Thursday, January 10, 2019

Kevin Willard quote book: Butler

On Seton Hall's game-winning play, a Sandro Mamukelashvili layup, and its execution:
"We ran that three or four times last year, so Sandro knew what he was doing, Myles Cale knew what he was doing, Myles Powell, but this is the first time having Q(uincy McKnight) out there and Shavar (Reynolds), but it's a simple play and it's designed to kind of get the ball back into Myles' hands, but also designed to take a little time off the clock so they can't foul right away. It was good to attack and get a layup."

On Mamukelashvili finishing that play and his redemption for missing a game-winning shot at DePaul Sunday:
"The reason why Sandro had the ball at the end of the game last time is because I had confidence in him to make the right decision, and he made the right decision last game, he just didn't make the right play. We ran it today, and he made the right decision, he made the right play."

On Seton Hall's defensive effort:
"I actually thought that was Myles Powell's best defensive game he's had in a long time. He really did a good job of being solid. He's got a tough matchup with (Paul) Jorgensen, and I thought he did a really good job of just kind of not getting lost and staying solid, and making it tough for Jorgensen. We knew (Kamar) Baldwin -- that's a special young player that everybody's watching -- he does it all for them. We knew he was going to get his, but we just wanted to limit everyone else's, make sure that they weren't hurting us from the three-point line."

On Seton Hall's bench and Darnell Brodie:
"I told Darnell after the DePaul game, I said, -- we didn't practice very well when we were out in Chicago, and we had two good practices this week, and Darnell had practiced great -- and I just said, 'Darnell, you gotta go down there and throw your body around against (Joey) Brunk.' And Darnell has such a great attitude, he brings it every day to practice. He doesn't look like a joyous, happy kid -- he's always got the same look on his face -- but he's had a great attitude. It's been tough for him not to play, but he said he was ready and he played phenomenal."

On Romaro Gill and his status:
"Ro was able to walk today, so I think that was a good day. Ro's game-by-game. I'd put him as possible maybe for Saturday, but I'm hoping more Tuesday."

On Seton Hall's late-game execution:
"I think these guys -- most of the guys that are out there, they've all played in some pretty big games already, and we didn't do a good job early in the year -- Saint Louis, we had two chances, we had two chances against DePaul with the ball to score. I think these guys understand the biggest thing is towards the end of games, we've got to make sure we're doing what we're supposed to be doing defensively, and this is a little bit better of a defensive unit than last year's team. They're getting stops when they need to get stops. We've kept it real simple -- get the ball to Myles and get out of the way -- that's a special play call towards the end of the game, it's kind of like St. John's with Shamorie (Ponds). They've gotta stop one of the best players in the league, and I think Myles is doing a great job of not only making plays, but getting to the free throw line towards the end of the game. One of my biggest things with him is you're always going to be in the bonus towards the end of the game. You've got to be able to drive and create fouls, and get to the free throw line."

On Quincy McKnight:
"It's nice to have a guy where you say, 'Okay, there's a Kamar Baldwin, you can work him.' Q works defensively, he really sets the tone defensively, and I thought he did a good job offensively, six assists. It's just nice having a guy that you know that can be a lockdown guy."

On Seton Hall's matchup at Marquette Saturday, and McKnight defending Markus Howard:
"I don't think Q has seen this yet. It's a different scorer and a different offense. Shamorie is a much different and much more dynamic scorer, he can get you off the dribble much better, I think. Q's going to watch a lot of film with me. Markus' range, and the way Steve (Wojciechowski) brings him off a stagger and handoffs, and fades and staggers and fades, it's going to be something that's new. And what's tough about Marquette is you can't just throw everything at him because you have (Sam) Hauser, (Joey) Hauser, the other kid's playing really well (Ed Morrow), so this is going to be a new experience for him."

"I don't think you're ever excited to really go up against Markus Howard. It's like, are you excited to go get a colonoscopy? It's like playing Shamorie. I don't have to play, I just have to sit there and watch him. He's going to have to work, and I have confidence in Q that he's going to go out there and work, he's going to work him, he's going to make Markus work. I have total confidence in Q in that way, but I think it's a totally different look than any player he's seen so far, just because of the range Markus can shoot with. I think that's the biggest thing watching them on film. Some of his shots are like, from the parking lot. It's going to be a good test, it's going to be a fun game. Steve's doing a great job."

On Seton Hall's rebounding balance:
"For us rebounding, it's going to be done by committee. I think Sandro's doing a great job, he's averaging eight a game, Mike (Nzei) is going to get rebounds. I thought Myles Cale, for most of the game, was really, really good tonight. I thought he was big on the boards. We're always going to be a team that's done by committee, just because we were so one-man dominated over the last four years. Darnell is, again, for being a freshman as he continues to learn technique, yeah, I think he's gonna be a heck of a rebounder."

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.