Tommy Amaker Game Quotations

We're very fortunate. We're very happy to win this game and walk out of here with a win in double-overtime.

They made the game interesting and put some fear into us down the stretch.

I thought Chris Hunter's play for us coming off the bench was a big difference for our production and our ability to win this basketball game this evening.

I don't know what has transpired the last few games - the way he has shot the basketball, he's not shooting as well. I don't know if it's more attention being focused on him with those other guys being out that's wearing on him. I don't know, but we have to rectify it.

It is tough to win with some many turnovers. Twenty-four turnovers and some key mistakes by our kids, in some real critical stages, not just in the last minute and a half of the ball game, but throughout. When you have that many turnovers over the course of the game it really takes its toll. They turn it over 20 times, we turn it over 24. It wasn't a pretty game from that stand point. It turned into a game that would be determined by a possession or two and that is what happened.

I really believe the way we've played on the offensive end has really taken the life out of us defensively. This has been my biggest pet peeve about basketball in today's time. It seems to be when players aren't scoring, their energy and life to play the total game isn't there. I think that has hurt us defensively.

We need to get back to our order. I'm hoping we can do that the next couple days prior to our game on Wednesday.

I would say one possession here or there was going to determine the outcome of this ballgame for either team. I thought both teams laid it on the line, put great effort out there to make things happen.

This game can be fragile, and kids can play well sometimes and raise their confidence level.

It happened (against Minnesota), and it was an incredible turning point. It was also very deflating, but it's also part of the game and was bad timing for us. ? I'm not sure you can really explain it. We just did a poor job. There's no excuse or explanation. I wish we had an opportunity to do it over again.

Obviously, for us to win one or two more games wouldn't hurt. But we're the No. 1-ranked conference in America and we've been able to finish .500 along with Michigan State. We're both 8-8 and we split with one another. No one's talking about Michigan State not being in.

I told him prior to (the Northwestern) game - in front of the team - that it was important for him to stay aggressive, and I wanted him to listen to me and not worry about anything or anybody else, to be aggressive on the floor. Whether or not he listened to me, he looked like he was playing pretty well.

I think all of our games will be must-win situations at some point. I don't know if one win is going to make or break what we've done over the course of the season, but certainly it would help if we could have a win over a team like Illinois.

One possession here or there was going to determine this game for either team. Dee's three-point play late was somewhat of a dagger, but he's done that a few times.

They're a team that's already played in a different venue. They've gone on the road to win a couple games in this tournament, which shows toughness on their part. ? What the Colonial conference has done this season, certainly, this is a team that needs to be reckoned with.

They aren't as deep, but those kids that are out there know they are going to be out there. They're a very athletic team, long and rangy. I think they're a very confident team. They play with a great deal of confidence and you're able to see that. Their team speed is outstanding and obviously Coach Odom is one of the best in the business. They've been on a tear here down the stretch and they were on the verge of winning their conference tournament before coming up a little short. They've gone on the road to win some big-time games in this tournament, at Cincinnati and at Florida State . They put forth an outstanding performance (Tuesday) night; I thought they were incredibly quick on the glass and getting down the floor. They are a very confident group that seems to play well together.

The way our league has been all year it would be a daunting challenge for anyone (to win four games in four days). It's a daunting challenge to win three in a row in this conference the way things have gone this season.

We haven't won this game in a long time. Thinking anything beyond this ... we have a game coming up Saturday. ... This is a step in (the right) direction. We're climbing the ladder. I feel like we're moving our program in the direction that we're all very proud.

I don't think that we were sluggish. I thought they played an exceptional basketball game early and that put us on our heels.

He's such a threat out there. Sometimes confidence can waver game to game and moment to moment, but certainly for us to have a chance on Saturday, he's got to play well for us.

We have no choice and it's going to be a tough game. It's going to be a competitive game and I'll be very disappointed if we don't bring the fight and spirit that we had here tonight.

There are things in this game that are contagious. And you saw that today.

For us, we know the rivalry, the proximity and that we hadn't won this game in a long time, so we're pleased. The focus for us was to try to stay in the hunt for the conference title.

Sometimes he doesn't get enough credit. I thought his floor game was outstanding.

We're pleased - we're pleased for our school, pleased for our fans and our alums. I'm really pleased for our players. Thinking anything beyond that, it's a game for us right now. ... We have a game coming up here on Saturday (against Wisconsin). We always know a follow-up of an emotional win or loss is always critical. We're happy about the win tonight, but we certainly know there's a lot of basketball to be played.

Getting to this point is such a significant accomplishment for any program, with the history and tradition of the NIT. It really is a big thrill - particularly for our seniors. It has been well documented how much they have done for our program, and it is very fitting that we have an opportunity to compete for a championship in their final game in their final year.

Obviously it was a disappointing ending and loss. You can certainly look at a lot of different stats and reasons but none more telling than 24 turnovers. That was our undoing and it was unfortunate for us. I thought our kids gave great effort, especially our seniors, and I'm very disappointed for them to end their career home game with something like this.

Both teams struggled offensively. It wasn't a pretty game from an offensive standpoint. The difference was they were able to get to the foul line and they knocked in a decent percentage.