-Coleman Hawkins said this game meant a lot to Illinois. Said he was miserable during Christmas after last year's loss, he didn't want to feel that way again.
-Brad Underwood said they were literally begging for the press. They have an offensive efficiency rating of 1.7 anytime a team presses them this season (any OER over 1 is good).
-Underwood said he ran a total of two sets tonight. He pulled a call sheet full of plays out of his pocket and showed it to us. He didn't need it tonight.
-Dennis Gates, who's usually long-winded in his opening statement, said he thinks Illinois is a Final Four team and then opened it up for questions.
-Gates said when you're playing a team like Illinois, you have to play a near-perfect game. Said Illinois getting to the free throw line in the first half gave them the momentum they needed and Mizzou missing the number of 3s it did took the wind out of their sails.
-Sean East said the game plan was to take the ball out of Terrence Shannon's hands. But he said Terrence made all the right plays.
-Gates said Trent earned his spot in the starting lineup and thought he had a solid night. Trent said he just wanted to play hard and play physical.
-Gates said he thinks the amount of free throws the team gives up is the biggest thing they need to adjust defensively. He said he wishes coaches could call their own fouls.
-Gates said he's not going to rip things apart or make the players think something's wrong with them. Said they're going into the break with a reflective mindset thinking about what they can do to get better.
-Gates said he doesn't feel like his team's played a complete game yet this year but still thinks there's some promise. He noted that they took over 70 shots tonight - they weren't turning the ball over, they just weren't knocking them down.
-Brad Underwood said they were literally begging for the press. They have an offensive efficiency rating of 1.7 anytime a team presses them this season (any OER over 1 is good).
-Underwood said he ran a total of two sets tonight. He pulled a call sheet full of plays out of his pocket and showed it to us. He didn't need it tonight.
-Dennis Gates, who's usually long-winded in his opening statement, said he thinks Illinois is a Final Four team and then opened it up for questions.
-Gates said when you're playing a team like Illinois, you have to play a near-perfect game. Said Illinois getting to the free throw line in the first half gave them the momentum they needed and Mizzou missing the number of 3s it did took the wind out of their sails.
-Sean East said the game plan was to take the ball out of Terrence Shannon's hands. But he said Terrence made all the right plays.
-Gates said Trent earned his spot in the starting lineup and thought he had a solid night. Trent said he just wanted to play hard and play physical.
-Gates said he thinks the amount of free throws the team gives up is the biggest thing they need to adjust defensively. He said he wishes coaches could call their own fouls.
-Gates said he's not going to rip things apart or make the players think something's wrong with them. Said they're going into the break with a reflective mindset thinking about what they can do to get better.
-Gates said he doesn't feel like his team's played a complete game yet this year but still thinks there's some promise. He noted that they took over 70 shots tonight - they weren't turning the ball over, they just weren't knocking them down.
