Indiana University Athletics
Postgame Quotes: Indiana vs. Illinois
2/3/2021 12:33:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Indiana vs. Illinois
Postgame Quotes
Feb. 2, 2021
Indiana Head Coach Archie Miller
Opening Statement
MILLER: It was a frustrating outcome for us. Very hard-fought game and Illinois is a very good team. They stepped up and made some winning plays. I thought Andre Curbelo showed what type of player he is. He showed the guts that he has for such a young player especially late in overtime. I thought the way he handled the ball and created plays, he made it look easy. He was tough to keep out of the paint. Trent Frazier really stepped up in that one segment of the game when it could have gone either way. He banged a couple threes and got the free throws. That one shot I thought was a really important run for them to be able to get back in the game. Our guys competed but we are not tough enough to finish games yet. We are not tough enough in little ways, loose balls, and hits your hands but cannot grab it so they get it. There are just too many of those plays right now that we are not able to finish off. The tough plays that you have to make to win and that is why are in so many heartbreakers. The great thing is that we are at the half way point of the season with 10 games in and 10 games to go. I think our team is getting better. It is hard in this league when you not only have to play well but you have to be super tough at the right times. You have to able to make couple plays, whether it is a loose ball, made free throws, or whatever it may be. We have to grow out of that because I think we can play anybody but we are having a hard time finishing things off. The good thing is we have another opportunity on Sunday against a great team.
On the resilience of the team tonight…
MILLER: I think our team was here to play tonight. We started better than we have started in the past. We had a terrific first half with only four turnovers and scored 41 points. In the second half we did not take care of the ball. We had 15 turnovers with overtime and 11 turnovers in that 25 minutes kills you. For our team we cannot turn the ball over and in the second half we did not take care of the ball well enough. We had some reluctant shooters at times who felt they wanted to drive it and had a couple charges. I thought they were tough calls but at the end of the day you cannot turn it over 11 times and that really hurt us in the second half. Free throws continue to be a problem, we were 24 for 33 and we have to make more than that but hung in tough. Trent Frazier made two big shots and his ball screen defense was great there at the end. Your last eight minutes, we talked about it all week, it was going to come down to guarding the hot ball, being able to defend out of the ball screen. We are going to have to close and do some things. For the most part I thought we played hard. Guys did a good job inside for the most part with the big guy ad we kept Giorgo Bezhanishvili at bay. He did not have one of his great games but other guys stepped up and that is why they are a really good team. I thought we had guys step up too. We had four freshmen come off the bench tonight. We had four freshmen in that caliber of game and I think that speak to the development and improvement we showing right now. We have to stick with it as frustrating or as angry as it may be, we have stick with what we are doing because we are getting better.
On Race Thompson's effort…
MILLER: Race is a warrior. He benefited probably the most from the break. Physically he was really struggling in the last couple of games. He was physical tonight. 37 minutes, had 18 and 8, and he drew nine fouls. He is a leader right now. He is developing into a terrific team player so I am proud of Race and his effort tonight. He is going to have to get back at it pretty quick because we have another one coming up pretty quick and his recovery is important.
On the status of Jerome Hunter…
MILLER: There is nothing to really talk about with Jerome. Jerome was a coach's decision and it'll continue to be a coach's decision as we continue to go through the next 33 days that we have left in the regular season. He has a chance to earn his way back onto the floor. He practices every day. He lifts weights. He does everything, but he is not going to take the floor again until the coach feels he is in the right frame of mine to number one lead himself in the right way and number two has the bigger picture in mind in terms of protecting our team at all times. Jerome is a good kid. He is a good player. We could have used him tonight. The bottom line is, when he is right, and concentrated on what he is supposed to do he can help us. I don't think right now he can help us until he shows me that. That is, it for that. It was my decision and it will be to be determined when he plays again.
On the team's play in overtime…
MILLER: It is a struggle because Illinois is a really good team and they are a really good defensive team. They are sticky on the ball and it is very difficult as the game continues to wear on. We only took eight threes in this game. It shows you at the end of the day what they were willing to give up. They gave up two, paint touches and post-ups. There wasn't a whole lot of ball moving around for good shots, quality threes. They eliminated threes tonight. I thought the ball had a hard time moving because of the way they played. We were able to play inside out. We were able to get free throws. We shot 34 free-throws. The first time we played them I'm not sure how many free throws we got, but we were able to get 34 free throws in the game. In overtime it comes down to some balls got to go in. We had a couple plays, some opportunities that just didn't go our way. Throughout the course of a 45-minute game it is hard when the other team kind of knows what's coming. It is very difficult to just post them up and score on them. We will watch the film and try to get better. We are right there. A couple of bad turnovers, I just thought really hurt us throughout the course of that second half, especially in overtime we had two charges, at least one charge we have to be able to take the open shot rather than drive it.
On what Armaan Franklin did well against Ayo Dosunmu…
MILLER: I thought Armaan did a pretty good job. Here is the thing with Ayo. He drew five fouls in the first half. He put our whole backcourt in foul trouble. He was doing damage in the first half, and I thought in the second half we did a better job of guarding without fouling in particular on him. Armaan was feeling a little better tonight. I think you could tell with his legs and his quickness. He just concentrated and I thought he did as solid of a job as you can on a guy like that. Ayo is a great player. It just shows a testament to their team to be able to be able to come in on the road and win one when your best player goes 2-for-11 from the floor. It says a lot about them. They are continuing to have a great year and we have played two really hard games with them. Tonight, was one that really stings because this one didn't come down to couldn't make a shot or whatever, this one came down to at the end of the day probably five or 10 balls that just hit us in the hands or we didn't dive on. You have to be able to do that in February to be able to win a game like that because it is a monumental game, but it's over and it's on to this week to improve and play Iowa.
Indiana Sophomore Trayce Jackson-Davis
On the lack of offense late in the game…
JACKSON-DAVIS: I think it really just comes down to, they are really hard on the ball. They are getting their hands on our guards coming down kind of disrupting our pressure. Then they got us down late in the shot clock. So, went to make tough shots and they did not fall.
On the number of fouls called…
JACKSON-DAVIS: It is difficult. I know they see some that they think are fouls and they really are not, and then some that maybe should be called that they do not call. So, I mean the refs are not perfect. I am not going to put that on them for the put outcome of the game. It is a little hard to get into a rhythm, but at the same time I do not think that was the main cause.
On his success against Kofi Cockburn…
JACKSON-DAVIS: He is a great player. My coaches put a bigger emphasis on trying to play off the ball, not mainly on the block because he is so big. But what he does a great job of is wall-ups. When he tries to push you off of your structure, and I think he did a pretty good job of that, but at some of the parts of the game I thought I took advantage of that, so.
On the close losses lately…
JACKSON-DAVIS: I feel like the effort is there, but at the same time down the stretch probably four or five plays, loose balls, 50-50 balls that we have to grab, loose rebounds that we have in our hands that they take from us. And that is really, you cannot let that happen. So, the effort was definitely there but we just have to close out these games. That is what is comes down to.
On Race Thompson…
JACKSON-DAVIS: Race played a hell of a game honestly. I know wants a few of those free throws back, but he did a great job for us. Especially early in the first half when no one can get going really. I was struggling and I thought he really picked us up, and he really kept us in the game. So, props to him, he did a really great job.
Illinois Head Coach Brad Underwood
Opening Statement
UNDERWOOD: Really it was a tale of two halves. It was the first time in a while that I have been really, really upset with my basketball team at halftime. Giving up 41 points was not contusive to going to win on the road. Again, give Indiana a lot of credit. They were well prepared and they really hurt us with some short rolls out of their ball screen action. We lost Durham early and again it was just, we were lethargic, and they whipped us. I think 22 points and 10 rebounds from Trayce Jackson-Davis and Race Thompson in the first half. Really challenged our guys at halftime. Have not done that in a long time, or had to do that, but we responded. Giorgi Bezhanishvili, plus 23 and the plus minus was a huge impact. You saw we played a little bigger tonight. I could not be happier with our two seniors Trent Frazier and Da'Monte Williams. Ayo had a tough night and again, give them credit. But Trent stepped up, did what he did, banged a couple threes. Da'Monte's defense rebounding, and then obviously stepping up and making two free throws was huge. But the guy you just talked to Curbelo really controlled the second half I thought. From the offensive standpoint, got the ball in the paint, broke them down, then obviously a great feed to Kofi down the stretch. So, really good college basketball game. I am really proud of our guys opening the overtime with back-to-back charges. That is what you have to do the win on the road is show that grit and toughness and Jake and Ace did a great job doing that. So, we are happy to get out of here first time since 2010 Illinois has won in here. Tough place to play against a very good basketball team.
Q. On UI's defense in the last 11 minutes…
UNDERWOOD: Well we made a nice adjustment at halftime. We were a little bit beat in our ball screens. We moved Kofi up a little bit to try to take the short roll away. And to be quite honest we just played harder. I thought we were affective, much more affective in the second half because of our effort and our commitment to trying to guard and again they whipped us the first half. But anytime you do that on the road you give yourself a chance. I thought we had great looks tonight offensively and the ball did not go in. It is what I always preach. You have got to find a way to win the ball does not go in and Indiana is a great defensive team. Not a good one, a great one, and we won one to night with our defense.
Postgame Quotes
Feb. 2, 2021
Indiana Head Coach Archie Miller
Opening Statement
MILLER: It was a frustrating outcome for us. Very hard-fought game and Illinois is a very good team. They stepped up and made some winning plays. I thought Andre Curbelo showed what type of player he is. He showed the guts that he has for such a young player especially late in overtime. I thought the way he handled the ball and created plays, he made it look easy. He was tough to keep out of the paint. Trent Frazier really stepped up in that one segment of the game when it could have gone either way. He banged a couple threes and got the free throws. That one shot I thought was a really important run for them to be able to get back in the game. Our guys competed but we are not tough enough to finish games yet. We are not tough enough in little ways, loose balls, and hits your hands but cannot grab it so they get it. There are just too many of those plays right now that we are not able to finish off. The tough plays that you have to make to win and that is why are in so many heartbreakers. The great thing is that we are at the half way point of the season with 10 games in and 10 games to go. I think our team is getting better. It is hard in this league when you not only have to play well but you have to be super tough at the right times. You have to able to make couple plays, whether it is a loose ball, made free throws, or whatever it may be. We have to grow out of that because I think we can play anybody but we are having a hard time finishing things off. The good thing is we have another opportunity on Sunday against a great team.
On the resilience of the team tonight…
MILLER: I think our team was here to play tonight. We started better than we have started in the past. We had a terrific first half with only four turnovers and scored 41 points. In the second half we did not take care of the ball. We had 15 turnovers with overtime and 11 turnovers in that 25 minutes kills you. For our team we cannot turn the ball over and in the second half we did not take care of the ball well enough. We had some reluctant shooters at times who felt they wanted to drive it and had a couple charges. I thought they were tough calls but at the end of the day you cannot turn it over 11 times and that really hurt us in the second half. Free throws continue to be a problem, we were 24 for 33 and we have to make more than that but hung in tough. Trent Frazier made two big shots and his ball screen defense was great there at the end. Your last eight minutes, we talked about it all week, it was going to come down to guarding the hot ball, being able to defend out of the ball screen. We are going to have to close and do some things. For the most part I thought we played hard. Guys did a good job inside for the most part with the big guy ad we kept Giorgo Bezhanishvili at bay. He did not have one of his great games but other guys stepped up and that is why they are a really good team. I thought we had guys step up too. We had four freshmen come off the bench tonight. We had four freshmen in that caliber of game and I think that speak to the development and improvement we showing right now. We have to stick with it as frustrating or as angry as it may be, we have stick with what we are doing because we are getting better.
On Race Thompson's effort…
MILLER: Race is a warrior. He benefited probably the most from the break. Physically he was really struggling in the last couple of games. He was physical tonight. 37 minutes, had 18 and 8, and he drew nine fouls. He is a leader right now. He is developing into a terrific team player so I am proud of Race and his effort tonight. He is going to have to get back at it pretty quick because we have another one coming up pretty quick and his recovery is important.
On the status of Jerome Hunter…
MILLER: There is nothing to really talk about with Jerome. Jerome was a coach's decision and it'll continue to be a coach's decision as we continue to go through the next 33 days that we have left in the regular season. He has a chance to earn his way back onto the floor. He practices every day. He lifts weights. He does everything, but he is not going to take the floor again until the coach feels he is in the right frame of mine to number one lead himself in the right way and number two has the bigger picture in mind in terms of protecting our team at all times. Jerome is a good kid. He is a good player. We could have used him tonight. The bottom line is, when he is right, and concentrated on what he is supposed to do he can help us. I don't think right now he can help us until he shows me that. That is, it for that. It was my decision and it will be to be determined when he plays again.
On the team's play in overtime…
MILLER: It is a struggle because Illinois is a really good team and they are a really good defensive team. They are sticky on the ball and it is very difficult as the game continues to wear on. We only took eight threes in this game. It shows you at the end of the day what they were willing to give up. They gave up two, paint touches and post-ups. There wasn't a whole lot of ball moving around for good shots, quality threes. They eliminated threes tonight. I thought the ball had a hard time moving because of the way they played. We were able to play inside out. We were able to get free throws. We shot 34 free-throws. The first time we played them I'm not sure how many free throws we got, but we were able to get 34 free throws in the game. In overtime it comes down to some balls got to go in. We had a couple plays, some opportunities that just didn't go our way. Throughout the course of a 45-minute game it is hard when the other team kind of knows what's coming. It is very difficult to just post them up and score on them. We will watch the film and try to get better. We are right there. A couple of bad turnovers, I just thought really hurt us throughout the course of that second half, especially in overtime we had two charges, at least one charge we have to be able to take the open shot rather than drive it.
On what Armaan Franklin did well against Ayo Dosunmu…
MILLER: I thought Armaan did a pretty good job. Here is the thing with Ayo. He drew five fouls in the first half. He put our whole backcourt in foul trouble. He was doing damage in the first half, and I thought in the second half we did a better job of guarding without fouling in particular on him. Armaan was feeling a little better tonight. I think you could tell with his legs and his quickness. He just concentrated and I thought he did as solid of a job as you can on a guy like that. Ayo is a great player. It just shows a testament to their team to be able to be able to come in on the road and win one when your best player goes 2-for-11 from the floor. It says a lot about them. They are continuing to have a great year and we have played two really hard games with them. Tonight, was one that really stings because this one didn't come down to couldn't make a shot or whatever, this one came down to at the end of the day probably five or 10 balls that just hit us in the hands or we didn't dive on. You have to be able to do that in February to be able to win a game like that because it is a monumental game, but it's over and it's on to this week to improve and play Iowa.
Indiana Sophomore Trayce Jackson-Davis
On the lack of offense late in the game…
JACKSON-DAVIS: I think it really just comes down to, they are really hard on the ball. They are getting their hands on our guards coming down kind of disrupting our pressure. Then they got us down late in the shot clock. So, went to make tough shots and they did not fall.
On the number of fouls called…
JACKSON-DAVIS: It is difficult. I know they see some that they think are fouls and they really are not, and then some that maybe should be called that they do not call. So, I mean the refs are not perfect. I am not going to put that on them for the put outcome of the game. It is a little hard to get into a rhythm, but at the same time I do not think that was the main cause.
On his success against Kofi Cockburn…
JACKSON-DAVIS: He is a great player. My coaches put a bigger emphasis on trying to play off the ball, not mainly on the block because he is so big. But what he does a great job of is wall-ups. When he tries to push you off of your structure, and I think he did a pretty good job of that, but at some of the parts of the game I thought I took advantage of that, so.
On the close losses lately…
JACKSON-DAVIS: I feel like the effort is there, but at the same time down the stretch probably four or five plays, loose balls, 50-50 balls that we have to grab, loose rebounds that we have in our hands that they take from us. And that is really, you cannot let that happen. So, the effort was definitely there but we just have to close out these games. That is what is comes down to.
On Race Thompson…
JACKSON-DAVIS: Race played a hell of a game honestly. I know wants a few of those free throws back, but he did a great job for us. Especially early in the first half when no one can get going really. I was struggling and I thought he really picked us up, and he really kept us in the game. So, props to him, he did a really great job.
Illinois Head Coach Brad Underwood
Opening Statement
UNDERWOOD: Really it was a tale of two halves. It was the first time in a while that I have been really, really upset with my basketball team at halftime. Giving up 41 points was not contusive to going to win on the road. Again, give Indiana a lot of credit. They were well prepared and they really hurt us with some short rolls out of their ball screen action. We lost Durham early and again it was just, we were lethargic, and they whipped us. I think 22 points and 10 rebounds from Trayce Jackson-Davis and Race Thompson in the first half. Really challenged our guys at halftime. Have not done that in a long time, or had to do that, but we responded. Giorgi Bezhanishvili, plus 23 and the plus minus was a huge impact. You saw we played a little bigger tonight. I could not be happier with our two seniors Trent Frazier and Da'Monte Williams. Ayo had a tough night and again, give them credit. But Trent stepped up, did what he did, banged a couple threes. Da'Monte's defense rebounding, and then obviously stepping up and making two free throws was huge. But the guy you just talked to Curbelo really controlled the second half I thought. From the offensive standpoint, got the ball in the paint, broke them down, then obviously a great feed to Kofi down the stretch. So, really good college basketball game. I am really proud of our guys opening the overtime with back-to-back charges. That is what you have to do the win on the road is show that grit and toughness and Jake and Ace did a great job doing that. So, we are happy to get out of here first time since 2010 Illinois has won in here. Tough place to play against a very good basketball team.
Q. On UI's defense in the last 11 minutes…
UNDERWOOD: Well we made a nice adjustment at halftime. We were a little bit beat in our ball screens. We moved Kofi up a little bit to try to take the short roll away. And to be quite honest we just played harder. I thought we were affective, much more affective in the second half because of our effort and our commitment to trying to guard and again they whipped us the first half. But anytime you do that on the road you give yourself a chance. I thought we had great looks tonight offensively and the ball did not go in. It is what I always preach. You have got to find a way to win the ball does not go in and Indiana is a great defensive team. Not a good one, a great one, and we won one to night with our defense.
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