Richard Pitino:
Opening Statement: Great way to go out. Haven't had too many comfortable wins like that. Reggie, Nate, Murphy, Dupree were really good. Akeem wasn't 100% percent as he had a little back issue. Darin and Akeem have been terrific. With Akeem, he's not only been a great player but great for the locker room. He makes us feel older, tougher, and he's great for our confidence.
On Speakers and Off-Court Programs last summer:
I hoped it helped a lot. Thinking about what we went through last year, a lot of guys would have transferred. But Dupree, Nate, and Murph took ownership instead of running for the hills, which is what a lot of people might have done.
On Dupree:
Dupree was excellent, he makes shots and he defends. I think he is going to explode next year when he puts on some weight and has another offseason. We just have really good depth.
On Jordan:
It's been a mentality switch, he's been awesome. He embraced what I told him about rebounding and that leading to scoring.
Most Satisfying Part on the season:
Wins are nice, but the chemistry has been evolving. They really like playing with each other and they're committed to getting better. I've been around some pretty good March runs in my life and then it just ends. You have to enjoy it, and in terms of their mentality, they have been.
On Rebounding from Last Season:
These guys got it. They took it, and they owned it, and they believed that we could turn this thing around. You win eight games and I don't care where you are in the country, but you deserve it (criticism). Every game, whether it was 100 or 200 people, they came back to the Barn to support us this season, and these kids are the reason for that.
On Mason taking over down the stretch:
As tough as last year was, it was good for him. He played a lot of minutes and got to learn on the fly in his first two years. It's really showing this year and I have always said he could be an all-league guard, and he continues to show that he is.
On Being a More Confident Team:
You win eight games in a row in this conference, you deserve to be confident. They genuinely like playing together and I think you can see that on the floor.
On Dick J Finishing His Career:
I didn't know much about him coming into Minnesota, but obviously he's a legend and he's done a great job here. I told him I am glad I could be a little part of his career.
On Rebounding from a 3-6 start:
Besides the Michigan State game on the road when we played terrible, we were playing good basketball. Our team really put their foot down and said "we know how to win games, so lets go out and do it." Since then we have really been finishing basketball games.
Nate Mason:
On What he is Most Proud of in Winning Streak:
Just that were locking in on scouting reports and working hard every day in practice. We have been able to put together a good run here lately and it starts with our efforts in practice and in film.
On Akeem Springs:
He came in being confident and talking a lot, not as laid back as we thought he was. He is so talkative and he gets us out of our comfort zones and talking on the floor. He helped me a lot and he's one of the best leaders I have ever been around.
On Selflessness of the Team:
We're all just clicking right now. That comes with a lot of repetition in practice and just getting along with each other on and off the court.
On Thinking of Transferring:
It was definitely hard. But after the season Coach Pitino sat me down and told me what he thought my role would be this year and I just got back to work.
Biggest Addition:
By far Akeem. Not just on the court but off the court he is such a good leader and he has helped the team out so much because of what he brings as a leader. He has made me a better player and a better leader and I am very appreciative of that.
Jordan Murphy:
On His Game Improving Down the Stretch:
I just had to figure out what my real identity was on the team, and it starts with rebounding, just getting on the glass offensively and defensively. I was fighting it a bit but coach told me I would be a lot happier if I started focusing what I was good at.
On Staying Aggressive and Reducing Fouls:
I got a couple fouls in the second half and had to come out, but coach said it was all good and I just locked in and stayed aggressive and tried to avoid foul trouble.
On How Far the Team has Come:
You can really see the growth of this team and we'll never forget last season so we will never be in that position again. We just think about last year in every rep, every shot, in practice because we know how that felt.
On Passing the Edge onto the Newcomers:
You can see it in Amir and Eric how they just don't want to lose at anything. We play this game called "King of the Hill" and Amir and Eric are always going at it trying to win. They just hate to lose, this team hates to lose.
On Thinking of Transferring:
Nah, I never really thought too much about it. It was a tough year all around but we knew that we could be a good team this year and we just kept believing in coach and the pieces we had returning and coming in.
On 2nd Half Dunks:
Yeah I know that the dunks get the crowd going, especially the two handed slams, so I put a little something extra on those dunks to get the energy going.
Opening Statement: Great way to go out. Haven't had too many comfortable wins like that. Reggie, Nate, Murphy, Dupree were really good. Akeem wasn't 100% percent as he had a little back issue. Darin and Akeem have been terrific. With Akeem, he's not only been a great player but great for the locker room. He makes us feel older, tougher, and he's great for our confidence.
On Speakers and Off-Court Programs last summer:
I hoped it helped a lot. Thinking about what we went through last year, a lot of guys would have transferred. But Dupree, Nate, and Murph took ownership instead of running for the hills, which is what a lot of people might have done.
On Dupree:
Dupree was excellent, he makes shots and he defends. I think he is going to explode next year when he puts on some weight and has another offseason. We just have really good depth.
On Jordan:
It's been a mentality switch, he's been awesome. He embraced what I told him about rebounding and that leading to scoring.
Most Satisfying Part on the season:
Wins are nice, but the chemistry has been evolving. They really like playing with each other and they're committed to getting better. I've been around some pretty good March runs in my life and then it just ends. You have to enjoy it, and in terms of their mentality, they have been.
On Rebounding from Last Season:
These guys got it. They took it, and they owned it, and they believed that we could turn this thing around. You win eight games and I don't care where you are in the country, but you deserve it (criticism). Every game, whether it was 100 or 200 people, they came back to the Barn to support us this season, and these kids are the reason for that.
On Mason taking over down the stretch:
As tough as last year was, it was good for him. He played a lot of minutes and got to learn on the fly in his first two years. It's really showing this year and I have always said he could be an all-league guard, and he continues to show that he is.
On Being a More Confident Team:
You win eight games in a row in this conference, you deserve to be confident. They genuinely like playing together and I think you can see that on the floor.
On Dick J Finishing His Career:
I didn't know much about him coming into Minnesota, but obviously he's a legend and he's done a great job here. I told him I am glad I could be a little part of his career.
On Rebounding from a 3-6 start:
Besides the Michigan State game on the road when we played terrible, we were playing good basketball. Our team really put their foot down and said "we know how to win games, so lets go out and do it." Since then we have really been finishing basketball games.
Nate Mason:
On What he is Most Proud of in Winning Streak:
Just that were locking in on scouting reports and working hard every day in practice. We have been able to put together a good run here lately and it starts with our efforts in practice and in film.
On Akeem Springs:
He came in being confident and talking a lot, not as laid back as we thought he was. He is so talkative and he gets us out of our comfort zones and talking on the floor. He helped me a lot and he's one of the best leaders I have ever been around.
On Selflessness of the Team:
We're all just clicking right now. That comes with a lot of repetition in practice and just getting along with each other on and off the court.
On Thinking of Transferring:
It was definitely hard. But after the season Coach Pitino sat me down and told me what he thought my role would be this year and I just got back to work.
Biggest Addition:
By far Akeem. Not just on the court but off the court he is such a good leader and he has helped the team out so much because of what he brings as a leader. He has made me a better player and a better leader and I am very appreciative of that.
Jordan Murphy:
On His Game Improving Down the Stretch:
I just had to figure out what my real identity was on the team, and it starts with rebounding, just getting on the glass offensively and defensively. I was fighting it a bit but coach told me I would be a lot happier if I started focusing what I was good at.
On Staying Aggressive and Reducing Fouls:
I got a couple fouls in the second half and had to come out, but coach said it was all good and I just locked in and stayed aggressive and tried to avoid foul trouble.
On How Far the Team has Come:
You can really see the growth of this team and we'll never forget last season so we will never be in that position again. We just think about last year in every rep, every shot, in practice because we know how that felt.
On Passing the Edge onto the Newcomers:
You can see it in Amir and Eric how they just don't want to lose at anything. We play this game called "King of the Hill" and Amir and Eric are always going at it trying to win. They just hate to lose, this team hates to lose.
On Thinking of Transferring:
Nah, I never really thought too much about it. It was a tough year all around but we knew that we could be a good team this year and we just kept believing in coach and the pieces we had returning and coming in.
On 2nd Half Dunks:
Yeah I know that the dunks get the crowd going, especially the two handed slams, so I put a little something extra on those dunks to get the energy going.
