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00:00 If you're a coach, a player, a 97 year old mother,
00:04 you couldn't go through that game without being tired.
00:10 It was a slugfest like I haven't seen since, sorry.
00:16 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:20 Lucky we won or I wouldn't pick it up for you.
00:22 But man, I just, I said we had to do some things,
00:28 I said we had to play with a little more toughness.
00:32 And first half, I thought we did early, then I thought they did.
00:37 Got to be loose ball for a while.
00:38 I thought we made some crazy turnovers.
00:42 But to win a game that way, it's not for the faint at heart, but
00:47 it was probably good for my program moving forward and what I think we gotta do.
00:53 We held them to 30% from the field, 23 from the three.
00:58 And as much, and I'm not downplaying Julian Reese, not playing as many minutes.
01:02 But in some ways it made it easier for us, in some ways it made it harder.
01:08 Because now we're putting in more shooters.
01:11 And we just had to cover so many people with different people that maybe we had
01:16 worked on to be fair about it with some of my guys.
01:21 I guess the biggest thrill was, I didn't think Malik played very well in
01:27 the first half, and we challenged him, time outs.
01:32 We challenged him at halftime, and he responded.
01:36 And I think a lot of times he always says, what do you want from me?
01:39 I said the second half, that's all.
01:43 Give me the second half, I'll be chuffed, I'll be cool, I'll be fine.
01:49 But that is a good basketball team.
01:55 And early on when Scott hit those first three threes,
01:58 and then he didn't make any more.
01:59 Jameer Young was unbelievable, got the line a lot.
02:03 I thought we did everything we could do to try to guard him.
02:11 I thought when shots went up, we didn't rebound very well early, and
02:15 then the second half we did.
02:16 So this fight, big time, old time, big ten basketball game,
02:21 you don't have those as much anymore.
02:23 I give a lot of credit to them.
02:26 They are about as physical and tough a team as I've played in a long time.
02:32 [BLANK_AUDIO]
02:36 >> Hey Tom, congrats again on the win.
02:38 Two part question, is there ever a concern after having a huge emotional and
02:43 historic night, like Tuesday, great night for the program.
02:47 And then can emotions kind of drag things out?
02:50 And then secondly, your players in their warm up had on BHM,
02:54 Black History Month, what does it mean for
02:57 the program to always represent when it comes to things like that?
03:01 >> Yeah, that question's first.
03:04 I mean, listen, there's so many things that haven't necessarily been fair in
03:10 our country and this and that, and I think we're making some progress.
03:14 Still probably behind in a lot of ways, but
03:17 I just wanna give guys a chance to appreciate.
03:22 I love the anthem, everything else, I thought it was apropos for
03:27 the month and apropos for Michigan State.
03:30 Way back in the Duffy days,
03:34 we kinda started the regime of getting black athletes up here.
03:40 And personally, I take a lot of pride in that and what we did.
03:45 And I read up on it, I listened to it, I heard the stories.
03:50 Bear Bryant, sending guys here, wish Bear was alive and
03:54 send me a few guys right now.
03:56 But so in that respect, I thought that was great.
04:00 And the first part was- >> Can there be an emotional high?
04:04 >> Yeah, God, you hope not.
04:07 I mean, you hope you're mature enough.
04:09 And usually where you'd see that is in the practices.
04:12 I was really excited, I thought the media guys, I thought we had good practices.
04:17 I thought today we had a great shoot around.
04:20 And I didn't think we didn't bring it, bring it.
04:23 I thought just, Doug Wojcik asked me something on the bench.
04:28 He goes, are we playing softer?
04:31 Are we not giving them enough credit of physically tough?
04:34 And then the second half, he said, are we not giving us credit?
04:37 How physically tough we were.
04:40 And he's playing right in both accounts, but I love the way they play.
04:46 I mean, they get after you, give them credit.
04:50 >> Doug, plus six in the glass tonight, after being minus 15 in College Park.
04:56 How much of that was your emphasis and how much was Reese being out?
05:01 >> Yeah, I'm sure a little bit was Reese being out, but
05:03 I thought our emphasis was a lot better.
05:05 And I thought once Malik got going, he ends up with seven.
05:08 I think he only had two at halftime.
05:09 Malik Hall is every bit as good as I think he is.
05:14 And I gotta push him to do that every night,
05:17 cuz he's had 10 out of 11 really good games.
05:22 For the most part, still hasn't rebounded like I think he can.
05:25 But tonight was another example.
05:28 We played 34 minutes.
05:29 He had a guard, a tough player, he had a guard,
05:31 a guy that was on the perimeter some after they changed up.
05:35 All of a sudden, Scott now, he had a guard instead of AJ guarding him.
05:39 And I thought Malik did a very good job.
05:42 There's nothing that satisfies a coach more than to post somebody up and
05:49 have them respond.
05:51 It really is.
05:52 It's the greatest thing that happens because I think they realize,
05:57 I probably have more to give.
06:00 And I was proud of him.
06:02 I was really happy for him.
06:04 When other guys maybe weren't quite as sharp,
06:08 Jadon coming off that great game, I don't know how much they hit.
06:11 Bothered him, but he wasn't the same.
06:13 And our big guys were okay, but it was Malik and Tyson.
06:20 And AJ did some good things.
06:23 He had eight assists, played pretty good defense on Scott.
06:29 That was a lot for him to cover.
06:31 So I'm just happy we got the win.
06:35 >> Tom Stretch, after Maryland took the lead, and
06:38 that was the point where Malik kind of took over.
06:41 When he was starting to get active on the block, how much did that open up for him?
06:46 And the rebounding side of it for him,
06:49 it seemed like he was attacking a lot of those boards.
06:52 >> You saw it like I saw it.
06:56 And I said to him all the time, I don't hide behind it.
07:02 He's a better rebounder than he's been playing.
07:06 He is a very good defender.
07:09 And he is improving his offensive skills every day.
07:13 Shoots better from three, shooting 50% from the three.
07:16 His post moves are phenomenal.
07:19 He's finally falling in love with it where he can beat you on the turnaround,
07:22 he can beat you on the hook, he can beat you on the pump thing.
07:25 He's an effective player and I think that's gotta keep improving.
07:31 We're gonna take another step.
07:34 And yet we can't have trade, we can't have jig.
07:40 Those guys did not have as good games and turnovers and
07:44 things, we need them to play better.
07:47 Our bigs did pretty much what they needed to do.
07:49 A little disappointed, we only had three rebounds.
07:53 But Coupe had six and it was a tough game for
07:58 those guys to play when they had to guard smaller guys, believe it or not.
08:02 >> Now I have a question too.
08:04 Just in the sense of a Western game,
08:05 it seems like you've really brought it pretty consistently every day.
08:07 I mean, how much different is this team if you know what you're gonna get out of it?
08:11 >> It's a lot different.
08:13 I mean, cuz for the most part, I know what I'm gonna get out of my guards.
08:17 And for the most part, it's okay to get out of my centers, but
08:20 we gotta get out of them because we know they're limited in some ways, but
08:23 they're exceptional defensively and usually rebounding.
08:27 But we need another score and when the league can average,
08:30 I don't know what he's averaged since that game, it's gotta be 14, 15 points.
08:35 And shooting a high percentage and getting to the free throw line a little more.
08:40 The rebounding thing is the last piece of the pie.
08:43 And if we get that going, it would be better.
08:47 >> Tom, Maryland went up 42, 41 and
08:50 after that you guys finished the game on a 22 to 12 run.
08:54 Was that more of a coach led comeback or a player led comeback?
08:58 >> Definitely coach led.
08:59 >> [LAUGH] >> Hell no, it wasn't a coach led.
09:02 And that's the beauty of having a game like this is,
09:08 AJ Tyson in the huddle had some great, they had that back door play for him.
09:15 That was his call and missed the shot.
09:18 But there has been more and more communication in the huddles.
09:23 A couple guys got out, a couple guys in the huddles.
09:28 It's good, I think there's a lot of respect among us, the guys now.
09:32 They know we're not where we need to be and where I think we could be.
09:36 Do I think we got a lot of ceiling left?
09:41 I do.
09:42 Are we gonna get there?
09:44 We'll find out.
09:45 Games like this actually helped us because of the way halftime was,
09:49 the way the huddles were, the way the team kinda took ownership of some things and
09:55 some situations.
09:56 I was really proud of them.
09:58 >> Low scoring game, you had nine players score baskets, Maryland only had three.
10:02 How much does your depth and balance help in a game like this?
10:07 >> Well, it was bizarre because the two kids that came in really playing on fire
10:12 were Kaiser and Long and they're three point shooters.
10:16 And don't take me wrong, I'm sure it hurt what Reese out some,
10:23 but I've had games, Wisconsin games,
10:27 so it is what it is.
10:31 But I said it was a game that I wouldn't wanna officiate.
10:38 I wouldn't wanna bend on the TV, I told a man that.
10:42 I wouldn't wanna be you guys.
10:44 And in all honesty, I didn't wanna be mean for a while.
10:47 I sat there, I said, this sucks.
10:51 But we did bounce back, we scored a lot more points
10:55 once we started scoring a team in the second half.
11:00 But I don't think it was all us.
11:03 We shot 44, 29, but I thought they had a lot to do with how we shot.
11:09 And I told Kevin that after, I believe that.
11:13 >> You guys started the game really strong defensively, and
11:16 that kinda led to success offensively.
11:18 And then those errant passes and all the turnovers and
11:20 then Maryland getting offensive boards.
11:22 Just how much does that kind of suck the air out of a team or deplete you guys?
11:27 >> That's a polite way of saying it.
11:30 >> [LAUGH] >> That really ticked me off,
11:35 because we get a steal off the middle of the court, they go down on the floor and
11:38 get it, we don't.
11:40 They get a layup, we had a couple of the most ridiculous turnovers.
11:45 And we were playing our hearts out.
11:49 And besides Robbie Hummel and the media, coaching staff,
11:55 I thought our fans were awesome.
11:58 We gave them nothing to cheer about 90% of the time.
12:00 They just hung with us, hung with us, hung with us, hung with us.
12:04 And that too was like old times.
12:08 I asked Jason Richards and Matt Ishby, I said, remind you of things.
12:12 And Jason said, yeah, the game did,
12:14 cuz back then it was a football game on Hardwood too.
12:18 And but yeah, I was disappointed in why we couldn't,
12:24 our defense was so good and we're doing so well.
12:31 And all of a sudden, I don't know if we didn't sub enough, guys got tired.
12:36 I don't know what it was, but I promise you, I'm gonna look at the film and
12:39 try to figure it out.
12:40 [BLANK_AUDIO]
12:45 >> They get in the second half, they get up, they get up, they get up 42-41,
12:49 and they're dispersed.
12:50 Do you trust this group now, intense moments where a lot of teams might wobble?
12:55 Cuz you've had a number of those in the second half where the response is
12:58 immediate right there.
12:58 >> Yeah, it happened over at their place too, but
13:02 I'm not sure I'm ready to say yes to that question.
13:08 I think we're growing together.
13:10 We are growing together, and
13:11 sometimes you gotta go through these kind of games to grow together.
13:15 But as much as I wanna blame us,
13:18 there's not many times I actually believe in my heart what I say would be one thing.
13:24 Giving another coach credit, another team credit.
13:26 This is what I believe.
13:28 They had more to do with our ill doing than maybe us.
13:34 And to me, that's the best compliment you can give somebody.
13:38 But at the same time, they lost two tough games.
13:42 We went up, we were up big at their place.
13:45 They came back, went up one, two, I think three at one point.
13:49 And tonight we responded immediately.
13:53 And I think that'll help us as we move forward.
13:57 I just wanna know why are we losing these?
14:00 I really wanna look at the film and say,
14:02 how many minutes of great basketball did we play?
14:05 We missed some good shots.
14:06 I mean, Tyson missed a few.
14:08 Jayden missed a few.
14:10 I mean, Tyson misses a layup.
14:12 We missed some layups in that too.
14:17 And so that hurts too, especially in games that are so tight.
14:21 But win's the win, baby.
14:23 We're just moving on.
14:24 And we got a quick turnaround now.
14:28 All we get to do is go play Minnesota, which we had a tight game with.
14:31 They just beat Northwestern.
14:34 Go figure.
14:34 I mean, I saw a little bit of the Penn State game.
14:39 They're 11 down and all of a sudden they're 20 up.
14:41 I mean, that's a 30 point change.
14:43 What is going on?
14:46 I don't know, but at least we were consistent today.
14:51 We didn't shoot it very well after the first five minutes, and
14:54 that kind of continued through the last five minutes.
14:56 So we were consistent, and both defenses were real consistent too.
15:01 >> I'm gonna ask you about taking this kind of effort on the road.
15:06 You obviously had a game with Maryland like that.
15:08 But when you talk about the things that this group can learn from this game,
15:13 some of these other games in the last couple weeks,
15:16 is that something to take this down on the road, the toughness factor?
15:20 >> Well, I said, and it's insulting to me, it's insulting to some of the players.
15:25 I'm a team of them were here, now Jay Ritchie,
15:31 AJ Granger, there were just some guys back.
15:35 And it bothers me to think of my team not being tough enough.
15:41 Some of it must be the way I coached them.
15:44 And some of it must be some of the personnel, and
15:46 some of it must be a little bit on them.
15:48 So I think all three parties deserve some credit.
15:51 But nobody here can say we rebounded the ball,
15:54 that we've gotten after it like maybe we're used to here.
15:59 And so we had some meetings about that, and just listen,
16:04 as you get closer to the tournament, this is what has to happen.
16:07 And like I said, I love the fact that we won, I absolutely love it.
16:14 Fifth year senior, who cares?
16:17 Sooner or later it happens, you respond, and now can you grow from that?
16:22 And I said we had three good days of practice, can we take practice to the game?
16:27 That was the next thing we talked about.
16:30 At times we did in parts of it, but they had a good team too.
16:35 They had good players in that team too.
16:37 So hats off to Kevin and the way he coached them, and hats off to Young.
16:43 I mean, he was phenomenal.
16:46 We threw a lot at him, and he just found ways.
16:49 And not a great three-point shooter,
16:52 didn't necessarily shoot great tonight.
16:59 When the game's on the line, I'm gonna clean, he was gonna make a shot.
17:04 He was gonna make a play.
17:06 Love that, absolutely love it.
17:08 >> You're talking about the players taking ownership during this game,
17:11 especially at the end.
17:12 So how much has the leadership quality of these players grown since the end
17:15 of the season?
17:17 >> I saw more, I mean AJ and I and Tyson had a couple long meetings,
17:23 just love those kind of things.
17:25 If you guys wanna finish the year off strongly, it's gotta happen.
17:30 And I'm gonna put more pressure on you guys, and I'm gonna coach you guys harder.
17:34 And there were both of those guys that I thought responded,
17:41 Malik's still quiet, but he responded in his own way by getting his hands on
17:47 a lot of balls.
17:47 Even he tipped another one out early in that game, that was a big play.
17:51 Kubica, that one big play.
17:53 People don't realize how little things, but when you said that about,
17:56 we were up 60 to five, and then the ball, we got the ball.
18:00 We got a chance to go up again, and they just take it from us, and
18:03 the ball goes on the floor, and they dive on it, get a layup.
18:06 And it just changed everything.
18:08 Well, if that was at home and we did it, I think then the crowd gets into it.
18:12 People don't realize we had a play at their place.
18:16 Early in the game, we're up ten, ball goes on the floor,
18:20 Marty dives, throws it to, I think it was Trey.
18:24 He goes down, makes a layup, nobody thinks nothing of it.
18:26 It's eight minutes left in the half.
18:30 When you win by two, those two points count the same as the other two points.
18:33 And so those kind of plays motivate, stimulate a team,
18:39 sometimes a fan base, but our fans were just absolutely awesome.
18:44 I kept saying, why would they cheer when we'd given them?
18:47 But they did, and I appreciate it.
18:50 >> We have one final one on the far side.
18:52 >> Coach, we've seen a couple of shifts now where you've had Kohler and
18:54 Hooper playing at the same time.
18:56 I just wanted to know, how would you evaluate that combination of players?
18:58 And is it what you can see using one going forward, or is it more situational?
19:02 >> Well, the only reason we did, and then all of a sudden it created problems,
19:06 because they started playing with almost four, four, three forwards and two guards.
19:12 And so it's hard to play those two guys under those circumstances.
19:15 So we didn't get a sample size big enough, but
19:19 Jackson made a big shot, two points, it counts.
19:23 And I didn't think Monty was as sharp today, and yet Cooper did some things.
19:28 I didn't think Cooper was as sharp as some layups and dunks.
19:31 Those things drive me crazy, but in his effort to block a shot or
19:37 his effort defensively, those drive me, put a smile on my face.
19:41 So just like Kevin said, he's got some guys that are better shooters than
19:46 defenders, and if everybody could do both, I wouldn't be here.
19:55 So it's challenging, to say the least.
19:58 It's challenging a little bit, but hey, let me tell you,
20:02 the way this season has gone here and everywhere else, I'm gonna take this win.
20:06 I'm gonna go home, I'm gonna sit down, I'm gonna watch Kentucky and
20:11 Tennessee, and then I'll watch some film after that game.
20:14 I just wanna get a look at some other teams that I know very well and
20:18 see where are we, what are we doing?
20:22 So I appreciate it, sorry that it was a grinder today, but
20:27 it was hard on us on the bench, it was probably hard on you.