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00:00 Start out by saying I'm sorry, you know, it's a,
00:03 fans had to wait, you guys had to wait.
00:06 And I don't know what the hell to say to you.
00:09 It was a, It was a interesting day.
00:15 I don't think I could ever explain to you how hard it is to
00:22 spend the amount of time we spend with our guys.
00:30 And then try to coach him in a tough game and try to pray to God that they get
00:35 to enjoy their senior night and the memories that senior nights bring.
00:40 Because most of the time it's, it'll last a lifetime.
00:45 I've had games, as I told them, where we played for championships on senior night.
00:51 The games that we've played, just to get in the tournament on senior night.
00:58 I had times when we played,
01:00 just for the pride of senior night, my first two years here.
01:07 And it's, emotions are different.
01:11 I just like to publicly thank Chris Collins.
01:17 After the game, I talked to his dad today because dad's a friend of mine.
01:23 And dad had an appreciation since he spent a lot of time with Chris as a coach.
01:31 Chris has a son who's a manager for him.
01:34 And so with a tough loss that he had, the first thing he said to me is,
01:38 just do me one favor, come join the moment with your son.
01:41 And I think that kinda tells me that there's still some human beings left in
01:46 this profession.
01:48 And it was a night when we just couldn't make a shot.
01:54 I mean, somebody said we're two for 17, three.
01:57 We missed a few free throws.
02:00 But we did some things like get 19 offensive boards.
02:05 We did some effort related things.
02:06 Our defense was pretty good.
02:08 We didn't turn the ball over.
02:12 Just a lot of things we did well.
02:16 And then, I mean, some of the shots we had that we missed, I was just amazed.
02:21 Jaden and Tyson had some great looks, but we didn't get them.
02:28 So I swear to you, that's a good team that we played.
02:32 And he is one of the best coaches in this conference.
02:36 He's done an unbelievable job.
02:37 And I'm just happy we won, and
02:43 publicly before you ask questions, I have to thank our fans.
02:47 Senior day is hard.
02:51 And they see a two hour game which had a feel like a ruck canal,
02:56 a four hour game, and then they stayed there for
03:02 45 minutes or whatever after.
03:05 It's always the chance we take of having ours after the game.
03:11 And yet I decided it many years ago.
03:14 Lost a couple, three months was when I remember, until the day I die.
03:20 But at the same time, it gives our fans a chance to really appreciate our players.
03:26 And it gives our players a chance to really appreciate our fans.
03:31 And so I was so proud of the way there's so many people.
03:36 I'm not sure, 20 people left, and
03:38 they probably had to work tonight or midnight shift or something.
03:41 But I was overwhelmed by the number that stayed on a weekday game.
03:46 And as always, our people did such an incredible job with the whole event.
03:51 I mean, I've got friends that have kids at other schools.
03:55 And we sure as hell can't shoot it here, but we can put on a senior night.
04:00 >> [LAUGH] >> It's as good as it gets.
04:03 Questions?
04:04 >> Hey, Tom, so many things to celebrate.
04:06 You've been telling us, and you talked about a moment ago,
04:09 how much you appreciate the fans and they deserve so much.
04:13 As you close out being at the Breslin for this season,
04:15 what's one thing you wish you could take with you throughout the rest of play
04:20 that's unique about this place, if you can bottle and take it with you?
04:22 >> Yeah, I can take all 15,000 people with me.
04:25 This is one of those years, there's been years where they won us games.
04:31 And this year, they won us more than a share of games,
04:34 because for some ungodly reason, we just,
04:37 we haven't been what I think we can be.
04:43 And I keep looking in the mirror and asking myself.
04:47 And tonight, again, we had two great practices,
04:50 shot the ball really well yesterday.
04:52 And we just started out the game with a turnover, a three-point play.
04:56 I mean, I don't know if that was nerves, I don't know if it was just
05:00 things we did wrong, but they played hard, they played well, and they made some shots.
05:06 And Boo Boo, if you ever wanna wonder why I say there's a process to everything,
05:12 and we wanna speed the process with all these kids.
05:15 And I mean, I look at Boo Boo and what he was as a freshman,
05:20 what he was when they richard him, what he was as a sophomore.
05:25 In the last two years, he's made himself, in my humble opinion, a pro.
05:30 I mean, he just controls the game, he makes other people better.
05:33 He can make shots, he can make plays, he plays defense, and
05:37 he played a lot of minutes.
05:39 And so I went from, I wouldn't say the biggest fan his first two years,
05:46 and I told him after the game, big fan.
05:49 I mean, big fan.
05:50 I love when people change and adapt and adjust and get better.
05:55 And Boo Boo has done that.
05:57 So Chris deserves some credit, so does Boo.
06:01 >> You said a few weeks back, sometimes you win and progress, and
06:06 sometimes you just win.
06:07 Do you think your team progressed in tonight's victory?
06:09 [BLANK_AUDIO]
06:12 >> Yes, we progressed as an offensive rebounding team.
06:15 We progressed as a shoddy little grit team.
06:21 [BLANK_AUDIO]
06:24 That's it.
06:25 I don't think we progressed in the other things that I was hoping we'd progress in.
06:31 But I think in fairness, too, I mean, I thought we had some open looks.
06:35 Jayden and Ty had some open looks.
06:37 But I thought they did a great job with their defense,
06:40 of switching things and doing things.
06:42 And it created some problems for us.
06:45 We just couldn't play, and they went really small and really hurt.
06:49 Because we thought we could play both in our bigs.
06:53 We thought they'd always have one in there, and that wasn't the case.
06:57 So I'd say Chris did a great job, too.
06:59 >> At halftime, what was said particularly amongst and to the seniors?
07:07 Cuz obviously it looked like Malik and
07:08 AJ out of the gate came out a lot stronger in that second half.
07:12 >> Yeah, AJ was upset with himself.
07:14 And Malik had played decent.
07:17 We actually talked about the film we looked at, and how bad we were.
07:23 We weren't moving, we weren't doing anything.
07:25 And kinda players get on players, which was unpleasant.
07:29 There's another place we grew.
07:31 Players get on players.
07:33 And it was not a big yelling and screaming locker room.
07:39 It was just one that I said, guys, if this is the memory you wanna make,
07:47 there's nothing wrong with missing shots.
07:49 But we had a couple turnovers early, we just didn't look.
07:54 We weren't moving very well.
07:55 I don't know why, but we gotta get it fixed.
08:00 So tonight, not going home tonight, tonight's gonna be a lot of work.
08:04 >> And one more you can say about Trey,
08:08 just being able to step into that role and make the play, and AJ got his chance.
08:11 >> Yeah, I'm proud of Trey.
08:12 I mean, he made some big plays, and missed a couple good shots, too.
08:16 He made those big free throws, he got a couple rebounds.
08:19 He made a couple threes when we weren't making any.
08:23 So you get four rebounds, you go four for four from the line,
08:28 you score 12 points.
08:30 The thing that we didn't do tonight, and he didn't do it at all either,
08:36 and AJ did a little bit, and Tyson did it more than anybody.
08:41 We only had 11 assists, of course, 119 baskets.
08:45 But we only had 11 assists, but they only had 18 baskets.
08:49 I didn't even realize that.
08:50 I mean, it was a rock fight.
08:52 It was a game when I, I don't know how Chris felt, but
08:57 we'll talk to him tomorrow.
08:59 But I didn't think either team, I mean, we played poorly most of the first half.
09:05 I thought they had their stretches, they played good, and
09:06 we had a couple stretches they didn't.
09:08 >> Following up on that progress question,
09:12 where do you think is the one area this team is most likely to progress on before
09:16 the tournament starts?
09:17 >> Wow, that's a tough question.
09:25 There'd be a lot of things.
09:27 There'd be a lot of things.
09:28 And I think there can be.
09:30 I've been, at least with a couple of you guys that I've talked to at night, and
09:34 then I've been pretty honest that I think I'm just dumb enough.
09:41 I still think we have some game left in us.
09:43 I think there's things we can do.
09:46 But our seniors, right now, Ty hasn't been shooting as well.
09:51 And if AJ and Ty and Malik play well,
09:56 we've got enough bigs to sub in, it almost helped us against Purdue.
10:00 I think Cohen Carr could help us.
10:04 It's just for him and Book, I mean, it was tough because they went small and
10:09 that was tough on Book.
10:11 And then Cohen, God, he played so hard, but still the shooting's a problem,
10:17 even the free throws.
10:17 So it's like you can put one guy in for one reason, another guy for
10:21 another reason.
10:22 So we all gotta get better with our shooting.
10:25 I mean, I don't know why we're not shooting the ball well,
10:28 because I think I got enough good shooters and we just, we've been struggling with it.
10:32 And I say that, and
10:35 we're one of the better three-point shooting teams in the league.
10:40 So I don't know, confusing, a little confusing tonight.
10:45 Maybe those guys will have answers for me tomorrow.
10:48 I don't think anybody did anything on purpose.
10:49 We just didn't, you don't make shots like that, it's hard to keep playing defense.
10:54 So if there's another thing I learned, that we can keep playing defense.
10:58 We can win ugly, which I won a lot of games back in the championship,
11:02 we are ugly, and I just like to win a little prettier tonight.
11:07 But a win is a win, we gotta win and we move on.
11:12 >> You said you were satisfied with the way your team competed at
11:16 Maggie on Saturday night.
11:17 In what way do you think your team built on that in tonight's performance?
11:20 >> Well, I do think the one thing we did there, we rebounded well.
11:24 I mean, Malik was a man-child himself in the rebounding, but
11:28 we did get some for it from Marty, we acquired from Tyson.
11:31 We got four from Jaden, our guards, we got four from Trey.
11:35 I mean, we got some rebounds from some guys, so that's a plus.
11:41 I didn't like the way we moved the ball in that.
11:43 I think we got a lot of work to do.
11:46 Our defense is getting better, but our offense, we got some work to do.
11:49 And it's just tweaks, it's just a matter of moving,
11:53 a matter of reversing the ball a little bit more.
11:56 And but we ended up opening shots, guys.
11:59 That's what's so frustrating as a coach when you have that many open shots,
12:02 you expect to make more than we make.
12:06 >> I was just gonna ask about Malik and the rebounding,
12:10 that seemed like a pretty determined- >> Yeah, Malik had his,
12:15 that was a man's night for him.
12:18 I've never seen him go like that.
12:20 I mean, that was an Andre Hudson, Zach Randolph night,
12:26 where he just was gonna go get the ball no matter where it was.
12:29 And some of my staff kept saying, well, we gotta take him out.
12:33 And I said, my dead body.
12:34 He can play till he can't walk, but he's not taking him out.
12:40 And give him credit, he played through that.
12:43 And so I think that's a plus too.
12:47 I thought AJ wasn't very good in the first half, but
12:50 I thought at halftime he did answer the bell.
12:52 And he came out and did some great things.
12:54 We got him downhill a little bit more, started the second half.
12:58 So give both those guys credit for what they did and how they did it.
13:03 And I do think our team is together.
13:07 I do think that we've got a lot of things we can build on.
13:11 I do think we're better than we're playing.
13:14 I do think we have a run in us.
13:16 And I hope everybody challenges me on it.
13:18 I don't blame them.
13:19 I was watching the game,
13:21 and I didn't ask if I'm on dial-up clue or something.
13:26 I believe in this, but I do believe in it.
13:30 And one thing about me, if I don't, I'll probably say it.
13:33 So, a couple more?
13:37 >> Yeah, we got a couple more, and then we got the players.
13:39 >> Players are here.
13:40 >> Steven, and then wrap with Chris.
13:42 >> Tommy, you've been through a couple dozen senior nights.
13:44 I'm just wondering what tonight was like being involved in the capacity.
13:47 >> A couple dozen senior nights?
13:49 >> A couple, give or take.
13:51 >> To be involved in the capacity.
13:52 >> I've been through 29 senior nights.
13:55 >> To be involved in the capacity that you were tonight as coach and
13:58 father, I'm just wondering what that was like for you.
14:00 >> No, that was different.
14:01 That was different.
14:03 Thank God, I mean, Steven doesn't play a lot.
14:05 But it was an emotional day for him.
14:11 I always tell my wife, I'm sure he's ready to be done.
14:14 And it's hard.
14:15 He goes to practice and doesn't do a lot.
14:18 And gotta come to all these meetings and everything.
14:22 And it was funny when he said that in his speech about meetings.
14:26 But as I tell Tyson, I tell AJ, I tell Malik, I tell them all,
14:31 the day will come and you'll miss the meetings.
14:34 Cuz the meetings mean something that cares about what you're doing.
14:38 You get to the next level, they just fire you.
14:42 They don't care.
14:42 They don't have any meetings with you, unless it's to say pack your bags.
14:46 Or you go to a job and there's not a lot of meetings that are telling you,
14:49 you didn't do things right.
14:51 Pretty soon they're telling you, you don't have a job.
14:53 So I noticed even today was way more emotional than I thought he'd be.
15:00 He's kind of got his own cold spot.
15:03 And he was, but I thought our guys were, I thought they were good.
15:09 I just didn't seem to have what I think we have.
15:14 And we've gotta find a way to get that because if we do,
15:18 I think a chance for one of those runs.
15:22 >> I wanted to ask you about Tyson.
15:26 He struggled shooting again.
15:29 But like you said, got to the rim.
15:31 It seems like he's trying to affect the game in a lot of different ways.
15:34 He's been crashing the glass a lot better too.
15:37 Distributing the ball, seemed like when the shots weren't falling.
15:40 I guess, where can he take this team if he's taking that ballistic approach?
15:47 >> Well, believe it or not, he's sitting there.
15:48 So I'll say in front of his face because I usually sit in front of his face when I'm
15:52 sitting in a meeting.
15:53 He's passing up shots.
15:56 He took 21.
16:00 But I'm just telling you, where has he improved?
16:05 Five rebounds, he had seven rebounds the other night.
16:07 Where has he improved?
16:09 He's become a much better passer than he used to be.
16:12 I do think the only mistake I've made,
16:15 I think the injury was a little more than I thought it was.
16:19 And I say that because the last week, I see him like tonight,
16:25 I wasn't taking him out either.
16:30 He cramped up or ran into a TV thing or, and I said, you all right?
16:36 Can you go?
16:37 Yeah, I can go.
16:39 I'm not taking you out.
16:40 So, if you don't wanna go, just hobble up and down.
16:44 I really, I mean, that's the mentality I have right now.
16:48 I mean, he can't take his place.
16:50 I'll show you how dumb I am.
16:53 Him and I talked about it.
16:54 I go back and watch the Illinois and Purdue last year,
16:57 different games where he just took over a game.
17:01 And I thought there was a couple times even in the clutch tonight where maybe,
17:05 cuz we always tell him to look for passes, look for drives.
17:10 I gotta tell him just look for his shot, because when he's open,
17:13 he still can make shots.
17:14 And I think that is gonna be a big thing of us moving forward.
17:18 Him and Jaden gotta make shots,
17:20 cuz Malik is playing at the best level he's played at since he's been here.
17:24 I mean, offensively, defensively, rebounding now,
17:28 I mean, that was ridiculous tonight.
17:30 So I got no worries there.
17:35 I think Boke's gonna get a little better and he'll help us there.
17:37 I still think our center's by committee.
17:39 We can get some things done.
17:41 But we gotta score the ball.
17:42 AJ's gotta distribute it, and those two guys gotta shoot it.
17:45 >> All right, okay, thanks guys.
17:49 >> It's all yours, Ty, good luck.
17:50 Enjoy.