Michigan State 79, Northwestern 70
1/30/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 30, 2010
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MICHIGAN STATE MEN'S BASKETBALL
Michigan State vs. Northwestern
January 30, 2010
Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo
Opening Statement...
That was one of the more complete games we've played. If you look at our offense, I thought early we started off the tip with a dunk and then we had some great opportunities. 11 attempted three pointers in the first half, I probably was thrilled with 10 of the shots which are unbelievable they just didn't go in. At the same time give Shurna credit, he's a 33 percent shooter and he made his shots so we missed ours and he made his, but the job Durrell Summers did on the offensive boards was a big difference early since we weren't shooting very well. Our defense was pretty good, they just made a couple of great plays to be honest with you, but the second half we got our break going, we got the ball inside more, we had a couple of inside-out shots that I thought we did a better job of, we got to the line even though it was a strange game that way. I really thought for Raymar Morgan, he's been playing so well and he didn't really even get a chance to play. He played 16 minutes...the poor guy was back pedaling, so that was a little bit tough for us, but I thought Delvon (Roe) played a lot better and of course Kalin Lucas, that's what I'm expecting of him, no turnovers. We only had ten turnovers as a team, which was a great stat. We had a lot of guys, Korie Lucious came in and played well, and of course, Durrell was dynamite tonight because the other guys got on the ball in the right position and I think we wore them down a little bit, I thought that was good. We were a little sloppy at the end, but we don't want everything perfect going into Madison.
On Durrell Summers...
Over the years I've had a lot of guys, and Durrell is a great guy, but a lot of guys that you just don't know what buttons to push and he's one of them. He hasn't been playing as well and he hasn't even scratched the surface. I've been trying to convince him that if you go to the offensive boards no matter what you do your going to feel better, your going to play better, your going to bring more energy, and I think if you look at two of the last four games he did that and it does make a difference. We started him off with a play we just thought by scouting that, that the dunk would be open and it was. Consequently sometimes there are little things that get guys going, just like I really felt Raymar (Morgan) was getting clobbered and missing shots. At the same time, one guys emotions go up and one guys goes down, but Durrell, he's got to learn that he's got to play with that emotion and he's got to let a little of that out so his teammates know what's going on. I just think that's the key for him, and I'm going to keep grinding him until we get it out of him, because I think when we do he's one of the better plays in the whole league.
On the last stretch of the game...
It was a weird stretch, I wasn't really thrilled with it. I had confidence in Kalin making free throws and Durrell is one of our best free throw shooters, poor guy just missed some or maybe it would have gotten put away and then Chris (Allen) missed that layup when we did attack. So, it wasn't handled perfect, but more of that falls on me then them. I was kind of in and out on whether we push or whether we didn't, so I think I'll take a little blame for that. We got a little sloppy at the end and we gave up a couple of threes, it's disappointing. But all in all, I still say even from the beginning when we were down a little bit, I thought we played more of a complete game where we just didn't shoot as well in the first half. I was really pleased with our entire game.
Northwestern Head Coach Bill Carmody
Opening Statement...
I thought in the first half we established the tempo we wanted to play out, which I liked because a month ago when we played down in Evanston they just sort of ran all over us. In the second half they started 18-4 or 18-6 and that really was the game. We had a hard time scoring and I think their defense picked up. I liked the way we ended up coming back and fighting and hanging in there but it was just too much of a lead we gave up coming out of halftime.
On players besides Shurna not stepping up...
He didn't get much help tonight; their guards did a nice job offensively and defensively. It seemed like Mike Thompson was a little off there in the first half there and things weren't right. I told him at halftime we are only down two so we can win if you run the team and we make sure the ball gets in the hands of the right guys. The start of the second half they sort of took over and we didn't really get on track in the backcourt, I think.
On Shurna's impressive performances against the Spartans...
Yeah I'd rather not talk that much about it because it's a team game and we lost. I'm happy for him but we have things to work on so I don't want to say anything. It's great and all but it's a team game and you try to win so that's disappointing but I though Michigan State played really well. They went along and defended pretty decently and they got that streak - you get out on a team 10-2 and that's the game and there's was even more then that tonight.
On Durrell Summers' impressive play ...
Yeah somebody asked me on the Big Ten Network today if beating them last year gives you confidence and I said `yeah, but I happen to notice all these guys on the other team got to the championship game and Summers was one of those guys.' He's a really good player he really hasn't shot the ball as well this year as I think he's capable but he was very, very good tonight.
