Post-Game Quotes: Northern Michigan
10/30/2018 11:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo
Opening Statement…
You might wonder what we got out of that. I did get a lot out of it. I thought Cassius played a lot better than he did Saturday and did the things I needed him to do. Nick was solid as he was Saturday against better competition, but today Nick played within himself. I probably got more out of McQuaid today. I think you can see where Aaron Henry got a chance to be a freshman that can play right away. He's got the strength to do it and I think some other guys, I told DJ on the bench, we're not sure what we are going to do with Marcus. He scores 100 points and now he probably thinks he's ready for stardom, but he did do a nice job. We've got to make a decision. We're going to talk to his family. It's a matter of whether he's strong enough to play against certain players, but any concern I have is I think we need Josh Langford to get going. I felt like he's starting to let the game come to him. He's trying to take the game. He's not that kind of player, but we've got to get him some more shots. Some of it was him reading it, so he was a lot better the second half than the first half. Those things are good. We understand the competition we played. What I wanted to do, Cassius had his hands full. That kid (Echols) is as quick as anybody will play, kind of like Tum Tum, and he can make some shots. I thought our ball screen defense, Nick did a great job of it, Xavier was okay. Kenny, if I had to evaluate it without watching the film, we've got to get a little more out of Kenny and we've got to get a little more out of Josh.
On what he wants to get out of his exhibition games…
We've got a little bit of a problem that we're playing so many games early between the Big Ten going to 20 games and having two of those between the Thanksgiving tournament, we're always hopefully going to be in the tournament of champions. You've always got the B1G/ACC, and if you don't schedule any other games there's four or five big games. The negative is that they told me a long time ago is that you don't get to work those young guys in and that is a negative, but the positive is if we're going to keep doing this, it might do us good to play some big games and a scrimmage and make a day of it. For me it's special. I had a unique thing last night. Some of my former players and guys that I coached and couple of them I played with came down and visited Mike and I. They came down a day early and had a reunion. I think we ended up with 40-45. Some guys came up from Detroit that played with us and we had a little pizza party at my house. I was going to get pasties, I just didn't feel like making them. It wasn't like the 250 we have when we have our reunion, but it was pretty cool and made me appreciate. I listened to the stories. I'll tell you what I know. if I could have sat there two nights, I was a hell of a player back then, but those stories got better, and better. I enjoyed that, and it was just good to have them around. Do something for your alma mater, remember where you came from. I just got a chance to talk to their team for a little bit. It's pretty cool. I hope that kind of games don't end, but we're going to have to do what we have to do as far as getting ourselves ready this early in the season.
On what he is most excited and concerned about with this team…
I'm most concerned, I'll just go to concern first. I'm a little concerned about our bigs. I got two really good bigs, and we're not as big you know, if you look at Kansas on tape they just bring in 7-foot, 6-foot, 6-11, 6-9, 6-8. They bring in a lot of guys 270-280, that concerns me a little bit, but I'm feeling a little better about our guards. Our guards are still going to be our strength, and right now our bigs have been our strength even against Gonzaga, but I know our guards will be. We just need one or two more guys you know, is it going to be Aaron Henry that's going to step up and play. Kyle Ahrens played okay tonight. What we do at the backup point, Foster is going to be a really good player. When you come in at 150 some pounds, or like Gabe, 190 or Marcus, 194, there's some adjustments. Then when you do try and gain weight, just like trying to lose weight, you've got to learn how to play with new weight. That'll be my biggest concern is that we don't have quite enough inside right now, but I think this team's going to shoot the ball a lot better than it has. We did have some weird line-ups in there at the end, and getting four guys in double figures helped. I do think we have a multiple number of guys that can make shots and score the basketball. I thought our running game was good. Cassius pushed a lot better here than he did Saturday up in Minneapolis. He had a long way to go and it's just going to be interesting facing a team like Kansas right off the bat. It's kind of a weird team. They lost some guards, but they've got transfers in there. They've got a lot of things going on over there.
On Foster Loyer and his position…
We wanted to try it a little bit you know. This is the shame part for Foster, for Gabe. There is no room to grow here in the next 30 days when we've got six monster games in that period. That is the hardest part of scheduling the way we schedule. It even got compounded now the last two years with the Big Ten throwing those two games in there. So if you look from November 6th to the 10th of December, we're playing a lot of big teams, a lot of good teams and I'm not sure that they're going to grow. So we're looking at if we're going to have to play him some at the point we did against Kansas if you remember back his freshman year and he played awfully well. The other thing that I thought we did a better job of that we didn't...we fouled a lot. We really worked on that. We fouled a lot in Minnesota and I thought we did a better job. Fronting the post, getting around them. Different kind of post players, but we worked harder at it. So what we hope to do from game to game is get better at the things you need to get better at. We made some progress in that area.
On where he (Izzo) is on rotation decisions…
I think that five that started, definitely X, and Kyle, that's seven and I'm 99% sure that Aaron's going to be that next guy … that's eight … and then what we do from there could be a little up in the air right now. It's a pretty good eight guys and pretty experienced eight guys, all but one. I think is going to help us. If I had one of those schedules where I could go four or five games and get some guys some opportunities...maybe they'll get them by default. Maybe we'll be in foul trouble. Maybe we'll have to do this or that. Right now it's going to take some time. That's okay. A lot of people like that, eight veteran guys, they're pretty good players.
On Marcus Bingham performance and redshirt possibilities…
There's no question. I'd like there to be some real games. I'm telling you...offensively … now he did show me that dunk he had. Did he jump or did he just reach up? Did he jump? I just saw this arm come out of nowhere and it kind of just looked like it was coming from the ceiling.
When he was guarding the guy out of bounds… Jaren's got long arms as you know, but his are longer. I said to DJ (Stephens), 'look at those arms.' Not what you'd say most of the time. It's kind of a weird part of the body you're excited about, but I was excited about his arms and they're longer than long and he can shoot it and he can handle the ball.
He's got some quickness to him. He's got everything to be really, really good some day except that strength, and you couldn't' tell it tonight as much. On Saturday, he got moved around. I think he had three fouls in a couple of minutes. He'll get better too. He's just a freshman. He's just learning how to play at this level. When I say I don't know what we're going to do, I don't know what we're going to do. It's his decision in the end. If he doesn't want it, which most kids don't anymore, I'm fine with it. I just want to give him a chance because I've also looked at some guys and this kid is going to be a great player some day. It's going to take a little longer because of his body. Maybe, maybe not. Maybe he'll get a little stronger. Some guys are skinny but strong. Right now, he's skinny and a little week. That will change though. He works. The other thing I said to you the other day is some skinny guys are soft. He's not afraid to compete. He's not afraid to get knocked around. So he's got that in on him. That's a good quality to have and I think that's really going to help him as we get going. I'm not hiding anything from you. The biggest reason I'm not sure is because I don't know what he wants to do. If I did what I wanted to do, I would keep him for the program. Something happens, I'd get somebody in. If I looked at what's best for Marcus, maybe be able to lift all year, maybe be able to go to class and get a solid base academically because that's an area he needs to keep improving on. It might be better for that so I have to figure out… If I were to look out what's best for us, security blanket. What's best for him I think could be to do those things but if he doesn't I'm cool with it and I haven't even made up my decision yet about what I thinks best. Football's got this rule where you can play in four games so you could play in the last four games of the season and still redshirt. Basketball gets screwed again. It shows you that the football helmet heads are better than us at negotiating if you ask me because i do think it's a shame that you only get these two exhibition games and then you have to make a decision. That's really not in anybody's best interest so of all the things I want to change in the world. That's not at the top of my list but that would be one that i think would be fair for the kids.
On where to put Foster and his readiness…
Hell, I'm not sure many guys are ready for that the way they look on paper. It's a concern. It really is. You can have a heart as big as a lion but sooner or later size and strength become a factor until you figure out how to play against different size and strength. Early this summer, he was a fish out of water, then he figures things out. He's just a very smart kid. He's going to figure all this out. Will it be in time for these first four or five games, I really don't know. There were times I think he did some good things. He was better defensively tonight. He really was. Doing those things against Northern Michigan, it's against the cat-quick guard who averaged 17 points. That guy can shoot threes, he can shoot it. That part doesn't matter what level you're playing at as long as you're quick. Not do I think there could be bigger, stronger guys? Yeah, Kansas has got a couple of bigger, stronger guys and I can't say I know what it's going to be like yet because I haven't seen a player like that in a while so it's been a little while for that so we'll find out.
On how expectations and teaching younger guys...
It's very important. I'm going to be looking to use that. I think Kansas has got some very good guards that are younger guys. So it will be a good challenge for our guys and I'm looking forward… this tournament to me is one of the great deals I've gotten the chance to play in in all my years and I went to look at some of the favorite things I get to do and there was a lot of them. The aircraft and this and that but this tournament to look at and have that night of basketball and the venues and the crowds and the exposure and the hype. The first game, I have a feeling a couple of those freshmen if they play, there will be shots into the tuba section. It's just the way it is. They're not coming off of superstar high school careers. But I do like every one of those freshmen. Gabe can really shoot it and he's just got to get a little bit stronger, a little better defensively. Aaron, you can see he can get to the rack. He's a good shooter but he can really get to the rack. He can do it with his left hand and right hand. He's good defensively. Tonight he had some lapses where he just goes back to his high school days. Sometimes he had to guard a 4-man so it's an adjustment to guard guards for him. Kyle Ahrens had a great night. I think he's really going to help us. He's tough and athletic so I don't know. I'm as anxious to find out as you guys are. It's kind of a different kind of team but i think for us to be great, we have to get more out of Josh and our guards in general.
Michigan State Junior Guard Josh Langford
On how nice it is to be able to play other people than his own teammates…
It was great. Just to be out there. It seemed like time went by fast. It's great to be back out there. It's nice to be around the guys, and I'm looking forward to the season.
On how important exhibition games are…
They're very important. Now's the time to get all the things you need fixed, fixed before you get to the real season. Especially playing with Coach Izz and how we play our schedule. These two games are really important because our third game will be against a top 5 opponent in Kansas. Looking back on the two games we played, I think we've made great strides and now it's time to prepare for our next opponent.
On how he assessed the team's performance…
I think went well. I think the biggest thing for us is to learn how to put together full games. Just take care of the ball better. I think last year that was a problem for us. I think that everything else that we're doing went well. The biggest thing is we gotta hone in on those small things because those will turn into big things and big problems.
Michigan State Junior Center Nick Ward
On if he's looking forward to Kansas…
I'm definitely looking forward to Kansas. I haven't played them since my freshman year, so I'm ready to get some revenge, hopefully.
On what their expectations are this year
Just to go as hard as we can every play and finishing games strong. Last year, I feel like we didn't finish out strong. We didn't finish out the season the right way. We're emphasizing finishing.
On if he's able to play longer stretches…
Yes. My conditioning came up a lot and my free throws came up a lot so I feel a lot better.
Michigan State Junior Guard Cassius Winston
On if he thinks they have something to prove this year…
Definitely. People saw we lost some great players, and people are doubting us or writing us off. But we feel like we're still in that same conversation of being a top program. We gotta go out there and prove it. We don't need any handouts. We gotta go out there and show it.
Michigan State Freshman Forward Marcus Bingham Jr.
On how he plans on getting bigger and stronger…
Just doing our daily routine. Lifts the days before games. Just keep eating, that's what I really gotta do.
On if he eats healthy…
I eat everything right now. I'm up to 215 pounds and I came in at 195 pounds. I try to eat a big meal before I go to sleep just to add some extra pounds, but we've been practicing a lot so I've been burning a lot of calories so every time I eat, I try to eat a big meal so I can add extra weight.
Northern Michigan Head Coach Bill Sall
On his assessment of Michigan State…
Well they are, and as always when you come in here, they're going to be very physical with you. I think that was the toughest thing for us. It's a little hard to simulate not only their size and their strength. You just can't, but also just the quickness and the speed. I think that's what really helps us right? We can talk until we're blue in the face about transition defense and getting back and being able to make sure that you stay strong. Playing a team like this you realize real quick where we have to go and how far we have to go.
On what he learned about his players tonight…
I think we're pretty tough. I think it's kind of what I expected. In our conference, a number of times we got downhill, and it just got thrown into the stands, well there's not a whole lot of 6-10, 235 pound guys who are going to throw that. I think we need to do a better job though, when we got downhill offensively, looking for the kick. Defensively, we're still a work in progress. I think that's probably the biggest thing about our team is we gotta find the ability to get consecutive stops.
On what stood out about the experience and Michigan State…
I think what stood out, if we're going to look at our guys, sometimes they might have a little misconception of how good the Big Ten is, and they saw full steam today how good you have to be, physically have to be to play in this conference. From Michigan State, I obviously follow a lot and admire what Coach Izzo has done here. He's been very good to us at Northern Michigan and really helped us out as a program. When you look at their size in the interior and athleticism at every spot, it's pretty amazing. It's always interesting when you actually see it live. When you watch it on film, and I knew Cassius (Winston) was quick, but my goodness is he lightning quick. I knew (Nick) Ward was big, but he is a huge human being that is incredibly good around the basket, that guy's a pro. They have a lot of nice pieces, and I think for them it's the same thing right, they're looking for a little depth. When you start talking about your top six or seven I'm sure that's as good as anybody in the NCAA Division I.
On if this game shows anything about his team…
There's not much you can take away out of these games except I'm happy with our effort and sometimes there's a Division II upset over the Division I and those teams go on to have great years. Ferris State won a national championship, and I think they got beat by Duke by 60, but what does that all mean? It's such a variance in teams and effort. I just know that for us looking at our team, we have the right attitude, we have the right mentality. Now we just have to, when the games matter and they're for real, be able to do those things and execute a little better than we did tonight.
