Postgame Quotes: Wisconsin vs. Purdue

Feb. 18, 2020
Kohl Center  |  Madison, Wis.

Wisconsin Head Coach Greg Gard

Opening Statement
"Extremely happy and proud of our guys with the way they battled and to be able to close out a game like that at the free throw line. You know we had a hard time at times finishing possessions with rebounds. I thought we did some really good things. [Purdue] is hard to guard and they put a lot of pressure on you in a lot of different ways, but I thought we had great contributions up and down the lineup. Like I said, to be able to step up to the line down the stretch and handle the pressure and finish it out at the free throw line was good for this team and a step in the right direction."

On Aleem Ford's surging performance recently: 
"Just confidence. Confidence can be portrayed in a lot of ways and even though he didn't score a lot of Nebraska, he was aggressive, he was confident, 10 rebounds, that was key on Saturday. Tonight, he did both. Did some decent things defensively. But the biggest thing is confidence. And that goes for any player. It's hard for a coach to give it to a player. They've gotta find it themselves."

Redshirt Junior Aleem Ford

On coming together as a team…
"I think this is a perfect time for us to be very confident. I feel like we are doing a good job... we got that win at Nebraska. We have a good Rutgers at home which will be a good test to see how we're striding and if we can keep the momentum going."

On having several good free throw shooters at the end of games…
"I believe in all of my teammates to go in there and knock down two free throws. Tonight, I was trying to get it out quick and look for Brevin and Brad (Davison) because they had the hot hand at the line, tried to stay with what was working."

Graduate Student Brevin Pritzl

On overcoming adversity during season…
"At the end of the day, you can only control what is in the room. You can't control what happens outside. You have to stick together as a group and you tighten your bonds together and face adversity through it. At the end of the day, that is what we have to do. We have to come together collectively, keep that tight bond and just come out and perform."