Post Game Quotes: Wisconsin
12/25/2020 5:05:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Post-Game Quotes
Wisconsin at Michigan State
December 25, 2020
Head Coach Tom Izzo
Opening Statement
Well there's part of me that was pleased and part of me that was very, very disappointed. At halftime, I walked by [Wisconsin coach] Greg Gard and kind of said 'Jud [Heathcote] and Bo [Ryan] and Dick Bennett wouldn't be very proud of us. I mean, 45-45 at halftime. I think we held Wisconsin to 45-50 points four times the year we won it so neither team was very good, or both teams were executing pretty well. It was a combination of both. Our problem was turnovers - 14 of them, and Rocket gets the last one on that pull-up three with two seconds left. So 13 turnovers isn't astronomical - but 24 points on turnovers is astronomical. You know, Aaron [Henry] struggled turning the ball over, made some great plays  and also missed layups. I thought that Josh [Langford] was struggling a bit defensively and offensively, but you know, Joey Hauser was unbelievable, [Thomas] Kithier played really well, and I thought we got something out of Julius Marble for a while.
But it's disappointing when you get a nine-point lead and then you just don't step on their throat.  I think the reason for that was the best player on the court, kind of by far, and that was [D'Mitrik] Trice. So it shows you how bad a recruiter I am. You know, not only did his brother play here, but his mother and father are really good friends of mine. And yet, you know, I'm not sure he was a recruit at this level at the time, but to his credit, and that's what we all should learn. He went to prep school for his fifth year, he transferred and then they redshirted him. He is just a product of process. You know, now I get to cheer for him for 18 games, and I'm glad I don't have to play him again.  He was the difference not just because of the points he scored but the way he did when he calmed his team down. He was very efficient and was pretty good defensively.
But we did do some really good things. We played harder, and were, I thought, much more in-tune to the game. We just made some mistakes when it was a two to three point game in those last four minutes and just couldn't get it done. So I'm disappointed, but I feel like we took a step forward. Some of those things I think are fixable. For Aaron, seven turnovers, I think Wisconsin turned it over four times in the first three or four minutes and you know he [Coach Gard] yanked a few guys out  and that ended that for the next 35 minutes they had like three turnovers -  so that was kind of the difference in the game. 24 points off turnovers to nine. Even on fast break points, at 16-6 that almost never happens to us, but it happened because of the turnovers.Â
You know I do want to thank our people here, and I want to do it before so I don't forget after. The job did with the whole arena and the Christmas atmosphere was greatly appreciated and it was just absolutely awesome. David Thomas, Cara Kaye from my staff did a phenomenal job.  But the people in marketing and all the other people that helped. I want to say thank you - from the people that fed us on Christmas Day, and that also goes for all the nurses and people that tested us – there's so many people that made this thing happen as an inconvenience to them. Somehow in an article, we somehow need to get those people some credit because they more than deserve it and I mean that from the bottom of my heart.Â
On the strength of Wisconsin having so many upperclassmen…
I think six guys, six of their first seven, are seniors and redshirts. I think they've got seven or eight on their team, and yes it's good. It's good for basketball I mean I'm. I'm Greg Gard fan. You know, last year I remember they wanted to fire him halfway through the season and all that. I just absolutely love guys that persevere and kind of don't worry about it put their head to the grindstone and get it done. But those kids all deserve it, you know those kids have played together for four or five years. And that's no excuse for us, but that is - you know, you can pull for a team like that. I don't care who you are, you can appreciate a team like that. But I'm not sure it'd be the same without the maestro. Trice just kind of has a calming effect on that team - just knew who to get the ball, Â where to get them the ball, and you know he might have the most experience of all of them. And so because of that, I give him credit, you know, not worried about leaving, not worried about doing this, not worried about doing that. Worry about being the best player you can be, and see where that takes you. I know one thing I got a lot of NBA buddies. And if anybody called me and talked to me about him - there's going to be rave reviews, because I've known him since he was little. But the way he's grown each and every year the last three years, a tribute to him, their staff and his family. And, yeah, that's a special team and I don't want to act like we're nothing I mean it was a game. We were nine up, you know, so that's what it's going to tell me that you know we can get where we want to get. It's just gonna take a lot more work and a lot more discipline and a couple guys.
On the impact of Nate Reuvers in the second half…
Oh, yeah, they really went to him, you know, and he's 6-11, 240. Yeah, I mean, he's big, and we're not that big. They really went to him, and he's got skills he can shoot a three can handle the ball. He can shoot the up and under and, you know, he did a heck of a job. But, you say what did he do? I mean, he's 3- for-7. He gets two rebounds and eight points. That's not what I would call a career night. I thought we did a pretty good job on him I thought we did a pretty good job on, on the other kid (Micah) Potter. He's 3-for-5, 2-for-3. I mean, Kithier played his tail off, and Julius (Marble) came in and played pretty good. You know, Joey played really good. Again I'm looking at all those guys, I'm semi-agreeing with you. Ford got some buckets because of it. But they posted up our guards that hurt us a little bit. And because those bigs can go out and shoot. But I don't know you know 3-for-7, 0-for-2, two rebounds, I bet Greg isn't real happy with those stats. I think you're right he had that those stretch where they went to him, you know, he's, he's been there before he knows what to do. And that's where the experience of a point guard and experience of a, of a big man I think was a big plus for them.
On evaluating D'Mitrik Trice in high school and not recruiting him...
God, I hate to be as honest as I can be on this because I'm going to look bad but that's the truth. You know, I can't remember who we had then, and if there was a need, but the truth of it is, I love Travis (Trice), and his mom are I mean... his mom texts me all the time, and they're just great, great people. So, it was our choice. I think if we would have offered him a scholarship, I think he would have come. But, then again you know even smaller schools I mean, he went to the prep school for a reason, he went to IMG I think it was, and it was just to get better, you know who does that anymore? That kid gets exactly what he deserved, and dog-gone-it, you know Stoney said it right, you've got to love people that do that. He had the courage to do that but he had good people at home to talking to him. And so it's been a battle, he's redshirted there, he struggled a little bit early, but boy he's... I don't want to make him out to be Michael Jordan, but as far as running a team, making shots, making plays, he's as good as there is in this league, maybe, as good as there is in the country.
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On Thomas Kithier having one of his best games today and what he's seen from him today and this season...
Well, Thomas Kithier has been a unique spot, we started him because we thought he was the steadiest, and we only played him 12 minutes a game, and (assistant coach Dwayne Stephens) DJ kind of got in an argument with me and the staff room last week and said 'we've got to throw the ball inside more,'Â and I kind of agreed but we didn't because we didn't think we had a great scorer down there and yet all those guys can score it, Julius (Marble) did, I still think Markey (Marcus Bingham) can, Joey (Hauser) did some good post up things, but even Thomas, he missed a couple, but his defense was what was so good, and his rebounding I mean, he's just in the right place, he's the right guy in ball-screens, so people that are disappointed stay disappointed, because he's going to play, and so are some of those other guys, but we've got bigger problems that we've got to solve than Thomas Kithier. I mean he did a great, great job today, undersized, I thought his positioning, his ball screen defense, his screening, he does a lot of little things and I think you're going to start seeing him score 8-10 points a game if we get it in there too. He's got a nice little jump hook, he's got some things he can do and we're going to do a better job of that. So hat's off to DJ, he's the one that pushed that, and I think he's right.
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Wisconsin at Michigan State
December 25, 2020
Head Coach Tom Izzo
Opening Statement
Well there's part of me that was pleased and part of me that was very, very disappointed. At halftime, I walked by [Wisconsin coach] Greg Gard and kind of said 'Jud [Heathcote] and Bo [Ryan] and Dick Bennett wouldn't be very proud of us. I mean, 45-45 at halftime. I think we held Wisconsin to 45-50 points four times the year we won it so neither team was very good, or both teams were executing pretty well. It was a combination of both. Our problem was turnovers - 14 of them, and Rocket gets the last one on that pull-up three with two seconds left. So 13 turnovers isn't astronomical - but 24 points on turnovers is astronomical. You know, Aaron [Henry] struggled turning the ball over, made some great plays  and also missed layups. I thought that Josh [Langford] was struggling a bit defensively and offensively, but you know, Joey Hauser was unbelievable, [Thomas] Kithier played really well, and I thought we got something out of Julius Marble for a while.
But it's disappointing when you get a nine-point lead and then you just don't step on their throat.  I think the reason for that was the best player on the court, kind of by far, and that was [D'Mitrik] Trice. So it shows you how bad a recruiter I am. You know, not only did his brother play here, but his mother and father are really good friends of mine. And yet, you know, I'm not sure he was a recruit at this level at the time, but to his credit, and that's what we all should learn. He went to prep school for his fifth year, he transferred and then they redshirted him. He is just a product of process. You know, now I get to cheer for him for 18 games, and I'm glad I don't have to play him again.  He was the difference not just because of the points he scored but the way he did when he calmed his team down. He was very efficient and was pretty good defensively.
But we did do some really good things. We played harder, and were, I thought, much more in-tune to the game. We just made some mistakes when it was a two to three point game in those last four minutes and just couldn't get it done. So I'm disappointed, but I feel like we took a step forward. Some of those things I think are fixable. For Aaron, seven turnovers, I think Wisconsin turned it over four times in the first three or four minutes and you know he [Coach Gard] yanked a few guys out  and that ended that for the next 35 minutes they had like three turnovers -  so that was kind of the difference in the game. 24 points off turnovers to nine. Even on fast break points, at 16-6 that almost never happens to us, but it happened because of the turnovers.Â
You know I do want to thank our people here, and I want to do it before so I don't forget after. The job did with the whole arena and the Christmas atmosphere was greatly appreciated and it was just absolutely awesome. David Thomas, Cara Kaye from my staff did a phenomenal job.  But the people in marketing and all the other people that helped. I want to say thank you - from the people that fed us on Christmas Day, and that also goes for all the nurses and people that tested us – there's so many people that made this thing happen as an inconvenience to them. Somehow in an article, we somehow need to get those people some credit because they more than deserve it and I mean that from the bottom of my heart.Â
On the strength of Wisconsin having so many upperclassmen…
I think six guys, six of their first seven, are seniors and redshirts. I think they've got seven or eight on their team, and yes it's good. It's good for basketball I mean I'm. I'm Greg Gard fan. You know, last year I remember they wanted to fire him halfway through the season and all that. I just absolutely love guys that persevere and kind of don't worry about it put their head to the grindstone and get it done. But those kids all deserve it, you know those kids have played together for four or five years. And that's no excuse for us, but that is - you know, you can pull for a team like that. I don't care who you are, you can appreciate a team like that. But I'm not sure it'd be the same without the maestro. Trice just kind of has a calming effect on that team - just knew who to get the ball, Â where to get them the ball, and you know he might have the most experience of all of them. And so because of that, I give him credit, you know, not worried about leaving, not worried about doing this, not worried about doing that. Worry about being the best player you can be, and see where that takes you. I know one thing I got a lot of NBA buddies. And if anybody called me and talked to me about him - there's going to be rave reviews, because I've known him since he was little. But the way he's grown each and every year the last three years, a tribute to him, their staff and his family. And, yeah, that's a special team and I don't want to act like we're nothing I mean it was a game. We were nine up, you know, so that's what it's going to tell me that you know we can get where we want to get. It's just gonna take a lot more work and a lot more discipline and a couple guys.
On the impact of Nate Reuvers in the second half…
Oh, yeah, they really went to him, you know, and he's 6-11, 240. Yeah, I mean, he's big, and we're not that big. They really went to him, and he's got skills he can shoot a three can handle the ball. He can shoot the up and under and, you know, he did a heck of a job. But, you say what did he do? I mean, he's 3- for-7. He gets two rebounds and eight points. That's not what I would call a career night. I thought we did a pretty good job on him I thought we did a pretty good job on, on the other kid (Micah) Potter. He's 3-for-5, 2-for-3. I mean, Kithier played his tail off, and Julius (Marble) came in and played pretty good. You know, Joey played really good. Again I'm looking at all those guys, I'm semi-agreeing with you. Ford got some buckets because of it. But they posted up our guards that hurt us a little bit. And because those bigs can go out and shoot. But I don't know you know 3-for-7, 0-for-2, two rebounds, I bet Greg isn't real happy with those stats. I think you're right he had that those stretch where they went to him, you know, he's, he's been there before he knows what to do. And that's where the experience of a point guard and experience of a, of a big man I think was a big plus for them.
On evaluating D'Mitrik Trice in high school and not recruiting him...
God, I hate to be as honest as I can be on this because I'm going to look bad but that's the truth. You know, I can't remember who we had then, and if there was a need, but the truth of it is, I love Travis (Trice), and his mom are I mean... his mom texts me all the time, and they're just great, great people. So, it was our choice. I think if we would have offered him a scholarship, I think he would have come. But, then again you know even smaller schools I mean, he went to the prep school for a reason, he went to IMG I think it was, and it was just to get better, you know who does that anymore? That kid gets exactly what he deserved, and dog-gone-it, you know Stoney said it right, you've got to love people that do that. He had the courage to do that but he had good people at home to talking to him. And so it's been a battle, he's redshirted there, he struggled a little bit early, but boy he's... I don't want to make him out to be Michael Jordan, but as far as running a team, making shots, making plays, he's as good as there is in this league, maybe, as good as there is in the country.
Â
On Thomas Kithier having one of his best games today and what he's seen from him today and this season...
Well, Thomas Kithier has been a unique spot, we started him because we thought he was the steadiest, and we only played him 12 minutes a game, and (assistant coach Dwayne Stephens) DJ kind of got in an argument with me and the staff room last week and said 'we've got to throw the ball inside more,'Â and I kind of agreed but we didn't because we didn't think we had a great scorer down there and yet all those guys can score it, Julius (Marble) did, I still think Markey (Marcus Bingham) can, Joey (Hauser) did some good post up things, but even Thomas, he missed a couple, but his defense was what was so good, and his rebounding I mean, he's just in the right place, he's the right guy in ball-screens, so people that are disappointed stay disappointed, because he's going to play, and so are some of those other guys, but we've got bigger problems that we've got to solve than Thomas Kithier. I mean he did a great, great job today, undersized, I thought his positioning, his ball screen defense, his screening, he does a lot of little things and I think you're going to start seeing him score 8-10 points a game if we get it in there too. He's got a nice little jump hook, he's got some things he can do and we're going to do a better job of that. So hat's off to DJ, he's the one that pushed that, and I think he's right.
Â
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