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No. 6 Wisconsin vs. Buffalo
Dec. 28, 2014
Kohl Center - Madison, Wis.
Wisconsin Head Coach Bo Ryan
On finishing the non-conference season 12-1:
"Well, the numbers on one side to the other side look good, so you can take that for what it's worth. The guys found ways to get it done. But I'm watching other teams play, (and) I know other teams go through ups and downs and things they need to work on, but since I only coach one team I just keep looking at our guys. There are things we still need to get better at. We're just like everybody else. It's the next 40 minutes that matter. All the little things sometimes can nip at you - a loose ball here, not a block out there - all those things. My problem is, I remember them. So I'm always trying to correct them. We knew exactly what they had coming in, how they were going to play, and they were more aggressive to the loose balls than we were in the first half. We were (more so) in the second half, so we at least changed that around. But sitting where we are, now the Big Ten starts. So it's all Big Ten games from here on out to the end of the regular season. Let's see how we do in the next 18.
On how Buffalo's style of play is similar to that in the Big Ten and if that will help Wisconsin transition into the Big Ten season:
"Yeah, that's what I said in the locker room. Do you have a microphone? Do you have a chip in there? Is it bugged? (Elicits laughter) I said that in the locker room that Coach (Greg) Gard put this game at this time because he knew what kind of team they had, how they would play, (and) what they were coming off of last year. Yeah, I think this was a very good game to get ready for the Big Ten."
On the improved shooting percentages in the second half and what may have caused that:
"Sam had the same looks in the first half on those 3s. He found a way to make a few of those in the second half, which certainly adds up. When you go 2-for-11 in the first half - I don't know what we were in the second half, 4-for-9, so that's 18 points on 20 shots with 3s. We're still two below where we want to be. But that's with a terrible first half. We found a way."
On Frank Kaminsky doing a good job scoring despite the team being cold around him:
"Yeah, he was steady. That's an influence that's always good to have on the team. A steadying influence, but not just one guy. I'd like to (see) five, six, seven every night be a steadying influence, but that's hard. Like I said, all teams go through that."
Wisconsin Players
Senior Forward Frank Kaminsky
On finishing the non-conference season 12-1 and if the team accomplished everything they've wanted to up to this point:
"We've accomplished a lot of things. We obviously would like to be undefeated. That's the goal of the season, to win every game, so we've gotten better and better as it has progressed. We've still got a lot to work on. I'm glad it's time for Big Ten season, because one of our goals is to win a championship and we get the opportunity to go and do that now."
On what the biggest difference was with what the Badgers were doing in the second half compared to the first half:
"I thought we moved the ball better a lot in the second half. We were moving, cutting, finding easy buckets, getting open shots. Once Sam (Dekker) hit those couple 3s, it opened up pretty much everything else for everyone. It was more playing with energy in the second half. We were kind of dead in the first half, not really moving much, and once we started to move and play with some energy things opened up for us."
Sophomore Forward Nigel Hayes
On finishing non-conference play 12-1:
"Yeah, of course everyone wants to be undefeated. We didn't do that. We can't hang our heads on that for too long. But I would say it was a pretty successful preseason for the most part and we're excited to get started with the Big Ten."
On if Frank Kaminsky did a good job of being the go-to guy when shots weren't falling for Wisconsin in the first half:
"Of course. That's why Frank is the All-American, best player in college. That's why it's an honor to play on a team with him. When other guys are just being their average basketball players we got Frank that we can give the ball to and he'll carry us to the promised land. So Frank as usual did another great job, had another great game and he got us through and got us a victory."
Buffalo Head Coach Bobby Hurley
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Opening statement:
"We just played a really good basketball team, obviously with what they accomplished last year and having the core of that team back and just veteran players that have that experience and are championship caliber. It was a real test for us. I thought we played okay in the first half and didn't play our best offensively. We left some things on the table. Defensively in the second half, they got into a great rhythm, and (Sam) Dekker hurt us on a few occasions with the perimeter shots and (Frank) Kaminsky on both ends of the floor. A lot of people respect how good he is on offense, but he gave us problems at the rim converting with his length. He's a terrific player."
On the difficulty sustaining their first-half play:
"I thought we were ready for the challenge, and having played a team like Kentucky early in the year, the guys knew what to expect coming into this game. We got off to a good start, which was helpful, and Lamonte Bearden coming home as a freshman played well for us, especially in the first half with some plays he made out there. Not having Jarryn Skeete, our third leading scorer, affected us somewhat. He's a guy that's made perimeter shots for us this year and has averaged 10 points a game. It dropped us from an eight-man rotation to a seven-man rotation, so that hurt us somewhat."
On the comparison between Kentucky and Wisconsin after playing both teams this season:
"You have two different styles, two different teams. I think Kentucky's defense, of all the basketball I've seen at the college level, is really as good as it gets. But just the skill at a number of positions and the ability to shoot the basketball the way Wisconsin is capable of, it would be an interesting thing to see."
