Post-Game Quotes
2/17/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 17, 2004
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EAST LANSING, Mich. -
Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo
Feb. 17, 2004
"I think that we took 'find a way to win' to a whole new level. It was a typical Michigan State-Purdue basketball game, a fistfight right to the end. We had a nine-point lead in the first half and then we had some things happen, but we got another 10-point lead in the second. You have to give Purdue a lot of credit because they kept battling back, even when a couple of their best players did not have good games, offensively, especially (David) Teague and (Kenneth) Lowe. Those guys have been playing so well.
"We turned it over a ton again, especially early. That is getting old, but I was happy that we won. We did a great job at the free throw line and I was happy for Paul Davis. I thought Kelvin Torbert came through. I thought that Tim Bograkos and Jason (Andreas) did a great job for us because we had some guys who were struggling and they really came through and saved us. So, we had to find a way to win and we found a way to win. It was the old-fashioned way. After Illinois, I said that we have beat teams playing 42 percent in the past. We shot 41 percent today and we found a way to win by making it a complete defense, and for that I am excited because this team has to learn how to get down and dirty."
Purdue Head Coach Gene Keady Post-Game Quotes
"The early foul trouble hurt us. We didn't adjust to the referees very well. It's us - we've got to quit fouling. You can't shoot 2-for-17 on the road and we were lucky in some ways. I told our kids after the game, 'You've got to learn how to win. You've got to be sharp mentally and make shots and make sure you don't foul and block out and do all the little things it takes to win.' With seniors making those kind of mental errors, they have to get over it and watch film and recognize it, admit their mistakes and go work on it."
Regarding what kept his team in the game despite its low shooting percentage
"Defense and making our share of free throws. Tenacity - I hope - battling. They made 24 of 26 - they lead the league in free throws. Don't foul and don't let your teammates down by getting into foul trouble."
Regarding his frustration regarding foul trouble
"It's very frustrating. People have got to figure out how to win. You've got five seniors - you should be winning. We keep shooting ourselves in the foot by getting in foul trouble. We just cannot foul."
