Nebraska vs. Minnesota: Postgame Notes and Quotes

Nebraska Postgame Notes:
*-Nebraska picked up its third-straight win against Minnesota, matching the Huskers’ longest streak in the series which dates back to 1902. NU also won three straight between 1934 and 1936.
*-Terran Petteway has been in double figures for 29 consecutive games dating back to last season.
*-With his first 3-pointer of the night, Petteway went over 1,000 career points. Petteway now has 1,008 career points, including his freshman year at Texas Tech.
*-Nebraska improves to 14-6 in games decided by five points or less under Tim Miles
*-Walter Pitchford reached double figures in rebounds for the third time this season and fifth of his career. Pitchford finished with a season-high 11 rebounds.
*-Nebraska held Minnesota to season-lows in points (49) and field goal percentage (.308).
*-The Huskers have held three of their last four opponents to under 50 points
*-Nebraska has now held 10 opponents to under 40 percent this season.

Nebraska Head Coach Tim Miles
On defense in final twenty seconds
“I though the initial one that (Andre) Hollins got off was a decent look. That one worried me because that one had a good line. The ones after that just didn’t have the arc or the line. We’re just trying to not allow threes, that’s the only thing going through our heads. I started yelling ‘foul’ at six seconds but I don’t think they heard me. On the first two, I thought we did a pretty good job. They have really good guards.  That’s a really good basketball team. They can hurt you in a lot of ways and their record doesn’t reflect how good they really are.”

On Minnesota’s success at three pointers in the first half

“It was all (Andre) Hollins to me. He’s such a good player. Tai Webster coming off the bench really did a good job on him. I really commend Tai (Webster).”

On Tai Webster
“He had practiced really well on the scout team. He hadn’t even practiced with the top guys. I just liked his body language in practice, and I liked his pace. I thought he was more aggressive and felt better.”

On if defense can get better
“Yeah because we can rebound better defensively. Then they’ll get less opportunities, and I think that’s the biggest thing. The number one thing I think we have to get better at is defensive rebounding and our play in transition on offense.”

On Shavon Shields’ technical
“They said it was unsportsmanlike conduct, so I don’t know if it was gesturing or stomping. They didn’t say he said anything. I think they all thought we were playing really good defense. On Walter (Pitchford’s) they said he pushed the kid down but I didn’t see that play at all. It was a feisty game. It’s so hard for the officials when the ball doesn’t go in the hole. That was a really good group of officials. They’re a veteran group. We couldn’t even make free throws tonight, but our crowd loved it, I’m glad they were cheering for us.”

Nebraska Guard Terran Pettaway
On the game overall
"Ugly. We did some good things in that game, and we did some bad things in that game, but we will take it. We have to build on this. Now is the time we have to make our run."

On the bad stuff
"The turnovers early. They were careless. Then we calmed down a little bit and handled their pressure better."

On the good
"Our defense. We held them to under 30% in the second half, that is what we we hang our hat on. Plus, it was a low-scoring game, so we will take it."

On getting the win
"We knew this was going to be the type of game it was. We talked about it all week at practice that it was going to be a low-scoring, physical game and that was exactly what it was. It is the Big Ten. That is what you live for every night."

On his thoughts during the last shot

"Man, I tried to block that shot with everything in me. I tried. I really tried to jump as high as I could."

On hitting 1,000 points tonight 

"Nothing. It is just 1,000 points. I'll be happy when we get some wins, like a Big Ten Championship or in a tournament." 

Nebraska Guard Tarin Smith 

On the defensive performance

"I thought we did a good job on the screens and helping on the screens. I thought that was pretty big. They were throwing a lot of ball screens. They ran a lot of off-ball screens for their shooters. I think that was big."

On dealing with the full court pressure

"I thought we dealt with it pretty well. At the beginning, it was a little shaky, but I thought as the game went on we got better. We started attacking a lot better."

Minnesota Head Coach Richard Pitino

Opening Statement

"Another tough one. I thought overall out of all the games we played--we have certainly have lost our fare share of close ones, I thought it was the best we executed. I thought we defended. I thought we rebounded and I thought we got open looks when we needed too. The reality of the situation is when you miss 10 free throws on the road like we did, in these one or two possession games, you are not going to win. I am proud of our effort, I am proud of our guys -- Miles has those guys playing really hard. They were well-prepared and give them credit. These guys will be ready to go on Saturday-- I can tell you that. I was really happy with the way they played to be honest with you." 

On the run in the second half, holding NU without a FG; what was the reason(s)

"I thought we got open looks. I am not sure though, I was standing by our bench and I thought we got some open looks. I don't know to be honest with you. I thought with this game, more than anything, I thought we were executing really well and getting some open looks. Mo' (Walker) was playing for the foul a little too much, he needed to be a quicker and more aggressive with his moves. Overall, we don't feel good about losing, but I am happy with the way they played tonight. I think we have to sure up our free throws. Really can't miss 10 free throws like that. Andre (Hollins) was put in some really tough situations  on the line by himself-- the place was going nuts, those are tough to make those free throws as well." 

On the offense, coldest  he has seen? 

"Again, I really think we got open looks. Now they are a very good defensive team--very-very good. One of the best in the country. Miles got those guys really defending, but I really believe we got open looks. I really do. Just didn't go in, I am not sure--I thought we executed what we wanted to do well." 

On playing zone, does he wish he played it more tonight

"We were going to read it, and start a 2-2-1, a 2-3 on makes and "5" (man-to-man)  on misses. I think we only played maybe four or five possessions I think. I also thought they were making some tough shots. But--you lose by three, so maybe so." 

On this season----unlucky ?
"Yeah, but we are not going to get any sympathy. Miles is a good friend of mine, he don't feel sorry for me. So that is the way it works. I liked our locker room today. I liked how engaged we were in timeouts, I thought we were really talking tonight. We will break through. but we still have a ways to go. We are not going to sit here and say we are unlucky. We are going to create our own luck." 

On if it was strange to see three good shooters miss final shot|
"Yes it is, it was tough  because I thought we executed it. Andre's shot was tough, the first initial shot-- I thought he was open. We really fought hard to get the rebounds. It is just---we did not make shots. But you have to give them credit, he did a great job of getting their defense ready to play hard."