Rutgers Basketball Head Coach Steve Pikiell talks with the media to recap his program's Tuesday night win over Penn State at Jersey Mike's Arena.
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Rutgers Head Coach Steve Pikiell:
Opening Statement: “First, I am happy to be home at Jersey Mike's Arena. The fans were here early, it was awesome. Penn State is awesome. They just beat Purdue and have one of the best guards in the country. They played fantastic. They rebounded, and did a lot."
Coach Pikiell on team rebounds: “Im proud of them. We did a good job on the backboards. It has not been a strength of ours, but these guys do it. Jordan (Dercack) is a rebounder too. I love the way we played in attack rebounds.
Coach Pikiell on physicality during the game: “We really passed the ball which is important too. We shared the game. We got back Sunday morning, and we got to work. These guys had a rough practice on Sunday and they did a great job. They are learning. We have a newly assembled roster. Penn State is very strong and athletic, and they have a fifth-year point guard. Can you imagine Dylan (Harper) as a fifth-year point guard?
Coach Pikiell on defense: “Down the stretch, it was good. Not only did we finish plays, we rebounded the ball. Our defense still has a long way to go, and I think our offense does too. But, we did what we had to do. During the first half, that is the kind of defense we need all year round. I took these guys on the road, and the hardest thing to do in college basketball is be on the road. It is never easy, especially learning how to win on the road.”
Coach Pikiell on how we opened the game: “We picked up full tonight. Jamichael (Davis) gave us some really good minutes tonight. We have spent a lot of time on film, and we talked about it and they have been learning. The fact that we have been rebounding has been great. It is huge part of our growth based on the past, we would let them rebound and have to start defense all over again. So we did a good job at starting and finishing our plays.
Coach Pikiell on the bench: “They really came out and helped us. Pj (Hayes), Tyson (Acuff), and Jordan (Dercack) gave us some good minutes down the stretch. It was a good team win, and that bench is really important. So, if we can continue to get some consistency off of it, it really helps.
Coach Pikiell on his defensive message in the huddle: “I told them we have to finish this game. We really just wanted to make it difficult for them. That is indeed what we did, and we finished it off with a rebound too. But, we are learning how to lock in and get those big stops when we need them. That is a good sign for them moving forward. It is important to play and be connected, and our guys know that is a big part of it.”
Dylan Harper on the crowd at JMA: “They’re like a sixth defender for us. We’ve been on the road for 20 days so seeing all of our fans, and seeing how loud they were, it meant the world to us.”
Coach Pikiell final statement: “We have been tested, and we have played a lot of different styles. Hopefully, we can rise to the occasion (Seton Hall game) if our fans come out. They have to be as great as they were tonight. All right all, thank you very much for coming. We appreciate it. “
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