Postgame Quotes: No. 22 Wisconsin vs. Minnesota
January 3, 2018
Kohl Center | Madison, Wis.
Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard
Opening statement:
"Obviously we have to put the ball in the basket. I like the way the guys bounced back after struggling in the first half mightily. I thought we did some things really well defensively. But, we have to be able to convert offensively, whether that be making open 3s or free throws. I told the guys, I can't yell at you for not making shots. I can get upset about a lot of other things, but I can't yell at them for that. We have seen nights where we knock shots down and obviously this is a night where we didn't. The silver lining is that the defensive kept us right where we needed to be, but you have to score the basketball."
On turning the ball over late:
"Poor decisions that need to be better. When you're in a two-possession game, you need to protect the ball. You can't have those types of decisions turn empty possessions."
On two-straight losses after a red-hot start:
"I was probably more concerned after Saturday than today, just because defensively is where we hang our hat and it was much better tonight. We just have to put the ball in the basket. Defensively though, I thought we looked a lot better. It just puts so much more pressure on a defense when you struggle to score on the defensive end. This group has a will and fight. We will make shots."
Minnesota head coach Richard Pitino
Opening statement:
"Well a great win for our guys to be able to come in and win in this building. I don't know the last time they've done it so I know it's been long time. I'm happy for our seniors, happy for those guys to be able to find a way to come in here against a really good team, that we respect, play really good defense, team defense, be patient offensively. You know to build a lead like we did, we thought they'd come back in their building, and to just make the toughness plays at the end of the game. To find a way to get this win, that's what this league is all about, so it was a terrific win for our guys."
On Amir Coffey's offense and the defense down the stretch
"Yeah, Amir was terrific the whole game. I keep telling him, man, guys are going to talk about you as one of the better players in this league. He showed it versus Nebraska, I think he showed it tonight, he was terrific. I thought Dupree (McBrayer) for the last couple minutes made a lot of big plays, big steals, got out on the break and finished."
On the defensive key in holding Wisconsin scoreless for 9 minutes in the first half
"I thought we were really connected, you know it's a little bit easier to trap (Ethan) Happ by your bench, because you can coach them through it a little bit more, but I thought we did a really good job of taking him out of it, because he is so good, and then being able to rotate to their shooters."
