIE MILLER: Yeah, it's something that all young guys go through when you get to college. It's not easy. The shots that you take on, it's not easy to get, especially for him, he's being hounded pretty good, almost every game. Just concentrate on him taking the ones that he knows he can make and that he works on every single day and we can go from there. A lot of guys have started off one way and finished really strong. I think he'll be that way.
Q. How nice was it to be able to get guys like Jake and Clifton some minutes tonight?
COACH ARCHIE MILLER: Yeah, just by mere circumstances of our competition and the games that we've played in, it hasn't been what it was and I think deem is going to get back in there. I think Clifton and Jake should both continue to find ways to keep getting better. I was glad they were able to play tonight. Always good for them.
But I see some guys not getting as many minutes as we get into Big Ten play having to play with foul trouble and injuries. Yeah, I was glad we were able to play everyone.
Q. A third score has been something you guys have been looked for on a consistent basis and Justin Smith has really stepped up in the last several games.
COACH ARCHIE MILLER: Yeah, Justin did a good job. He was on the offensive glass for one and on transition he really ran and got out and showed obviously his finishing ability.
Juwan is Juwan in and around the basket. He is who he is. And you know, that third scorer is always going to be by committee with us. I always feet that way. Tonight it was Devonte. He was able to get out there and play and have an added weapon.
Al has been that guy for us. Evan has been that third guy are to us, as well. It's going to be by committee. I think the more guys we play that are playing balanced minutes, the more guys in the stat sheet, all about the same, can't be a one-two punch and not have your other guys being able to take advantage of the plays that those guys can make for you, as well.
Devonte is obviously a veteran. He's got some capabilities to step in there and help us offensively for sure.
Devonte Green
Jake Forrester
Justin Smith
Q.Devonte, six threes tonight, talk us through the process of kind of regaining your basketball rhythm after missing several weeks with the thigh injury and when did it come together for you maybe from the outside?
DEVONTE GREEN; I'm just taking it day by day. It was a long process coming back off recovery but I've been doing preventative stuff to make it easier so that when I come back, I don't get hurt again, so that's basically what I've been focusing on.
Q. I guess as you have tried to find your rhythm again, are there things you lean on in your game, your shot, passing, defense, whatever that gets that comfort back?
DEVONTE GREEN: I would say defense, if I had to choose something, because everything starts on defense and I think once the defense starts going, offense comes with it.
Q. For any of you guys, you had I think four or five turnovers in the first five minutes and I think the last 14 minutes of the first half you didn't commit a turnover, what changed after that point?
JUSTIN SMITH: I think we kind of got our bearings within the game and we really kind of started to settle down and play how we wanted to play. The first six minutes were pretty frantic pace-wise so we were able to take a step back and really shore up the mistakes we were making and go on a run.
Q. To piggyback off that, it seems like that's been a habit for you so far this season, the first few minutes. Can you diagnose why that is, why you need four or five minutes to kind of get your bearings?
JUSTIN SMITH: I mean, no, I really don't know. I say we have to come out with a better mindset, being more aggressive and locked in defensively, focusing on the defensive side of the ball rather than the offensive side of the ball, and you know, just really being ready from the get-go.
Q. Jake, four baskets today, what led to that and how much more comfortable maybe are you now than when practice started?
JAKE FORRESTER: I'm just working really hard in practice every single day so I can translate into the game whenever I can get into the game with however many minutes I get, I just try to play the beverage I can be.
Q. Was it just a matter of being in the right spot tonight for those four baskets?
JAKE FORRESTER: Someone could say that but someone can say I can score the ball.
Q. What opened up for you offensively?
DEVONTE GREEN: I think I had a lot of open ones. That definitely helped. I think just running the offense, getting those open shots was the main thing, if it wasn't so open, I mean, probably wouldn't have went in as much.
Q. Rob obviously availed himself of a chance, when you were dealing with the injury, he came in and played well. Tonight, he goes out and he's not going to be available for a while and you knew that you were going to play a lot. Talk about that a little bit.
DEVONTE GREEN: I mean, this is go to being a long season. There's going to be injuries all over the court. It's always next man up and you've just got to be ready. You've got to be prepared for things like that.
Q. With the young guys like Jake and cliff ton, maybe not playing as much as they would like to but as one of the veterans on the team, what kind of things do you talk to them about to maybe keep them upbeat and keep them involved?
DEVONTE GREEN: I always tell them mentally, just stay with it. I all tell them, I say, it's a grind, it's a slow grind. I think that's one of the hardest things coming in to college, dealing with it. It's easier for me to pass it on to the younger guys.
Q. Just in, you called the first six minutes or so of the game, using your words, frantic. Was there a point you looked back on that there was a shot or play that settled it down?
JUSTIN SMITH: I think it was just after the first TV time out, because I feel like we went like six straight minutes, no calls, or just kind of up and down, and then once we got back to the huddle, we got settled down. We were able to kind of take a step back and really look at what we were trying to do defensively. So yeah, probably just a TV time out, just you know, getting us back to where we wanted to be.
Q. You were one point away from a career-high in points and one rebound away from career-high in rebounds. Just your thoughts about that.
DEVONTE GREEN: Couldn't get one, I guess. (Laughter).
Central Arkansas Head Coach Russ Pennell
Coach let's talk a little bit about how you guys got off to a good start and had the game tied at 19?
"I felt that we really lost the game on the defensive end. I thought we gave up some easy baskets, where we just didn't. Our rotations were bad. We kind of got them going offensively. They tightened their defense up a little bit. We are a young team we took some bad shots. What happens in games like this for us when we spot teams of this caliber those points then we get a little desperate, and I thought we played desperate. I thought we didn't share the ball as well as we normally do, and I think that led to an avalanche."
I think Indiana held you 30% shooting, talk about their defense tonight?
"I think the big thing is we couldn't score anything on the inside. We just were not physical enough. We didn't get the ball into the post area. They really pressed out on our 3-point shooters. I thought they challenged our shots pretty well. I think some of that was our impatience. I didn't like the way we just didn't get the ball moving side to side like we usually do. I credit them, I thought their pressure was good, but I think they had us scouted pretty well. They knew what we liked to do and they took some of those things away from us. "
What really impressed you about Indiana that you didn't know coming in that they did tonight?
"I thought the 25 assists. I thought they shared the ball extremely well. We knew they had an inside game and of course a couple of guys got hot from the outside. I thought they established everything at the rim. Made us over help. Which opened up a lot of three-point opportunities for them so I thought offensively they played really good."
You guys have played everyone that's pretty tough. You played St. Louis and some other teams but Louisville kind of just trounced you. Was this similar to the Louisville game?
"No, I thought we played better here. We didn't play very well at Louisville. A part of that is we had a little adversity going into that game and I thought that kind of bothered us a little bit. I didn't think we fought it as hard at Louisville. I liked our effort even at the start of the second half. We came out and cut it to 12 and I thought we battle for a while tonight where at Louisville I think we gave up the ghost pretty early."
What can you take away from a game like this that will help you in conference play?
"We have to learn how to handle adversity. When we get punched in the mouth, you know a couple of plays don't go your way. Were a young team. Nine of my 13 scholarship guys are freshman and sophomores and we can't use that excuse forever but it is true right now. What we've got to do, I think is learn to handle adverse situations and learn to battle through them. It's tough to do against a ranked opponent but hopefully we can learn some of those things and take the it into the conference."
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