Mark Turgeon – Maryland Head Coach:
Proud of our group, we had a lot of guys play well. That was about as good as we could play in the second half. It was a great win, we had a lot to overcome. I think they are an NCAA Tournament team, and the schedule loosens up for them a little be.
Freshmen:
Justin hasn’t been shooting the ball well, but he was really hitting some nice three’s. I told him, he’s gonna get 30 today. Huerter hit some tough shots, that Coffey kid is terrific, great player and it was a good job to keep Coffey in front of him.
I thought Anthony did a good job, Mason is one of the better guards in the Big Ten and almost impossible to keep in front of you. He played a great defensive game.
Melo:
I didn’t realize he had zero turnovers, but we only had 7 today, and that gave us a chance to win. I think the shooting opened up things for our role guys to get layups. Especially on the road, you need to have guys making good decisions, and Melo lead the way today.
Getting the lead:
It felt like we couldn’t get the lead, they kept hitting shots but we kept fighting back. We don’t call them freshmen, we call them “Young guys.” We gave them two days off from practice on Wednesday and Thursday, which I’ve never done before. It really helped them get their legs back.
Coffey:
He made some tough shots, some big three’s. We did a little bit better job guarding him in the second half, and that paid off for us. Huerter did a nice job.
Gophers:
I thought we were dialed in, they are just so hard to guard. We got another game Tuesday, so we’re going to fly home and get the guys ready to play.
Fouling:
I thought we had to play smarter, the first few minutes of the half we kept fouling. I told them “We have to stop fouling guys, move the feet on defense and we’ll be fine.”
Richard Pitino:
Heck of a game, it just came down to the last minute and a half. They made more plays than we did. Defensive breakdowns in the second half, we got stops in the first half, but second half just too many mistakes. Give our guys time off this week, focus on academics and rest their legs.
Late Game Execution:
There is a trend, but each situation has been unique and we just have to break through.
Looking Ahead:
We will never look ahead, Maryland is one of the most talented team in the country. We have to take it one game at a time.
Akeem:
He is playing well, doing a lot of good things for us.
Since Starting:
Helps guys’ confidence when he starts, I don’t know if that is why he is playing so well lately.
Defense:
Put us in ball screens, Melo Trimble and Cowan read the defense, we didn’t guard the three well, they were 6/9 from three in the second half.
They were taking us off the bounce, they were taking us deep into the lane and they were finding guys.
Locker Room:
No sense of optimism, halfway point, we got five at home and four on the road. I’m sure they are pretty down, losing stings. We are a young team, but we need to win some games and break through.
Amir:
He was finding guys, 9 assists, he was rebounding and he was defending. He lost his balance on the one turnover, but I am extremely happy with Amir.
Akeem:
Shot 15 shots, that’s a good number, it just came down to the last minute and a half more than anything.
Ball Movement:
Thought movement was pretty good but it broke down at the end a little bit. Reggie being out hurt, but it was about 38 minutes of good ball movement, not great defense. Murph had a chance to tie it with the free throw, but we missed some big free throws.
Mason Foul:
Yeah I didn’t want him to foul, wanted to play defense and try to get a stop. There was a 17 second shot clock differential, so I wanted to play it out. Miscommunication there.
This Week:
Going to give some guys time off, and we are going to get back to work on Monday. Nothing really changes, we just have to get back to work.
Reggie Making Progress on Fouling:
Not making progress, because he fouled out, that’s not progress.
On-Ball Defense of Team:
A-F Scale, it was an F. We have to get better, the defense wasn’t real good at all.
Akeem Springs:
Close Games:
Seniors need to step up in these close games, had a few defensive mistakes down the stretch. I take this game on my back, we can blame it on me. Have to make plays down the stretch, seniors have to step up and make the plays. That’s how it goes in college basketball, seniors need to make plays, and I need to make them.
3 Point Defense:
Scouting report, staying locked in, we need to do better in film sessions, that’s just on us man. We’re at the point where either we’re going to get it done, or we’re not.
Future:
Have to come in and work, that’s all there is to it. Nothing to meet about, nothing to talk about, we just have to get it going and get ready to play another game.
Reggie Lynch:
Frustrating not being in games when its crunch time and I need to be in there and I can’t let them add up towards the end.
Losing Streak:
Have to stay confident and not let the losing streak get to us and loose our intensity and execution. Can’t let past affect the future.
Improving for the Illinois Game Next Saturday:
Stay connected and together, understand that we can’t let this losing streak get to us.
Having Trouble Guarding Talented Big Ten Post Players:
Some of these calls aren’t the greatest in my opinion, have to understand some of it is my fault and I have to let a guy go and not go for every shot fake. Have to keep my hands up and stay solid overall.
Proud of our group, we had a lot of guys play well. That was about as good as we could play in the second half. It was a great win, we had a lot to overcome. I think they are an NCAA Tournament team, and the schedule loosens up for them a little be.
Freshmen:
Justin hasn’t been shooting the ball well, but he was really hitting some nice three’s. I told him, he’s gonna get 30 today. Huerter hit some tough shots, that Coffey kid is terrific, great player and it was a good job to keep Coffey in front of him.
I thought Anthony did a good job, Mason is one of the better guards in the Big Ten and almost impossible to keep in front of you. He played a great defensive game.
Melo:
I didn’t realize he had zero turnovers, but we only had 7 today, and that gave us a chance to win. I think the shooting opened up things for our role guys to get layups. Especially on the road, you need to have guys making good decisions, and Melo lead the way today.
Getting the lead:
It felt like we couldn’t get the lead, they kept hitting shots but we kept fighting back. We don’t call them freshmen, we call them “Young guys.” We gave them two days off from practice on Wednesday and Thursday, which I’ve never done before. It really helped them get their legs back.
Coffey:
He made some tough shots, some big three’s. We did a little bit better job guarding him in the second half, and that paid off for us. Huerter did a nice job.
Gophers:
I thought we were dialed in, they are just so hard to guard. We got another game Tuesday, so we’re going to fly home and get the guys ready to play.
Fouling:
I thought we had to play smarter, the first few minutes of the half we kept fouling. I told them “We have to stop fouling guys, move the feet on defense and we’ll be fine.”
Richard Pitino:
Heck of a game, it just came down to the last minute and a half. They made more plays than we did. Defensive breakdowns in the second half, we got stops in the first half, but second half just too many mistakes. Give our guys time off this week, focus on academics and rest their legs.
Late Game Execution:
There is a trend, but each situation has been unique and we just have to break through.
Looking Ahead:
We will never look ahead, Maryland is one of the most talented team in the country. We have to take it one game at a time.
Akeem:
He is playing well, doing a lot of good things for us.
Since Starting:
Helps guys’ confidence when he starts, I don’t know if that is why he is playing so well lately.
Defense:
Put us in ball screens, Melo Trimble and Cowan read the defense, we didn’t guard the three well, they were 6/9 from three in the second half.
They were taking us off the bounce, they were taking us deep into the lane and they were finding guys.
Locker Room:
No sense of optimism, halfway point, we got five at home and four on the road. I’m sure they are pretty down, losing stings. We are a young team, but we need to win some games and break through.
Amir:
He was finding guys, 9 assists, he was rebounding and he was defending. He lost his balance on the one turnover, but I am extremely happy with Amir.
Akeem:
Shot 15 shots, that’s a good number, it just came down to the last minute and a half more than anything.
Ball Movement:
Thought movement was pretty good but it broke down at the end a little bit. Reggie being out hurt, but it was about 38 minutes of good ball movement, not great defense. Murph had a chance to tie it with the free throw, but we missed some big free throws.
Mason Foul:
Yeah I didn’t want him to foul, wanted to play defense and try to get a stop. There was a 17 second shot clock differential, so I wanted to play it out. Miscommunication there.
This Week:
Going to give some guys time off, and we are going to get back to work on Monday. Nothing really changes, we just have to get back to work.
Reggie Making Progress on Fouling:
Not making progress, because he fouled out, that’s not progress.
On-Ball Defense of Team:
A-F Scale, it was an F. We have to get better, the defense wasn’t real good at all.
Akeem Springs:
Close Games:
Seniors need to step up in these close games, had a few defensive mistakes down the stretch. I take this game on my back, we can blame it on me. Have to make plays down the stretch, seniors have to step up and make the plays. That’s how it goes in college basketball, seniors need to make plays, and I need to make them.
3 Point Defense:
Scouting report, staying locked in, we need to do better in film sessions, that’s just on us man. We’re at the point where either we’re going to get it done, or we’re not.
Future:
Have to come in and work, that’s all there is to it. Nothing to meet about, nothing to talk about, we just have to get it going and get ready to play another game.
Reggie Lynch:
Frustrating not being in games when its crunch time and I need to be in there and I can’t let them add up towards the end.
Losing Streak:
Have to stay confident and not let the losing streak get to us and loose our intensity and execution. Can’t let past affect the future.
Improving for the Illinois Game Next Saturday:
Stay connected and together, understand that we can’t let this losing streak get to us.
Having Trouble Guarding Talented Big Ten Post Players:
Some of these calls aren’t the greatest in my opinion, have to understand some of it is my fault and I have to let a guy go and not go for every shot fake. Have to keep my hands up and stay solid overall.
