Postgame Quotes - Indiana vs. Northwestern
2/18/2024 6:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Postgame Quotes
Indiana vs. Northwestern
Feb. 18, 2024
MIKE WOODSON | INDIANA HEAD COACH
Q. On not being able to complete the comeback…
WOODSON: Well, I thought the biggest play is when we were down two during that surge. Malik had it on the right block -- left block, and Mackenzie just hit a three from a play we had designed. He was sitting right there. I don't know if you saw him or not, but he went into a bad shot.
They came back and hit a three and we never recovered from that point on. I thought if that pass had it been made and Mack gets another look, there is a chance we go up one.
But I thought of the biggest play along with not making free throws. A close game when you are scraping and scraping you got to make three throws, man, and we were 9 for 22 I think. What was it? 12 for 21. So that's just not good in close games.
Q. On foul trouble with Malik Reneau…
WOODSON: Well, I wasn't happy with him after the game. I mean, after he had the two I thought the third foul was -- it came so fast. I mean, he reached over the guy and he didn't, at the time, didn't think he fouled, but I thought it was a foul.
The fifth foul came so fast I couldn't get him out, from the bump up top in the pick and roll. We just got to keep working with him because we need him on the basketball floor. The guy has played well this season for our ball club, and being our second leading scorer and second leading rebounder, we need him on the floor, especially coming down the stretch.
Q. On the offensive rebounding issues…
WOODSON: Again, I thought the 50/50 balls they beat us to tonight and we played smaller. When Malik got in fall trouble early we went small. Coming down the stretch I had Mackenzie at the 4.
So I mean, we have to utilize our strengths when we're on the floor being big, but didn't help us tonight.
Q. On ball motion at certain points in the game…
WOODSON: I thought early on when the game started we got good looks based on how they double teamed the ball. Just didn't make shots early.
I mean, we had some really good looks. Gallo had -- I can look back -- had three wide open ones that he just made one of the three. Mackenzie didn't make any early on.
These are shots that when our guys aren't being double teamed -- Gabe made one -- they got to step up and knock them down. Then it takes a little pressure off the guys being double teamed if we can start making shots when they were double teamed.
But I thought coming down the stretch running the pick and roll game we were able to open it up a bit when we went small to get Mackenzie and CJ who didn't make one but good looks. Gallo had some good looks coming down the stretch as well as Gabe.
We just got to keep working, man. It's frustrating because I thought we played well enough once we got back into it. The free throws bit us in the butt.
Q. On the impact of Mackenzie Mgbako…
WOODSON: Yeah, we can experiment with that a little bit. It looked pretty good tonight, but they were small, too. You know, it didn't hurt us. When teams are playing bigger 4s that can be tougher for Mackenzie as well.
Can be tough for the guys that are possibly guarding him too as well. Something to think about.
Q. On what went wrong offensively…
WOODSON: Simple. You watched the same game I did. You got to make shots. We had some good looks and we just didn't knock them down. Nothing scientific about it. We moved the ball well enough to get open shots. You got to step up and make them. It's that simple.
GABE CUPPS | INDIANA GUARD
Q. On free throw shooting in practice not translating…
CUPPS: Yeah, we shoot a lot of free throws in practice because the coaches and we obviously see that that's something that we can get better at.
So I think it just all comes down to confidence and just the mentality approaching the line with. I think it's much more mental than physical. We get the reps in all week and have been throughout the season.
We just got to step up and knock them down with confidence.
Q. On what was wrong with the offense…
CUPPS: I think it's just the pace we run it with. Obviously the last four minutes we were pushing the ball. We were running everything with pace, and we have athletic, quick guys, guys that can make plays.
I think it's just having a consistent pace, and we needed to it from the jump instead of waiting until our backs are against the wall.
Q. On how Northwestern was able to force them into turnovers early…
CUPPS: I think a little bit of it was they pressure the ball. They're very well coached, they're on top of scouting stuff.
I also think that sometimes we got a little bit passive in the first half compared to the second half. We were much more aggressive and not on our heels as much. When you're on your heels you make poor decisions that lead to turnovers.
Q. On how he feels he's grown as a defender this season…
CUPPS: Yeah, he's obviously a great player. Tough to defend no matter what night it is. I thought I did pretty well when he was in his isolation stuff. He is one of the best iso guys in the country.
I've always taken pride on the defensive side of the ball. At the end of the day, didn't do enough. Got to get the win. He's a great player. Just got to do the best I can.
KEL'EL WARE | INDIANA CENTER
Q. On Northwestern's ability to grab offensive rebounds…
WARE: You got to box out more and crack down on the big when I go to like block a shot. Just got to work on rebounding more.
Q. On the team having more urgency early in games…
WARE: It's always good to come out beginning of the game with energy. I feel like we lacked it a little bit, but we dug ourselves too deep of a hole in the second half to come back, which we tried to do.
CHRIS COLLINS | NORTHWESTERN HEAD COACH
Opening Statement: This was a huge win for our team. We've gone through a lot of adversity over the last week and a half, and to be able to come here on short rest against a team that we really respect, their talent and coaching, you're on the road, as well as one of the toughest venues to play in.
They've had 8 days off to prepare for us, and we were on the East Coast with a real dogfight of a game at Rutgers Thursday night and then real minimal prep for this game. This game was a testament to these guys' will. We had a lineup on the floor in the end of the first half that never in my wildest imagination thought that would be on the floor at Indiana in a late season game that we needed to win. Credit to those guys when others were in foul trouble. For us to go into half up 8, was a huge stretch of the game. We played really well in the second half and grew the lead to 16, but give Indiana credit, they scattered the game a little bit and we made mistakes.
We missed a bunch of shots, and Indiana hit a bunch of 3's and now all of a sudden, you're in a game and the crowd was in it which makes the pressure big. A lot of pressure in the end and we had to make a free throw to seal the game which was huge. Huge win for us. I'm really proud of these guys. There's only been 30 wins on the road out of I think 100 games. We are going to go home and rest and get ready for the next game.
Q: On how important second chance opportunities are throughout the game...
Collins: They have one of the elite shot blockers in the country in Kel'el Ware. What happens with an elite shot blocker is he comes over to block everything. One of the things we talked about with our bigs is to be ready on the back side because if he isn't able to block it, you're a free rebounder. That's why our guy was able to get rebounds and finish the plays.
Q: On Nick's first career double-double and being all over the floor...
Collins: Well Nick's a baller. Coming into the year, I knew he was going to be a big part of our team. I really thought he was going to have to take on a role with our team, last year the place that Brooks played. Brooks was our 6th man last year, but he ended up playing starter minutes and came off the bench and had that similar impact.
I envisioned that for Nick coming into the year and he was hurt early in the season with a broken foot that got him off a slow start. He's unique with size and being a lefty. He's shooting the ball now with more confidence. He's not afraid and he's a baller. He's played in big games and isn't afraid of the moment. Now he needs to step into a major role. It's really elevated our rebounding. He gives us some more size on the front line which helps take away points from opponents.
Indiana vs. Northwestern
Feb. 18, 2024
MIKE WOODSON | INDIANA HEAD COACH
Q. On not being able to complete the comeback…
WOODSON: Well, I thought the biggest play is when we were down two during that surge. Malik had it on the right block -- left block, and Mackenzie just hit a three from a play we had designed. He was sitting right there. I don't know if you saw him or not, but he went into a bad shot.
They came back and hit a three and we never recovered from that point on. I thought if that pass had it been made and Mack gets another look, there is a chance we go up one.
But I thought of the biggest play along with not making free throws. A close game when you are scraping and scraping you got to make three throws, man, and we were 9 for 22 I think. What was it? 12 for 21. So that's just not good in close games.
Q. On foul trouble with Malik Reneau…
WOODSON: Well, I wasn't happy with him after the game. I mean, after he had the two I thought the third foul was -- it came so fast. I mean, he reached over the guy and he didn't, at the time, didn't think he fouled, but I thought it was a foul.
The fifth foul came so fast I couldn't get him out, from the bump up top in the pick and roll. We just got to keep working with him because we need him on the basketball floor. The guy has played well this season for our ball club, and being our second leading scorer and second leading rebounder, we need him on the floor, especially coming down the stretch.
Q. On the offensive rebounding issues…
WOODSON: Again, I thought the 50/50 balls they beat us to tonight and we played smaller. When Malik got in fall trouble early we went small. Coming down the stretch I had Mackenzie at the 4.
So I mean, we have to utilize our strengths when we're on the floor being big, but didn't help us tonight.
Q. On ball motion at certain points in the game…
WOODSON: I thought early on when the game started we got good looks based on how they double teamed the ball. Just didn't make shots early.
I mean, we had some really good looks. Gallo had -- I can look back -- had three wide open ones that he just made one of the three. Mackenzie didn't make any early on.
These are shots that when our guys aren't being double teamed -- Gabe made one -- they got to step up and knock them down. Then it takes a little pressure off the guys being double teamed if we can start making shots when they were double teamed.
But I thought coming down the stretch running the pick and roll game we were able to open it up a bit when we went small to get Mackenzie and CJ who didn't make one but good looks. Gallo had some good looks coming down the stretch as well as Gabe.
We just got to keep working, man. It's frustrating because I thought we played well enough once we got back into it. The free throws bit us in the butt.
Q. On the impact of Mackenzie Mgbako…
WOODSON: Yeah, we can experiment with that a little bit. It looked pretty good tonight, but they were small, too. You know, it didn't hurt us. When teams are playing bigger 4s that can be tougher for Mackenzie as well.
Can be tough for the guys that are possibly guarding him too as well. Something to think about.
Q. On what went wrong offensively…
WOODSON: Simple. You watched the same game I did. You got to make shots. We had some good looks and we just didn't knock them down. Nothing scientific about it. We moved the ball well enough to get open shots. You got to step up and make them. It's that simple.
GABE CUPPS | INDIANA GUARD
Q. On free throw shooting in practice not translating…
CUPPS: Yeah, we shoot a lot of free throws in practice because the coaches and we obviously see that that's something that we can get better at.
So I think it just all comes down to confidence and just the mentality approaching the line with. I think it's much more mental than physical. We get the reps in all week and have been throughout the season.
We just got to step up and knock them down with confidence.
Q. On what was wrong with the offense…
CUPPS: I think it's just the pace we run it with. Obviously the last four minutes we were pushing the ball. We were running everything with pace, and we have athletic, quick guys, guys that can make plays.
I think it's just having a consistent pace, and we needed to it from the jump instead of waiting until our backs are against the wall.
Q. On how Northwestern was able to force them into turnovers early…
CUPPS: I think a little bit of it was they pressure the ball. They're very well coached, they're on top of scouting stuff.
I also think that sometimes we got a little bit passive in the first half compared to the second half. We were much more aggressive and not on our heels as much. When you're on your heels you make poor decisions that lead to turnovers.
Q. On how he feels he's grown as a defender this season…
CUPPS: Yeah, he's obviously a great player. Tough to defend no matter what night it is. I thought I did pretty well when he was in his isolation stuff. He is one of the best iso guys in the country.
I've always taken pride on the defensive side of the ball. At the end of the day, didn't do enough. Got to get the win. He's a great player. Just got to do the best I can.
KEL'EL WARE | INDIANA CENTER
Q. On Northwestern's ability to grab offensive rebounds…
WARE: You got to box out more and crack down on the big when I go to like block a shot. Just got to work on rebounding more.
Q. On the team having more urgency early in games…
WARE: It's always good to come out beginning of the game with energy. I feel like we lacked it a little bit, but we dug ourselves too deep of a hole in the second half to come back, which we tried to do.
CHRIS COLLINS | NORTHWESTERN HEAD COACH
Opening Statement: This was a huge win for our team. We've gone through a lot of adversity over the last week and a half, and to be able to come here on short rest against a team that we really respect, their talent and coaching, you're on the road, as well as one of the toughest venues to play in.
They've had 8 days off to prepare for us, and we were on the East Coast with a real dogfight of a game at Rutgers Thursday night and then real minimal prep for this game. This game was a testament to these guys' will. We had a lineup on the floor in the end of the first half that never in my wildest imagination thought that would be on the floor at Indiana in a late season game that we needed to win. Credit to those guys when others were in foul trouble. For us to go into half up 8, was a huge stretch of the game. We played really well in the second half and grew the lead to 16, but give Indiana credit, they scattered the game a little bit and we made mistakes.
We missed a bunch of shots, and Indiana hit a bunch of 3's and now all of a sudden, you're in a game and the crowd was in it which makes the pressure big. A lot of pressure in the end and we had to make a free throw to seal the game which was huge. Huge win for us. I'm really proud of these guys. There's only been 30 wins on the road out of I think 100 games. We are going to go home and rest and get ready for the next game.
Q: On how important second chance opportunities are throughout the game...
Collins: They have one of the elite shot blockers in the country in Kel'el Ware. What happens with an elite shot blocker is he comes over to block everything. One of the things we talked about with our bigs is to be ready on the back side because if he isn't able to block it, you're a free rebounder. That's why our guy was able to get rebounds and finish the plays.
Q: On Nick's first career double-double and being all over the floor...
Collins: Well Nick's a baller. Coming into the year, I knew he was going to be a big part of our team. I really thought he was going to have to take on a role with our team, last year the place that Brooks played. Brooks was our 6th man last year, but he ended up playing starter minutes and came off the bench and had that similar impact.
I envisioned that for Nick coming into the year and he was hurt early in the season with a broken foot that got him off a slow start. He's unique with size and being a lefty. He's shooting the ball now with more confidence. He's not afraid and he's a baller. He's played in big games and isn't afraid of the moment. Now he needs to step into a major role. It's really elevated our rebounding. He gives us some more size on the front line which helps take away points from opponents.
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