• last year
Tony Perkins Interview
Transcript
00:00 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:10 >> Okay.
00:13 >> First over.
00:15 >> Nevermind, I just used them two lights.
00:17 >> [LAUGH]
00:21 >> All right, question for Tony.
00:24 >> Tony, what was that last play called there, and get the look you wanted?
00:29 >> Initially I was trying to get it, but when O caught it, throw it and
00:32 try to dunk on Crow.
00:33 But it didn't work that way, but it was just a play we put in,
00:37 not to, yesterday actually, it was just late game.
00:40 Late game, just give me the ball and let me attack the big,
00:43 especially when they play drop and get a foul or something like that.
00:46 Hit O in the row if they help up.
00:49 >> Were you happy with that last shot, how everything worked out there?
00:52 I mean, obviously, you're happy with it going in, but-
00:54 >> I mean, yeah, I got, I mean,
00:57 it is what it is, I mean, I thought I got fouled, but it is what it is.
01:00 Before I could grab my arm, but I wasn't really tripping, I just turned.
01:04 And then after he grabbed it, just picked up the ball.
01:06 I thought the clock was almost about to go out, so I just threw it up.
01:10 It wouldn't hit, so I take it.
01:11 >> You guys were in this position a couple weeks ago against Maryland,
01:13 you needing to stop them making plays on the other end.
01:16 I mean, what were, I guess, some of the differences between then and now?
01:18 How were you guys able to execute on both ends?
01:20 >> I would say just being more connected.
01:26 Communication has been better.
01:28 I've been telling the guys, we gotta be the bullies the last few games that we
01:31 lost that we should have won.
01:32 We allowed them to get in our space and do certain things that they do and
01:36 make us uncomfortable when we should be doing the same thing to do to make them
01:39 uncomfortable, so just those few things.
01:42 >> You guys got down four in overtime.
01:44 I mean, were you thinking, here we go again?
01:46 Or what was your feeling at that point?
01:49 And then you come back and around.
01:51 >> It's overtime, I was like, I don't even know how much time was on the clock, but
01:55 the game went over.
01:56 So, went to Peyton, hit a shot.
01:58 We gotta stop, went to me.
02:01 I mean, at the end of the day, it's go out there and play.
02:05 Just go out there and play as hard as you can,
02:07 cuz you don't know how the game will turn out.
02:09 So that's just what we did, go out there,
02:11 give everything you got for the past three minutes, maybe, I guess.
02:14 >> The excitement was palpable from you guys.
02:16 Did you, cuz you feel like this was a much needed win?
02:19 >> Yes, I give a lot of credit to the fans.
02:22 Hopefully we can keep it going for the last few home games.
02:24 They got into it, that allowed us to get a lot more energy than what we usually
02:28 have, cuz we just get energy from the bench sometimes.
02:31 So I think the crowd helped a lot.
02:32 And then just the way we've been on each other, heavy more.
02:36 Like communication wise, expecting more from somebody and telling what we need.
02:41 And just me and Peyton and Pat just being more leaders to the guys, so.
02:45 >> You and the team obviously started slowly.
02:49 What did you in specific and the team in general do to get that right?
02:55 >> Nothing really, they subbed me out, put Brock in, played phenomenal.
02:59 And then second half, this came to me.
03:02 I mean, you had a few games where your first half wasn't good, but
03:06 we know what you can do in the second half.
03:07 Just go out there, be you, give us all you can for 20 minutes.
03:09 I won't sub you out, just go out there, do what you can, so.
03:11 >> I apologize if you're gonna ask this, but
03:13 can you walk us through that last sequence, the last basket?
03:15 Cuz it looked like your guy went for the steal, and
03:17 you maybe lost position, and just went and ripped it back.
03:20 >> Yeah, O went through it to me, and then he went under.
03:23 So I just got it, bulldozed my way.
03:25 Then I'd spin, but he grabbed my arm, so I just shot the hair, grabbed the ball.
03:29 Just go up, so yeah.
03:31 >> Tony, I think you had talked about a little while ago how the way you've been
03:35 playing part of it's just the urgency, I guess,
03:37 that the season's kinda coming to a close.
03:38 And this could be your last college season, I guess just what about that
03:43 feeling knowing that this could be kinda your last run in college is
03:47 kinda just been part of your mindset or what you think about?
03:50 >> Go out with a bang on the rest of these games, just keep winning.
03:54 That's just what it is.
03:56 I like winning, so just keep going.
03:58 >> In the second match, what changed for you, and what's your points game there?
04:02 >> The coaches and my teammates being there for me, believing in me, I guess.
04:07 Like they said, I walked into the locker room at halftime, I was like, that's on me.
04:11 I'm bringing this down right now.
04:12 I ain't being much of a leader, much of who I am.
04:15 And it's like, it's not all on you.
04:17 Just come back out here, do what you can, and the coaches as well, so it seems.
04:20 >> Tony, you've played in a lot of big games, even as an underclassman.
04:23 For Owen to go out there, I think, at 20, 12, like six assists,
04:26 I mean, what's that show for him?
04:27 I mean, he didn't miss a shot either, just how to stay composed in a tight game like
04:31 that.
04:32 >> He's a beast, I told him.
04:33 Every time he get fouled, get a rebound, get a bucket, I look at him.
04:35 You are a beast.
04:36 Act like it, you are a beast.
04:39 So just the type of player he is.
04:42 He goes for the ball, he can score, hit free throws, duck on somebody,
04:46 just the type of player he is.
04:46 He works hard.
04:47 And also he got me in his ear to tell him how good of a player he is, and
04:51 also to others.
04:51 But I tell him, he a beast, so show me you a beast.
04:54 Crowd's a good player, but come on, you a beast, show me better.
04:57 >> In the second half, you seemed to get going with the high screens, and
05:02 it seemed almost like the Illinois game last year.
05:04 Was that kind of what you were feeling there?
05:07 >> Yeah, also, they was doing the same thing with JD, good mid-range shot as well.
05:12 So we were just taking turns.
05:14 You get it, I get it, so we were just taking advantage of their drop coverage.
05:17 >> Craig, correct me if I'm wrong, but when you were running into the tunnel,
05:21 it looked like you were kind of emotional.
05:22 Can you just describe what this win means to you and just the rest of the team?
05:26 >> It means a lot.
05:27 We've been having games where we should have won, and we've been in the lead, and
05:31 they come back and we lose.
05:32 So that's been very, very hurtful to the team and me as well.
05:38 But being able to get this is good.
05:41 Only way we can go is up now, and then just also that a journey documentary came
05:45 up, so just, yeah, so it just hit me again, I guess.
05:50 >> What has it been like for the freshmen, Josh, to obviously play?
05:56 How have you kind of seen them grow from the time that they got here?
05:59 >> I've seen them grow a lot.
06:00 Josh, he played in big games, didn't play as much, but now he's starting.
06:04 He's playing good, playing great.
06:06 Owen, as you can tell, he's a beast.
06:09 And also Brock, the minutes that he get, he come out there and perform.
06:14 Defensively, offensively, he makes plays, makes smart decisions, so great players.
06:19 And also Price, too, he's crashing the board, knocking down shots,
06:21 willing to play defense.
06:23 He's doing everything that he can, and they all do anything,
06:25 everything that they can to get on the court, and I like that.
06:27 >> Tony, after the Minnesota game, some of the players and
06:30 the coach reassured that a win like that would just start to build momentum for
06:34 you guys, and now you guys get this big win.
06:36 So do you think that some of the stuff you did against Minnesota carried over to
06:39 this one?
06:40 >> I mean, yeah, we were still, I say we had some pain still for
06:47 Maryland cuz we should have won that game, honestly.
06:49 And that Minnesota game helped us well, because they was up on us by 20 and
06:54 we came back, and we was down tonight as well when we came back.
06:56 So I think we're getting used to that, but it's starting to change, and
07:01 we're just finna take off, and like I said, up from here.
07:03 >> What happened in the last first instance, Scott?
07:06 >> What happened in the first couple of minutes?
07:08 I mean, Fred called a timeout two minutes into the game.
07:11 You guys lost track of their shooters, and I think you got swiped from behind.
07:15 What was kind of the problem there, I guess?
07:18 >> Just a lack of urgency.
07:19 When we came out, we just let them score when being who we supposed to be or
07:25 the best we can be.
07:26 So we just let them get too many comfortable looks, let them hit, I think,
07:30 four threes, three threes maybe.
07:32 Let their post guys just get in there and get an offensive rebound.
07:35 So we just came out sluggish, but we just stayed encouraging each other.
07:39 I mess up, somebody else mess up, we expect better, so we'll come up better.
07:45 >> All right, thanks, Tony.
07:46 >> Thanks, Tony.
07:47 >> No problem. >> Appreciate it.
07:47 [BLANK_AUDIO]
07:48 (footsteps)