Ben Krikke 2924
Ben Krikke
Category
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SportsTranscript
00:00 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:04 >> Any questions for Ben?
00:05 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:09 >> Talk about the importance of this game.
00:11 I mean, obviously you're two games below 500, there's eight games left.
00:14 I mean, I don't wanna say time's running out, but it's getting pretty critical.
00:17 >> No, it's definitely go time.
00:19 And unfortunately, we've lost a few games that we felt like we should have won.
00:25 And there's a little bit of pressure from that standpoint.
00:28 But I'm still encouraged, I'm still very positive mindset.
00:32 I think the whole team does as well.
00:34 And still very confident.
00:36 There's a few things that we need to clean up and just kind of address.
00:38 And we'll watch film and practice and figure out what we need to figure out.
00:43 And I thought defensively yesterday, we just showed some lapses towards the end.
00:48 And they got hot and
00:50 obviously it's tough to win on the road when you can't get stops.
00:54 >> What gives you optimism that you guys can go on a run here finally?
00:59 >> I mean, we showed throughout the season spurts.
01:01 We won those three in a row earlier in January.
01:05 And I see these guys work each and every day in practice.
01:09 And I think we're very close.
01:11 We've had a lot of close games recently and
01:14 just haven't been quite able to pull it out.
01:16 So yeah, from that standpoint, I think we'll be fine.
01:20 >> What's the key for you guys to close out some of those games?
01:24 Last night you had seven point lead in the second half.
01:27 >> Yeah, I think, I mean, I'll just allude to it defensively.
01:32 They, I guess I think it was like 12 of the last 13 possessions they scored.
01:37 That just can't happen, especially on the road.
01:39 When we have leads like we did in two different occasions yesterday,
01:45 we gotta find ways to push the lead and continue to get good shots and
01:48 take care of the ball.
01:50 >> You saw a few more go through the hole.
01:52 That has to give you confidence going into Sunday.
01:55 >> Yeah, no, that was nice.
01:56 I kinda had a tough stretch there and just shooting the ball and
02:00 missing ones that I've been hitting all year.
02:01 So that was a little bit frustrating, but kept that in practice and
02:06 coaches and teammates have been very encouraging.
02:09 So just try to continue to play my game and be aggressive.
02:11 >> Price got going a little bit.
02:15 How's that helped him?
02:17 Did you see more confidence in him?
02:19 >> Yeah, yeah, I think it's big for him, for him to come in and
02:23 impact the game right away and contribute.
02:25 And he's been great in practice and honestly all year throughout practice,
02:33 just hitting shots and being aggressive.
02:36 And I think yesterday's game will help his confidence a lot.
02:40 >> Tony Perkins has been had a really good stretch as a late.
02:43 How important is it for him to just keep that aggressive mindset and
02:46 just know that he's got it really gets going here.
02:49 >> Yeah, I mean, I think it's huge for our team and
02:52 obviously he's kind of from a point guard perspective, just kind of leading it.
02:55 And when he's aggressive, I think everything is better for the team and
02:58 I try to tell him every game just keep being aggressive, keep pushing it for us.
03:02 And I think when he's gone, when Payton's gone, when I'm gone,
03:08 we're a tough team to stop and then sprinkling contributions from
03:11 a number of other guys too, like Josh and Owen as well.
03:15 I mean, we could be a very dangerous team.
03:17 We just got to all perform at the same time.
03:20 I feel like we've been a little inconsistent in that with guys having big
03:24 games and maybe other guys not.
03:26 So once we all get in the same page, I think we'll be good.
03:30 >> The last few games before Penn State,
03:32 do you feel like it was just a matter of the shots not going down?
03:36 And then what do you think was different in the Penn State game that kind of,
03:40 I mean, you really got going?
03:42 >> Yeah, I mean, yeah, like I said, those three, four games or
03:47 whatever that stretch was, it was just maybe a little bit of lack of confidence.
03:51 And when you miss a lot of shots, sometimes that confidence can wane a little bit.
03:56 And obviously I've played a lot of games in my career, so
03:59 I tried to not let that affect me too much.
04:02 And then just talking to guys, practicing, and then just kind of getting that edge
04:08 back and getting back to what I've been doing all year and kind of throughout my career.
04:14 Just being aggressive and pushing it a little bit.
04:18 >> I don't know how far you've thought down the road, but
04:20 obviously you're kind of come up on the final stretch of your college career.
04:23 Like just, I don't know, how does that kind of make you feel knowing this is
04:27 your last run at things in college?
04:29 >> Yeah, it kind of makes me sad, honestly.
04:31 Like I've loved playing college basketball and it's been a dream of mine.
04:36 And couldn't be more grateful and thankful for this opportunity.
04:40 And I wasn't guaranteed a fifth year coming in and
04:44 just having this extra year has been great for me.
04:46 And I'll be sad to leave, wish I had a couple more years.
04:49 [LAUGH]
04:52 >> All right, thanks, Coach.
04:53 >> Thanks, Coach.
04:53 >> Good to see you.