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2005 BIG TEN
MEN'S BASKETBALL
TOURNAMENT
Game Nine • March 12, 2005 • United Center • Chicago, Ill.
#3 Wisconsin 59, #7 Iowa 56
WISCONSIN COACH/PLAYER QUOTES
Head Coach Bo Ryan:
Opening statement:
"We are very fortunate to be here and have the chance to play tomorrow. You have to put yourself in position to hit a shot like that. So, I give credit to these guys for hanging in there and picking up for the heart and soul of the team, a guy like Mike Wilkinson who got in foul trouble. They never blinked and kept us in there until we were able to get something there at the end."
On the strength of the Big Ten conference this year:
"The way that some of the teams are playing, every team at the top of the league had to fight, scratch, and claw for the marks on the left-hand side of the column. I think it is stronger, and we should definitely have five in (the NCAA Tournament). Minnesota and Iowa, I don't think there is a question. The way they've played. What they have done. The teams that they have competed against, you can't tell me that the team in the other color uniforms, in the dark uniforms, is a team that couldn't play in the Tournament. They definitely can. Minnesota we know can. I guess Indiana is a team that people are talking about the most, but that is people. What the selection committee says is the important thing."
On playing Illinois tomorrow in the Big Ten Championship game:
"To play a team as good as Illinois; what they have accomplished, the attention they have brought to the league, the way they play together. To be able to play a team like that for a championship. The players have all the respect for Illinois, and they are very happy to play again. It is a chance for us to learn things in the next 40 minutes. That's just the way our guys are; they like to compete. They even like to practice."
Alando Tucker:
On hitting the game winner at the buzzer:
"We practice situations like that all the time to prepare for situations like this. With 3.8 seconds, coach always said, `you have three legitimate dribbles and a chance to shoot it, or two dribbles and a pass.' I just wanted to take long strides. The first dribble was kind of close, and the second one I pushed out in front of me and tried to catch up to the ball to try and get a chance to shoot it. I tried to jump in and draw a foul. Morley made a great pass, and I created a shot."
Mike Wilkinson:
On the frustration of getting into foul trouble early:
"Any time you area not able to get onto the court it is frustrating, at least if you are a competitor. The great thing was, the guys really picked it up both defensively and offensively. It wasn't pretty at times but they got the job done. Guys came off the bench with great energy, and we played our hearts out. That is all it takes. When I got back into the game I wanted to make the most of it."
Zach Morley:
On today's performance:
"Today I was fortunate enough to knock down some shots. With Mike Wilkinson in foul trouble, we knew we had to pick up our game. Everyone picked up their energy."
2005 BIG TEN
MEN'S BASKETBALL
TOURNAMENT
Game Nine • March 12, 2005 • United Center • Chicago, Ill.
#3 Wisconsin 59, #7 Iowa 56
IOWA COACH/PLAYER QUOTES
Head Coach Steve Alford:
Opening statement:
"It was a really hard-fought, Big Ten game in a great tournament. I thought both teams played hard and gave it everything they had. If you look at the stats, it is a pretty even basketball game. It was our third game in three days. We have a very young and inexperienced bench, so we had to go with the veterans, especially in a tight game, to try to get to that title game. Our guys stepped up and did a lot of really good things. It was one of those games that you hate to see somebody lose. It hurts losing on a fade-away, bank-shot three at the buzzer."
On Zach Morley and Wisconsin's bench play:
"(Morley) was terrific. He did not play in our first game up at Madison. He had a very good game against Ohio State and backed that up with another solid performance tonight. I thought we took Wilkinson out of the game, which was good since he has been the thorn in our side since he came to Wisconsin. We did a good job of getting him into foul trouble, and Brunner really went at him. We also did a very good job with their guards. We just had a hard time tracking down the two, Morley and Tucker. They really got away from us. Both teams played really hard defensively, and it just came down to them making the last shot and us not."
On the defensive alignment for the final play:
"With the alignment, we did what we wanted to do. We wanted them to catch the ball back in the backcourt and that happened. He (Alando Tucker) caught it in the backcourt and actually fumbled one of the dribbles but was able to retain it. We brought help late, which was good on our guys' part. He just makes a double-clutch, fade-away to the left bank shot. I cannot fault the guys' defensive effort. I thought they defended that play very well. He just happened to make a terrific shot."
Greg Brunner:
On if the defense was set up the way Iowa wanted it on the last play:
"I think it was set up. They made a tough play. Adam Haluska had to come up on the screen and he got caught chasing Alando Tucker from behind. He is a very athletic player. He got in front of him, and it was hard to catch up. He made a tough shot."
Jeff Horner:
On Iowa's showing in the Big Ten Tournament and if they will be in the NCAA Tournament:
"We hope so. We don't have any control over it. We came out and fought hard. Hopefully, us being so close in this game plays a part in it. Getting beat on a buzzer beater like that can play in to it. Our goal is to win a Big Ten Championship. Unfortunately, we fell a little bit short."
On Wisconsin paying extra attention to him:
"I thought they did that up in Madison. They're a very good defensive team. They never beat themselves. We always seem to play good defense against them. We just can't ever score on them. We missed shots tonight and that really killed us, because I think we won the rebounding war. It was a tough night. Playing three games in three days with everyone giving the effort they did. We were a tired team."
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