Postgame Quotes: Indiana vs. Nebraska
12/4/2021 2:50:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Postgame Quotes
Indiana vs. Nebraska
Dec. 4, 2021
MIKE WOODSON | INDIANA HEAD COACH
Q. On the spark the bench provided…
WOODSON: It was a very important. We came in slow and not really into the game. I mean, we were flat, man, and it's the first time I've seen that, and I tried to let them play their way out. You know, we missed some good shots. We had good looks early. But they built I think a 10-point lead at one time, and so I had to change it up, went to the bench and our bench was fantastic tonight coming in.
Q. On Race Thompson…
WOODSON: He's been playing that way all season for us. And you know, they were playing small ball so we tried to take advantage of that by posting him against a smaller guy, and he made a couple buckets. That's something that we will explore as we continue to journey if teams are going to play our fours with smaller people. I mean, you've got to exploit it.
Q. On the competitiveness of practice…
WOODSON: The second unit pushes the first unit, and when we have scrimmages, there's been times the second unit has come away with the win.
So, I mean, that's being competitive where they are not succumbing all the time to the first unit, and they showed tonight, they got in there and they did what they were supposed to do and I played them. I mean, I think I played Anthony and a few of those guys nine, ten minutes straight.
Q. On Trayce Jackson-Davis and playing against a small lineup…
WOODSON: Our bigs are athletic enough that we can switch if we get in trouble, and then with Trayce, he missed probably three or four bunnies, I call, around the rim that just didn't drop for him, and there's going to be nights like that that.
Again, I though early on, we struggled to shoot the ball. Miller, I don't even think he made a bucket tonight, and Parker struggled the first half and he got it going a little bit the second half. There's going to be nights like that, but I'm a true believer, man, that if your defense is solid, it will keep you in ballgames. If you're defending and rebounding as a unit, you've got a chance.
Q. On Anthony Leal…
WOODSON: He's been very competitive in practice. I thought, I came in tonight knowing I was going to play him, and he responded, which was kind of nice to see
Q. On the impact of Parker Stewart…
WOODSON: He can shoot the ball. Just got to put him in position where he can make shots, and he's been making them. I thought the Syracuse game, he was right on the money in terms of the 3-ball, and tonight he made threes when we really needed him. We've just got keep him on good place. He's been shooting a lot of them in practice.
So, I mean, I'm happy with where he is as a player right now because he's giving us some positive minutes and doing what he does best, and that's making the long ball.
Q. On Tamar Bates' mindset…
WOODSON: The thing I'll say about Tamar, he's not scared of the moment. He'll take a big shot, and sometimes it's a bad shot, but hey, I'm not -- I like everything about Tamar. That's why he's here wearing an Indiana uniform.
Q. On the turnovers…
WOODSON: All we can do is talk about it, man, and show him on film that, you know, you play offense, you don't give it to the defense. You know, you play offense to score the ball, and have fun while you're doing it. I thought we were a little bit better the second half. And in doing that, we were able to build a lead and by not turning it over and making our defense work for us and making shots, it kind of all goes hand-in-hand.
Q. On the importance of getting the first conference win…
WOODSON: Every game is important. Our goal this year is not to lose at home. I mean, and then try to figure it out when we get out on the road. So, this game was important. I mean, every game when we step out on that floor is important.
Q. On the defensive scheme heading into Wisconsin…
WOODSON: I'm not a zone guy. You know, we don't play any zone. We haven't put any zone in yet. Our man-to-man defense has really been pretty good this year. So, we're going to have to go to Wisconsin and try to figure it out fray man-to-man standpoint. We play some teams, probably not as deep as Syracuse in terms of shooting the long ball, but they made some tough shots, I thought. I think when I look back at that game, if we just erase half the turnovers that we gave them, it's a different ballgame. So, we'll see what happens when we get to Wisconsin.
RACE THOMPSON | INDIANA FORWARD & TAMAR BATES | INDIANA GUARD
Q. On keeping the game close despite early struggles…
THOMPSON: I think our strength of the team right now is defense. So, I think we just talked to each other about slowing down offense and then helping our defense, making our defense make plays for us on offense. So, I think stepping up our defense, talking to each other, getting each other going, I think that's really what helped us coming into the second half.
Q. On the spark the bench provided…
BATES: That's what it's all about to us, really. Just like how we respond to adversity and when we don't play as well as we expect to. So, I mean, obviously like we talk before the game, after the Syracuse game, but we just got laser sharp focus coming into it making sure we just provide some kind of spark.
Q. On Anthony Leal…
THOMPSON: I don't think anything was holding him back. I think he was just searching for a spot. We have a lot of good players coming in the guard spot. We have Parker, Tamar, Tre went down. I mean, all our guards are really good. I mean, you see Anthony every day in practice he goes 125 percent every single day and he really deserves it.
I don't think any of us are surprised that he goes out there, gets a steal, makes a shot and that's what he does every single day in practice. So, I'm really proud of him. Hopefully he can, good keep going out there and doing that.
Q. On the confidence of the bench unit…
THOMPSON: I think our bench can start on most of the Big Ten teams in the country. We have starters coming off the bench. Knowing we have scoop coming off the bench, Anthony, Jordan, anybody coming off the bench that we can believe in them and trust them to make shots, make plays and be in the right spots. I think that's just what makes a good team.
Q. On the importance of winning without relying on Jackson-Davis…
BATES: It's just us like continuing to know where our strengths are. I mean, he wasn't really worried about what was next to his name on the box score after the game. He's worried about winning. The defense, we just took what they gave us, and he was able to be more being aggressive and score down the stretch.
Q. On the importance of having Rob Phinisee back…
BATES: I mean, we definitely missed him when he was out but you know just him being a veteran that he is, and knowing like when I go in a game, I always got somebody that's going to help me out and make sure I'm doing what I'm supposed to do and make sure I'm focused because he's been doing this for a minute it. So, it was great to have Rob back as you can see.
Q. On bouncing back with the shot…
BATES: Shooters shoot. I'm going to keep shooting the ball. I can miss 10 threes; I'm going to shoot the 11th one. It really doesn't matter to me. It doesn't matter. We get the reps you have every day. We work at it. What's four misses to however many shots I've made, like ever, like when I work out or anything.
So, I mean, it's just staying confident, believing in myself and the fact that my teammates have that believe in me that they going to keep swinging it to me because I'm knocking it down, that makes me just want to make the shot because they believe in me the same way I believe in myself.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
FRED HOIBERG | NEBRASKA HEAD COACH
Q. On Mike Woodson coming back to coach and what he brings to the Big 10…
HOIBERG: It's special. Coming back to your alma mater, I know that from experience, taking over the program at Iowa State, I know the passion that you have, obviously when you take over for your alma mater and the pride that you have for the program. Especially Mike with every-thing that he's accomplished as a player here, as a player in the league, as a coach in the league. He's phenomenal, he does a great job, his team takes on the personality of him, they're tough, and he deserves a lot of credit for the start they've got and so it's a tough game for us after that marathon we had the other night and I thought our guys went out and competed, got us out to a great start, the things we were doing offensively early, I thought we went away from that a little bit to allow them to get back into it, a couple bad shots led to transition. We got to dribble happy out there. We missed some great looks, we missed some really good shots, part of that could have been legs from the other night and just gotta keep grinding. Got a tough one coming up here in two days, now get ready for Michigan. I'm really proud of my team for how we went out and competed, best effort of the year from half court defensive standpoint and something we can build on.
Q. On 3-point shooting struggles…
HOIBERG: It's something we gotta keep working on, getting reps on and we had a couple games, two or three games ago we shot the ball well, I thought that was gonna get us rolling, and then we didn't shoot it great the other night. One thing we've been able to do is get to the free throw line, manufacture points, we were not able to do that tonight, we did not get to the free throw line enough the other night as well. We did score 54 in the paint the other night, that's something we have to continue to try to do and get it in from three. Again, half-court defense was excellent, we got nervous turnovers, they capitalized, 21 points off our 14 turnovers which isn't a terrible number on the road, especially the way they played, but they converted and did good.
Indiana vs. Nebraska
Dec. 4, 2021
MIKE WOODSON | INDIANA HEAD COACH
Q. On the spark the bench provided…
WOODSON: It was a very important. We came in slow and not really into the game. I mean, we were flat, man, and it's the first time I've seen that, and I tried to let them play their way out. You know, we missed some good shots. We had good looks early. But they built I think a 10-point lead at one time, and so I had to change it up, went to the bench and our bench was fantastic tonight coming in.
Q. On Race Thompson…
WOODSON: He's been playing that way all season for us. And you know, they were playing small ball so we tried to take advantage of that by posting him against a smaller guy, and he made a couple buckets. That's something that we will explore as we continue to journey if teams are going to play our fours with smaller people. I mean, you've got to exploit it.
Q. On the competitiveness of practice…
WOODSON: The second unit pushes the first unit, and when we have scrimmages, there's been times the second unit has come away with the win.
So, I mean, that's being competitive where they are not succumbing all the time to the first unit, and they showed tonight, they got in there and they did what they were supposed to do and I played them. I mean, I think I played Anthony and a few of those guys nine, ten minutes straight.
Q. On Trayce Jackson-Davis and playing against a small lineup…
WOODSON: Our bigs are athletic enough that we can switch if we get in trouble, and then with Trayce, he missed probably three or four bunnies, I call, around the rim that just didn't drop for him, and there's going to be nights like that that.
Again, I though early on, we struggled to shoot the ball. Miller, I don't even think he made a bucket tonight, and Parker struggled the first half and he got it going a little bit the second half. There's going to be nights like that, but I'm a true believer, man, that if your defense is solid, it will keep you in ballgames. If you're defending and rebounding as a unit, you've got a chance.
Q. On Anthony Leal…
WOODSON: He's been very competitive in practice. I thought, I came in tonight knowing I was going to play him, and he responded, which was kind of nice to see
Q. On the impact of Parker Stewart…
WOODSON: He can shoot the ball. Just got to put him in position where he can make shots, and he's been making them. I thought the Syracuse game, he was right on the money in terms of the 3-ball, and tonight he made threes when we really needed him. We've just got keep him on good place. He's been shooting a lot of them in practice.
So, I mean, I'm happy with where he is as a player right now because he's giving us some positive minutes and doing what he does best, and that's making the long ball.
Q. On Tamar Bates' mindset…
WOODSON: The thing I'll say about Tamar, he's not scared of the moment. He'll take a big shot, and sometimes it's a bad shot, but hey, I'm not -- I like everything about Tamar. That's why he's here wearing an Indiana uniform.
Q. On the turnovers…
WOODSON: All we can do is talk about it, man, and show him on film that, you know, you play offense, you don't give it to the defense. You know, you play offense to score the ball, and have fun while you're doing it. I thought we were a little bit better the second half. And in doing that, we were able to build a lead and by not turning it over and making our defense work for us and making shots, it kind of all goes hand-in-hand.
Q. On the importance of getting the first conference win…
WOODSON: Every game is important. Our goal this year is not to lose at home. I mean, and then try to figure it out when we get out on the road. So, this game was important. I mean, every game when we step out on that floor is important.
Q. On the defensive scheme heading into Wisconsin…
WOODSON: I'm not a zone guy. You know, we don't play any zone. We haven't put any zone in yet. Our man-to-man defense has really been pretty good this year. So, we're going to have to go to Wisconsin and try to figure it out fray man-to-man standpoint. We play some teams, probably not as deep as Syracuse in terms of shooting the long ball, but they made some tough shots, I thought. I think when I look back at that game, if we just erase half the turnovers that we gave them, it's a different ballgame. So, we'll see what happens when we get to Wisconsin.
RACE THOMPSON | INDIANA FORWARD & TAMAR BATES | INDIANA GUARD
Q. On keeping the game close despite early struggles…
THOMPSON: I think our strength of the team right now is defense. So, I think we just talked to each other about slowing down offense and then helping our defense, making our defense make plays for us on offense. So, I think stepping up our defense, talking to each other, getting each other going, I think that's really what helped us coming into the second half.
Q. On the spark the bench provided…
BATES: That's what it's all about to us, really. Just like how we respond to adversity and when we don't play as well as we expect to. So, I mean, obviously like we talk before the game, after the Syracuse game, but we just got laser sharp focus coming into it making sure we just provide some kind of spark.
Q. On Anthony Leal…
THOMPSON: I don't think anything was holding him back. I think he was just searching for a spot. We have a lot of good players coming in the guard spot. We have Parker, Tamar, Tre went down. I mean, all our guards are really good. I mean, you see Anthony every day in practice he goes 125 percent every single day and he really deserves it.
I don't think any of us are surprised that he goes out there, gets a steal, makes a shot and that's what he does every single day in practice. So, I'm really proud of him. Hopefully he can, good keep going out there and doing that.
Q. On the confidence of the bench unit…
THOMPSON: I think our bench can start on most of the Big Ten teams in the country. We have starters coming off the bench. Knowing we have scoop coming off the bench, Anthony, Jordan, anybody coming off the bench that we can believe in them and trust them to make shots, make plays and be in the right spots. I think that's just what makes a good team.
Q. On the importance of winning without relying on Jackson-Davis…
BATES: It's just us like continuing to know where our strengths are. I mean, he wasn't really worried about what was next to his name on the box score after the game. He's worried about winning. The defense, we just took what they gave us, and he was able to be more being aggressive and score down the stretch.
Q. On the importance of having Rob Phinisee back…
BATES: I mean, we definitely missed him when he was out but you know just him being a veteran that he is, and knowing like when I go in a game, I always got somebody that's going to help me out and make sure I'm doing what I'm supposed to do and make sure I'm focused because he's been doing this for a minute it. So, it was great to have Rob back as you can see.
Q. On bouncing back with the shot…
BATES: Shooters shoot. I'm going to keep shooting the ball. I can miss 10 threes; I'm going to shoot the 11th one. It really doesn't matter to me. It doesn't matter. We get the reps you have every day. We work at it. What's four misses to however many shots I've made, like ever, like when I work out or anything.
So, I mean, it's just staying confident, believing in myself and the fact that my teammates have that believe in me that they going to keep swinging it to me because I'm knocking it down, that makes me just want to make the shot because they believe in me the same way I believe in myself.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
FRED HOIBERG | NEBRASKA HEAD COACH
Q. On Mike Woodson coming back to coach and what he brings to the Big 10…
HOIBERG: It's special. Coming back to your alma mater, I know that from experience, taking over the program at Iowa State, I know the passion that you have, obviously when you take over for your alma mater and the pride that you have for the program. Especially Mike with every-thing that he's accomplished as a player here, as a player in the league, as a coach in the league. He's phenomenal, he does a great job, his team takes on the personality of him, they're tough, and he deserves a lot of credit for the start they've got and so it's a tough game for us after that marathon we had the other night and I thought our guys went out and competed, got us out to a great start, the things we were doing offensively early, I thought we went away from that a little bit to allow them to get back into it, a couple bad shots led to transition. We got to dribble happy out there. We missed some great looks, we missed some really good shots, part of that could have been legs from the other night and just gotta keep grinding. Got a tough one coming up here in two days, now get ready for Michigan. I'm really proud of my team for how we went out and competed, best effort of the year from half court defensive standpoint and something we can build on.
Q. On 3-point shooting struggles…
HOIBERG: It's something we gotta keep working on, getting reps on and we had a couple games, two or three games ago we shot the ball well, I thought that was gonna get us rolling, and then we didn't shoot it great the other night. One thing we've been able to do is get to the free throw line, manufacture points, we were not able to do that tonight, we did not get to the free throw line enough the other night as well. We did score 54 in the paint the other night, that's something we have to continue to try to do and get it in from three. Again, half-court defense was excellent, we got nervous turnovers, they capitalized, 21 points off our 14 turnovers which isn't a terrible number on the road, especially the way they played, but they converted and did good.
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