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Louisville-Illinois State Postgame Quotes
December 01, 2012 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 1, 2012
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Louisville Head Coach Rick Pitino
(Opening statement)
“Well we felt it was going to be that type of game and it was. We've all seen Brad Stevens and Shaka Smart the last few years - (Illinois State's Dan Muller) is one of the brightest young, first-year coaches that I've witnessed in a long, long time. Everything they do has great spacing to it. They played hard defensively and very smart. He was very patient waiting for his job, but that's one of the bright young stars of this game. He's a terrific coach, a great coach.
“The outplayed us. We played really hard. They had answers to everything that we put at them, but we played really hard. I told the guys, the game Tuesday is going to be just like that as well. It's going to be almost the entire year. Our defense is not as good in the back, obviously with Gorgui (Dieng) being out and all that pressure. We made a mistake at the end, but it's a great win for us, because we think they're a hell of a basketball team, they really are.
“We've got to improve. I told Chane (Behanan) if he didn't change his form, the ball's not going in. I've been trying to get him to change, but it's been very difficult because his ball is too live. He just snaps it and pulls the string on it, so we're going to work this week on changing his form. But he played a great game. He gave us a big lift. Stephan Van Treese gave us a tremendous lift.”
(On Luke Hancock contributing some rebounds)
“We're struggling a little bit at the three-spot. We really are. Luke is doing some good things. We've got to work, keep staying positive and get better. They were 0 for 7 at the three-spot. It's probably been our Achilles' heel, so we've got to pick it up with that.
(On Stephan Van Treese)
“Stephan is a warrior. Every single day these guys are tired of him. We watch Kenneth Faried tapes and his technique every day. Stephan has looked at it. Stephan wasn't a good rebounder, because he stays in his plane. But he's been watching Faried and the key to why Faried is so great is not only does he block out at the defensive end, but he watches the ball the entire time, so he knows how to chase it down and tip it to himself. We're watching and trying to get that technique and Chane (Behanan) and Stephan have been getting better at that. He gave us a big lift when we needed it. It's going to be a fight. We're not going to have an easy game, but it's going to be a fight until we get our shot blocker back. But Stephan did a fabulous job.”
(On whether he thought they'd be able to turn Illinois State over without Kaza Keane in the game)
“We didn't want to trap as much tonight. We did a little to get back into the game, but with this basketball team, you've got to be very careful with the three-point line. They made some shots in the beginning - you can say it's bad defense, but step-back shots from the NBA line - it's just tough to guard. We were in their face.”
(On whether he thought two years ago that he'd be relying on Russ Smith and Stephan Van today)
“Russ is... he almost lost the game for us by losing his man, but he singlehandedly won the game. Peyton (Siva) made the three. Look at how much confidence Peyton has in his shot. Russ is a great player - if he can ever learn two or three things. He's got a shot to go even to the next level - he's that good. One of the little - it's not a little thing - it's called passing. You've got to learn how to pass the ball. You can't score every single time down the floor. Once he learns that, look out.
(On what was the emphasis at halftime and what you did do better)
“I thought we were fine. I said they were making some very difficult shots. I said this was going down, even if we take the lead, this is going down to the wire of the game. We knew it would. I knew by watching the film, you guys half believe me and don't half believe me by telling you guys at the beginning of the year how great bad teams are and I knew this team was good. This Missouri Valley Conference is one of the better conferences in college basketball. Creighton, Wichita State, Northern Iowa - this team, and there is a really good one I know I am forgetting. They are all really good basketball teams and can beat anybody. This team here is terrific. They are an outstanding ball club. The young man from Owensboro, Kentucky (Tyler Brown); I am happy for him. He is a hell of a basketball player.”
(On struggling at the three position, is it offense and what can that position to do better)
“I think it is offensively. We are struggling with it. What Luke (Hancock) has to learn, is that he has to get a second gear. He puts it on the floor and is very cute and obviously crafty, but he has to get that second gear. He did some really good things tonight with the offensive rebounds and helped us. Wayne (Blackshear) has to learn to become a better ball handler.”
(On Stephan Van Treese deciding to come back this summer)
“He hadn't played in two years because of injury. What I wanted for Stephan was to go to Bellarmine and play 38 minutes to get his confidence back in his game. Then come back for your last year with us. But get on the court and start playing because I didn't think he would play a lot with us. Then he started visiting Illinois and other places. I said that is absurd and ridiculous. I called him back and said that I have been reading all this crap, it is time to come back home. He said I am so relieved coach, I will be back immediately.
“I just wanted what was best for him and it is funny how things turn out. Gorgui (Dieng) said something to me the other day. He said things happen for a reason. I said Gorgui, 'That is not true and I don't believe in any of that stuff. I said things don't happen for a reason. You fell down and fractured your wrist. That is not the Lord saying I am going to take Gorgui out so Louisville gets more experience and drive Coach Pitino up the wall with a straight jacket.' It is an injury right now but you notice how our defense goes from the 30 percent range, which we are playing better competition, but this team shot 52 percent against us for the game. You have to be a pretty tough basketball team to win, when the opposing team is shooting 52 percent.”
(On what poise he saw from Peyton Siva with four fouls and not getting the fifth)
“To be honest with you, I didn't have a whole bunch of confidence with Peyton not getting his fifth foul because he has so much over his career. I thought it was pretty special and him playing smart defense. You know Russ (Smith) is a very special basketball player. He does things you would never think of. He made a move with the game on the line that possibly we could lose, and he goes behind his back to make the move? You wouldn't even think of that. That is what makes him so special. He has absolutely no fear of anything and you have to have that on a basketball team. It doesn't matter if he is playing in the Bahamas or here. Some guys get tight at home, not Russ.”
(On lift you got from Peyton hitting outside shots which he struggled with earlier in the season)
“I always tell Chane (Behanan) that you 'reap what you sow.' That young man worked on his jump shot and worked on his jump shot. If you look at Peyton's arc and his form, reminds me of the James Southerland kid from Syracuse. Peyton has worked really hard on his shooting, and it is good because Russ is not a great 3-point shooter. So now Russ is penetrating and Peyton goes away to the line, and that improvement really helped us today.”
Illinois State Head Coach Dan Muller
(Opening Statement)
“It was a good game. I appreciate Coach Pitino inviting us down here to play them. They are one of the best teams in the country. However, we are very disappointed. We did some good things and some bad things. (Peyton) Siva got really hot there and made some shots and that hurt us. I am very proud of my team, but very disappointed in how it ended. We don't come for moral victories. We will use this and get better for it.”
(About not having G Kaza Keane to run point)
“It was not the best game to start without your best ball handling guard. He turned his ankle on Thursday and didn't practice yesterday, so we knew it would be questionable. He tried to go at the beginning. Trust me, Kaza wanted to play. He would have played if I had asked him to. Johnny (Hill) did a good job. I know he finished with six turnovers against their pressure. But for a guy who hasn't played any point until this year, he did a good job. I do think having one less ball handler on the court during the course of the game did hurt us. Those guys out there on the court did a great job.”
(About the final play)
“I have to see it again on replay. It was a great play by Tyler (Brown). I would have like to have had the opportunity to see if he could have made those free throws. I think he would have. It is tough to call seeing it live.”
(On how they responded to Louisville's runs in the second half)
“Yeah, they came out and tied it up pretty quickly. I was disappointed in our start in the second half. They were the aggressors, which we did talk about, but it's easier said than done. They're going to on some runs at times, but then we came right back with four quick points and got the game under control again. Their defensive pressure comes in ebbs and flows, they pick it up at times and when they do it's tough. They forced too many turnovers, but for the most part, obviously we withstood their runs. A lot of guys made a lot of big plays. I wish we would have hit a couple more baskets.”
(On back-to-back close losses to big programs)
“It's tough; we take one game at a time. We have a good schedule with opportunities. No matter who we lose to, we don't worry about who we're playing or what conference they're in, we just know it's another opportunity to play together and get a win. Two games in a row losing is ... we're ready to start winning again, I can tell you that. We have another quick game on Tuesday against a very good Wyoming team, but we'll have more opportunities against very good teams throughout the year.”
(On how their strategy worked against Louisville)
“The game plan is not that difficult; everybody knows it. You have to take care of the ball. You have to rebound it. You have to guard their guards. Now to actually do it is difficult. They just have some guys that have unbelievable hand quickness and lateral quickness that they just make it a trip to the dentist. Rebounding is hard, they're physical and they're athletic. Coach (Rick) Pitino coaches them well and we tried ... for those two things; our numbers aren't great, they got 16 offensive rebounds, we had 22 turnovers, but we certainly tried to not let them force us into things we didn't want to do. That is about it. They're going to play hard and they're going to play every possession.”
(On if this game is a confidence builder going forward even though he doesn't believe in moral victories)
“I think it's a confidence builder because we've had two road games in very tough environments and our players are not going to be scared. That is why we play these games. That's why we will play at Dayton coming up soon. Conference games, of course, will be tough. It gives me confidence, because I know that our players are going to go in anywhere, no matter who we're playing, they're going to believe in each other, believe in our coaching staff and compete. I think that will help them throughout the year. If we had not played these games, going into conference games, would it have hurt us? I think, absolutely.”
(On Rick Pitino comparing him to Brad Stevens and calling him one of the best young coaches)
“That is very kind of Coach (Rick) Pitino. He is one of the best ever. That is very nice of him to say, but I am a long way away from Brad Stevens, I can guarantee you that. I certainly have aspirations to be a good coach and coach players the right way and graduate them and put a product on the court that people can be excited about. I worked under a great guy in Kevin Stallings. I do feel that I have an unbelievable staff with me, and we're excited about the opportunity.”
(On Tyler's Brown performance, especially having to handle the ball more than he usually does)
“Yeah, he did and that's with Kaza (Keane) out. I thought Tyler (Brown) got tired, rightfully so. He did have to handle it and he made some unbelievable shots. I am happy for Tyler (Brown) because of his performance. He had a lot of family here, obviously disappointed in the outcome, but Tyler is a heck of a player. We are going to try and put Tyler in positions and situations where he can score the ball. He has a lot of different ways he can do that. He handled the pressure, for the most part, well and to ask him to do that is probably not fair, but he was called upon and did a great job. Tyler's a competitor, he's a big game player, he is not scared of the moment and our players know that and we know that and we have all the confidence in the world in Tyler.”
(On what the players will take from this game considering they showed some smiles as they walked off the court)
“I think they're smiling on based upon what they thought could've happened there at the end of the game. I don't think they are smiling because they're happy. I think it was kind of a disappointing, like, “How about that?” I think that our players -- I was in the locker room with them -- they are very disappointed, very, very, disappointed. Some of them in themselves, and a couple plays they could have made, which they shouldn't be. We win and lose as a team and of course the opportunity. We'll take this as we can, and get over it, and play a huge game against Wyoming on Tuesday.”
(On if he thinks Kaza Keane will play on Tuesday)
“It's tough, it's the first time I've had an injury with him so we don't know how fast he heals. We obviously hope so. I'd be surprised if he didn't play. It's an ankle sprain. He tried to go today but he wasn't close, so we'll take it day by day.”
