On not knowing what could have been:
Had a great team meeting, don't know if it was a celebration, a funeral or what, but we all laughed, we all cried, it was a healing process and we all moved on. Because we did have a good year we were able to talk about a lot of good things and it was a terrific ending to a great regular season with cutting down the nets. Says last night was hard knowing it was selection Sunday. Could have maybe been a Final Four team so it's hard. But as you see things with corona grow, you know they made the right call.
On recruiting being shut down:
It's different. Woke up Saturday morning and cleaned out a closet and worked out and said, 'this isn't going to work.' So used to being busy and now don't know what to do. Kids have either left or are leaving campus soon. Recruiting is going to be hot and heavy, just can't go see people and have them on campus. Will be more phone calls. When you are busy, you wish you could have vacation and now you have a forced vacation sort of and you wanna get back to work. Had a conference call with staff as they are all in different place.
On what transpired in meeting with team:
It was a logistics meeting so had planned on just talking about school, online classes, when guys were going home, etc. But then it turned into more and every player spoke and talked about what a great year it was and how guys sacraficed for the team. And it was emotional for some guys. A lot of thank yous and just as many smiles as tears. Great meeting and guys were able to say some things they wanted to say. Don't think it could have gone any better and helped us all move on. It was tough, but a great meeting.
On how Cowan went out:
No better way to go out. Couldn't have written it any better. Get a curtain call in front of your home fans, just a great career and played excellent in the game. I don't know if it has really hit Anthony yet that it's over. But in hindsight, he'll look back and it was a great ending. The what ifs like could have he led us to a Final Four will always be there. But he did great things for the program.
On the last few days:
Guys went to class on Friday and a lot of guys went home on Saturday and Sunday. A lot of the local guys are going back and forth between their parents' house and their apartment. Says Chol will travel a little. Guys will look to get caught up with school. The weird part is just not seeing guys and keeping everyone on the same page. They can't work out, gym is closed, so it is unusual as guys aren't used to not lifting and not getting in the gym here and shooting. Hope everything gets back to normal soon but most guys will be home.
On the future of Stix and Cowan:
Says he hasn't even approached the future with those guys yet. As for Cowan getting an extra year, don't expect it as they played the majority of the season, what would it do to record books? Not sure he would come back regardless. As for Stix, haven't even talked to him or his family (today is his birthday) or thought about approaching his future with the NBA and things like that yet. Just looking to get back to some normalcy before worrying about all that and first totally accepting what has already happened.
At what point in the season did you decide you really like this team?:
Always like them, but first at Indiana then at Illinois and them Michigan State and finally the last-second win over Minnesota were the two that really stood out. That's when I really started to respect this group and how they put their egos aside. Individually just a really good group of guys who sacraficed so much. That is what makes it really hard. We were playing a certain way and then at Christmas we changed things and moved Stix to the 5 permanently and started to shoot more threes, even though we couldn't make them, felt that was the best thing for this team. And we started to get back to what worked ahead of Michigan and think it was going to work in the postseason. I think what I've learned is-you've gotta have talent-but you have to have a great group of guys. We had our problems, but we were really able to invest in each player and when you invest in young people it is a good thing and it really showed this season.
On how he plans on passing the time with no basketball:
Says he's planning on spending more time with his kids as they are forced to stay home as well. Will do some things X's and O's wise for next season and recruiting, too. The practice gym is something they have announced and he didn't do much with it during the season but it will be a priority again now that the season is over. But the month off will slow down the recruiting process and will slow down the process of finishing out next year's roster as they have some holes to fill.
Had a great team meeting, don't know if it was a celebration, a funeral or what, but we all laughed, we all cried, it was a healing process and we all moved on. Because we did have a good year we were able to talk about a lot of good things and it was a terrific ending to a great regular season with cutting down the nets. Says last night was hard knowing it was selection Sunday. Could have maybe been a Final Four team so it's hard. But as you see things with corona grow, you know they made the right call.
On recruiting being shut down:
It's different. Woke up Saturday morning and cleaned out a closet and worked out and said, 'this isn't going to work.' So used to being busy and now don't know what to do. Kids have either left or are leaving campus soon. Recruiting is going to be hot and heavy, just can't go see people and have them on campus. Will be more phone calls. When you are busy, you wish you could have vacation and now you have a forced vacation sort of and you wanna get back to work. Had a conference call with staff as they are all in different place.
On what transpired in meeting with team:
It was a logistics meeting so had planned on just talking about school, online classes, when guys were going home, etc. But then it turned into more and every player spoke and talked about what a great year it was and how guys sacraficed for the team. And it was emotional for some guys. A lot of thank yous and just as many smiles as tears. Great meeting and guys were able to say some things they wanted to say. Don't think it could have gone any better and helped us all move on. It was tough, but a great meeting.
On how Cowan went out:
No better way to go out. Couldn't have written it any better. Get a curtain call in front of your home fans, just a great career and played excellent in the game. I don't know if it has really hit Anthony yet that it's over. But in hindsight, he'll look back and it was a great ending. The what ifs like could have he led us to a Final Four will always be there. But he did great things for the program.
On the last few days:
Guys went to class on Friday and a lot of guys went home on Saturday and Sunday. A lot of the local guys are going back and forth between their parents' house and their apartment. Says Chol will travel a little. Guys will look to get caught up with school. The weird part is just not seeing guys and keeping everyone on the same page. They can't work out, gym is closed, so it is unusual as guys aren't used to not lifting and not getting in the gym here and shooting. Hope everything gets back to normal soon but most guys will be home.
On the future of Stix and Cowan:
Says he hasn't even approached the future with those guys yet. As for Cowan getting an extra year, don't expect it as they played the majority of the season, what would it do to record books? Not sure he would come back regardless. As for Stix, haven't even talked to him or his family (today is his birthday) or thought about approaching his future with the NBA and things like that yet. Just looking to get back to some normalcy before worrying about all that and first totally accepting what has already happened.
At what point in the season did you decide you really like this team?:
Always like them, but first at Indiana then at Illinois and them Michigan State and finally the last-second win over Minnesota were the two that really stood out. That's when I really started to respect this group and how they put their egos aside. Individually just a really good group of guys who sacraficed so much. That is what makes it really hard. We were playing a certain way and then at Christmas we changed things and moved Stix to the 5 permanently and started to shoot more threes, even though we couldn't make them, felt that was the best thing for this team. And we started to get back to what worked ahead of Michigan and think it was going to work in the postseason. I think what I've learned is-you've gotta have talent-but you have to have a great group of guys. We had our problems, but we were really able to invest in each player and when you invest in young people it is a good thing and it really showed this season.
On how he plans on passing the time with no basketball:
Says he's planning on spending more time with his kids as they are forced to stay home as well. Will do some things X's and O's wise for next season and recruiting, too. The practice gym is something they have announced and he didn't do much with it during the season but it will be a priority again now that the season is over. But the month off will slow down the recruiting process and will slow down the process of finishing out next year's roster as they have some holes to fill.
