PITTSBURGH, Pa. — No. 11 Creighton closed the primary half on an 8-0 run and by no means appeared again in a 77-60 win over 14th-seeded Akron in NCAA Event First Spherical motion at PPG Paints Area in Pittsburgh, Pa., on Thursday afternoon.
The Bluejays improved to 24-9 with the win and can play on Saturday in opposition to Eleventh-seeded Oregon, which defeated sixth-seeded South Carolina.
Creighton took a 39-34 lead into the break after a fast-paced first half that noticed each groups join with regularity from three-point vary early on. Creighton made its first 5 three-point makes an attempt, whereas nationwide rebounding chief Enrique Freeman buried three three-pointers within the first 5 minutes. The groups exchanged six leads and it was tied 9 instances earlier than the break, with Creighton scoring the ultimate eight factors to assert a 39-34 lead. That run featured three-pointers by Trey Alexander and Mason Miller earlier than a hoop from Baylor Scheierman to finish the half.
Ryan Kalkbrenner and Alexander every had 11 factors on the break for CU, whereas Scheierman had eight factors and 7 rebounds. CU shot 60 % within the first half (15-25), together with 7-of-10 (70 %) from three-point vary. Akron was led by 15 factors and eight rebounds by Freeman, whereas Ali Ali added 10 factors.
The Bluejays rode that momentum out of the break as Miller and Scheierman buried triples to push the result in 9 (45-36), however Creighton pulled away for good with a 10-0 run that pushed its result in 59-42 after Miller related on his third triple of the competition.
Creighton had a balanced offensive effort, as all 5 starters scored in double-figures. Scheierman had his BIG EAST-leading sixteenth double-double of the 12 months with 15 factors and 13 rebounds. Kalkbrenner (23) and Alexander (19) had been joined within the scoring column by Miller (10) and Ashworth (10). Creighton shot 56.5 % from the sector and made 10-of-17 three-point photographs (a season-high 58.8 %). The Bluejays received the board battle 38-26 and zipped previous Akron 13-2 in quick break factors.
Freeman earned his nation-leading thirty first double-double of the season to steer Akron, ending with 21 factors and 14 rebounds. Ali completed with 14 factors earlier than fouling out. The Zips shot 37.9 % from the sector and made simply 6-of-28 three-point tries. Akron ends its season with a 24-11 mark.
A sport time and tv community will likely be introduced on the conclusion of as we speak’s video games.
NOTES: Ryan Kalkbrenner grew to become Creighton’s second participant ever to look in 4 totally different NCAA Tournaments, becoming a member of Kyle Korver … This afternoon was Creighton’s two hundredth sport as a workforce whereas ranked within the Related Press underneath Greg McDermott. The Bluejays are 140-60 in these contests … Creighton made a three-pointer for the 1,018th straight sport … Baylor Scheierman made a three-pointer for the twenty first straight sport, and 79th time in his final 80 video games. Scheierman’s first three-pointer was additionally his one centesimal of the season, one thing solely Kyle Korver (2x) and Ethan Wragge had performed beforehand in Creighton historical past … At the moment was Creighton’s 99th straight sport on tv … Baylor Scheierman handed Kyle Korver for essentially the most three-point makes an attempt by a participant in CU single-season historical past … Isaac Traudt had his first blocked shot of the season … Baylor Scheierman (287) grew to become the primary Creighton participant with a number of seasons of 300 rebounds since Bob Portman in 1967-68 and 1968-69 … Creighton improved to 19-25 all-time within the NCAA Event, together with a 13-12 mark in its opening sport and 2-1 as a No. 3 seed … Creighton is now 4-1 all-time in opposition to Akron, and 2-0 in postseason play … Creighton performed its 52nd straight sport with out a participant fouling out, the nation’s longest streak since not less than 2005-06 … Ryan Kalkbrenner (97) grew to become the second participant in CU historical past to dam 100 photographs in a season, becoming a member of Benoit Benjamin who did it twice … Creighton’s 58.8 % taking pictures from deep was a program file for an NCAA Event sport … Ryan Kalkbrenner, Baylor Scheierman and Trey Alexander all recorded 15+ factors and 5+ rebounds in as we speak’s win. They’re simply second BIG EAST trio to do that in a NCAA Event sport during the last 10 years, the opposite being Xavier’s J.P. Macura, Trevon Bluiett and Kerem Kanter within the 2018 Spherical of 64 vs Texas Southern … Creighton scored 77 factors as we speak, all from its starters. The final workforce to attain that many factors in an NCAA Event sport regardless of having zero from its bench was Rutgers (87 factors) in a Play-In Spherical loss to Notre Dame in 2022. The final workforce to attain 77+ with zero bench factors in a WIN, was Minnesota (86 vs Louisville) within the 2019 Spherical of 64. The final BIG EAST faculty to do that (no matter end result) was Windfall within the a 1997 Elite-8 loss to Arizona (92 factors).
Thursday, March 21, 2024
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
PPG Paints Area
Creighton Bluejays
Media Convention
Creighton – 77, Akron – 60 Milwaukee,
MODERATOR: We’ll begin with a gap assertion from Coach Greg McDermott. Coach?
GREG McDERMOTT: Initially, congratulations to Coach Groce, his employees and his workforce on an exceptional 12 months. I gained a brand new appreciation for the job he does in our preparation for Akron. That workforce was very related defensively, very unselfish on the offensive finish, and as I discussed a pair days in the past, they misplaced a number of shut video games that had been actually not removed from profitable 30 video games this 12 months.
So that they had our utmost respect, and I feel you noticed, particularly within the first half, you understand, it is a high quality, high quality workforce that we beat as we speak. So we’re excited as a result of we beat a very good basketball workforce. And pleased with our guys. I believed we took actually good photographs, and after we take actually good photographs, we’re a fairly good basketball workforce. And we gotta clear up some issues with among the turnovers, however defensively I believed we adjusted as the sport went on and did a a lot better job within the second half.
MODERATOR: Questions for the student-athletes.
Q. Baylor, what flipped in these final couple minutes earlier than halftime? You guys go on the run and do not look again from there. What modified?
BAYLOR SCHEIERMAN: I feel we had been in a position to get some stops in a row and on the offensive finish get photographs. And like coach mentioned, we actually struggled with turnovers within the first half and within the final 4 minutes we had been in a position to maintain the ball and get photographs and stops and after we had been ready to do this, that is after we actually gained some separation.
Q. Felt like Akron, although they had been hitting photographs, had been taking part in at your guys’ most well-liked tempo. Did you’re feeling like as the primary half wore on and the second half acquired going that that began to put on into them?
RYAN KALKBRENNER: Yeah, that is form of how we strategy a whole lot of video games is, even firstly of the sport some tempo might not give us a whole lot of buckets early on as a result of the opposite workforce is contemporary, however we play at that tempo and observe at that tempo on a regular basis, so we will hold that up for 40 minutes. Not each workforce we play in opposition to can. So once you begin sporting into them like that you simply begin to get just a few straightforward baskets or just a few attractiveness since you’re operating the opposite workforce. So I feel that undoubtedly helped us towards the top of the primary half and finish of the second half.
Q. What modified defensively for you within the second half within the job you probably did on Enrique Freeman?
RYAN KALKBRENNER: I feel it is a bit of bit getting used to how he performs. You may watch somebody on movie loads and get as used to it as you possibly can, however on the finish of the day he is a extremely good participant and simply made some psychological changes as to how I wished to protect him within the submit and did a bit of higher job. He nonetheless acquired just a few buckets as a result of he is a extremely good participant, however yeah simply having the ability to make changes within the sport.
Q. Mason, when do you know that one thing was going best for you and what sort of an impression once you’re hitting your photographs like that may that make in your workforce and in your teammates?
MASON MILLER: Truthfully, I imply simply each single day, I imply, I work on my shot each single day, so I form of come into the sport anticipating to make photographs like that. I suppose simply operating to the nook, getting open appears and taking part in throughout the offensive form of helps the workforce loads, particularly when we’ve got nice gamers like Ryan and Baylor over right here having the ability to area the ground for them, it is enormous for them.
Q. For any of you guys, the expertise you guys have at this stage, how did that assist as we speak and the way can that aid you the remainder of the match?
BAYLOR SCHEIERMAN: I simply suppose the sport is 40 minutes lengthy and there is a whole lot of ups and downs that go all through a basketball sport, and clearly within the first half there was some issues that did not go proper for us they usually had been form of hanging with us and whatnot, however then we had been in a position to get stops and get a sport of runs and we had been in a position to go on ours and proceed with it. So I feel the expertise of understanding that the sport is 40 minutes and something can occur, I feel that helps us out.
Q. Baylor, is there no matter opponent all the time a problem that comes with the primary sport of the match simply getting the kinks out of the best way and discovering your rhythm?
BAYLOR SCHEIERMAN: Yeah, I feel so. Clearly it is a — the match is so enjoyable and never all people will get to participate of it. And the beginning of the sport, the ambiance is just a bit totally different than an everyday sport. And no matter who you play the primary spherical, a whole lot of instances it may be actually robust. I imply, final 12 months at NC State it was a tricky sport. This 12 months, identical factor. So no matter your opponent, the primary sport is all the time a problem.
MODERATOR: All proper. Thanks. Pupil-athletes might be dismissed.
MODERATOR: Questions for coach McDermott.
Q. I do not know what you had been saying to them within the huddle as that first half was happening, however clearly each groups had been making a whole lot of photographs. Did you get a way that due to the best way the tempo was going that Akron wasn’t actually making an attempt to decelerate and play to their fashion, that you simply guys had been finally going to interrupt by means of?
GREG McDERMOTT: Among the issues I mentioned within the huddle I am unable to repeat to you. And that does not occur with me fairly often. However I used to be not stunned that they got here at us in transition. In watching them play, they’re opportunistic, however they’ve a whole lot of guys that may deal with it in transition and lead the break. So I used to be not stunned they got here at us the best way that they did.
We had some psychological errors that allowed them to form of get going, and Freeman banks in his first three. That is a nervy shot for a man that does not shoot loads. Kalkbrenner makes one, too. But when the primary one would not go in with the financial institution, perhaps he is not as snug. Probably the most he is ever shot in a sport this 12 months was three, and he shot 47 on the 12 months. So we actually did not suppose coming in that he can be keen to shoot eight three-point photographs. So we needed to alter, clearly, as the sport went on.
Q. Greg, how a lot did you form of financial institution on that, when it began to show into form of a one-on-one there with Kalkbrenner and Freeman that the remainder of your guys, the supporting forged, would begin to get open appears the best way that they did?
GREG McDERMOTT: Yeah, particularly when Freeman picked up just a few fouls, that takes away a bit of little bit of his aggressiveness, and that is naturally going to occur once you’re in foul bother. In order we acquired that lead, we made it some extent to play by means of Kalkbrenner. And I believed the blokes did a very good job of selecting their spots. And like I mentioned within the open, the 17 three-point photographs, we had a pair we had to absorb late clock conditions, however I feel they had been actually good threes for us in opposition to a workforce that is been a lead all season of taking away threes and ensuring the share, I feel the workforce shot 30 % in opposition to Akron on the season from three. So to do what we did offensively in opposition to what I take into account a really defensive workforce can be a credit score to our workforce.
Q. Coach, that is the fourth 12 months in a row that you simply guys have received a match sport and you’ve got now handed all different Creighton coaches mixed for many wins within the NCAA Event. To have 4 years in a row the place you will get a win in March and to have the success that you have had, what does that say about this workforce that they will carry out presently of 12 months?
GREG McDERMOTT: Effectively, to begin with, you by no means take with no consideration getting right here, as a result of it is actually tough. What’s it, 16 or 17 % of the Division I groups get within the match? That is not very many. And there was a whole lot of disappointment on Choice Sunday with groups throughout the nation that felt they had been deserving they usually did not get in. So the very first thing you do is you recognize the chance, and then you definitely have fun the issues that you have performed to get right here. Like I informed the blokes within the locker room earlier than the sport, we discuss course of all 12 months lengthy, trusting the method, trusting your work. You recognize, that course of is what led us to right here. And that course of is what is going on to provide us hopefully a possibility to form of end the job and hold advancing on this match. However I’ve had — actually solely a kind of groups was an inexperienced workforce. The workforce when — three years in the past when Nembhard harm acquired harm and Trey needed to slide to the purpose guard place and we had been taking part in some freshmen, Alex O’Connell had solely transferred in for one 12 months, Ryan Hawkins for one 12 months. The remainder of the groups, we have had some fairly good expertise within the match, and I feel that actually helps you once you come again. You recognize what to anticipate. Groups which are right here the primary time are taking footage and doing all that after they go on the courtroom. Our guys as we speak had been like, all proper, that is the place we anticipated to be. What are we going to do, and let’s do it and get out of right here.
So we actually recognize the chance to play within the match, and we hope we’re blessed to have the ability to stick round until Saturday and we’ll attempt to give it our greatest.
Q. Greg, I am simply curious what you might need mentioned to Kalkbrenner once you pulled him over to the sideline on that made breakaway that did not precisely go the best manner.
GREG McDERMOTT: Effectively, he had one early within the season the place he tried to interrupt a press by himself, which was the primary time that I would ever seen that within the 4 years that I’ve coached him. At the moment was the primary as nicely. So we had been chuckling about — he mentioned he thought of going behind his again on the finish. That is what introduced my chuckle. However he performs the sport the best manner, he performs with emotion. You may inform he likes to play the sport. Impacts the sport in so many ways in which do not present up on the stats sheet. In order that was a enjoyable second for each of us.
Q. As the sport wore on, I do know it is by design defensively, I do know you gave up some offensive rebounds, however you probably did drive them to take the photographs that you simply designed your protection to drive groups to take. How did that execution ramp up as the sport went on?
GREG McDERMOTT: I imply, we needed to make some changes when the bigs had been hitting threes. So we needed to change a bit of bit extra, after which we acquired cross-matched just a few instances. However I believed early within the second half, I believed — I am unable to bear in mind who hit him. I feel Johnson hit a pair robust twos the place we went over the display screen, we had been there. He hits a 16, 17 footer with a hand in his face. That is form of what we’re making an attempt to do. So I used to be joyful, actually, after the primary seven or eight minutes of the sport. I believed we settled in a bit of bit higher defensively. However credit score to them, additionally they made some robust photographs.
Q. I do know you had been locked into your sport. I am questioning how a lot you had been conscious of what was happening in Omaha with Duquesne, which is the host faculty right here, and beating BYU, and the group’s response to that. At instances throughout your sport, whether or not the identical factor was occurring again house?
GREG McDERMOTT: It was a bit of unusual to play the sport with that happening, by the best way as a result of the cheers and the ooohs and ahs did not actually match as much as what was happening on the ground in entrance of us. In order that was considerably difficult for our guys. However I had noticed within the locker room earlier than I left that that they had the lead and clearly noticed the response. Keith’s been a good friend of mine a very long time. We coached in opposition to one another again after I was at Northern Iowa and Creighton was within the Valley and he was at Akron. We have identified one another a very long time. What a good way for him to exit as his profession is winding down. However he is all the time been a terrific coach. He is tremendously revered in our career, and good issues occur to good individuals typically, and he deserved that. So I am actually joyful for him and his program and, particularly his household with among the issues they are going by means of.
MODERATOR: Thanks, Coach. Congratulations.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports activities
142241-1-2377 2024-03-21 20:05:00 GMT
Thursday, March 21, 2024
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
PPG Paints Area
Akron Zips
Coach John Groce
Enrique Freeman
Greg Tribble
Ali Ali
Media Convention
JOHN GROCE: Clearly did not fairly go the best way that we had deliberate or wished it to. Give Creighton a whole lot of credit score. I believed they had been actually difficult to protect. I felt that manner coming into the sport. I believed it was necessary that we had useful possessions on offense and scored. And I believed we acquired some fairly good photographs. We made them early. Did not make as lots of them within the second half, however I believed they had been good ones, and the sport acquired away from us just a bit bit there. However give them credit score. They are a good basketball workforce, however I am actually pleased with these guys, pleased with our entire workforce, however particularly, senior class and what they’ve meant to our program, in some instances 5 years, 4 years, two years and one 12 months between the 5 guys. And what they’ve performed for our program, and it isn’t simply the profitable. You recognize, clearly that is the half that you simply get to see is the three championships over 5 years and the win share and all that that these guys have been in a position to attain. Nevertheless it’s greater than that to me. It is the people who they’re, the people who they’ve change into, the leaders that they have been, the best way they’re on campus, the best way they deal with individuals, the teammates that they have been, their work capability, their dedication to being nice, their dedication to one another, how a lot they care about one another, and the way a lot they care about profitable. And in a day and age the place our society can are usually the other of that or 180 of that or there’s selfishness and all that with groups, and the truth that we did not have any of that makes this group actually, actually, actually particular. It has been an actual privilege to educate them and to work with them. Like I mentioned, Kaleb one 12 months, Sammy two years, Ali 4 and Reque and Greg 5. Simply very, very grateful and really feel very blessed. Wished we would have performed a bit of bit higher as we speak, however proper now I form of have an angle of gratitude for these three guys and Thornton and Hunter, who aren’t up right here.
MODERATOR: Questions for student-athletes.
Q. Enrique, you went from getting dragged to open tryouts and now in March Insanity, I do not know if anyone’s informed you, I am certain you understand, although, most double doubles, third in NCAA Division I historical past. How does that really feel to form of end this a part of your story?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: I imply, clearly the accolades really feel good, however like Coach mentioned, I am simply in actual good gratitude with how this workforce, all through the complete season, all through my complete time right here, we labored very exhausting, and I feel we did one thing very particular in Akron, and I am glad we had been in a position to placed on for the town.
Q. Ali, what does it imply so that you can form of end off your story coming again to Akron, you get again to March Insanity and end it out along with your guys? Clearly not the best way you wished the sport to finish, however your story as a complete, speak concerning the ending for you.
ALI ALI: Clearly not the perfect ending that we wished, however I acquired to exit with the people who I care about essentially the most, you understand, outdoors of my household again house. Truthfully, like, these are like my brothers. I do not actually acquired too many associates again house. These are the blokes I am round loads. So if I’ll lose, I’ll lose with them. If I’ll win, I’ll win with them. That was a giant a part of coming again understanding I might remorse it if I did not end out my faculty profession with these guys within the locker room.
Q. What labored within the first half? What did you suppose would work along with your sport plan? Simply converse concerning the begin you guys had.
GREG TRIBBLE: I felt like we had been making a whole lot of photographs within the first half which led to — they can not get out in transition as a lot in case you are making photographs. And I really feel like within the second half we weren’t making as many photographs and we began playing they usually’re a extremely good workforce on offense, and as soon as they begin getting open photographs it is exhausting to cease them from making photographs. So that they had been simply actual good in transition, and we simply did not have good transition protection tonight.
Q. Enrique, simply that first half, the top on an 8-0 run that extends 28 to eight, I consider. Kalkbrenner, Alexander, Scheierman are all concerned. How tough was that match-up, and for you particularly, Kalkbrenner?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: He is a giant participant. He has good measurement, however I feel match-up clever, we did a very good job. I believed the complete sport tried to remove their good tendencies, however total I feel they simply caught us in transition they usually’re actually good on the three-point line. So that they hit some good threes.
Q. Enrique, are you able to discuss what the banging inside and drawing him defensively outdoors with the threes, what was that tempo like for you and did it take a toll as the sport went on, the frenetic first six minutes?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: I imply, I do not suppose it took a toll. I simply suppose I acquired in foul bother and we determine to place Sammy on him. However that is what bigs do. We go down there and we’re bodily, attempt to catch them outdoors the submit. I do know I had a very good submit place and he struggled after I was utilizing my strikes. So it is simply basketball.
Q. From speaking to you guys, I do know that you simply thought psychological toughness actually carried you thru the Mac match and right here, however you did not play your greatest. I am certain you guys suppose that as we speak wasn’t your greatest. So what do you suppose form of simply prevented it from being — reaching your full potential as a gaggle relating to the expertise and expertise you guys have?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: I feel — potential clever, I feel our workforce is reaching our potential. You recognize, I feel our complete season there was ebbs and flows all through the complete season, however on this sport, some video games you get out shot. Merely it. I do not suppose any of our guys stop. None of our guys did not cease taking part in exhausting. Everyone gave their greatest efforts till the shot clock went off. So all we will do is check out the drafting board and hopefully these freshmen, juniors and sophomores are available in subsequent season and see that and use that as a possibility to study.
Q. Enrique, you got here out and banked in a three-pointer to start and I feel you took like eight of them. I do not know. Possibly John did not design it that manner, however what was happening there with you taking pictures the threes and simply how did you’re feeling about that?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: You recognize, he performs within the paint loads. So we tried to stretch out the ground a bit of bit extra. And all people believes in my three. I have been working very exhausting on it. And I simply knocked down just a few, in order that they needed to change protection, and we determined to assault a distinct manner.
Q. This sport solely happened two hours away from house. Fairly good devoted exhibiting from the Akron crowd, and at instances within the first half, fairly energetic. How did you guys attempt to journey that momentum from the group, as nicely, and what was it like simply to see the Akron devoted right here?
GREG TRIBBLE: It meant loads. Clearly, our followers, they care about us. They present as much as each house sport. That is why we had been so good at house this 12 months. I imply, it simply feels good to see some acquainted faces in Pittsburgh, and we simply tried to feed off of that. And that is it, actually.
Q. For you three guys, you guys got here in earlier than the pandemic. You guys have been in Akron for 5 years, Enrique six as a pupil, clearly. In the event you might take us again to once you had been youngsters to now as form of grown males or adults, what’s that been like, this full expertise of faculty basketball with two match appearances?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: I imply, like I mentioned yesterday, the journey has been superb. Tremendous grateful for the journey. I would not ask for it to go any totally different. I am very pleased with what I used to be in a position to accomplish right here and all of us had been in a position to accomplish right here. And I simply — I am joyful that we’re in a position to depart on a legacy. Akron basketball, Akron tradition. We have performed a whole lot of profitable, and we wish to simply cross on the torch. These guys in 2019, 2020 handed the torch to us. Time for us to cross the torch.
ALI ALI: I might say I am undoubtedly appreciative of the run we have had the final 4 or 5 years, and simply wanting again, like, clearly as a child, center schooler, highschool, like for me, not having a DI supply, senior 12 months beginning like Groce coming in giving me one likelihood, and nobody else giving me an opportunity popping out of highschool. So I feel simply coming into this match has been the story of our lives, all the time been underdogs. So I imply, I am simply grateful and appreciative for all of the individuals I’ve met on the best way.
GREG TRIBBLE: I am simply grateful for the chance of Coach Groce and the teaching employees for even believing in me to come back to this college. Simply instructing the youthful guys, simply do not take it with no consideration. You recognize, clearly, we put in a whole lot of work to get to the place we’re at now to do as a lot profitable as we’ve got, and simply instructing them, that is what it is all about. Simply instructing them that you simply simply cannot take it with no consideration. You gotta work exhausting each day.
MODERATOR: Thanks, student-athletes. All proper. Questions for Coach Groce.
Q. Coach, did the primary half form of go in accordance with plan or was there a giant deviation from what you thought?
JOHN GROCE: Till the final couple minutes. I believed that was the largest juncture within the sport. We had been up 34-31 with about two minutes to go within the half after which they went on an 8-0 run. I believed that was the largest two minutes of the sport. So give them credit score. We had a pair possessions there the place we did not get matched up in transition. The blokes alluded to that. You recognize, we had a questionable shot, you understand, could not fairly get the ball a few instances the place we wished to get it. However for essentially the most half, aside from these two minutes, we performed the sport plan to precision, fairly frankly. We actually did. Terry was speaking about Freeman’s eight threes. I truly hoped he’d get 15 up.
Q. Coach, you began off the sport with Enrique Freeman up prime taking these eight threes all through the sport. You had Sammy Hunter within the submit. Is that one thing you guys had deliberate for?
JOHN GROCE: Loads of it is primarily based on how Kalkbrenner performs defensively. For my part, he makes them go defensively. So the blokes are actually good, give good effort. However you are speaking concerning the three time Large East Defensive Participant of the Yr. He is huge, as Rique mentioned. So I’ve acquired confidence in Enrique and Sammy to shoot the ball from the three-point line and past. In order that was a part of it, making an attempt to get him out of the paint a bit of bit. Give them credit score, Greg made a change, like good coaches like him do, and altered his protection a bit of bit. However I believed Ali was efficient within the first half. I believed the decide and roll sport was efficient within the first half. I believed we did a whole lot of actually good issues. Till their run the final two minutes, as the unique query was requested there, I do not know if it might have went a lot better.
Second juncture of the sport that I believed acquired away from us was the beginning of the second half. We simply weren’t — weren’t fairly as efficient as we had been the primary 18 minutes, after which we had been taking part in behind from there.
Q. John, given Enrique’s journey, how robust is it, then, subbing him out with 1:23 to go understanding you are not going to have him once more?
JOHN GROCE: Robust. It is not simply because pretty much as good of participant a as he’s. That is a part of it. Nevertheless it’s the particular person he’s, the chief, the teammate, how coachable he’s, his work ethic, how a lot he cares about different individuals. I’ve nicknamed him the unicorn for a cause.
Q. Coach, in that second half, when the offense is not executing, looks like photographs are discovering any and each method to not fall. What is the message to your workforce?
JOHN GROCE: Effectively, my entire deal, and it’s each sport, it is the standard of the shot that is necessary to me. I consider in them that they will make good photographs. So I am extra involved concerning the high quality of the shot we’re getting. I believed turnovers can be huge for us, and you’ll have a look at the stats. We solely turned it 5 instances the complete sport, which is nice. I believed defensive rebounding can be a bonus for us. They acquired us a bit of bit on the glass there throughout that one stretch that I used to be a bit of disenchanted in. We missed a block-out on Mason Miller and a pair guys there that ended up throughout that stretch of two or three minutes after I talked concerning the unhealthy begin a bit of bit to the second half the place it form of acquired away from us a bit of bit. I believed that offensive rebounding by them was part of that. However, you understand, yeah. Clearly you wish to make photographs. Proper? Who would not wish to make photographs? We have taken a whole lot of satisfaction in having a whole lot of psychological toughness of having the ability to play by means of stretches. We had a semifinal sport in Cleveland the place we scored 16 factors within the first half and had 13 turnovers and we had been solely down ten as a result of our protection was so good. Then we scored 50 within the second half and shot the duvet off the ball.
So that you wish to make photographs. I do suppose should you can rebound and maintain the ball and defend, you are all the time going to have an opportunity. However this was a bit of distinctive as we speak. Their offense, as the blokes had been alluding to, was simply prolific. Noticed it on movie coming into the sport, felt that manner in the course of the sport. My opinion hasn’t modified on that. Simply have a whole lot of solutions offensively. They have measurement on the rim and a man that may rating within the submit. They have a number of play makers, nice passers. And so they shoot the ball from three very nicely. You are not going to search out very many nights the place you’ve got acquired all 4 or 5 of these guys that shoot threes for them to all be off in the identical evening. After which they run great things.
So I knew it was going to be a problem to cease them. Once more, I believed the important thing can be might we hold scoring, and clearly we had been ready to do this for about 18 minutes however weren’t fairly in a position to maintain that for the remaining 22 minutes.
Q. Coach, you used the phrase prolific to explain their offense. Was there an offense this season, whether or not or not it’s common season or MAC match or nonconference, that ready you for what they create with Kalkbrenner and Alexander and Scheierman?
JOHN GROCE: No. I imply, I feel they’re pretty much as good of an offensive workforce when it comes to their personnel, their mix of measurement, taking pictures, play making, what they run offensively. They’re pretty much as good of an offensive workforce as we have went in opposition to in my seven years at Akron.
Q. You’ve got been on this state of affairs earlier than after being eradicated within the NCAA Event. Simply curious, what do you say to your workforce afterwards within the locker room?
JOHN GROCE: I simply informed them how proud I used to be of them. I addressed the sport briefly, and clearly did not go the best way that we wished it to or envisioned or deliberate for it to. Give Creighton credit score. However simply informed them how grateful I used to be for what I simply mentioned on the outset of this; 5 years, 4 years, two years, one 12 months, particularly these seniors, and actually all of them. You recognize, I loved being with them, teaching them. They’re an awesome group of fellows. As Freeman has mentioned a number of instances, we do not have a nasty apple in our locker room. That does not imply we do not undergo instances which are robust. All of us do, proper? You guys do, we do. Nevertheless it’s the individuals you do it with, how a lot you care about one another. We had good individuals in there, and it made it tremendous gratifying, and I am simply grateful to have had the chance to educate them. These guys will all the time be part of not solely the Akron household, however my private household. You recognize, I really like them. They’re nice, nice, nice guys.
Q. John, Enrique mentioned he was joyful to have the ability to depart a legacy. How would you outline the legacy?
JOHN GROCE: Effectively, that is an advanced query, proper? As a result of what you see is the profitable, you understand, the profitable share total, league play, the most effective within the league, the championships, the banners, all that. And that is actually part of it. However I feel it is extra of — and a few the younger guys simply spoke after the older guys had an opportunity to talk within the locker room about how grateful they had been that guys taught them what exhausting work appeared like. You recognize, what management appeared like, what being an awesome teammate appeared like, what being at a do-both place, which means, we count on you to get it performed academically and earn your diploma and make progress in direction of diploma whereas additionally taking part in at a excessive stage, what that appears like. You recognize, all these guys you noticed up right here, plus Hunter and Thornton, exemplified that every day. And they also had been in a position to see all that and really feel all that. So to me it is greater than all of the profitable. That is actually part of it. However once more, it is who they’re as individuals, who they’re as college students, the truth that they will recover from themselves and care about any individual aside from themselves, you understand, only a particular group.
Q. Clearly, the loss continues to be contemporary, however all three guys touched on passing that torch within the legacy of Akron basketball. What does the way forward for Akron basketball appear like in your eyes?
JOHN GROCE: Effectively, for us proper now, clearly, I am making an attempt to course of this one, proper? However on the finish of the day, we wish to proceed to fill our locker room with people who care about one another and care about profitable. That is what these guys would let you know. It is actually not any extra sophisticated than that. Do you care about one another, actually take care of one another, maintain one another, and do you care about profitable forward of non-public agenda? Proper? Sounds apparent, sounds straightforward. It is not. You recognize, in order that was their mentality. I feel the youthful guys noticed that. And we wish to proceed to construct on that.
Q. I do know you’d want to be becoming a member of him within the spherical of 32, however do you may have any message to your previous good friend and rival Keith Dambrot?
JOHN GROCE: I will do this most likely a bit of later. I have not had an opportunity to do this. So I have been occupied with what we’re doing proper now.
Q. Are you able to inform us what you may inform him or speak to him about afterward?
JOHN GROCE: Normally he and I — I mentioned this earlier, we’ll textual content or we’ll name and I am joyful for him, clearly, and what he is been in a position to do. I feel you have a look at the final time that they had been within the match, I feel, was the ’70s. Is that right? Yeah. So it is actually — it is superior, you understand, what he is been in a position to do. And I am joyful for him and Donna with the retirement, and Keith’s a giant cause why I ended up come to go Akron. I mentioned that earlier, was due to Keith and all of the success that he had had and the battles that we had after I was at Ohio, and the familiarity with Akron and Northeast Ohio due to my time within the state at so many Ohio universities. And so, I had nice familiarity with Akron and was drawn to that. However largely due to Keith.
MODERATOR: Thanks, Coach. Admire your time.
JOHN GROCE: Positive.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports activities
142246-1-2377 2024-03-21 20:31:00 GMT
PITTSBURGH, Pa. — No. 11 Creighton closed the primary half on an 8-0 run and by no means appeared again in a 77-60 win over 14th-seeded Akron in NCAA Event First Spherical motion at PPG Paints Area in Pittsburgh, Pa., on Thursday afternoon.
The Bluejays improved to 24-9 with the win and can play on Saturday in opposition to Eleventh-seeded Oregon, which defeated sixth-seeded South Carolina.
Creighton took a 39-34 lead into the break after a fast-paced first half that noticed each groups join with regularity from three-point vary early on. Creighton made its first 5 three-point makes an attempt, whereas nationwide rebounding chief Enrique Freeman buried three three-pointers within the first 5 minutes. The groups exchanged six leads and it was tied 9 instances earlier than the break, with Creighton scoring the ultimate eight factors to assert a 39-34 lead. That run featured three-pointers by Trey Alexander and Mason Miller earlier than a hoop from Baylor Scheierman to finish the half.
Ryan Kalkbrenner and Alexander every had 11 factors on the break for CU, whereas Scheierman had eight factors and 7 rebounds. CU shot 60 % within the first half (15-25), together with 7-of-10 (70 %) from three-point vary. Akron was led by 15 factors and eight rebounds by Freeman, whereas Ali Ali added 10 factors.
The Bluejays rode that momentum out of the break as Miller and Scheierman buried triples to push the result in 9 (45-36), however Creighton pulled away for good with a 10-0 run that pushed its result in 59-42 after Miller related on his third triple of the competition.
Creighton had a balanced offensive effort, as all 5 starters scored in double-figures. Scheierman had his BIG EAST-leading sixteenth double-double of the 12 months with 15 factors and 13 rebounds. Kalkbrenner (23) and Alexander (19) had been joined within the scoring column by Miller (10) and Ashworth (10). Creighton shot 56.5 % from the sector and made 10-of-17 three-point photographs (a season-high 58.8 %). The Bluejays received the board battle 38-26 and zipped previous Akron 13-2 in quick break factors.
Freeman earned his nation-leading thirty first double-double of the season to steer Akron, ending with 21 factors and 14 rebounds. Ali completed with 14 factors earlier than fouling out. The Zips shot 37.9 % from the sector and made simply 6-of-28 three-point tries. Akron ends its season with a 24-11 mark.
A sport time and tv community will likely be introduced on the conclusion of as we speak’s video games.
NOTES: Ryan Kalkbrenner grew to become Creighton’s second participant ever to look in 4 totally different NCAA Tournaments, becoming a member of Kyle Korver … This afternoon was Creighton’s two hundredth sport as a workforce whereas ranked within the Related Press underneath Greg McDermott. The Bluejays are 140-60 in these contests … Creighton made a three-pointer for the 1,018th straight sport … Baylor Scheierman made a three-pointer for the twenty first straight sport, and 79th time in his final 80 video games. Scheierman’s first three-pointer was additionally his one centesimal of the season, one thing solely Kyle Korver (2x) and Ethan Wragge had performed beforehand in Creighton historical past … At the moment was Creighton’s 99th straight sport on tv … Baylor Scheierman handed Kyle Korver for essentially the most three-point makes an attempt by a participant in CU single-season historical past … Isaac Traudt had his first blocked shot of the season … Baylor Scheierman (287) grew to become the primary Creighton participant with a number of seasons of 300 rebounds since Bob Portman in 1967-68 and 1968-69 … Creighton improved to 19-25 all-time within the NCAA Event, together with a 13-12 mark in its opening sport and 2-1 as a No. 3 seed … Creighton is now 4-1 all-time in opposition to Akron, and 2-0 in postseason play … Creighton performed its 52nd straight sport with out a participant fouling out, the nation’s longest streak since not less than 2005-06 … Ryan Kalkbrenner (97) grew to become the second participant in CU historical past to dam 100 photographs in a season, becoming a member of Benoit Benjamin who did it twice … Creighton’s 58.8 % taking pictures from deep was a program file for an NCAA Event sport … Ryan Kalkbrenner, Baylor Scheierman and Trey Alexander all recorded 15+ factors and 5+ rebounds in as we speak’s win. They’re simply second BIG EAST trio to do that in a NCAA Event sport during the last 10 years, the opposite being Xavier’s J.P. Macura, Trevon Bluiett and Kerem Kanter within the 2018 Spherical of 64 vs Texas Southern … Creighton scored 77 factors as we speak, all from its starters. The final workforce to attain that many factors in an NCAA Event sport regardless of having zero from its bench was Rutgers (87 factors) in a Play-In Spherical loss to Notre Dame in 2022. The final workforce to attain 77+ with zero bench factors in a WIN, was Minnesota (86 vs Louisville) within the 2019 Spherical of 64. The final BIG EAST faculty to do that (no matter end result) was Windfall within the a 1997 Elite-8 loss to Arizona (92 factors).
Thursday, March 21, 2024
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
PPG Paints Area
Creighton Bluejays
Media Convention
Creighton – 77, Akron – 60 Milwaukee,
MODERATOR: We’ll begin with a gap assertion from Coach Greg McDermott. Coach?
GREG McDERMOTT: Initially, congratulations to Coach Groce, his employees and his workforce on an exceptional 12 months. I gained a brand new appreciation for the job he does in our preparation for Akron. That workforce was very related defensively, very unselfish on the offensive finish, and as I discussed a pair days in the past, they misplaced a number of shut video games that had been actually not removed from profitable 30 video games this 12 months.
So that they had our utmost respect, and I feel you noticed, particularly within the first half, you understand, it is a high quality, high quality workforce that we beat as we speak. So we’re excited as a result of we beat a very good basketball workforce. And pleased with our guys. I believed we took actually good photographs, and after we take actually good photographs, we’re a fairly good basketball workforce. And we gotta clear up some issues with among the turnovers, however defensively I believed we adjusted as the sport went on and did a a lot better job within the second half.
MODERATOR: Questions for the student-athletes.
Q. Baylor, what flipped in these final couple minutes earlier than halftime? You guys go on the run and do not look again from there. What modified?
BAYLOR SCHEIERMAN: I feel we had been in a position to get some stops in a row and on the offensive finish get photographs. And like coach mentioned, we actually struggled with turnovers within the first half and within the final 4 minutes we had been in a position to maintain the ball and get photographs and stops and after we had been ready to do this, that is after we actually gained some separation.
Q. Felt like Akron, although they had been hitting photographs, had been taking part in at your guys’ most well-liked tempo. Did you’re feeling like as the primary half wore on and the second half acquired going that that began to put on into them?
RYAN KALKBRENNER: Yeah, that is form of how we strategy a whole lot of video games is, even firstly of the sport some tempo might not give us a whole lot of buckets early on as a result of the opposite workforce is contemporary, however we play at that tempo and observe at that tempo on a regular basis, so we will hold that up for 40 minutes. Not each workforce we play in opposition to can. So once you begin sporting into them like that you simply begin to get just a few straightforward baskets or just a few attractiveness since you’re operating the opposite workforce. So I feel that undoubtedly helped us towards the top of the primary half and finish of the second half.
Q. What modified defensively for you within the second half within the job you probably did on Enrique Freeman?
RYAN KALKBRENNER: I feel it is a bit of bit getting used to how he performs. You may watch somebody on movie loads and get as used to it as you possibly can, however on the finish of the day he is a extremely good participant and simply made some psychological changes as to how I wished to protect him within the submit and did a bit of higher job. He nonetheless acquired just a few buckets as a result of he is a extremely good participant, however yeah simply having the ability to make changes within the sport.
Q. Mason, when do you know that one thing was going best for you and what sort of an impression once you’re hitting your photographs like that may that make in your workforce and in your teammates?
MASON MILLER: Truthfully, I imply simply each single day, I imply, I work on my shot each single day, so I form of come into the sport anticipating to make photographs like that. I suppose simply operating to the nook, getting open appears and taking part in throughout the offensive form of helps the workforce loads, particularly when we’ve got nice gamers like Ryan and Baylor over right here having the ability to area the ground for them, it is enormous for them.
Q. For any of you guys, the expertise you guys have at this stage, how did that assist as we speak and the way can that aid you the remainder of the match?
BAYLOR SCHEIERMAN: I simply suppose the sport is 40 minutes lengthy and there is a whole lot of ups and downs that go all through a basketball sport, and clearly within the first half there was some issues that did not go proper for us they usually had been form of hanging with us and whatnot, however then we had been in a position to get stops and get a sport of runs and we had been in a position to go on ours and proceed with it. So I feel the expertise of understanding that the sport is 40 minutes and something can occur, I feel that helps us out.
Q. Baylor, is there no matter opponent all the time a problem that comes with the primary sport of the match simply getting the kinks out of the best way and discovering your rhythm?
BAYLOR SCHEIERMAN: Yeah, I feel so. Clearly it is a — the match is so enjoyable and never all people will get to participate of it. And the beginning of the sport, the ambiance is just a bit totally different than an everyday sport. And no matter who you play the primary spherical, a whole lot of instances it may be actually robust. I imply, final 12 months at NC State it was a tricky sport. This 12 months, identical factor. So no matter your opponent, the primary sport is all the time a problem.
MODERATOR: All proper. Thanks. Pupil-athletes might be dismissed.
MODERATOR: Questions for coach McDermott.
Q. I do not know what you had been saying to them within the huddle as that first half was happening, however clearly each groups had been making a whole lot of photographs. Did you get a way that due to the best way the tempo was going that Akron wasn’t actually making an attempt to decelerate and play to their fashion, that you simply guys had been finally going to interrupt by means of?
GREG McDERMOTT: Among the issues I mentioned within the huddle I am unable to repeat to you. And that does not occur with me fairly often. However I used to be not stunned that they got here at us in transition. In watching them play, they’re opportunistic, however they’ve a whole lot of guys that may deal with it in transition and lead the break. So I used to be not stunned they got here at us the best way that they did.
We had some psychological errors that allowed them to form of get going, and Freeman banks in his first three. That is a nervy shot for a man that does not shoot loads. Kalkbrenner makes one, too. But when the primary one would not go in with the financial institution, perhaps he is not as snug. Probably the most he is ever shot in a sport this 12 months was three, and he shot 47 on the 12 months. So we actually did not suppose coming in that he can be keen to shoot eight three-point photographs. So we needed to alter, clearly, as the sport went on.
Q. Greg, how a lot did you form of financial institution on that, when it began to show into form of a one-on-one there with Kalkbrenner and Freeman that the remainder of your guys, the supporting forged, would begin to get open appears the best way that they did?
GREG McDERMOTT: Yeah, particularly when Freeman picked up just a few fouls, that takes away a bit of little bit of his aggressiveness, and that is naturally going to occur once you’re in foul bother. In order we acquired that lead, we made it some extent to play by means of Kalkbrenner. And I believed the blokes did a very good job of selecting their spots. And like I mentioned within the open, the 17 three-point photographs, we had a pair we had to absorb late clock conditions, however I feel they had been actually good threes for us in opposition to a workforce that is been a lead all season of taking away threes and ensuring the share, I feel the workforce shot 30 % in opposition to Akron on the season from three. So to do what we did offensively in opposition to what I take into account a really defensive workforce can be a credit score to our workforce.
Q. Coach, that is the fourth 12 months in a row that you simply guys have received a match sport and you’ve got now handed all different Creighton coaches mixed for many wins within the NCAA Event. To have 4 years in a row the place you will get a win in March and to have the success that you have had, what does that say about this workforce that they will carry out presently of 12 months?
GREG McDERMOTT: Effectively, to begin with, you by no means take with no consideration getting right here, as a result of it is actually tough. What’s it, 16 or 17 % of the Division I groups get within the match? That is not very many. And there was a whole lot of disappointment on Choice Sunday with groups throughout the nation that felt they had been deserving they usually did not get in. So the very first thing you do is you recognize the chance, and then you definitely have fun the issues that you have performed to get right here. Like I informed the blokes within the locker room earlier than the sport, we discuss course of all 12 months lengthy, trusting the method, trusting your work. You recognize, that course of is what led us to right here. And that course of is what is going on to provide us hopefully a possibility to form of end the job and hold advancing on this match. However I’ve had — actually solely a kind of groups was an inexperienced workforce. The workforce when — three years in the past when Nembhard harm acquired harm and Trey needed to slide to the purpose guard place and we had been taking part in some freshmen, Alex O’Connell had solely transferred in for one 12 months, Ryan Hawkins for one 12 months. The remainder of the groups, we have had some fairly good expertise within the match, and I feel that actually helps you once you come again. You recognize what to anticipate. Groups which are right here the primary time are taking footage and doing all that after they go on the courtroom. Our guys as we speak had been like, all proper, that is the place we anticipated to be. What are we going to do, and let’s do it and get out of right here.
So we actually recognize the chance to play within the match, and we hope we’re blessed to have the ability to stick round until Saturday and we’ll attempt to give it our greatest.
Q. Greg, I am simply curious what you might need mentioned to Kalkbrenner once you pulled him over to the sideline on that made breakaway that did not precisely go the best manner.
GREG McDERMOTT: Effectively, he had one early within the season the place he tried to interrupt a press by himself, which was the primary time that I would ever seen that within the 4 years that I’ve coached him. At the moment was the primary as nicely. So we had been chuckling about — he mentioned he thought of going behind his again on the finish. That is what introduced my chuckle. However he performs the sport the best manner, he performs with emotion. You may inform he likes to play the sport. Impacts the sport in so many ways in which do not present up on the stats sheet. In order that was a enjoyable second for each of us.
Q. As the sport wore on, I do know it is by design defensively, I do know you gave up some offensive rebounds, however you probably did drive them to take the photographs that you simply designed your protection to drive groups to take. How did that execution ramp up as the sport went on?
GREG McDERMOTT: I imply, we needed to make some changes when the bigs had been hitting threes. So we needed to change a bit of bit extra, after which we acquired cross-matched just a few instances. However I believed early within the second half, I believed — I am unable to bear in mind who hit him. I feel Johnson hit a pair robust twos the place we went over the display screen, we had been there. He hits a 16, 17 footer with a hand in his face. That is form of what we’re making an attempt to do. So I used to be joyful, actually, after the primary seven or eight minutes of the sport. I believed we settled in a bit of bit higher defensively. However credit score to them, additionally they made some robust photographs.
Q. I do know you had been locked into your sport. I am questioning how a lot you had been conscious of what was happening in Omaha with Duquesne, which is the host faculty right here, and beating BYU, and the group’s response to that. At instances throughout your sport, whether or not the identical factor was occurring again house?
GREG McDERMOTT: It was a bit of unusual to play the sport with that happening, by the best way as a result of the cheers and the ooohs and ahs did not actually match as much as what was happening on the ground in entrance of us. In order that was considerably difficult for our guys. However I had noticed within the locker room earlier than I left that that they had the lead and clearly noticed the response. Keith’s been a good friend of mine a very long time. We coached in opposition to one another again after I was at Northern Iowa and Creighton was within the Valley and he was at Akron. We have identified one another a very long time. What a good way for him to exit as his profession is winding down. However he is all the time been a terrific coach. He is tremendously revered in our career, and good issues occur to good individuals typically, and he deserved that. So I am actually joyful for him and his program and, particularly his household with among the issues they are going by means of.
MODERATOR: Thanks, Coach. Congratulations.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports activities
142241-1-2377 2024-03-21 20:05:00 GMT
Thursday, March 21, 2024
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
PPG Paints Area
Akron Zips
Coach John Groce
Enrique Freeman
Greg Tribble
Ali Ali
Media Convention
JOHN GROCE: Clearly did not fairly go the best way that we had deliberate or wished it to. Give Creighton a whole lot of credit score. I believed they had been actually difficult to protect. I felt that manner coming into the sport. I believed it was necessary that we had useful possessions on offense and scored. And I believed we acquired some fairly good photographs. We made them early. Did not make as lots of them within the second half, however I believed they had been good ones, and the sport acquired away from us just a bit bit there. However give them credit score. They are a good basketball workforce, however I am actually pleased with these guys, pleased with our entire workforce, however particularly, senior class and what they’ve meant to our program, in some instances 5 years, 4 years, two years and one 12 months between the 5 guys. And what they’ve performed for our program, and it isn’t simply the profitable. You recognize, clearly that is the half that you simply get to see is the three championships over 5 years and the win share and all that that these guys have been in a position to attain. Nevertheless it’s greater than that to me. It is the people who they’re, the people who they’ve change into, the leaders that they have been, the best way they’re on campus, the best way they deal with individuals, the teammates that they have been, their work capability, their dedication to being nice, their dedication to one another, how a lot they care about one another, and the way a lot they care about profitable. And in a day and age the place our society can are usually the other of that or 180 of that or there’s selfishness and all that with groups, and the truth that we did not have any of that makes this group actually, actually, actually particular. It has been an actual privilege to educate them and to work with them. Like I mentioned, Kaleb one 12 months, Sammy two years, Ali 4 and Reque and Greg 5. Simply very, very grateful and really feel very blessed. Wished we would have performed a bit of bit higher as we speak, however proper now I form of have an angle of gratitude for these three guys and Thornton and Hunter, who aren’t up right here.
MODERATOR: Questions for student-athletes.
Q. Enrique, you went from getting dragged to open tryouts and now in March Insanity, I do not know if anyone’s informed you, I am certain you understand, although, most double doubles, third in NCAA Division I historical past. How does that really feel to form of end this a part of your story?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: I imply, clearly the accolades really feel good, however like Coach mentioned, I am simply in actual good gratitude with how this workforce, all through the complete season, all through my complete time right here, we labored very exhausting, and I feel we did one thing very particular in Akron, and I am glad we had been in a position to placed on for the town.
Q. Ali, what does it imply so that you can form of end off your story coming again to Akron, you get again to March Insanity and end it out along with your guys? Clearly not the best way you wished the sport to finish, however your story as a complete, speak concerning the ending for you.
ALI ALI: Clearly not the perfect ending that we wished, however I acquired to exit with the people who I care about essentially the most, you understand, outdoors of my household again house. Truthfully, like, these are like my brothers. I do not actually acquired too many associates again house. These are the blokes I am round loads. So if I’ll lose, I’ll lose with them. If I’ll win, I’ll win with them. That was a giant a part of coming again understanding I might remorse it if I did not end out my faculty profession with these guys within the locker room.
Q. What labored within the first half? What did you suppose would work along with your sport plan? Simply converse concerning the begin you guys had.
GREG TRIBBLE: I felt like we had been making a whole lot of photographs within the first half which led to — they can not get out in transition as a lot in case you are making photographs. And I really feel like within the second half we weren’t making as many photographs and we began playing they usually’re a extremely good workforce on offense, and as soon as they begin getting open photographs it is exhausting to cease them from making photographs. So that they had been simply actual good in transition, and we simply did not have good transition protection tonight.
Q. Enrique, simply that first half, the top on an 8-0 run that extends 28 to eight, I consider. Kalkbrenner, Alexander, Scheierman are all concerned. How tough was that match-up, and for you particularly, Kalkbrenner?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: He is a giant participant. He has good measurement, however I feel match-up clever, we did a very good job. I believed the complete sport tried to remove their good tendencies, however total I feel they simply caught us in transition they usually’re actually good on the three-point line. So that they hit some good threes.
Q. Enrique, are you able to discuss what the banging inside and drawing him defensively outdoors with the threes, what was that tempo like for you and did it take a toll as the sport went on, the frenetic first six minutes?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: I imply, I do not suppose it took a toll. I simply suppose I acquired in foul bother and we determine to place Sammy on him. However that is what bigs do. We go down there and we’re bodily, attempt to catch them outdoors the submit. I do know I had a very good submit place and he struggled after I was utilizing my strikes. So it is simply basketball.
Q. From speaking to you guys, I do know that you simply thought psychological toughness actually carried you thru the Mac match and right here, however you did not play your greatest. I am certain you guys suppose that as we speak wasn’t your greatest. So what do you suppose form of simply prevented it from being — reaching your full potential as a gaggle relating to the expertise and expertise you guys have?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: I feel — potential clever, I feel our workforce is reaching our potential. You recognize, I feel our complete season there was ebbs and flows all through the complete season, however on this sport, some video games you get out shot. Merely it. I do not suppose any of our guys stop. None of our guys did not cease taking part in exhausting. Everyone gave their greatest efforts till the shot clock went off. So all we will do is check out the drafting board and hopefully these freshmen, juniors and sophomores are available in subsequent season and see that and use that as a possibility to study.
Q. Enrique, you got here out and banked in a three-pointer to start and I feel you took like eight of them. I do not know. Possibly John did not design it that manner, however what was happening there with you taking pictures the threes and simply how did you’re feeling about that?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: You recognize, he performs within the paint loads. So we tried to stretch out the ground a bit of bit extra. And all people believes in my three. I have been working very exhausting on it. And I simply knocked down just a few, in order that they needed to change protection, and we determined to assault a distinct manner.
Q. This sport solely happened two hours away from house. Fairly good devoted exhibiting from the Akron crowd, and at instances within the first half, fairly energetic. How did you guys attempt to journey that momentum from the group, as nicely, and what was it like simply to see the Akron devoted right here?
GREG TRIBBLE: It meant loads. Clearly, our followers, they care about us. They present as much as each house sport. That is why we had been so good at house this 12 months. I imply, it simply feels good to see some acquainted faces in Pittsburgh, and we simply tried to feed off of that. And that is it, actually.
Q. For you three guys, you guys got here in earlier than the pandemic. You guys have been in Akron for 5 years, Enrique six as a pupil, clearly. In the event you might take us again to once you had been youngsters to now as form of grown males or adults, what’s that been like, this full expertise of faculty basketball with two match appearances?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: I imply, like I mentioned yesterday, the journey has been superb. Tremendous grateful for the journey. I would not ask for it to go any totally different. I am very pleased with what I used to be in a position to accomplish right here and all of us had been in a position to accomplish right here. And I simply — I am joyful that we’re in a position to depart on a legacy. Akron basketball, Akron tradition. We have performed a whole lot of profitable, and we wish to simply cross on the torch. These guys in 2019, 2020 handed the torch to us. Time for us to cross the torch.
ALI ALI: I might say I am undoubtedly appreciative of the run we have had the final 4 or 5 years, and simply wanting again, like, clearly as a child, center schooler, highschool, like for me, not having a DI supply, senior 12 months beginning like Groce coming in giving me one likelihood, and nobody else giving me an opportunity popping out of highschool. So I feel simply coming into this match has been the story of our lives, all the time been underdogs. So I imply, I am simply grateful and appreciative for all of the individuals I’ve met on the best way.
GREG TRIBBLE: I am simply grateful for the chance of Coach Groce and the teaching employees for even believing in me to come back to this college. Simply instructing the youthful guys, simply do not take it with no consideration. You recognize, clearly, we put in a whole lot of work to get to the place we’re at now to do as a lot profitable as we’ve got, and simply instructing them, that is what it is all about. Simply instructing them that you simply simply cannot take it with no consideration. You gotta work exhausting each day.
MODERATOR: Thanks, student-athletes. All proper. Questions for Coach Groce.
Q. Coach, did the primary half form of go in accordance with plan or was there a giant deviation from what you thought?
JOHN GROCE: Till the final couple minutes. I believed that was the largest juncture within the sport. We had been up 34-31 with about two minutes to go within the half after which they went on an 8-0 run. I believed that was the largest two minutes of the sport. So give them credit score. We had a pair possessions there the place we did not get matched up in transition. The blokes alluded to that. You recognize, we had a questionable shot, you understand, could not fairly get the ball a few instances the place we wished to get it. However for essentially the most half, aside from these two minutes, we performed the sport plan to precision, fairly frankly. We actually did. Terry was speaking about Freeman’s eight threes. I truly hoped he’d get 15 up.
Q. Coach, you began off the sport with Enrique Freeman up prime taking these eight threes all through the sport. You had Sammy Hunter within the submit. Is that one thing you guys had deliberate for?
JOHN GROCE: Loads of it is primarily based on how Kalkbrenner performs defensively. For my part, he makes them go defensively. So the blokes are actually good, give good effort. However you are speaking concerning the three time Large East Defensive Participant of the Yr. He is huge, as Rique mentioned. So I’ve acquired confidence in Enrique and Sammy to shoot the ball from the three-point line and past. In order that was a part of it, making an attempt to get him out of the paint a bit of bit. Give them credit score, Greg made a change, like good coaches like him do, and altered his protection a bit of bit. However I believed Ali was efficient within the first half. I believed the decide and roll sport was efficient within the first half. I believed we did a whole lot of actually good issues. Till their run the final two minutes, as the unique query was requested there, I do not know if it might have went a lot better.
Second juncture of the sport that I believed acquired away from us was the beginning of the second half. We simply weren’t — weren’t fairly as efficient as we had been the primary 18 minutes, after which we had been taking part in behind from there.
Q. John, given Enrique’s journey, how robust is it, then, subbing him out with 1:23 to go understanding you are not going to have him once more?
JOHN GROCE: Robust. It is not simply because pretty much as good of participant a as he’s. That is a part of it. Nevertheless it’s the particular person he’s, the chief, the teammate, how coachable he’s, his work ethic, how a lot he cares about different individuals. I’ve nicknamed him the unicorn for a cause.
Q. Coach, in that second half, when the offense is not executing, looks like photographs are discovering any and each method to not fall. What is the message to your workforce?
JOHN GROCE: Effectively, my entire deal, and it’s each sport, it is the standard of the shot that is necessary to me. I consider in them that they will make good photographs. So I am extra involved concerning the high quality of the shot we’re getting. I believed turnovers can be huge for us, and you’ll have a look at the stats. We solely turned it 5 instances the complete sport, which is nice. I believed defensive rebounding can be a bonus for us. They acquired us a bit of bit on the glass there throughout that one stretch that I used to be a bit of disenchanted in. We missed a block-out on Mason Miller and a pair guys there that ended up throughout that stretch of two or three minutes after I talked concerning the unhealthy begin a bit of bit to the second half the place it form of acquired away from us a bit of bit. I believed that offensive rebounding by them was part of that. However, you understand, yeah. Clearly you wish to make photographs. Proper? Who would not wish to make photographs? We have taken a whole lot of satisfaction in having a whole lot of psychological toughness of having the ability to play by means of stretches. We had a semifinal sport in Cleveland the place we scored 16 factors within the first half and had 13 turnovers and we had been solely down ten as a result of our protection was so good. Then we scored 50 within the second half and shot the duvet off the ball.
So that you wish to make photographs. I do suppose should you can rebound and maintain the ball and defend, you are all the time going to have an opportunity. However this was a bit of distinctive as we speak. Their offense, as the blokes had been alluding to, was simply prolific. Noticed it on movie coming into the sport, felt that manner in the course of the sport. My opinion hasn’t modified on that. Simply have a whole lot of solutions offensively. They have measurement on the rim and a man that may rating within the submit. They have a number of play makers, nice passers. And so they shoot the ball from three very nicely. You are not going to search out very many nights the place you’ve got acquired all 4 or 5 of these guys that shoot threes for them to all be off in the identical evening. After which they run great things.
So I knew it was going to be a problem to cease them. Once more, I believed the important thing can be might we hold scoring, and clearly we had been ready to do this for about 18 minutes however weren’t fairly in a position to maintain that for the remaining 22 minutes.
Q. Coach, you used the phrase prolific to explain their offense. Was there an offense this season, whether or not or not it’s common season or MAC match or nonconference, that ready you for what they create with Kalkbrenner and Alexander and Scheierman?
JOHN GROCE: No. I imply, I feel they’re pretty much as good of an offensive workforce when it comes to their personnel, their mix of measurement, taking pictures, play making, what they run offensively. They’re pretty much as good of an offensive workforce as we have went in opposition to in my seven years at Akron.
Q. You’ve got been on this state of affairs earlier than after being eradicated within the NCAA Event. Simply curious, what do you say to your workforce afterwards within the locker room?
JOHN GROCE: I simply informed them how proud I used to be of them. I addressed the sport briefly, and clearly did not go the best way that we wished it to or envisioned or deliberate for it to. Give Creighton credit score. However simply informed them how grateful I used to be for what I simply mentioned on the outset of this; 5 years, 4 years, two years, one 12 months, particularly these seniors, and actually all of them. You recognize, I loved being with them, teaching them. They’re an awesome group of fellows. As Freeman has mentioned a number of instances, we do not have a nasty apple in our locker room. That does not imply we do not undergo instances which are robust. All of us do, proper? You guys do, we do. Nevertheless it’s the individuals you do it with, how a lot you care about one another. We had good individuals in there, and it made it tremendous gratifying, and I am simply grateful to have had the chance to educate them. These guys will all the time be part of not solely the Akron household, however my private household. You recognize, I really like them. They’re nice, nice, nice guys.
Q. John, Enrique mentioned he was joyful to have the ability to depart a legacy. How would you outline the legacy?
JOHN GROCE: Effectively, that is an advanced query, proper? As a result of what you see is the profitable, you understand, the profitable share total, league play, the most effective within the league, the championships, the banners, all that. And that is actually part of it. However I feel it is extra of — and a few the younger guys simply spoke after the older guys had an opportunity to talk within the locker room about how grateful they had been that guys taught them what exhausting work appeared like. You recognize, what management appeared like, what being an awesome teammate appeared like, what being at a do-both place, which means, we count on you to get it performed academically and earn your diploma and make progress in direction of diploma whereas additionally taking part in at a excessive stage, what that appears like. You recognize, all these guys you noticed up right here, plus Hunter and Thornton, exemplified that every day. And they also had been in a position to see all that and really feel all that. So to me it is greater than all of the profitable. That is actually part of it. However once more, it is who they’re as individuals, who they’re as college students, the truth that they will recover from themselves and care about any individual aside from themselves, you understand, only a particular group.
Q. Clearly, the loss continues to be contemporary, however all three guys touched on passing that torch within the legacy of Akron basketball. What does the way forward for Akron basketball appear like in your eyes?
JOHN GROCE: Effectively, for us proper now, clearly, I am making an attempt to course of this one, proper? However on the finish of the day, we wish to proceed to fill our locker room with people who care about one another and care about profitable. That is what these guys would let you know. It is actually not any extra sophisticated than that. Do you care about one another, actually take care of one another, maintain one another, and do you care about profitable forward of non-public agenda? Proper? Sounds apparent, sounds straightforward. It is not. You recognize, in order that was their mentality. I feel the youthful guys noticed that. And we wish to proceed to construct on that.
Q. I do know you’d want to be becoming a member of him within the spherical of 32, however do you may have any message to your previous good friend and rival Keith Dambrot?
JOHN GROCE: I will do this most likely a bit of later. I have not had an opportunity to do this. So I have been occupied with what we’re doing proper now.
Q. Are you able to inform us what you may inform him or speak to him about afterward?
JOHN GROCE: Normally he and I — I mentioned this earlier, we’ll textual content or we’ll name and I am joyful for him, clearly, and what he is been in a position to do. I feel you have a look at the final time that they had been within the match, I feel, was the ’70s. Is that right? Yeah. So it is actually — it is superior, you understand, what he is been in a position to do. And I am joyful for him and Donna with the retirement, and Keith’s a giant cause why I ended up come to go Akron. I mentioned that earlier, was due to Keith and all of the success that he had had and the battles that we had after I was at Ohio, and the familiarity with Akron and Northeast Ohio due to my time within the state at so many Ohio universities. And so, I had nice familiarity with Akron and was drawn to that. However largely due to Keith.
MODERATOR: Thanks, Coach. Admire your time.
JOHN GROCE: Positive.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports activities
142246-1-2377 2024-03-21 20:31:00 GMT
PITTSBURGH, Pa. — No. 11 Creighton closed the primary half on an 8-0 run and by no means appeared again in a 77-60 win over 14th-seeded Akron in NCAA Event First Spherical motion at PPG Paints Area in Pittsburgh, Pa., on Thursday afternoon.
The Bluejays improved to 24-9 with the win and can play on Saturday in opposition to Eleventh-seeded Oregon, which defeated sixth-seeded South Carolina.
Creighton took a 39-34 lead into the break after a fast-paced first half that noticed each groups join with regularity from three-point vary early on. Creighton made its first 5 three-point makes an attempt, whereas nationwide rebounding chief Enrique Freeman buried three three-pointers within the first 5 minutes. The groups exchanged six leads and it was tied 9 instances earlier than the break, with Creighton scoring the ultimate eight factors to assert a 39-34 lead. That run featured three-pointers by Trey Alexander and Mason Miller earlier than a hoop from Baylor Scheierman to finish the half.
Ryan Kalkbrenner and Alexander every had 11 factors on the break for CU, whereas Scheierman had eight factors and 7 rebounds. CU shot 60 % within the first half (15-25), together with 7-of-10 (70 %) from three-point vary. Akron was led by 15 factors and eight rebounds by Freeman, whereas Ali Ali added 10 factors.
The Bluejays rode that momentum out of the break as Miller and Scheierman buried triples to push the result in 9 (45-36), however Creighton pulled away for good with a 10-0 run that pushed its result in 59-42 after Miller related on his third triple of the competition.
Creighton had a balanced offensive effort, as all 5 starters scored in double-figures. Scheierman had his BIG EAST-leading sixteenth double-double of the 12 months with 15 factors and 13 rebounds. Kalkbrenner (23) and Alexander (19) had been joined within the scoring column by Miller (10) and Ashworth (10). Creighton shot 56.5 % from the sector and made 10-of-17 three-point photographs (a season-high 58.8 %). The Bluejays received the board battle 38-26 and zipped previous Akron 13-2 in quick break factors.
Freeman earned his nation-leading thirty first double-double of the season to steer Akron, ending with 21 factors and 14 rebounds. Ali completed with 14 factors earlier than fouling out. The Zips shot 37.9 % from the sector and made simply 6-of-28 three-point tries. Akron ends its season with a 24-11 mark.
A sport time and tv community will likely be introduced on the conclusion of as we speak’s video games.
NOTES: Ryan Kalkbrenner grew to become Creighton’s second participant ever to look in 4 totally different NCAA Tournaments, becoming a member of Kyle Korver … This afternoon was Creighton’s two hundredth sport as a workforce whereas ranked within the Related Press underneath Greg McDermott. The Bluejays are 140-60 in these contests … Creighton made a three-pointer for the 1,018th straight sport … Baylor Scheierman made a three-pointer for the twenty first straight sport, and 79th time in his final 80 video games. Scheierman’s first three-pointer was additionally his one centesimal of the season, one thing solely Kyle Korver (2x) and Ethan Wragge had performed beforehand in Creighton historical past … At the moment was Creighton’s 99th straight sport on tv … Baylor Scheierman handed Kyle Korver for essentially the most three-point makes an attempt by a participant in CU single-season historical past … Isaac Traudt had his first blocked shot of the season … Baylor Scheierman (287) grew to become the primary Creighton participant with a number of seasons of 300 rebounds since Bob Portman in 1967-68 and 1968-69 … Creighton improved to 19-25 all-time within the NCAA Event, together with a 13-12 mark in its opening sport and 2-1 as a No. 3 seed … Creighton is now 4-1 all-time in opposition to Akron, and 2-0 in postseason play … Creighton performed its 52nd straight sport with out a participant fouling out, the nation’s longest streak since not less than 2005-06 … Ryan Kalkbrenner (97) grew to become the second participant in CU historical past to dam 100 photographs in a season, becoming a member of Benoit Benjamin who did it twice … Creighton’s 58.8 % taking pictures from deep was a program file for an NCAA Event sport … Ryan Kalkbrenner, Baylor Scheierman and Trey Alexander all recorded 15+ factors and 5+ rebounds in as we speak’s win. They’re simply second BIG EAST trio to do that in a NCAA Event sport during the last 10 years, the opposite being Xavier’s J.P. Macura, Trevon Bluiett and Kerem Kanter within the 2018 Spherical of 64 vs Texas Southern … Creighton scored 77 factors as we speak, all from its starters. The final workforce to attain that many factors in an NCAA Event sport regardless of having zero from its bench was Rutgers (87 factors) in a Play-In Spherical loss to Notre Dame in 2022. The final workforce to attain 77+ with zero bench factors in a WIN, was Minnesota (86 vs Louisville) within the 2019 Spherical of 64. The final BIG EAST faculty to do that (no matter end result) was Windfall within the a 1997 Elite-8 loss to Arizona (92 factors).
Thursday, March 21, 2024
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
PPG Paints Area
Creighton Bluejays
Media Convention
Creighton – 77, Akron – 60 Milwaukee,
MODERATOR: We’ll begin with a gap assertion from Coach Greg McDermott. Coach?
GREG McDERMOTT: Initially, congratulations to Coach Groce, his employees and his workforce on an exceptional 12 months. I gained a brand new appreciation for the job he does in our preparation for Akron. That workforce was very related defensively, very unselfish on the offensive finish, and as I discussed a pair days in the past, they misplaced a number of shut video games that had been actually not removed from profitable 30 video games this 12 months.
So that they had our utmost respect, and I feel you noticed, particularly within the first half, you understand, it is a high quality, high quality workforce that we beat as we speak. So we’re excited as a result of we beat a very good basketball workforce. And pleased with our guys. I believed we took actually good photographs, and after we take actually good photographs, we’re a fairly good basketball workforce. And we gotta clear up some issues with among the turnovers, however defensively I believed we adjusted as the sport went on and did a a lot better job within the second half.
MODERATOR: Questions for the student-athletes.
Q. Baylor, what flipped in these final couple minutes earlier than halftime? You guys go on the run and do not look again from there. What modified?
BAYLOR SCHEIERMAN: I feel we had been in a position to get some stops in a row and on the offensive finish get photographs. And like coach mentioned, we actually struggled with turnovers within the first half and within the final 4 minutes we had been in a position to maintain the ball and get photographs and stops and after we had been ready to do this, that is after we actually gained some separation.
Q. Felt like Akron, although they had been hitting photographs, had been taking part in at your guys’ most well-liked tempo. Did you’re feeling like as the primary half wore on and the second half acquired going that that began to put on into them?
RYAN KALKBRENNER: Yeah, that is form of how we strategy a whole lot of video games is, even firstly of the sport some tempo might not give us a whole lot of buckets early on as a result of the opposite workforce is contemporary, however we play at that tempo and observe at that tempo on a regular basis, so we will hold that up for 40 minutes. Not each workforce we play in opposition to can. So once you begin sporting into them like that you simply begin to get just a few straightforward baskets or just a few attractiveness since you’re operating the opposite workforce. So I feel that undoubtedly helped us towards the top of the primary half and finish of the second half.
Q. What modified defensively for you within the second half within the job you probably did on Enrique Freeman?
RYAN KALKBRENNER: I feel it is a bit of bit getting used to how he performs. You may watch somebody on movie loads and get as used to it as you possibly can, however on the finish of the day he is a extremely good participant and simply made some psychological changes as to how I wished to protect him within the submit and did a bit of higher job. He nonetheless acquired just a few buckets as a result of he is a extremely good participant, however yeah simply having the ability to make changes within the sport.
Q. Mason, when do you know that one thing was going best for you and what sort of an impression once you’re hitting your photographs like that may that make in your workforce and in your teammates?
MASON MILLER: Truthfully, I imply simply each single day, I imply, I work on my shot each single day, so I form of come into the sport anticipating to make photographs like that. I suppose simply operating to the nook, getting open appears and taking part in throughout the offensive form of helps the workforce loads, particularly when we’ve got nice gamers like Ryan and Baylor over right here having the ability to area the ground for them, it is enormous for them.
Q. For any of you guys, the expertise you guys have at this stage, how did that assist as we speak and the way can that aid you the remainder of the match?
BAYLOR SCHEIERMAN: I simply suppose the sport is 40 minutes lengthy and there is a whole lot of ups and downs that go all through a basketball sport, and clearly within the first half there was some issues that did not go proper for us they usually had been form of hanging with us and whatnot, however then we had been in a position to get stops and get a sport of runs and we had been in a position to go on ours and proceed with it. So I feel the expertise of understanding that the sport is 40 minutes and something can occur, I feel that helps us out.
Q. Baylor, is there no matter opponent all the time a problem that comes with the primary sport of the match simply getting the kinks out of the best way and discovering your rhythm?
BAYLOR SCHEIERMAN: Yeah, I feel so. Clearly it is a — the match is so enjoyable and never all people will get to participate of it. And the beginning of the sport, the ambiance is just a bit totally different than an everyday sport. And no matter who you play the primary spherical, a whole lot of instances it may be actually robust. I imply, final 12 months at NC State it was a tricky sport. This 12 months, identical factor. So no matter your opponent, the primary sport is all the time a problem.
MODERATOR: All proper. Thanks. Pupil-athletes might be dismissed.
MODERATOR: Questions for coach McDermott.
Q. I do not know what you had been saying to them within the huddle as that first half was happening, however clearly each groups had been making a whole lot of photographs. Did you get a way that due to the best way the tempo was going that Akron wasn’t actually making an attempt to decelerate and play to their fashion, that you simply guys had been finally going to interrupt by means of?
GREG McDERMOTT: Among the issues I mentioned within the huddle I am unable to repeat to you. And that does not occur with me fairly often. However I used to be not stunned that they got here at us in transition. In watching them play, they’re opportunistic, however they’ve a whole lot of guys that may deal with it in transition and lead the break. So I used to be not stunned they got here at us the best way that they did.
We had some psychological errors that allowed them to form of get going, and Freeman banks in his first three. That is a nervy shot for a man that does not shoot loads. Kalkbrenner makes one, too. But when the primary one would not go in with the financial institution, perhaps he is not as snug. Probably the most he is ever shot in a sport this 12 months was three, and he shot 47 on the 12 months. So we actually did not suppose coming in that he can be keen to shoot eight three-point photographs. So we needed to alter, clearly, as the sport went on.
Q. Greg, how a lot did you form of financial institution on that, when it began to show into form of a one-on-one there with Kalkbrenner and Freeman that the remainder of your guys, the supporting forged, would begin to get open appears the best way that they did?
GREG McDERMOTT: Yeah, particularly when Freeman picked up just a few fouls, that takes away a bit of little bit of his aggressiveness, and that is naturally going to occur once you’re in foul bother. In order we acquired that lead, we made it some extent to play by means of Kalkbrenner. And I believed the blokes did a very good job of selecting their spots. And like I mentioned within the open, the 17 three-point photographs, we had a pair we had to absorb late clock conditions, however I feel they had been actually good threes for us in opposition to a workforce that is been a lead all season of taking away threes and ensuring the share, I feel the workforce shot 30 % in opposition to Akron on the season from three. So to do what we did offensively in opposition to what I take into account a really defensive workforce can be a credit score to our workforce.
Q. Coach, that is the fourth 12 months in a row that you simply guys have received a match sport and you’ve got now handed all different Creighton coaches mixed for many wins within the NCAA Event. To have 4 years in a row the place you will get a win in March and to have the success that you have had, what does that say about this workforce that they will carry out presently of 12 months?
GREG McDERMOTT: Effectively, to begin with, you by no means take with no consideration getting right here, as a result of it is actually tough. What’s it, 16 or 17 % of the Division I groups get within the match? That is not very many. And there was a whole lot of disappointment on Choice Sunday with groups throughout the nation that felt they had been deserving they usually did not get in. So the very first thing you do is you recognize the chance, and then you definitely have fun the issues that you have performed to get right here. Like I informed the blokes within the locker room earlier than the sport, we discuss course of all 12 months lengthy, trusting the method, trusting your work. You recognize, that course of is what led us to right here. And that course of is what is going on to provide us hopefully a possibility to form of end the job and hold advancing on this match. However I’ve had — actually solely a kind of groups was an inexperienced workforce. The workforce when — three years in the past when Nembhard harm acquired harm and Trey needed to slide to the purpose guard place and we had been taking part in some freshmen, Alex O’Connell had solely transferred in for one 12 months, Ryan Hawkins for one 12 months. The remainder of the groups, we have had some fairly good expertise within the match, and I feel that actually helps you once you come again. You recognize what to anticipate. Groups which are right here the primary time are taking footage and doing all that after they go on the courtroom. Our guys as we speak had been like, all proper, that is the place we anticipated to be. What are we going to do, and let’s do it and get out of right here.
So we actually recognize the chance to play within the match, and we hope we’re blessed to have the ability to stick round until Saturday and we’ll attempt to give it our greatest.
Q. Greg, I am simply curious what you might need mentioned to Kalkbrenner once you pulled him over to the sideline on that made breakaway that did not precisely go the best manner.
GREG McDERMOTT: Effectively, he had one early within the season the place he tried to interrupt a press by himself, which was the primary time that I would ever seen that within the 4 years that I’ve coached him. At the moment was the primary as nicely. So we had been chuckling about — he mentioned he thought of going behind his again on the finish. That is what introduced my chuckle. However he performs the sport the best manner, he performs with emotion. You may inform he likes to play the sport. Impacts the sport in so many ways in which do not present up on the stats sheet. In order that was a enjoyable second for each of us.
Q. As the sport wore on, I do know it is by design defensively, I do know you gave up some offensive rebounds, however you probably did drive them to take the photographs that you simply designed your protection to drive groups to take. How did that execution ramp up as the sport went on?
GREG McDERMOTT: I imply, we needed to make some changes when the bigs had been hitting threes. So we needed to change a bit of bit extra, after which we acquired cross-matched just a few instances. However I believed early within the second half, I believed — I am unable to bear in mind who hit him. I feel Johnson hit a pair robust twos the place we went over the display screen, we had been there. He hits a 16, 17 footer with a hand in his face. That is form of what we’re making an attempt to do. So I used to be joyful, actually, after the primary seven or eight minutes of the sport. I believed we settled in a bit of bit higher defensively. However credit score to them, additionally they made some robust photographs.
Q. I do know you had been locked into your sport. I am questioning how a lot you had been conscious of what was happening in Omaha with Duquesne, which is the host faculty right here, and beating BYU, and the group’s response to that. At instances throughout your sport, whether or not the identical factor was occurring again house?
GREG McDERMOTT: It was a bit of unusual to play the sport with that happening, by the best way as a result of the cheers and the ooohs and ahs did not actually match as much as what was happening on the ground in entrance of us. In order that was considerably difficult for our guys. However I had noticed within the locker room earlier than I left that that they had the lead and clearly noticed the response. Keith’s been a good friend of mine a very long time. We coached in opposition to one another again after I was at Northern Iowa and Creighton was within the Valley and he was at Akron. We have identified one another a very long time. What a good way for him to exit as his profession is winding down. However he is all the time been a terrific coach. He is tremendously revered in our career, and good issues occur to good individuals typically, and he deserved that. So I am actually joyful for him and his program and, particularly his household with among the issues they are going by means of.
MODERATOR: Thanks, Coach. Congratulations.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports activities
142241-1-2377 2024-03-21 20:05:00 GMT
Thursday, March 21, 2024
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
PPG Paints Area
Akron Zips
Coach John Groce
Enrique Freeman
Greg Tribble
Ali Ali
Media Convention
JOHN GROCE: Clearly did not fairly go the best way that we had deliberate or wished it to. Give Creighton a whole lot of credit score. I believed they had been actually difficult to protect. I felt that manner coming into the sport. I believed it was necessary that we had useful possessions on offense and scored. And I believed we acquired some fairly good photographs. We made them early. Did not make as lots of them within the second half, however I believed they had been good ones, and the sport acquired away from us just a bit bit there. However give them credit score. They are a good basketball workforce, however I am actually pleased with these guys, pleased with our entire workforce, however particularly, senior class and what they’ve meant to our program, in some instances 5 years, 4 years, two years and one 12 months between the 5 guys. And what they’ve performed for our program, and it isn’t simply the profitable. You recognize, clearly that is the half that you simply get to see is the three championships over 5 years and the win share and all that that these guys have been in a position to attain. Nevertheless it’s greater than that to me. It is the people who they’re, the people who they’ve change into, the leaders that they have been, the best way they’re on campus, the best way they deal with individuals, the teammates that they have been, their work capability, their dedication to being nice, their dedication to one another, how a lot they care about one another, and the way a lot they care about profitable. And in a day and age the place our society can are usually the other of that or 180 of that or there’s selfishness and all that with groups, and the truth that we did not have any of that makes this group actually, actually, actually particular. It has been an actual privilege to educate them and to work with them. Like I mentioned, Kaleb one 12 months, Sammy two years, Ali 4 and Reque and Greg 5. Simply very, very grateful and really feel very blessed. Wished we would have performed a bit of bit higher as we speak, however proper now I form of have an angle of gratitude for these three guys and Thornton and Hunter, who aren’t up right here.
MODERATOR: Questions for student-athletes.
Q. Enrique, you went from getting dragged to open tryouts and now in March Insanity, I do not know if anyone’s informed you, I am certain you understand, although, most double doubles, third in NCAA Division I historical past. How does that really feel to form of end this a part of your story?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: I imply, clearly the accolades really feel good, however like Coach mentioned, I am simply in actual good gratitude with how this workforce, all through the complete season, all through my complete time right here, we labored very exhausting, and I feel we did one thing very particular in Akron, and I am glad we had been in a position to placed on for the town.
Q. Ali, what does it imply so that you can form of end off your story coming again to Akron, you get again to March Insanity and end it out along with your guys? Clearly not the best way you wished the sport to finish, however your story as a complete, speak concerning the ending for you.
ALI ALI: Clearly not the perfect ending that we wished, however I acquired to exit with the people who I care about essentially the most, you understand, outdoors of my household again house. Truthfully, like, these are like my brothers. I do not actually acquired too many associates again house. These are the blokes I am round loads. So if I’ll lose, I’ll lose with them. If I’ll win, I’ll win with them. That was a giant a part of coming again understanding I might remorse it if I did not end out my faculty profession with these guys within the locker room.
Q. What labored within the first half? What did you suppose would work along with your sport plan? Simply converse concerning the begin you guys had.
GREG TRIBBLE: I felt like we had been making a whole lot of photographs within the first half which led to — they can not get out in transition as a lot in case you are making photographs. And I really feel like within the second half we weren’t making as many photographs and we began playing they usually’re a extremely good workforce on offense, and as soon as they begin getting open photographs it is exhausting to cease them from making photographs. So that they had been simply actual good in transition, and we simply did not have good transition protection tonight.
Q. Enrique, simply that first half, the top on an 8-0 run that extends 28 to eight, I consider. Kalkbrenner, Alexander, Scheierman are all concerned. How tough was that match-up, and for you particularly, Kalkbrenner?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: He is a giant participant. He has good measurement, however I feel match-up clever, we did a very good job. I believed the complete sport tried to remove their good tendencies, however total I feel they simply caught us in transition they usually’re actually good on the three-point line. So that they hit some good threes.
Q. Enrique, are you able to discuss what the banging inside and drawing him defensively outdoors with the threes, what was that tempo like for you and did it take a toll as the sport went on, the frenetic first six minutes?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: I imply, I do not suppose it took a toll. I simply suppose I acquired in foul bother and we determine to place Sammy on him. However that is what bigs do. We go down there and we’re bodily, attempt to catch them outdoors the submit. I do know I had a very good submit place and he struggled after I was utilizing my strikes. So it is simply basketball.
Q. From speaking to you guys, I do know that you simply thought psychological toughness actually carried you thru the Mac match and right here, however you did not play your greatest. I am certain you guys suppose that as we speak wasn’t your greatest. So what do you suppose form of simply prevented it from being — reaching your full potential as a gaggle relating to the expertise and expertise you guys have?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: I feel — potential clever, I feel our workforce is reaching our potential. You recognize, I feel our complete season there was ebbs and flows all through the complete season, however on this sport, some video games you get out shot. Merely it. I do not suppose any of our guys stop. None of our guys did not cease taking part in exhausting. Everyone gave their greatest efforts till the shot clock went off. So all we will do is check out the drafting board and hopefully these freshmen, juniors and sophomores are available in subsequent season and see that and use that as a possibility to study.
Q. Enrique, you got here out and banked in a three-pointer to start and I feel you took like eight of them. I do not know. Possibly John did not design it that manner, however what was happening there with you taking pictures the threes and simply how did you’re feeling about that?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: You recognize, he performs within the paint loads. So we tried to stretch out the ground a bit of bit extra. And all people believes in my three. I have been working very exhausting on it. And I simply knocked down just a few, in order that they needed to change protection, and we determined to assault a distinct manner.
Q. This sport solely happened two hours away from house. Fairly good devoted exhibiting from the Akron crowd, and at instances within the first half, fairly energetic. How did you guys attempt to journey that momentum from the group, as nicely, and what was it like simply to see the Akron devoted right here?
GREG TRIBBLE: It meant loads. Clearly, our followers, they care about us. They present as much as each house sport. That is why we had been so good at house this 12 months. I imply, it simply feels good to see some acquainted faces in Pittsburgh, and we simply tried to feed off of that. And that is it, actually.
Q. For you three guys, you guys got here in earlier than the pandemic. You guys have been in Akron for 5 years, Enrique six as a pupil, clearly. In the event you might take us again to once you had been youngsters to now as form of grown males or adults, what’s that been like, this full expertise of faculty basketball with two match appearances?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: I imply, like I mentioned yesterday, the journey has been superb. Tremendous grateful for the journey. I would not ask for it to go any totally different. I am very pleased with what I used to be in a position to accomplish right here and all of us had been in a position to accomplish right here. And I simply — I am joyful that we’re in a position to depart on a legacy. Akron basketball, Akron tradition. We have performed a whole lot of profitable, and we wish to simply cross on the torch. These guys in 2019, 2020 handed the torch to us. Time for us to cross the torch.
ALI ALI: I might say I am undoubtedly appreciative of the run we have had the final 4 or 5 years, and simply wanting again, like, clearly as a child, center schooler, highschool, like for me, not having a DI supply, senior 12 months beginning like Groce coming in giving me one likelihood, and nobody else giving me an opportunity popping out of highschool. So I feel simply coming into this match has been the story of our lives, all the time been underdogs. So I imply, I am simply grateful and appreciative for all of the individuals I’ve met on the best way.
GREG TRIBBLE: I am simply grateful for the chance of Coach Groce and the teaching employees for even believing in me to come back to this college. Simply instructing the youthful guys, simply do not take it with no consideration. You recognize, clearly, we put in a whole lot of work to get to the place we’re at now to do as a lot profitable as we’ve got, and simply instructing them, that is what it is all about. Simply instructing them that you simply simply cannot take it with no consideration. You gotta work exhausting each day.
MODERATOR: Thanks, student-athletes. All proper. Questions for Coach Groce.
Q. Coach, did the primary half form of go in accordance with plan or was there a giant deviation from what you thought?
JOHN GROCE: Till the final couple minutes. I believed that was the largest juncture within the sport. We had been up 34-31 with about two minutes to go within the half after which they went on an 8-0 run. I believed that was the largest two minutes of the sport. So give them credit score. We had a pair possessions there the place we did not get matched up in transition. The blokes alluded to that. You recognize, we had a questionable shot, you understand, could not fairly get the ball a few instances the place we wished to get it. However for essentially the most half, aside from these two minutes, we performed the sport plan to precision, fairly frankly. We actually did. Terry was speaking about Freeman’s eight threes. I truly hoped he’d get 15 up.
Q. Coach, you began off the sport with Enrique Freeman up prime taking these eight threes all through the sport. You had Sammy Hunter within the submit. Is that one thing you guys had deliberate for?
JOHN GROCE: Loads of it is primarily based on how Kalkbrenner performs defensively. For my part, he makes them go defensively. So the blokes are actually good, give good effort. However you are speaking concerning the three time Large East Defensive Participant of the Yr. He is huge, as Rique mentioned. So I’ve acquired confidence in Enrique and Sammy to shoot the ball from the three-point line and past. In order that was a part of it, making an attempt to get him out of the paint a bit of bit. Give them credit score, Greg made a change, like good coaches like him do, and altered his protection a bit of bit. However I believed Ali was efficient within the first half. I believed the decide and roll sport was efficient within the first half. I believed we did a whole lot of actually good issues. Till their run the final two minutes, as the unique query was requested there, I do not know if it might have went a lot better.
Second juncture of the sport that I believed acquired away from us was the beginning of the second half. We simply weren’t — weren’t fairly as efficient as we had been the primary 18 minutes, after which we had been taking part in behind from there.
Q. John, given Enrique’s journey, how robust is it, then, subbing him out with 1:23 to go understanding you are not going to have him once more?
JOHN GROCE: Robust. It is not simply because pretty much as good of participant a as he’s. That is a part of it. Nevertheless it’s the particular person he’s, the chief, the teammate, how coachable he’s, his work ethic, how a lot he cares about different individuals. I’ve nicknamed him the unicorn for a cause.
Q. Coach, in that second half, when the offense is not executing, looks like photographs are discovering any and each method to not fall. What is the message to your workforce?
JOHN GROCE: Effectively, my entire deal, and it’s each sport, it is the standard of the shot that is necessary to me. I consider in them that they will make good photographs. So I am extra involved concerning the high quality of the shot we’re getting. I believed turnovers can be huge for us, and you’ll have a look at the stats. We solely turned it 5 instances the complete sport, which is nice. I believed defensive rebounding can be a bonus for us. They acquired us a bit of bit on the glass there throughout that one stretch that I used to be a bit of disenchanted in. We missed a block-out on Mason Miller and a pair guys there that ended up throughout that stretch of two or three minutes after I talked concerning the unhealthy begin a bit of bit to the second half the place it form of acquired away from us a bit of bit. I believed that offensive rebounding by them was part of that. However, you understand, yeah. Clearly you wish to make photographs. Proper? Who would not wish to make photographs? We have taken a whole lot of satisfaction in having a whole lot of psychological toughness of having the ability to play by means of stretches. We had a semifinal sport in Cleveland the place we scored 16 factors within the first half and had 13 turnovers and we had been solely down ten as a result of our protection was so good. Then we scored 50 within the second half and shot the duvet off the ball.
So that you wish to make photographs. I do suppose should you can rebound and maintain the ball and defend, you are all the time going to have an opportunity. However this was a bit of distinctive as we speak. Their offense, as the blokes had been alluding to, was simply prolific. Noticed it on movie coming into the sport, felt that manner in the course of the sport. My opinion hasn’t modified on that. Simply have a whole lot of solutions offensively. They have measurement on the rim and a man that may rating within the submit. They have a number of play makers, nice passers. And so they shoot the ball from three very nicely. You are not going to search out very many nights the place you’ve got acquired all 4 or 5 of these guys that shoot threes for them to all be off in the identical evening. After which they run great things.
So I knew it was going to be a problem to cease them. Once more, I believed the important thing can be might we hold scoring, and clearly we had been ready to do this for about 18 minutes however weren’t fairly in a position to maintain that for the remaining 22 minutes.
Q. Coach, you used the phrase prolific to explain their offense. Was there an offense this season, whether or not or not it’s common season or MAC match or nonconference, that ready you for what they create with Kalkbrenner and Alexander and Scheierman?
JOHN GROCE: No. I imply, I feel they’re pretty much as good of an offensive workforce when it comes to their personnel, their mix of measurement, taking pictures, play making, what they run offensively. They’re pretty much as good of an offensive workforce as we have went in opposition to in my seven years at Akron.
Q. You’ve got been on this state of affairs earlier than after being eradicated within the NCAA Event. Simply curious, what do you say to your workforce afterwards within the locker room?
JOHN GROCE: I simply informed them how proud I used to be of them. I addressed the sport briefly, and clearly did not go the best way that we wished it to or envisioned or deliberate for it to. Give Creighton credit score. However simply informed them how grateful I used to be for what I simply mentioned on the outset of this; 5 years, 4 years, two years, one 12 months, particularly these seniors, and actually all of them. You recognize, I loved being with them, teaching them. They’re an awesome group of fellows. As Freeman has mentioned a number of instances, we do not have a nasty apple in our locker room. That does not imply we do not undergo instances which are robust. All of us do, proper? You guys do, we do. Nevertheless it’s the individuals you do it with, how a lot you care about one another. We had good individuals in there, and it made it tremendous gratifying, and I am simply grateful to have had the chance to educate them. These guys will all the time be part of not solely the Akron household, however my private household. You recognize, I really like them. They’re nice, nice, nice guys.
Q. John, Enrique mentioned he was joyful to have the ability to depart a legacy. How would you outline the legacy?
JOHN GROCE: Effectively, that is an advanced query, proper? As a result of what you see is the profitable, you understand, the profitable share total, league play, the most effective within the league, the championships, the banners, all that. And that is actually part of it. However I feel it is extra of — and a few the younger guys simply spoke after the older guys had an opportunity to talk within the locker room about how grateful they had been that guys taught them what exhausting work appeared like. You recognize, what management appeared like, what being an awesome teammate appeared like, what being at a do-both place, which means, we count on you to get it performed academically and earn your diploma and make progress in direction of diploma whereas additionally taking part in at a excessive stage, what that appears like. You recognize, all these guys you noticed up right here, plus Hunter and Thornton, exemplified that every day. And they also had been in a position to see all that and really feel all that. So to me it is greater than all of the profitable. That is actually part of it. However once more, it is who they’re as individuals, who they’re as college students, the truth that they will recover from themselves and care about any individual aside from themselves, you understand, only a particular group.
Q. Clearly, the loss continues to be contemporary, however all three guys touched on passing that torch within the legacy of Akron basketball. What does the way forward for Akron basketball appear like in your eyes?
JOHN GROCE: Effectively, for us proper now, clearly, I am making an attempt to course of this one, proper? However on the finish of the day, we wish to proceed to fill our locker room with people who care about one another and care about profitable. That is what these guys would let you know. It is actually not any extra sophisticated than that. Do you care about one another, actually take care of one another, maintain one another, and do you care about profitable forward of non-public agenda? Proper? Sounds apparent, sounds straightforward. It is not. You recognize, in order that was their mentality. I feel the youthful guys noticed that. And we wish to proceed to construct on that.
Q. I do know you’d want to be becoming a member of him within the spherical of 32, however do you may have any message to your previous good friend and rival Keith Dambrot?
JOHN GROCE: I will do this most likely a bit of later. I have not had an opportunity to do this. So I have been occupied with what we’re doing proper now.
Q. Are you able to inform us what you may inform him or speak to him about afterward?
JOHN GROCE: Normally he and I — I mentioned this earlier, we’ll textual content or we’ll name and I am joyful for him, clearly, and what he is been in a position to do. I feel you have a look at the final time that they had been within the match, I feel, was the ’70s. Is that right? Yeah. So it is actually — it is superior, you understand, what he is been in a position to do. And I am joyful for him and Donna with the retirement, and Keith’s a giant cause why I ended up come to go Akron. I mentioned that earlier, was due to Keith and all of the success that he had had and the battles that we had after I was at Ohio, and the familiarity with Akron and Northeast Ohio due to my time within the state at so many Ohio universities. And so, I had nice familiarity with Akron and was drawn to that. However largely due to Keith.
MODERATOR: Thanks, Coach. Admire your time.
JOHN GROCE: Positive.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports activities
142246-1-2377 2024-03-21 20:31:00 GMT
PITTSBURGH, Pa. — No. 11 Creighton closed the primary half on an 8-0 run and by no means appeared again in a 77-60 win over 14th-seeded Akron in NCAA Event First Spherical motion at PPG Paints Area in Pittsburgh, Pa., on Thursday afternoon.
The Bluejays improved to 24-9 with the win and can play on Saturday in opposition to Eleventh-seeded Oregon, which defeated sixth-seeded South Carolina.
Creighton took a 39-34 lead into the break after a fast-paced first half that noticed each groups join with regularity from three-point vary early on. Creighton made its first 5 three-point makes an attempt, whereas nationwide rebounding chief Enrique Freeman buried three three-pointers within the first 5 minutes. The groups exchanged six leads and it was tied 9 instances earlier than the break, with Creighton scoring the ultimate eight factors to assert a 39-34 lead. That run featured three-pointers by Trey Alexander and Mason Miller earlier than a hoop from Baylor Scheierman to finish the half.
Ryan Kalkbrenner and Alexander every had 11 factors on the break for CU, whereas Scheierman had eight factors and 7 rebounds. CU shot 60 % within the first half (15-25), together with 7-of-10 (70 %) from three-point vary. Akron was led by 15 factors and eight rebounds by Freeman, whereas Ali Ali added 10 factors.
The Bluejays rode that momentum out of the break as Miller and Scheierman buried triples to push the result in 9 (45-36), however Creighton pulled away for good with a 10-0 run that pushed its result in 59-42 after Miller related on his third triple of the competition.
Creighton had a balanced offensive effort, as all 5 starters scored in double-figures. Scheierman had his BIG EAST-leading sixteenth double-double of the 12 months with 15 factors and 13 rebounds. Kalkbrenner (23) and Alexander (19) had been joined within the scoring column by Miller (10) and Ashworth (10). Creighton shot 56.5 % from the sector and made 10-of-17 three-point photographs (a season-high 58.8 %). The Bluejays received the board battle 38-26 and zipped previous Akron 13-2 in quick break factors.
Freeman earned his nation-leading thirty first double-double of the season to steer Akron, ending with 21 factors and 14 rebounds. Ali completed with 14 factors earlier than fouling out. The Zips shot 37.9 % from the sector and made simply 6-of-28 three-point tries. Akron ends its season with a 24-11 mark.
A sport time and tv community will likely be introduced on the conclusion of as we speak’s video games.
NOTES: Ryan Kalkbrenner grew to become Creighton’s second participant ever to look in 4 totally different NCAA Tournaments, becoming a member of Kyle Korver … This afternoon was Creighton’s two hundredth sport as a workforce whereas ranked within the Related Press underneath Greg McDermott. The Bluejays are 140-60 in these contests … Creighton made a three-pointer for the 1,018th straight sport … Baylor Scheierman made a three-pointer for the twenty first straight sport, and 79th time in his final 80 video games. Scheierman’s first three-pointer was additionally his one centesimal of the season, one thing solely Kyle Korver (2x) and Ethan Wragge had performed beforehand in Creighton historical past … At the moment was Creighton’s 99th straight sport on tv … Baylor Scheierman handed Kyle Korver for essentially the most three-point makes an attempt by a participant in CU single-season historical past … Isaac Traudt had his first blocked shot of the season … Baylor Scheierman (287) grew to become the primary Creighton participant with a number of seasons of 300 rebounds since Bob Portman in 1967-68 and 1968-69 … Creighton improved to 19-25 all-time within the NCAA Event, together with a 13-12 mark in its opening sport and 2-1 as a No. 3 seed … Creighton is now 4-1 all-time in opposition to Akron, and 2-0 in postseason play … Creighton performed its 52nd straight sport with out a participant fouling out, the nation’s longest streak since not less than 2005-06 … Ryan Kalkbrenner (97) grew to become the second participant in CU historical past to dam 100 photographs in a season, becoming a member of Benoit Benjamin who did it twice … Creighton’s 58.8 % taking pictures from deep was a program file for an NCAA Event sport … Ryan Kalkbrenner, Baylor Scheierman and Trey Alexander all recorded 15+ factors and 5+ rebounds in as we speak’s win. They’re simply second BIG EAST trio to do that in a NCAA Event sport during the last 10 years, the opposite being Xavier’s J.P. Macura, Trevon Bluiett and Kerem Kanter within the 2018 Spherical of 64 vs Texas Southern … Creighton scored 77 factors as we speak, all from its starters. The final workforce to attain that many factors in an NCAA Event sport regardless of having zero from its bench was Rutgers (87 factors) in a Play-In Spherical loss to Notre Dame in 2022. The final workforce to attain 77+ with zero bench factors in a WIN, was Minnesota (86 vs Louisville) within the 2019 Spherical of 64. The final BIG EAST faculty to do that (no matter end result) was Windfall within the a 1997 Elite-8 loss to Arizona (92 factors).
Thursday, March 21, 2024
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
PPG Paints Area
Creighton Bluejays
Media Convention
Creighton – 77, Akron – 60 Milwaukee,
MODERATOR: We’ll begin with a gap assertion from Coach Greg McDermott. Coach?
GREG McDERMOTT: Initially, congratulations to Coach Groce, his employees and his workforce on an exceptional 12 months. I gained a brand new appreciation for the job he does in our preparation for Akron. That workforce was very related defensively, very unselfish on the offensive finish, and as I discussed a pair days in the past, they misplaced a number of shut video games that had been actually not removed from profitable 30 video games this 12 months.
So that they had our utmost respect, and I feel you noticed, particularly within the first half, you understand, it is a high quality, high quality workforce that we beat as we speak. So we’re excited as a result of we beat a very good basketball workforce. And pleased with our guys. I believed we took actually good photographs, and after we take actually good photographs, we’re a fairly good basketball workforce. And we gotta clear up some issues with among the turnovers, however defensively I believed we adjusted as the sport went on and did a a lot better job within the second half.
MODERATOR: Questions for the student-athletes.
Q. Baylor, what flipped in these final couple minutes earlier than halftime? You guys go on the run and do not look again from there. What modified?
BAYLOR SCHEIERMAN: I feel we had been in a position to get some stops in a row and on the offensive finish get photographs. And like coach mentioned, we actually struggled with turnovers within the first half and within the final 4 minutes we had been in a position to maintain the ball and get photographs and stops and after we had been ready to do this, that is after we actually gained some separation.
Q. Felt like Akron, although they had been hitting photographs, had been taking part in at your guys’ most well-liked tempo. Did you’re feeling like as the primary half wore on and the second half acquired going that that began to put on into them?
RYAN KALKBRENNER: Yeah, that is form of how we strategy a whole lot of video games is, even firstly of the sport some tempo might not give us a whole lot of buckets early on as a result of the opposite workforce is contemporary, however we play at that tempo and observe at that tempo on a regular basis, so we will hold that up for 40 minutes. Not each workforce we play in opposition to can. So once you begin sporting into them like that you simply begin to get just a few straightforward baskets or just a few attractiveness since you’re operating the opposite workforce. So I feel that undoubtedly helped us towards the top of the primary half and finish of the second half.
Q. What modified defensively for you within the second half within the job you probably did on Enrique Freeman?
RYAN KALKBRENNER: I feel it is a bit of bit getting used to how he performs. You may watch somebody on movie loads and get as used to it as you possibly can, however on the finish of the day he is a extremely good participant and simply made some psychological changes as to how I wished to protect him within the submit and did a bit of higher job. He nonetheless acquired just a few buckets as a result of he is a extremely good participant, however yeah simply having the ability to make changes within the sport.
Q. Mason, when do you know that one thing was going best for you and what sort of an impression once you’re hitting your photographs like that may that make in your workforce and in your teammates?
MASON MILLER: Truthfully, I imply simply each single day, I imply, I work on my shot each single day, so I form of come into the sport anticipating to make photographs like that. I suppose simply operating to the nook, getting open appears and taking part in throughout the offensive form of helps the workforce loads, particularly when we’ve got nice gamers like Ryan and Baylor over right here having the ability to area the ground for them, it is enormous for them.
Q. For any of you guys, the expertise you guys have at this stage, how did that assist as we speak and the way can that aid you the remainder of the match?
BAYLOR SCHEIERMAN: I simply suppose the sport is 40 minutes lengthy and there is a whole lot of ups and downs that go all through a basketball sport, and clearly within the first half there was some issues that did not go proper for us they usually had been form of hanging with us and whatnot, however then we had been in a position to get stops and get a sport of runs and we had been in a position to go on ours and proceed with it. So I feel the expertise of understanding that the sport is 40 minutes and something can occur, I feel that helps us out.
Q. Baylor, is there no matter opponent all the time a problem that comes with the primary sport of the match simply getting the kinks out of the best way and discovering your rhythm?
BAYLOR SCHEIERMAN: Yeah, I feel so. Clearly it is a — the match is so enjoyable and never all people will get to participate of it. And the beginning of the sport, the ambiance is just a bit totally different than an everyday sport. And no matter who you play the primary spherical, a whole lot of instances it may be actually robust. I imply, final 12 months at NC State it was a tricky sport. This 12 months, identical factor. So no matter your opponent, the primary sport is all the time a problem.
MODERATOR: All proper. Thanks. Pupil-athletes might be dismissed.
MODERATOR: Questions for coach McDermott.
Q. I do not know what you had been saying to them within the huddle as that first half was happening, however clearly each groups had been making a whole lot of photographs. Did you get a way that due to the best way the tempo was going that Akron wasn’t actually making an attempt to decelerate and play to their fashion, that you simply guys had been finally going to interrupt by means of?
GREG McDERMOTT: Among the issues I mentioned within the huddle I am unable to repeat to you. And that does not occur with me fairly often. However I used to be not stunned that they got here at us in transition. In watching them play, they’re opportunistic, however they’ve a whole lot of guys that may deal with it in transition and lead the break. So I used to be not stunned they got here at us the best way that they did.
We had some psychological errors that allowed them to form of get going, and Freeman banks in his first three. That is a nervy shot for a man that does not shoot loads. Kalkbrenner makes one, too. But when the primary one would not go in with the financial institution, perhaps he is not as snug. Probably the most he is ever shot in a sport this 12 months was three, and he shot 47 on the 12 months. So we actually did not suppose coming in that he can be keen to shoot eight three-point photographs. So we needed to alter, clearly, as the sport went on.
Q. Greg, how a lot did you form of financial institution on that, when it began to show into form of a one-on-one there with Kalkbrenner and Freeman that the remainder of your guys, the supporting forged, would begin to get open appears the best way that they did?
GREG McDERMOTT: Yeah, particularly when Freeman picked up just a few fouls, that takes away a bit of little bit of his aggressiveness, and that is naturally going to occur once you’re in foul bother. In order we acquired that lead, we made it some extent to play by means of Kalkbrenner. And I believed the blokes did a very good job of selecting their spots. And like I mentioned within the open, the 17 three-point photographs, we had a pair we had to absorb late clock conditions, however I feel they had been actually good threes for us in opposition to a workforce that is been a lead all season of taking away threes and ensuring the share, I feel the workforce shot 30 % in opposition to Akron on the season from three. So to do what we did offensively in opposition to what I take into account a really defensive workforce can be a credit score to our workforce.
Q. Coach, that is the fourth 12 months in a row that you simply guys have received a match sport and you’ve got now handed all different Creighton coaches mixed for many wins within the NCAA Event. To have 4 years in a row the place you will get a win in March and to have the success that you have had, what does that say about this workforce that they will carry out presently of 12 months?
GREG McDERMOTT: Effectively, to begin with, you by no means take with no consideration getting right here, as a result of it is actually tough. What’s it, 16 or 17 % of the Division I groups get within the match? That is not very many. And there was a whole lot of disappointment on Choice Sunday with groups throughout the nation that felt they had been deserving they usually did not get in. So the very first thing you do is you recognize the chance, and then you definitely have fun the issues that you have performed to get right here. Like I informed the blokes within the locker room earlier than the sport, we discuss course of all 12 months lengthy, trusting the method, trusting your work. You recognize, that course of is what led us to right here. And that course of is what is going on to provide us hopefully a possibility to form of end the job and hold advancing on this match. However I’ve had — actually solely a kind of groups was an inexperienced workforce. The workforce when — three years in the past when Nembhard harm acquired harm and Trey needed to slide to the purpose guard place and we had been taking part in some freshmen, Alex O’Connell had solely transferred in for one 12 months, Ryan Hawkins for one 12 months. The remainder of the groups, we have had some fairly good expertise within the match, and I feel that actually helps you once you come again. You recognize what to anticipate. Groups which are right here the primary time are taking footage and doing all that after they go on the courtroom. Our guys as we speak had been like, all proper, that is the place we anticipated to be. What are we going to do, and let’s do it and get out of right here.
So we actually recognize the chance to play within the match, and we hope we’re blessed to have the ability to stick round until Saturday and we’ll attempt to give it our greatest.
Q. Greg, I am simply curious what you might need mentioned to Kalkbrenner once you pulled him over to the sideline on that made breakaway that did not precisely go the best manner.
GREG McDERMOTT: Effectively, he had one early within the season the place he tried to interrupt a press by himself, which was the primary time that I would ever seen that within the 4 years that I’ve coached him. At the moment was the primary as nicely. So we had been chuckling about — he mentioned he thought of going behind his again on the finish. That is what introduced my chuckle. However he performs the sport the best manner, he performs with emotion. You may inform he likes to play the sport. Impacts the sport in so many ways in which do not present up on the stats sheet. In order that was a enjoyable second for each of us.
Q. As the sport wore on, I do know it is by design defensively, I do know you gave up some offensive rebounds, however you probably did drive them to take the photographs that you simply designed your protection to drive groups to take. How did that execution ramp up as the sport went on?
GREG McDERMOTT: I imply, we needed to make some changes when the bigs had been hitting threes. So we needed to change a bit of bit extra, after which we acquired cross-matched just a few instances. However I believed early within the second half, I believed — I am unable to bear in mind who hit him. I feel Johnson hit a pair robust twos the place we went over the display screen, we had been there. He hits a 16, 17 footer with a hand in his face. That is form of what we’re making an attempt to do. So I used to be joyful, actually, after the primary seven or eight minutes of the sport. I believed we settled in a bit of bit higher defensively. However credit score to them, additionally they made some robust photographs.
Q. I do know you had been locked into your sport. I am questioning how a lot you had been conscious of what was happening in Omaha with Duquesne, which is the host faculty right here, and beating BYU, and the group’s response to that. At instances throughout your sport, whether or not the identical factor was occurring again house?
GREG McDERMOTT: It was a bit of unusual to play the sport with that happening, by the best way as a result of the cheers and the ooohs and ahs did not actually match as much as what was happening on the ground in entrance of us. In order that was considerably difficult for our guys. However I had noticed within the locker room earlier than I left that that they had the lead and clearly noticed the response. Keith’s been a good friend of mine a very long time. We coached in opposition to one another again after I was at Northern Iowa and Creighton was within the Valley and he was at Akron. We have identified one another a very long time. What a good way for him to exit as his profession is winding down. However he is all the time been a terrific coach. He is tremendously revered in our career, and good issues occur to good individuals typically, and he deserved that. So I am actually joyful for him and his program and, particularly his household with among the issues they are going by means of.
MODERATOR: Thanks, Coach. Congratulations.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports activities
142241-1-2377 2024-03-21 20:05:00 GMT
Thursday, March 21, 2024
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
PPG Paints Area
Akron Zips
Coach John Groce
Enrique Freeman
Greg Tribble
Ali Ali
Media Convention
JOHN GROCE: Clearly did not fairly go the best way that we had deliberate or wished it to. Give Creighton a whole lot of credit score. I believed they had been actually difficult to protect. I felt that manner coming into the sport. I believed it was necessary that we had useful possessions on offense and scored. And I believed we acquired some fairly good photographs. We made them early. Did not make as lots of them within the second half, however I believed they had been good ones, and the sport acquired away from us just a bit bit there. However give them credit score. They are a good basketball workforce, however I am actually pleased with these guys, pleased with our entire workforce, however particularly, senior class and what they’ve meant to our program, in some instances 5 years, 4 years, two years and one 12 months between the 5 guys. And what they’ve performed for our program, and it isn’t simply the profitable. You recognize, clearly that is the half that you simply get to see is the three championships over 5 years and the win share and all that that these guys have been in a position to attain. Nevertheless it’s greater than that to me. It is the people who they’re, the people who they’ve change into, the leaders that they have been, the best way they’re on campus, the best way they deal with individuals, the teammates that they have been, their work capability, their dedication to being nice, their dedication to one another, how a lot they care about one another, and the way a lot they care about profitable. And in a day and age the place our society can are usually the other of that or 180 of that or there’s selfishness and all that with groups, and the truth that we did not have any of that makes this group actually, actually, actually particular. It has been an actual privilege to educate them and to work with them. Like I mentioned, Kaleb one 12 months, Sammy two years, Ali 4 and Reque and Greg 5. Simply very, very grateful and really feel very blessed. Wished we would have performed a bit of bit higher as we speak, however proper now I form of have an angle of gratitude for these three guys and Thornton and Hunter, who aren’t up right here.
MODERATOR: Questions for student-athletes.
Q. Enrique, you went from getting dragged to open tryouts and now in March Insanity, I do not know if anyone’s informed you, I am certain you understand, although, most double doubles, third in NCAA Division I historical past. How does that really feel to form of end this a part of your story?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: I imply, clearly the accolades really feel good, however like Coach mentioned, I am simply in actual good gratitude with how this workforce, all through the complete season, all through my complete time right here, we labored very exhausting, and I feel we did one thing very particular in Akron, and I am glad we had been in a position to placed on for the town.
Q. Ali, what does it imply so that you can form of end off your story coming again to Akron, you get again to March Insanity and end it out along with your guys? Clearly not the best way you wished the sport to finish, however your story as a complete, speak concerning the ending for you.
ALI ALI: Clearly not the perfect ending that we wished, however I acquired to exit with the people who I care about essentially the most, you understand, outdoors of my household again house. Truthfully, like, these are like my brothers. I do not actually acquired too many associates again house. These are the blokes I am round loads. So if I’ll lose, I’ll lose with them. If I’ll win, I’ll win with them. That was a giant a part of coming again understanding I might remorse it if I did not end out my faculty profession with these guys within the locker room.
Q. What labored within the first half? What did you suppose would work along with your sport plan? Simply converse concerning the begin you guys had.
GREG TRIBBLE: I felt like we had been making a whole lot of photographs within the first half which led to — they can not get out in transition as a lot in case you are making photographs. And I really feel like within the second half we weren’t making as many photographs and we began playing they usually’re a extremely good workforce on offense, and as soon as they begin getting open photographs it is exhausting to cease them from making photographs. So that they had been simply actual good in transition, and we simply did not have good transition protection tonight.
Q. Enrique, simply that first half, the top on an 8-0 run that extends 28 to eight, I consider. Kalkbrenner, Alexander, Scheierman are all concerned. How tough was that match-up, and for you particularly, Kalkbrenner?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: He is a giant participant. He has good measurement, however I feel match-up clever, we did a very good job. I believed the complete sport tried to remove their good tendencies, however total I feel they simply caught us in transition they usually’re actually good on the three-point line. So that they hit some good threes.
Q. Enrique, are you able to discuss what the banging inside and drawing him defensively outdoors with the threes, what was that tempo like for you and did it take a toll as the sport went on, the frenetic first six minutes?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: I imply, I do not suppose it took a toll. I simply suppose I acquired in foul bother and we determine to place Sammy on him. However that is what bigs do. We go down there and we’re bodily, attempt to catch them outdoors the submit. I do know I had a very good submit place and he struggled after I was utilizing my strikes. So it is simply basketball.
Q. From speaking to you guys, I do know that you simply thought psychological toughness actually carried you thru the Mac match and right here, however you did not play your greatest. I am certain you guys suppose that as we speak wasn’t your greatest. So what do you suppose form of simply prevented it from being — reaching your full potential as a gaggle relating to the expertise and expertise you guys have?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: I feel — potential clever, I feel our workforce is reaching our potential. You recognize, I feel our complete season there was ebbs and flows all through the complete season, however on this sport, some video games you get out shot. Merely it. I do not suppose any of our guys stop. None of our guys did not cease taking part in exhausting. Everyone gave their greatest efforts till the shot clock went off. So all we will do is check out the drafting board and hopefully these freshmen, juniors and sophomores are available in subsequent season and see that and use that as a possibility to study.
Q. Enrique, you got here out and banked in a three-pointer to start and I feel you took like eight of them. I do not know. Possibly John did not design it that manner, however what was happening there with you taking pictures the threes and simply how did you’re feeling about that?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: You recognize, he performs within the paint loads. So we tried to stretch out the ground a bit of bit extra. And all people believes in my three. I have been working very exhausting on it. And I simply knocked down just a few, in order that they needed to change protection, and we determined to assault a distinct manner.
Q. This sport solely happened two hours away from house. Fairly good devoted exhibiting from the Akron crowd, and at instances within the first half, fairly energetic. How did you guys attempt to journey that momentum from the group, as nicely, and what was it like simply to see the Akron devoted right here?
GREG TRIBBLE: It meant loads. Clearly, our followers, they care about us. They present as much as each house sport. That is why we had been so good at house this 12 months. I imply, it simply feels good to see some acquainted faces in Pittsburgh, and we simply tried to feed off of that. And that is it, actually.
Q. For you three guys, you guys got here in earlier than the pandemic. You guys have been in Akron for 5 years, Enrique six as a pupil, clearly. In the event you might take us again to once you had been youngsters to now as form of grown males or adults, what’s that been like, this full expertise of faculty basketball with two match appearances?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: I imply, like I mentioned yesterday, the journey has been superb. Tremendous grateful for the journey. I would not ask for it to go any totally different. I am very pleased with what I used to be in a position to accomplish right here and all of us had been in a position to accomplish right here. And I simply — I am joyful that we’re in a position to depart on a legacy. Akron basketball, Akron tradition. We have performed a whole lot of profitable, and we wish to simply cross on the torch. These guys in 2019, 2020 handed the torch to us. Time for us to cross the torch.
ALI ALI: I might say I am undoubtedly appreciative of the run we have had the final 4 or 5 years, and simply wanting again, like, clearly as a child, center schooler, highschool, like for me, not having a DI supply, senior 12 months beginning like Groce coming in giving me one likelihood, and nobody else giving me an opportunity popping out of highschool. So I feel simply coming into this match has been the story of our lives, all the time been underdogs. So I imply, I am simply grateful and appreciative for all of the individuals I’ve met on the best way.
GREG TRIBBLE: I am simply grateful for the chance of Coach Groce and the teaching employees for even believing in me to come back to this college. Simply instructing the youthful guys, simply do not take it with no consideration. You recognize, clearly, we put in a whole lot of work to get to the place we’re at now to do as a lot profitable as we’ve got, and simply instructing them, that is what it is all about. Simply instructing them that you simply simply cannot take it with no consideration. You gotta work exhausting each day.
MODERATOR: Thanks, student-athletes. All proper. Questions for Coach Groce.
Q. Coach, did the primary half form of go in accordance with plan or was there a giant deviation from what you thought?
JOHN GROCE: Till the final couple minutes. I believed that was the largest juncture within the sport. We had been up 34-31 with about two minutes to go within the half after which they went on an 8-0 run. I believed that was the largest two minutes of the sport. So give them credit score. We had a pair possessions there the place we did not get matched up in transition. The blokes alluded to that. You recognize, we had a questionable shot, you understand, could not fairly get the ball a few instances the place we wished to get it. However for essentially the most half, aside from these two minutes, we performed the sport plan to precision, fairly frankly. We actually did. Terry was speaking about Freeman’s eight threes. I truly hoped he’d get 15 up.
Q. Coach, you began off the sport with Enrique Freeman up prime taking these eight threes all through the sport. You had Sammy Hunter within the submit. Is that one thing you guys had deliberate for?
JOHN GROCE: Loads of it is primarily based on how Kalkbrenner performs defensively. For my part, he makes them go defensively. So the blokes are actually good, give good effort. However you are speaking concerning the three time Large East Defensive Participant of the Yr. He is huge, as Rique mentioned. So I’ve acquired confidence in Enrique and Sammy to shoot the ball from the three-point line and past. In order that was a part of it, making an attempt to get him out of the paint a bit of bit. Give them credit score, Greg made a change, like good coaches like him do, and altered his protection a bit of bit. However I believed Ali was efficient within the first half. I believed the decide and roll sport was efficient within the first half. I believed we did a whole lot of actually good issues. Till their run the final two minutes, as the unique query was requested there, I do not know if it might have went a lot better.
Second juncture of the sport that I believed acquired away from us was the beginning of the second half. We simply weren’t — weren’t fairly as efficient as we had been the primary 18 minutes, after which we had been taking part in behind from there.
Q. John, given Enrique’s journey, how robust is it, then, subbing him out with 1:23 to go understanding you are not going to have him once more?
JOHN GROCE: Robust. It is not simply because pretty much as good of participant a as he’s. That is a part of it. Nevertheless it’s the particular person he’s, the chief, the teammate, how coachable he’s, his work ethic, how a lot he cares about different individuals. I’ve nicknamed him the unicorn for a cause.
Q. Coach, in that second half, when the offense is not executing, looks like photographs are discovering any and each method to not fall. What is the message to your workforce?
JOHN GROCE: Effectively, my entire deal, and it’s each sport, it is the standard of the shot that is necessary to me. I consider in them that they will make good photographs. So I am extra involved concerning the high quality of the shot we’re getting. I believed turnovers can be huge for us, and you’ll have a look at the stats. We solely turned it 5 instances the complete sport, which is nice. I believed defensive rebounding can be a bonus for us. They acquired us a bit of bit on the glass there throughout that one stretch that I used to be a bit of disenchanted in. We missed a block-out on Mason Miller and a pair guys there that ended up throughout that stretch of two or three minutes after I talked concerning the unhealthy begin a bit of bit to the second half the place it form of acquired away from us a bit of bit. I believed that offensive rebounding by them was part of that. However, you understand, yeah. Clearly you wish to make photographs. Proper? Who would not wish to make photographs? We have taken a whole lot of satisfaction in having a whole lot of psychological toughness of having the ability to play by means of stretches. We had a semifinal sport in Cleveland the place we scored 16 factors within the first half and had 13 turnovers and we had been solely down ten as a result of our protection was so good. Then we scored 50 within the second half and shot the duvet off the ball.
So that you wish to make photographs. I do suppose should you can rebound and maintain the ball and defend, you are all the time going to have an opportunity. However this was a bit of distinctive as we speak. Their offense, as the blokes had been alluding to, was simply prolific. Noticed it on movie coming into the sport, felt that manner in the course of the sport. My opinion hasn’t modified on that. Simply have a whole lot of solutions offensively. They have measurement on the rim and a man that may rating within the submit. They have a number of play makers, nice passers. And so they shoot the ball from three very nicely. You are not going to search out very many nights the place you’ve got acquired all 4 or 5 of these guys that shoot threes for them to all be off in the identical evening. After which they run great things.
So I knew it was going to be a problem to cease them. Once more, I believed the important thing can be might we hold scoring, and clearly we had been ready to do this for about 18 minutes however weren’t fairly in a position to maintain that for the remaining 22 minutes.
Q. Coach, you used the phrase prolific to explain their offense. Was there an offense this season, whether or not or not it’s common season or MAC match or nonconference, that ready you for what they create with Kalkbrenner and Alexander and Scheierman?
JOHN GROCE: No. I imply, I feel they’re pretty much as good of an offensive workforce when it comes to their personnel, their mix of measurement, taking pictures, play making, what they run offensively. They’re pretty much as good of an offensive workforce as we have went in opposition to in my seven years at Akron.
Q. You’ve got been on this state of affairs earlier than after being eradicated within the NCAA Event. Simply curious, what do you say to your workforce afterwards within the locker room?
JOHN GROCE: I simply informed them how proud I used to be of them. I addressed the sport briefly, and clearly did not go the best way that we wished it to or envisioned or deliberate for it to. Give Creighton credit score. However simply informed them how grateful I used to be for what I simply mentioned on the outset of this; 5 years, 4 years, two years, one 12 months, particularly these seniors, and actually all of them. You recognize, I loved being with them, teaching them. They’re an awesome group of fellows. As Freeman has mentioned a number of instances, we do not have a nasty apple in our locker room. That does not imply we do not undergo instances which are robust. All of us do, proper? You guys do, we do. Nevertheless it’s the individuals you do it with, how a lot you care about one another. We had good individuals in there, and it made it tremendous gratifying, and I am simply grateful to have had the chance to educate them. These guys will all the time be part of not solely the Akron household, however my private household. You recognize, I really like them. They’re nice, nice, nice guys.
Q. John, Enrique mentioned he was joyful to have the ability to depart a legacy. How would you outline the legacy?
JOHN GROCE: Effectively, that is an advanced query, proper? As a result of what you see is the profitable, you understand, the profitable share total, league play, the most effective within the league, the championships, the banners, all that. And that is actually part of it. However I feel it is extra of — and a few the younger guys simply spoke after the older guys had an opportunity to talk within the locker room about how grateful they had been that guys taught them what exhausting work appeared like. You recognize, what management appeared like, what being an awesome teammate appeared like, what being at a do-both place, which means, we count on you to get it performed academically and earn your diploma and make progress in direction of diploma whereas additionally taking part in at a excessive stage, what that appears like. You recognize, all these guys you noticed up right here, plus Hunter and Thornton, exemplified that every day. And they also had been in a position to see all that and really feel all that. So to me it is greater than all of the profitable. That is actually part of it. However once more, it is who they’re as individuals, who they’re as college students, the truth that they will recover from themselves and care about any individual aside from themselves, you understand, only a particular group.
Q. Clearly, the loss continues to be contemporary, however all three guys touched on passing that torch within the legacy of Akron basketball. What does the way forward for Akron basketball appear like in your eyes?
JOHN GROCE: Effectively, for us proper now, clearly, I am making an attempt to course of this one, proper? However on the finish of the day, we wish to proceed to fill our locker room with people who care about one another and care about profitable. That is what these guys would let you know. It is actually not any extra sophisticated than that. Do you care about one another, actually take care of one another, maintain one another, and do you care about profitable forward of non-public agenda? Proper? Sounds apparent, sounds straightforward. It is not. You recognize, in order that was their mentality. I feel the youthful guys noticed that. And we wish to proceed to construct on that.
Q. I do know you’d want to be becoming a member of him within the spherical of 32, however do you may have any message to your previous good friend and rival Keith Dambrot?
JOHN GROCE: I will do this most likely a bit of later. I have not had an opportunity to do this. So I have been occupied with what we’re doing proper now.
Q. Are you able to inform us what you may inform him or speak to him about afterward?
JOHN GROCE: Normally he and I — I mentioned this earlier, we’ll textual content or we’ll name and I am joyful for him, clearly, and what he is been in a position to do. I feel you have a look at the final time that they had been within the match, I feel, was the ’70s. Is that right? Yeah. So it is actually — it is superior, you understand, what he is been in a position to do. And I am joyful for him and Donna with the retirement, and Keith’s a giant cause why I ended up come to go Akron. I mentioned that earlier, was due to Keith and all of the success that he had had and the battles that we had after I was at Ohio, and the familiarity with Akron and Northeast Ohio due to my time within the state at so many Ohio universities. And so, I had nice familiarity with Akron and was drawn to that. However largely due to Keith.
MODERATOR: Thanks, Coach. Admire your time.
JOHN GROCE: Positive.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports activities
142246-1-2377 2024-03-21 20:31:00 GMT
PITTSBURGH, Pa. — No. 11 Creighton closed the primary half on an 8-0 run and by no means appeared again in a 77-60 win over 14th-seeded Akron in NCAA Event First Spherical motion at PPG Paints Area in Pittsburgh, Pa., on Thursday afternoon.
The Bluejays improved to 24-9 with the win and can play on Saturday in opposition to Eleventh-seeded Oregon, which defeated sixth-seeded South Carolina.
Creighton took a 39-34 lead into the break after a fast-paced first half that noticed each groups join with regularity from three-point vary early on. Creighton made its first 5 three-point makes an attempt, whereas nationwide rebounding chief Enrique Freeman buried three three-pointers within the first 5 minutes. The groups exchanged six leads and it was tied 9 instances earlier than the break, with Creighton scoring the ultimate eight factors to assert a 39-34 lead. That run featured three-pointers by Trey Alexander and Mason Miller earlier than a hoop from Baylor Scheierman to finish the half.
Ryan Kalkbrenner and Alexander every had 11 factors on the break for CU, whereas Scheierman had eight factors and 7 rebounds. CU shot 60 % within the first half (15-25), together with 7-of-10 (70 %) from three-point vary. Akron was led by 15 factors and eight rebounds by Freeman, whereas Ali Ali added 10 factors.
The Bluejays rode that momentum out of the break as Miller and Scheierman buried triples to push the result in 9 (45-36), however Creighton pulled away for good with a 10-0 run that pushed its result in 59-42 after Miller related on his third triple of the competition.
Creighton had a balanced offensive effort, as all 5 starters scored in double-figures. Scheierman had his BIG EAST-leading sixteenth double-double of the 12 months with 15 factors and 13 rebounds. Kalkbrenner (23) and Alexander (19) had been joined within the scoring column by Miller (10) and Ashworth (10). Creighton shot 56.5 % from the sector and made 10-of-17 three-point photographs (a season-high 58.8 %). The Bluejays received the board battle 38-26 and zipped previous Akron 13-2 in quick break factors.
Freeman earned his nation-leading thirty first double-double of the season to steer Akron, ending with 21 factors and 14 rebounds. Ali completed with 14 factors earlier than fouling out. The Zips shot 37.9 % from the sector and made simply 6-of-28 three-point tries. Akron ends its season with a 24-11 mark.
A sport time and tv community will likely be introduced on the conclusion of as we speak’s video games.
NOTES: Ryan Kalkbrenner grew to become Creighton’s second participant ever to look in 4 totally different NCAA Tournaments, becoming a member of Kyle Korver … This afternoon was Creighton’s two hundredth sport as a workforce whereas ranked within the Related Press underneath Greg McDermott. The Bluejays are 140-60 in these contests … Creighton made a three-pointer for the 1,018th straight sport … Baylor Scheierman made a three-pointer for the twenty first straight sport, and 79th time in his final 80 video games. Scheierman’s first three-pointer was additionally his one centesimal of the season, one thing solely Kyle Korver (2x) and Ethan Wragge had performed beforehand in Creighton historical past … At the moment was Creighton’s 99th straight sport on tv … Baylor Scheierman handed Kyle Korver for essentially the most three-point makes an attempt by a participant in CU single-season historical past … Isaac Traudt had his first blocked shot of the season … Baylor Scheierman (287) grew to become the primary Creighton participant with a number of seasons of 300 rebounds since Bob Portman in 1967-68 and 1968-69 … Creighton improved to 19-25 all-time within the NCAA Event, together with a 13-12 mark in its opening sport and 2-1 as a No. 3 seed … Creighton is now 4-1 all-time in opposition to Akron, and 2-0 in postseason play … Creighton performed its 52nd straight sport with out a participant fouling out, the nation’s longest streak since not less than 2005-06 … Ryan Kalkbrenner (97) grew to become the second participant in CU historical past to dam 100 photographs in a season, becoming a member of Benoit Benjamin who did it twice … Creighton’s 58.8 % taking pictures from deep was a program file for an NCAA Event sport … Ryan Kalkbrenner, Baylor Scheierman and Trey Alexander all recorded 15+ factors and 5+ rebounds in as we speak’s win. They’re simply second BIG EAST trio to do that in a NCAA Event sport during the last 10 years, the opposite being Xavier’s J.P. Macura, Trevon Bluiett and Kerem Kanter within the 2018 Spherical of 64 vs Texas Southern … Creighton scored 77 factors as we speak, all from its starters. The final workforce to attain that many factors in an NCAA Event sport regardless of having zero from its bench was Rutgers (87 factors) in a Play-In Spherical loss to Notre Dame in 2022. The final workforce to attain 77+ with zero bench factors in a WIN, was Minnesota (86 vs Louisville) within the 2019 Spherical of 64. The final BIG EAST faculty to do that (no matter end result) was Windfall within the a 1997 Elite-8 loss to Arizona (92 factors).
Thursday, March 21, 2024
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
PPG Paints Area
Creighton Bluejays
Media Convention
Creighton – 77, Akron – 60 Milwaukee,
MODERATOR: We’ll begin with a gap assertion from Coach Greg McDermott. Coach?
GREG McDERMOTT: Initially, congratulations to Coach Groce, his employees and his workforce on an exceptional 12 months. I gained a brand new appreciation for the job he does in our preparation for Akron. That workforce was very related defensively, very unselfish on the offensive finish, and as I discussed a pair days in the past, they misplaced a number of shut video games that had been actually not removed from profitable 30 video games this 12 months.
So that they had our utmost respect, and I feel you noticed, particularly within the first half, you understand, it is a high quality, high quality workforce that we beat as we speak. So we’re excited as a result of we beat a very good basketball workforce. And pleased with our guys. I believed we took actually good photographs, and after we take actually good photographs, we’re a fairly good basketball workforce. And we gotta clear up some issues with among the turnovers, however defensively I believed we adjusted as the sport went on and did a a lot better job within the second half.
MODERATOR: Questions for the student-athletes.
Q. Baylor, what flipped in these final couple minutes earlier than halftime? You guys go on the run and do not look again from there. What modified?
BAYLOR SCHEIERMAN: I feel we had been in a position to get some stops in a row and on the offensive finish get photographs. And like coach mentioned, we actually struggled with turnovers within the first half and within the final 4 minutes we had been in a position to maintain the ball and get photographs and stops and after we had been ready to do this, that is after we actually gained some separation.
Q. Felt like Akron, although they had been hitting photographs, had been taking part in at your guys’ most well-liked tempo. Did you’re feeling like as the primary half wore on and the second half acquired going that that began to put on into them?
RYAN KALKBRENNER: Yeah, that is form of how we strategy a whole lot of video games is, even firstly of the sport some tempo might not give us a whole lot of buckets early on as a result of the opposite workforce is contemporary, however we play at that tempo and observe at that tempo on a regular basis, so we will hold that up for 40 minutes. Not each workforce we play in opposition to can. So once you begin sporting into them like that you simply begin to get just a few straightforward baskets or just a few attractiveness since you’re operating the opposite workforce. So I feel that undoubtedly helped us towards the top of the primary half and finish of the second half.
Q. What modified defensively for you within the second half within the job you probably did on Enrique Freeman?
RYAN KALKBRENNER: I feel it is a bit of bit getting used to how he performs. You may watch somebody on movie loads and get as used to it as you possibly can, however on the finish of the day he is a extremely good participant and simply made some psychological changes as to how I wished to protect him within the submit and did a bit of higher job. He nonetheless acquired just a few buckets as a result of he is a extremely good participant, however yeah simply having the ability to make changes within the sport.
Q. Mason, when do you know that one thing was going best for you and what sort of an impression once you’re hitting your photographs like that may that make in your workforce and in your teammates?
MASON MILLER: Truthfully, I imply simply each single day, I imply, I work on my shot each single day, so I form of come into the sport anticipating to make photographs like that. I suppose simply operating to the nook, getting open appears and taking part in throughout the offensive form of helps the workforce loads, particularly when we’ve got nice gamers like Ryan and Baylor over right here having the ability to area the ground for them, it is enormous for them.
Q. For any of you guys, the expertise you guys have at this stage, how did that assist as we speak and the way can that aid you the remainder of the match?
BAYLOR SCHEIERMAN: I simply suppose the sport is 40 minutes lengthy and there is a whole lot of ups and downs that go all through a basketball sport, and clearly within the first half there was some issues that did not go proper for us they usually had been form of hanging with us and whatnot, however then we had been in a position to get stops and get a sport of runs and we had been in a position to go on ours and proceed with it. So I feel the expertise of understanding that the sport is 40 minutes and something can occur, I feel that helps us out.
Q. Baylor, is there no matter opponent all the time a problem that comes with the primary sport of the match simply getting the kinks out of the best way and discovering your rhythm?
BAYLOR SCHEIERMAN: Yeah, I feel so. Clearly it is a — the match is so enjoyable and never all people will get to participate of it. And the beginning of the sport, the ambiance is just a bit totally different than an everyday sport. And no matter who you play the primary spherical, a whole lot of instances it may be actually robust. I imply, final 12 months at NC State it was a tricky sport. This 12 months, identical factor. So no matter your opponent, the primary sport is all the time a problem.
MODERATOR: All proper. Thanks. Pupil-athletes might be dismissed.
MODERATOR: Questions for coach McDermott.
Q. I do not know what you had been saying to them within the huddle as that first half was happening, however clearly each groups had been making a whole lot of photographs. Did you get a way that due to the best way the tempo was going that Akron wasn’t actually making an attempt to decelerate and play to their fashion, that you simply guys had been finally going to interrupt by means of?
GREG McDERMOTT: Among the issues I mentioned within the huddle I am unable to repeat to you. And that does not occur with me fairly often. However I used to be not stunned that they got here at us in transition. In watching them play, they’re opportunistic, however they’ve a whole lot of guys that may deal with it in transition and lead the break. So I used to be not stunned they got here at us the best way that they did.
We had some psychological errors that allowed them to form of get going, and Freeman banks in his first three. That is a nervy shot for a man that does not shoot loads. Kalkbrenner makes one, too. But when the primary one would not go in with the financial institution, perhaps he is not as snug. Probably the most he is ever shot in a sport this 12 months was three, and he shot 47 on the 12 months. So we actually did not suppose coming in that he can be keen to shoot eight three-point photographs. So we needed to alter, clearly, as the sport went on.
Q. Greg, how a lot did you form of financial institution on that, when it began to show into form of a one-on-one there with Kalkbrenner and Freeman that the remainder of your guys, the supporting forged, would begin to get open appears the best way that they did?
GREG McDERMOTT: Yeah, particularly when Freeman picked up just a few fouls, that takes away a bit of little bit of his aggressiveness, and that is naturally going to occur once you’re in foul bother. In order we acquired that lead, we made it some extent to play by means of Kalkbrenner. And I believed the blokes did a very good job of selecting their spots. And like I mentioned within the open, the 17 three-point photographs, we had a pair we had to absorb late clock conditions, however I feel they had been actually good threes for us in opposition to a workforce that is been a lead all season of taking away threes and ensuring the share, I feel the workforce shot 30 % in opposition to Akron on the season from three. So to do what we did offensively in opposition to what I take into account a really defensive workforce can be a credit score to our workforce.
Q. Coach, that is the fourth 12 months in a row that you simply guys have received a match sport and you’ve got now handed all different Creighton coaches mixed for many wins within the NCAA Event. To have 4 years in a row the place you will get a win in March and to have the success that you have had, what does that say about this workforce that they will carry out presently of 12 months?
GREG McDERMOTT: Effectively, to begin with, you by no means take with no consideration getting right here, as a result of it is actually tough. What’s it, 16 or 17 % of the Division I groups get within the match? That is not very many. And there was a whole lot of disappointment on Choice Sunday with groups throughout the nation that felt they had been deserving they usually did not get in. So the very first thing you do is you recognize the chance, and then you definitely have fun the issues that you have performed to get right here. Like I informed the blokes within the locker room earlier than the sport, we discuss course of all 12 months lengthy, trusting the method, trusting your work. You recognize, that course of is what led us to right here. And that course of is what is going on to provide us hopefully a possibility to form of end the job and hold advancing on this match. However I’ve had — actually solely a kind of groups was an inexperienced workforce. The workforce when — three years in the past when Nembhard harm acquired harm and Trey needed to slide to the purpose guard place and we had been taking part in some freshmen, Alex O’Connell had solely transferred in for one 12 months, Ryan Hawkins for one 12 months. The remainder of the groups, we have had some fairly good expertise within the match, and I feel that actually helps you once you come again. You recognize what to anticipate. Groups which are right here the primary time are taking footage and doing all that after they go on the courtroom. Our guys as we speak had been like, all proper, that is the place we anticipated to be. What are we going to do, and let’s do it and get out of right here.
So we actually recognize the chance to play within the match, and we hope we’re blessed to have the ability to stick round until Saturday and we’ll attempt to give it our greatest.
Q. Greg, I am simply curious what you might need mentioned to Kalkbrenner once you pulled him over to the sideline on that made breakaway that did not precisely go the best manner.
GREG McDERMOTT: Effectively, he had one early within the season the place he tried to interrupt a press by himself, which was the primary time that I would ever seen that within the 4 years that I’ve coached him. At the moment was the primary as nicely. So we had been chuckling about — he mentioned he thought of going behind his again on the finish. That is what introduced my chuckle. However he performs the sport the best manner, he performs with emotion. You may inform he likes to play the sport. Impacts the sport in so many ways in which do not present up on the stats sheet. In order that was a enjoyable second for each of us.
Q. As the sport wore on, I do know it is by design defensively, I do know you gave up some offensive rebounds, however you probably did drive them to take the photographs that you simply designed your protection to drive groups to take. How did that execution ramp up as the sport went on?
GREG McDERMOTT: I imply, we needed to make some changes when the bigs had been hitting threes. So we needed to change a bit of bit extra, after which we acquired cross-matched just a few instances. However I believed early within the second half, I believed — I am unable to bear in mind who hit him. I feel Johnson hit a pair robust twos the place we went over the display screen, we had been there. He hits a 16, 17 footer with a hand in his face. That is form of what we’re making an attempt to do. So I used to be joyful, actually, after the primary seven or eight minutes of the sport. I believed we settled in a bit of bit higher defensively. However credit score to them, additionally they made some robust photographs.
Q. I do know you had been locked into your sport. I am questioning how a lot you had been conscious of what was happening in Omaha with Duquesne, which is the host faculty right here, and beating BYU, and the group’s response to that. At instances throughout your sport, whether or not the identical factor was occurring again house?
GREG McDERMOTT: It was a bit of unusual to play the sport with that happening, by the best way as a result of the cheers and the ooohs and ahs did not actually match as much as what was happening on the ground in entrance of us. In order that was considerably difficult for our guys. However I had noticed within the locker room earlier than I left that that they had the lead and clearly noticed the response. Keith’s been a good friend of mine a very long time. We coached in opposition to one another again after I was at Northern Iowa and Creighton was within the Valley and he was at Akron. We have identified one another a very long time. What a good way for him to exit as his profession is winding down. However he is all the time been a terrific coach. He is tremendously revered in our career, and good issues occur to good individuals typically, and he deserved that. So I am actually joyful for him and his program and, particularly his household with among the issues they are going by means of.
MODERATOR: Thanks, Coach. Congratulations.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports activities
142241-1-2377 2024-03-21 20:05:00 GMT
Thursday, March 21, 2024
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
PPG Paints Area
Akron Zips
Coach John Groce
Enrique Freeman
Greg Tribble
Ali Ali
Media Convention
JOHN GROCE: Clearly did not fairly go the best way that we had deliberate or wished it to. Give Creighton a whole lot of credit score. I believed they had been actually difficult to protect. I felt that manner coming into the sport. I believed it was necessary that we had useful possessions on offense and scored. And I believed we acquired some fairly good photographs. We made them early. Did not make as lots of them within the second half, however I believed they had been good ones, and the sport acquired away from us just a bit bit there. However give them credit score. They are a good basketball workforce, however I am actually pleased with these guys, pleased with our entire workforce, however particularly, senior class and what they’ve meant to our program, in some instances 5 years, 4 years, two years and one 12 months between the 5 guys. And what they’ve performed for our program, and it isn’t simply the profitable. You recognize, clearly that is the half that you simply get to see is the three championships over 5 years and the win share and all that that these guys have been in a position to attain. Nevertheless it’s greater than that to me. It is the people who they’re, the people who they’ve change into, the leaders that they have been, the best way they’re on campus, the best way they deal with individuals, the teammates that they have been, their work capability, their dedication to being nice, their dedication to one another, how a lot they care about one another, and the way a lot they care about profitable. And in a day and age the place our society can are usually the other of that or 180 of that or there’s selfishness and all that with groups, and the truth that we did not have any of that makes this group actually, actually, actually particular. It has been an actual privilege to educate them and to work with them. Like I mentioned, Kaleb one 12 months, Sammy two years, Ali 4 and Reque and Greg 5. Simply very, very grateful and really feel very blessed. Wished we would have performed a bit of bit higher as we speak, however proper now I form of have an angle of gratitude for these three guys and Thornton and Hunter, who aren’t up right here.
MODERATOR: Questions for student-athletes.
Q. Enrique, you went from getting dragged to open tryouts and now in March Insanity, I do not know if anyone’s informed you, I am certain you understand, although, most double doubles, third in NCAA Division I historical past. How does that really feel to form of end this a part of your story?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: I imply, clearly the accolades really feel good, however like Coach mentioned, I am simply in actual good gratitude with how this workforce, all through the complete season, all through my complete time right here, we labored very exhausting, and I feel we did one thing very particular in Akron, and I am glad we had been in a position to placed on for the town.
Q. Ali, what does it imply so that you can form of end off your story coming again to Akron, you get again to March Insanity and end it out along with your guys? Clearly not the best way you wished the sport to finish, however your story as a complete, speak concerning the ending for you.
ALI ALI: Clearly not the perfect ending that we wished, however I acquired to exit with the people who I care about essentially the most, you understand, outdoors of my household again house. Truthfully, like, these are like my brothers. I do not actually acquired too many associates again house. These are the blokes I am round loads. So if I’ll lose, I’ll lose with them. If I’ll win, I’ll win with them. That was a giant a part of coming again understanding I might remorse it if I did not end out my faculty profession with these guys within the locker room.
Q. What labored within the first half? What did you suppose would work along with your sport plan? Simply converse concerning the begin you guys had.
GREG TRIBBLE: I felt like we had been making a whole lot of photographs within the first half which led to — they can not get out in transition as a lot in case you are making photographs. And I really feel like within the second half we weren’t making as many photographs and we began playing they usually’re a extremely good workforce on offense, and as soon as they begin getting open photographs it is exhausting to cease them from making photographs. So that they had been simply actual good in transition, and we simply did not have good transition protection tonight.
Q. Enrique, simply that first half, the top on an 8-0 run that extends 28 to eight, I consider. Kalkbrenner, Alexander, Scheierman are all concerned. How tough was that match-up, and for you particularly, Kalkbrenner?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: He is a giant participant. He has good measurement, however I feel match-up clever, we did a very good job. I believed the complete sport tried to remove their good tendencies, however total I feel they simply caught us in transition they usually’re actually good on the three-point line. So that they hit some good threes.
Q. Enrique, are you able to discuss what the banging inside and drawing him defensively outdoors with the threes, what was that tempo like for you and did it take a toll as the sport went on, the frenetic first six minutes?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: I imply, I do not suppose it took a toll. I simply suppose I acquired in foul bother and we determine to place Sammy on him. However that is what bigs do. We go down there and we’re bodily, attempt to catch them outdoors the submit. I do know I had a very good submit place and he struggled after I was utilizing my strikes. So it is simply basketball.
Q. From speaking to you guys, I do know that you simply thought psychological toughness actually carried you thru the Mac match and right here, however you did not play your greatest. I am certain you guys suppose that as we speak wasn’t your greatest. So what do you suppose form of simply prevented it from being — reaching your full potential as a gaggle relating to the expertise and expertise you guys have?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: I feel — potential clever, I feel our workforce is reaching our potential. You recognize, I feel our complete season there was ebbs and flows all through the complete season, however on this sport, some video games you get out shot. Merely it. I do not suppose any of our guys stop. None of our guys did not cease taking part in exhausting. Everyone gave their greatest efforts till the shot clock went off. So all we will do is check out the drafting board and hopefully these freshmen, juniors and sophomores are available in subsequent season and see that and use that as a possibility to study.
Q. Enrique, you got here out and banked in a three-pointer to start and I feel you took like eight of them. I do not know. Possibly John did not design it that manner, however what was happening there with you taking pictures the threes and simply how did you’re feeling about that?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: You recognize, he performs within the paint loads. So we tried to stretch out the ground a bit of bit extra. And all people believes in my three. I have been working very exhausting on it. And I simply knocked down just a few, in order that they needed to change protection, and we determined to assault a distinct manner.
Q. This sport solely happened two hours away from house. Fairly good devoted exhibiting from the Akron crowd, and at instances within the first half, fairly energetic. How did you guys attempt to journey that momentum from the group, as nicely, and what was it like simply to see the Akron devoted right here?
GREG TRIBBLE: It meant loads. Clearly, our followers, they care about us. They present as much as each house sport. That is why we had been so good at house this 12 months. I imply, it simply feels good to see some acquainted faces in Pittsburgh, and we simply tried to feed off of that. And that is it, actually.
Q. For you three guys, you guys got here in earlier than the pandemic. You guys have been in Akron for 5 years, Enrique six as a pupil, clearly. In the event you might take us again to once you had been youngsters to now as form of grown males or adults, what’s that been like, this full expertise of faculty basketball with two match appearances?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: I imply, like I mentioned yesterday, the journey has been superb. Tremendous grateful for the journey. I would not ask for it to go any totally different. I am very pleased with what I used to be in a position to accomplish right here and all of us had been in a position to accomplish right here. And I simply — I am joyful that we’re in a position to depart on a legacy. Akron basketball, Akron tradition. We have performed a whole lot of profitable, and we wish to simply cross on the torch. These guys in 2019, 2020 handed the torch to us. Time for us to cross the torch.
ALI ALI: I might say I am undoubtedly appreciative of the run we have had the final 4 or 5 years, and simply wanting again, like, clearly as a child, center schooler, highschool, like for me, not having a DI supply, senior 12 months beginning like Groce coming in giving me one likelihood, and nobody else giving me an opportunity popping out of highschool. So I feel simply coming into this match has been the story of our lives, all the time been underdogs. So I imply, I am simply grateful and appreciative for all of the individuals I’ve met on the best way.
GREG TRIBBLE: I am simply grateful for the chance of Coach Groce and the teaching employees for even believing in me to come back to this college. Simply instructing the youthful guys, simply do not take it with no consideration. You recognize, clearly, we put in a whole lot of work to get to the place we’re at now to do as a lot profitable as we’ve got, and simply instructing them, that is what it is all about. Simply instructing them that you simply simply cannot take it with no consideration. You gotta work exhausting each day.
MODERATOR: Thanks, student-athletes. All proper. Questions for Coach Groce.
Q. Coach, did the primary half form of go in accordance with plan or was there a giant deviation from what you thought?
JOHN GROCE: Till the final couple minutes. I believed that was the largest juncture within the sport. We had been up 34-31 with about two minutes to go within the half after which they went on an 8-0 run. I believed that was the largest two minutes of the sport. So give them credit score. We had a pair possessions there the place we did not get matched up in transition. The blokes alluded to that. You recognize, we had a questionable shot, you understand, could not fairly get the ball a few instances the place we wished to get it. However for essentially the most half, aside from these two minutes, we performed the sport plan to precision, fairly frankly. We actually did. Terry was speaking about Freeman’s eight threes. I truly hoped he’d get 15 up.
Q. Coach, you began off the sport with Enrique Freeman up prime taking these eight threes all through the sport. You had Sammy Hunter within the submit. Is that one thing you guys had deliberate for?
JOHN GROCE: Loads of it is primarily based on how Kalkbrenner performs defensively. For my part, he makes them go defensively. So the blokes are actually good, give good effort. However you are speaking concerning the three time Large East Defensive Participant of the Yr. He is huge, as Rique mentioned. So I’ve acquired confidence in Enrique and Sammy to shoot the ball from the three-point line and past. In order that was a part of it, making an attempt to get him out of the paint a bit of bit. Give them credit score, Greg made a change, like good coaches like him do, and altered his protection a bit of bit. However I believed Ali was efficient within the first half. I believed the decide and roll sport was efficient within the first half. I believed we did a whole lot of actually good issues. Till their run the final two minutes, as the unique query was requested there, I do not know if it might have went a lot better.
Second juncture of the sport that I believed acquired away from us was the beginning of the second half. We simply weren’t — weren’t fairly as efficient as we had been the primary 18 minutes, after which we had been taking part in behind from there.
Q. John, given Enrique’s journey, how robust is it, then, subbing him out with 1:23 to go understanding you are not going to have him once more?
JOHN GROCE: Robust. It is not simply because pretty much as good of participant a as he’s. That is a part of it. Nevertheless it’s the particular person he’s, the chief, the teammate, how coachable he’s, his work ethic, how a lot he cares about different individuals. I’ve nicknamed him the unicorn for a cause.
Q. Coach, in that second half, when the offense is not executing, looks like photographs are discovering any and each method to not fall. What is the message to your workforce?
JOHN GROCE: Effectively, my entire deal, and it’s each sport, it is the standard of the shot that is necessary to me. I consider in them that they will make good photographs. So I am extra involved concerning the high quality of the shot we’re getting. I believed turnovers can be huge for us, and you’ll have a look at the stats. We solely turned it 5 instances the complete sport, which is nice. I believed defensive rebounding can be a bonus for us. They acquired us a bit of bit on the glass there throughout that one stretch that I used to be a bit of disenchanted in. We missed a block-out on Mason Miller and a pair guys there that ended up throughout that stretch of two or three minutes after I talked concerning the unhealthy begin a bit of bit to the second half the place it form of acquired away from us a bit of bit. I believed that offensive rebounding by them was part of that. However, you understand, yeah. Clearly you wish to make photographs. Proper? Who would not wish to make photographs? We have taken a whole lot of satisfaction in having a whole lot of psychological toughness of having the ability to play by means of stretches. We had a semifinal sport in Cleveland the place we scored 16 factors within the first half and had 13 turnovers and we had been solely down ten as a result of our protection was so good. Then we scored 50 within the second half and shot the duvet off the ball.
So that you wish to make photographs. I do suppose should you can rebound and maintain the ball and defend, you are all the time going to have an opportunity. However this was a bit of distinctive as we speak. Their offense, as the blokes had been alluding to, was simply prolific. Noticed it on movie coming into the sport, felt that manner in the course of the sport. My opinion hasn’t modified on that. Simply have a whole lot of solutions offensively. They have measurement on the rim and a man that may rating within the submit. They have a number of play makers, nice passers. And so they shoot the ball from three very nicely. You are not going to search out very many nights the place you’ve got acquired all 4 or 5 of these guys that shoot threes for them to all be off in the identical evening. After which they run great things.
So I knew it was going to be a problem to cease them. Once more, I believed the important thing can be might we hold scoring, and clearly we had been ready to do this for about 18 minutes however weren’t fairly in a position to maintain that for the remaining 22 minutes.
Q. Coach, you used the phrase prolific to explain their offense. Was there an offense this season, whether or not or not it’s common season or MAC match or nonconference, that ready you for what they create with Kalkbrenner and Alexander and Scheierman?
JOHN GROCE: No. I imply, I feel they’re pretty much as good of an offensive workforce when it comes to their personnel, their mix of measurement, taking pictures, play making, what they run offensively. They’re pretty much as good of an offensive workforce as we have went in opposition to in my seven years at Akron.
Q. You’ve got been on this state of affairs earlier than after being eradicated within the NCAA Event. Simply curious, what do you say to your workforce afterwards within the locker room?
JOHN GROCE: I simply informed them how proud I used to be of them. I addressed the sport briefly, and clearly did not go the best way that we wished it to or envisioned or deliberate for it to. Give Creighton credit score. However simply informed them how grateful I used to be for what I simply mentioned on the outset of this; 5 years, 4 years, two years, one 12 months, particularly these seniors, and actually all of them. You recognize, I loved being with them, teaching them. They’re an awesome group of fellows. As Freeman has mentioned a number of instances, we do not have a nasty apple in our locker room. That does not imply we do not undergo instances which are robust. All of us do, proper? You guys do, we do. Nevertheless it’s the individuals you do it with, how a lot you care about one another. We had good individuals in there, and it made it tremendous gratifying, and I am simply grateful to have had the chance to educate them. These guys will all the time be part of not solely the Akron household, however my private household. You recognize, I really like them. They’re nice, nice, nice guys.
Q. John, Enrique mentioned he was joyful to have the ability to depart a legacy. How would you outline the legacy?
JOHN GROCE: Effectively, that is an advanced query, proper? As a result of what you see is the profitable, you understand, the profitable share total, league play, the most effective within the league, the championships, the banners, all that. And that is actually part of it. However I feel it is extra of — and a few the younger guys simply spoke after the older guys had an opportunity to talk within the locker room about how grateful they had been that guys taught them what exhausting work appeared like. You recognize, what management appeared like, what being an awesome teammate appeared like, what being at a do-both place, which means, we count on you to get it performed academically and earn your diploma and make progress in direction of diploma whereas additionally taking part in at a excessive stage, what that appears like. You recognize, all these guys you noticed up right here, plus Hunter and Thornton, exemplified that every day. And they also had been in a position to see all that and really feel all that. So to me it is greater than all of the profitable. That is actually part of it. However once more, it is who they’re as individuals, who they’re as college students, the truth that they will recover from themselves and care about any individual aside from themselves, you understand, only a particular group.
Q. Clearly, the loss continues to be contemporary, however all three guys touched on passing that torch within the legacy of Akron basketball. What does the way forward for Akron basketball appear like in your eyes?
JOHN GROCE: Effectively, for us proper now, clearly, I am making an attempt to course of this one, proper? However on the finish of the day, we wish to proceed to fill our locker room with people who care about one another and care about profitable. That is what these guys would let you know. It is actually not any extra sophisticated than that. Do you care about one another, actually take care of one another, maintain one another, and do you care about profitable forward of non-public agenda? Proper? Sounds apparent, sounds straightforward. It is not. You recognize, in order that was their mentality. I feel the youthful guys noticed that. And we wish to proceed to construct on that.
Q. I do know you’d want to be becoming a member of him within the spherical of 32, however do you may have any message to your previous good friend and rival Keith Dambrot?
JOHN GROCE: I will do this most likely a bit of later. I have not had an opportunity to do this. So I have been occupied with what we’re doing proper now.
Q. Are you able to inform us what you may inform him or speak to him about afterward?
JOHN GROCE: Normally he and I — I mentioned this earlier, we’ll textual content or we’ll name and I am joyful for him, clearly, and what he is been in a position to do. I feel you have a look at the final time that they had been within the match, I feel, was the ’70s. Is that right? Yeah. So it is actually — it is superior, you understand, what he is been in a position to do. And I am joyful for him and Donna with the retirement, and Keith’s a giant cause why I ended up come to go Akron. I mentioned that earlier, was due to Keith and all of the success that he had had and the battles that we had after I was at Ohio, and the familiarity with Akron and Northeast Ohio due to my time within the state at so many Ohio universities. And so, I had nice familiarity with Akron and was drawn to that. However largely due to Keith.
MODERATOR: Thanks, Coach. Admire your time.
JOHN GROCE: Positive.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports activities
142246-1-2377 2024-03-21 20:31:00 GMT
PITTSBURGH, Pa. — No. 11 Creighton closed the primary half on an 8-0 run and by no means appeared again in a 77-60 win over 14th-seeded Akron in NCAA Event First Spherical motion at PPG Paints Area in Pittsburgh, Pa., on Thursday afternoon.
The Bluejays improved to 24-9 with the win and can play on Saturday in opposition to Eleventh-seeded Oregon, which defeated sixth-seeded South Carolina.
Creighton took a 39-34 lead into the break after a fast-paced first half that noticed each groups join with regularity from three-point vary early on. Creighton made its first 5 three-point makes an attempt, whereas nationwide rebounding chief Enrique Freeman buried three three-pointers within the first 5 minutes. The groups exchanged six leads and it was tied 9 instances earlier than the break, with Creighton scoring the ultimate eight factors to assert a 39-34 lead. That run featured three-pointers by Trey Alexander and Mason Miller earlier than a hoop from Baylor Scheierman to finish the half.
Ryan Kalkbrenner and Alexander every had 11 factors on the break for CU, whereas Scheierman had eight factors and 7 rebounds. CU shot 60 % within the first half (15-25), together with 7-of-10 (70 %) from three-point vary. Akron was led by 15 factors and eight rebounds by Freeman, whereas Ali Ali added 10 factors.
The Bluejays rode that momentum out of the break as Miller and Scheierman buried triples to push the result in 9 (45-36), however Creighton pulled away for good with a 10-0 run that pushed its result in 59-42 after Miller related on his third triple of the competition.
Creighton had a balanced offensive effort, as all 5 starters scored in double-figures. Scheierman had his BIG EAST-leading sixteenth double-double of the 12 months with 15 factors and 13 rebounds. Kalkbrenner (23) and Alexander (19) had been joined within the scoring column by Miller (10) and Ashworth (10). Creighton shot 56.5 % from the sector and made 10-of-17 three-point photographs (a season-high 58.8 %). The Bluejays received the board battle 38-26 and zipped previous Akron 13-2 in quick break factors.
Freeman earned his nation-leading thirty first double-double of the season to steer Akron, ending with 21 factors and 14 rebounds. Ali completed with 14 factors earlier than fouling out. The Zips shot 37.9 % from the sector and made simply 6-of-28 three-point tries. Akron ends its season with a 24-11 mark.
A sport time and tv community will likely be introduced on the conclusion of as we speak’s video games.
NOTES: Ryan Kalkbrenner grew to become Creighton’s second participant ever to look in 4 totally different NCAA Tournaments, becoming a member of Kyle Korver … This afternoon was Creighton’s two hundredth sport as a workforce whereas ranked within the Related Press underneath Greg McDermott. The Bluejays are 140-60 in these contests … Creighton made a three-pointer for the 1,018th straight sport … Baylor Scheierman made a three-pointer for the twenty first straight sport, and 79th time in his final 80 video games. Scheierman’s first three-pointer was additionally his one centesimal of the season, one thing solely Kyle Korver (2x) and Ethan Wragge had performed beforehand in Creighton historical past … At the moment was Creighton’s 99th straight sport on tv … Baylor Scheierman handed Kyle Korver for essentially the most three-point makes an attempt by a participant in CU single-season historical past … Isaac Traudt had his first blocked shot of the season … Baylor Scheierman (287) grew to become the primary Creighton participant with a number of seasons of 300 rebounds since Bob Portman in 1967-68 and 1968-69 … Creighton improved to 19-25 all-time within the NCAA Event, together with a 13-12 mark in its opening sport and 2-1 as a No. 3 seed … Creighton is now 4-1 all-time in opposition to Akron, and 2-0 in postseason play … Creighton performed its 52nd straight sport with out a participant fouling out, the nation’s longest streak since not less than 2005-06 … Ryan Kalkbrenner (97) grew to become the second participant in CU historical past to dam 100 photographs in a season, becoming a member of Benoit Benjamin who did it twice … Creighton’s 58.8 % taking pictures from deep was a program file for an NCAA Event sport … Ryan Kalkbrenner, Baylor Scheierman and Trey Alexander all recorded 15+ factors and 5+ rebounds in as we speak’s win. They’re simply second BIG EAST trio to do that in a NCAA Event sport during the last 10 years, the opposite being Xavier’s J.P. Macura, Trevon Bluiett and Kerem Kanter within the 2018 Spherical of 64 vs Texas Southern … Creighton scored 77 factors as we speak, all from its starters. The final workforce to attain that many factors in an NCAA Event sport regardless of having zero from its bench was Rutgers (87 factors) in a Play-In Spherical loss to Notre Dame in 2022. The final workforce to attain 77+ with zero bench factors in a WIN, was Minnesota (86 vs Louisville) within the 2019 Spherical of 64. The final BIG EAST faculty to do that (no matter end result) was Windfall within the a 1997 Elite-8 loss to Arizona (92 factors).
Thursday, March 21, 2024
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
PPG Paints Area
Creighton Bluejays
Media Convention
Creighton – 77, Akron – 60 Milwaukee,
MODERATOR: We’ll begin with a gap assertion from Coach Greg McDermott. Coach?
GREG McDERMOTT: Initially, congratulations to Coach Groce, his employees and his workforce on an exceptional 12 months. I gained a brand new appreciation for the job he does in our preparation for Akron. That workforce was very related defensively, very unselfish on the offensive finish, and as I discussed a pair days in the past, they misplaced a number of shut video games that had been actually not removed from profitable 30 video games this 12 months.
So that they had our utmost respect, and I feel you noticed, particularly within the first half, you understand, it is a high quality, high quality workforce that we beat as we speak. So we’re excited as a result of we beat a very good basketball workforce. And pleased with our guys. I believed we took actually good photographs, and after we take actually good photographs, we’re a fairly good basketball workforce. And we gotta clear up some issues with among the turnovers, however defensively I believed we adjusted as the sport went on and did a a lot better job within the second half.
MODERATOR: Questions for the student-athletes.
Q. Baylor, what flipped in these final couple minutes earlier than halftime? You guys go on the run and do not look again from there. What modified?
BAYLOR SCHEIERMAN: I feel we had been in a position to get some stops in a row and on the offensive finish get photographs. And like coach mentioned, we actually struggled with turnovers within the first half and within the final 4 minutes we had been in a position to maintain the ball and get photographs and stops and after we had been ready to do this, that is after we actually gained some separation.
Q. Felt like Akron, although they had been hitting photographs, had been taking part in at your guys’ most well-liked tempo. Did you’re feeling like as the primary half wore on and the second half acquired going that that began to put on into them?
RYAN KALKBRENNER: Yeah, that is form of how we strategy a whole lot of video games is, even firstly of the sport some tempo might not give us a whole lot of buckets early on as a result of the opposite workforce is contemporary, however we play at that tempo and observe at that tempo on a regular basis, so we will hold that up for 40 minutes. Not each workforce we play in opposition to can. So once you begin sporting into them like that you simply begin to get just a few straightforward baskets or just a few attractiveness since you’re operating the opposite workforce. So I feel that undoubtedly helped us towards the top of the primary half and finish of the second half.
Q. What modified defensively for you within the second half within the job you probably did on Enrique Freeman?
RYAN KALKBRENNER: I feel it is a bit of bit getting used to how he performs. You may watch somebody on movie loads and get as used to it as you possibly can, however on the finish of the day he is a extremely good participant and simply made some psychological changes as to how I wished to protect him within the submit and did a bit of higher job. He nonetheless acquired just a few buckets as a result of he is a extremely good participant, however yeah simply having the ability to make changes within the sport.
Q. Mason, when do you know that one thing was going best for you and what sort of an impression once you’re hitting your photographs like that may that make in your workforce and in your teammates?
MASON MILLER: Truthfully, I imply simply each single day, I imply, I work on my shot each single day, so I form of come into the sport anticipating to make photographs like that. I suppose simply operating to the nook, getting open appears and taking part in throughout the offensive form of helps the workforce loads, particularly when we’ve got nice gamers like Ryan and Baylor over right here having the ability to area the ground for them, it is enormous for them.
Q. For any of you guys, the expertise you guys have at this stage, how did that assist as we speak and the way can that aid you the remainder of the match?
BAYLOR SCHEIERMAN: I simply suppose the sport is 40 minutes lengthy and there is a whole lot of ups and downs that go all through a basketball sport, and clearly within the first half there was some issues that did not go proper for us they usually had been form of hanging with us and whatnot, however then we had been in a position to get stops and get a sport of runs and we had been in a position to go on ours and proceed with it. So I feel the expertise of understanding that the sport is 40 minutes and something can occur, I feel that helps us out.
Q. Baylor, is there no matter opponent all the time a problem that comes with the primary sport of the match simply getting the kinks out of the best way and discovering your rhythm?
BAYLOR SCHEIERMAN: Yeah, I feel so. Clearly it is a — the match is so enjoyable and never all people will get to participate of it. And the beginning of the sport, the ambiance is just a bit totally different than an everyday sport. And no matter who you play the primary spherical, a whole lot of instances it may be actually robust. I imply, final 12 months at NC State it was a tricky sport. This 12 months, identical factor. So no matter your opponent, the primary sport is all the time a problem.
MODERATOR: All proper. Thanks. Pupil-athletes might be dismissed.
MODERATOR: Questions for coach McDermott.
Q. I do not know what you had been saying to them within the huddle as that first half was happening, however clearly each groups had been making a whole lot of photographs. Did you get a way that due to the best way the tempo was going that Akron wasn’t actually making an attempt to decelerate and play to their fashion, that you simply guys had been finally going to interrupt by means of?
GREG McDERMOTT: Among the issues I mentioned within the huddle I am unable to repeat to you. And that does not occur with me fairly often. However I used to be not stunned that they got here at us in transition. In watching them play, they’re opportunistic, however they’ve a whole lot of guys that may deal with it in transition and lead the break. So I used to be not stunned they got here at us the best way that they did.
We had some psychological errors that allowed them to form of get going, and Freeman banks in his first three. That is a nervy shot for a man that does not shoot loads. Kalkbrenner makes one, too. But when the primary one would not go in with the financial institution, perhaps he is not as snug. Probably the most he is ever shot in a sport this 12 months was three, and he shot 47 on the 12 months. So we actually did not suppose coming in that he can be keen to shoot eight three-point photographs. So we needed to alter, clearly, as the sport went on.
Q. Greg, how a lot did you form of financial institution on that, when it began to show into form of a one-on-one there with Kalkbrenner and Freeman that the remainder of your guys, the supporting forged, would begin to get open appears the best way that they did?
GREG McDERMOTT: Yeah, particularly when Freeman picked up just a few fouls, that takes away a bit of little bit of his aggressiveness, and that is naturally going to occur once you’re in foul bother. In order we acquired that lead, we made it some extent to play by means of Kalkbrenner. And I believed the blokes did a very good job of selecting their spots. And like I mentioned within the open, the 17 three-point photographs, we had a pair we had to absorb late clock conditions, however I feel they had been actually good threes for us in opposition to a workforce that is been a lead all season of taking away threes and ensuring the share, I feel the workforce shot 30 % in opposition to Akron on the season from three. So to do what we did offensively in opposition to what I take into account a really defensive workforce can be a credit score to our workforce.
Q. Coach, that is the fourth 12 months in a row that you simply guys have received a match sport and you’ve got now handed all different Creighton coaches mixed for many wins within the NCAA Event. To have 4 years in a row the place you will get a win in March and to have the success that you have had, what does that say about this workforce that they will carry out presently of 12 months?
GREG McDERMOTT: Effectively, to begin with, you by no means take with no consideration getting right here, as a result of it is actually tough. What’s it, 16 or 17 % of the Division I groups get within the match? That is not very many. And there was a whole lot of disappointment on Choice Sunday with groups throughout the nation that felt they had been deserving they usually did not get in. So the very first thing you do is you recognize the chance, and then you definitely have fun the issues that you have performed to get right here. Like I informed the blokes within the locker room earlier than the sport, we discuss course of all 12 months lengthy, trusting the method, trusting your work. You recognize, that course of is what led us to right here. And that course of is what is going on to provide us hopefully a possibility to form of end the job and hold advancing on this match. However I’ve had — actually solely a kind of groups was an inexperienced workforce. The workforce when — three years in the past when Nembhard harm acquired harm and Trey needed to slide to the purpose guard place and we had been taking part in some freshmen, Alex O’Connell had solely transferred in for one 12 months, Ryan Hawkins for one 12 months. The remainder of the groups, we have had some fairly good expertise within the match, and I feel that actually helps you once you come again. You recognize what to anticipate. Groups which are right here the primary time are taking footage and doing all that after they go on the courtroom. Our guys as we speak had been like, all proper, that is the place we anticipated to be. What are we going to do, and let’s do it and get out of right here.
So we actually recognize the chance to play within the match, and we hope we’re blessed to have the ability to stick round until Saturday and we’ll attempt to give it our greatest.
Q. Greg, I am simply curious what you might need mentioned to Kalkbrenner once you pulled him over to the sideline on that made breakaway that did not precisely go the best manner.
GREG McDERMOTT: Effectively, he had one early within the season the place he tried to interrupt a press by himself, which was the primary time that I would ever seen that within the 4 years that I’ve coached him. At the moment was the primary as nicely. So we had been chuckling about — he mentioned he thought of going behind his again on the finish. That is what introduced my chuckle. However he performs the sport the best manner, he performs with emotion. You may inform he likes to play the sport. Impacts the sport in so many ways in which do not present up on the stats sheet. In order that was a enjoyable second for each of us.
Q. As the sport wore on, I do know it is by design defensively, I do know you gave up some offensive rebounds, however you probably did drive them to take the photographs that you simply designed your protection to drive groups to take. How did that execution ramp up as the sport went on?
GREG McDERMOTT: I imply, we needed to make some changes when the bigs had been hitting threes. So we needed to change a bit of bit extra, after which we acquired cross-matched just a few instances. However I believed early within the second half, I believed — I am unable to bear in mind who hit him. I feel Johnson hit a pair robust twos the place we went over the display screen, we had been there. He hits a 16, 17 footer with a hand in his face. That is form of what we’re making an attempt to do. So I used to be joyful, actually, after the primary seven or eight minutes of the sport. I believed we settled in a bit of bit higher defensively. However credit score to them, additionally they made some robust photographs.
Q. I do know you had been locked into your sport. I am questioning how a lot you had been conscious of what was happening in Omaha with Duquesne, which is the host faculty right here, and beating BYU, and the group’s response to that. At instances throughout your sport, whether or not the identical factor was occurring again house?
GREG McDERMOTT: It was a bit of unusual to play the sport with that happening, by the best way as a result of the cheers and the ooohs and ahs did not actually match as much as what was happening on the ground in entrance of us. In order that was considerably difficult for our guys. However I had noticed within the locker room earlier than I left that that they had the lead and clearly noticed the response. Keith’s been a good friend of mine a very long time. We coached in opposition to one another again after I was at Northern Iowa and Creighton was within the Valley and he was at Akron. We have identified one another a very long time. What a good way for him to exit as his profession is winding down. However he is all the time been a terrific coach. He is tremendously revered in our career, and good issues occur to good individuals typically, and he deserved that. So I am actually joyful for him and his program and, particularly his household with among the issues they are going by means of.
MODERATOR: Thanks, Coach. Congratulations.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports activities
142241-1-2377 2024-03-21 20:05:00 GMT
Thursday, March 21, 2024
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
PPG Paints Area
Akron Zips
Coach John Groce
Enrique Freeman
Greg Tribble
Ali Ali
Media Convention
JOHN GROCE: Clearly did not fairly go the best way that we had deliberate or wished it to. Give Creighton a whole lot of credit score. I believed they had been actually difficult to protect. I felt that manner coming into the sport. I believed it was necessary that we had useful possessions on offense and scored. And I believed we acquired some fairly good photographs. We made them early. Did not make as lots of them within the second half, however I believed they had been good ones, and the sport acquired away from us just a bit bit there. However give them credit score. They are a good basketball workforce, however I am actually pleased with these guys, pleased with our entire workforce, however particularly, senior class and what they’ve meant to our program, in some instances 5 years, 4 years, two years and one 12 months between the 5 guys. And what they’ve performed for our program, and it isn’t simply the profitable. You recognize, clearly that is the half that you simply get to see is the three championships over 5 years and the win share and all that that these guys have been in a position to attain. Nevertheless it’s greater than that to me. It is the people who they’re, the people who they’ve change into, the leaders that they have been, the best way they’re on campus, the best way they deal with individuals, the teammates that they have been, their work capability, their dedication to being nice, their dedication to one another, how a lot they care about one another, and the way a lot they care about profitable. And in a day and age the place our society can are usually the other of that or 180 of that or there’s selfishness and all that with groups, and the truth that we did not have any of that makes this group actually, actually, actually particular. It has been an actual privilege to educate them and to work with them. Like I mentioned, Kaleb one 12 months, Sammy two years, Ali 4 and Reque and Greg 5. Simply very, very grateful and really feel very blessed. Wished we would have performed a bit of bit higher as we speak, however proper now I form of have an angle of gratitude for these three guys and Thornton and Hunter, who aren’t up right here.
MODERATOR: Questions for student-athletes.
Q. Enrique, you went from getting dragged to open tryouts and now in March Insanity, I do not know if anyone’s informed you, I am certain you understand, although, most double doubles, third in NCAA Division I historical past. How does that really feel to form of end this a part of your story?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: I imply, clearly the accolades really feel good, however like Coach mentioned, I am simply in actual good gratitude with how this workforce, all through the complete season, all through my complete time right here, we labored very exhausting, and I feel we did one thing very particular in Akron, and I am glad we had been in a position to placed on for the town.
Q. Ali, what does it imply so that you can form of end off your story coming again to Akron, you get again to March Insanity and end it out along with your guys? Clearly not the best way you wished the sport to finish, however your story as a complete, speak concerning the ending for you.
ALI ALI: Clearly not the perfect ending that we wished, however I acquired to exit with the people who I care about essentially the most, you understand, outdoors of my household again house. Truthfully, like, these are like my brothers. I do not actually acquired too many associates again house. These are the blokes I am round loads. So if I’ll lose, I’ll lose with them. If I’ll win, I’ll win with them. That was a giant a part of coming again understanding I might remorse it if I did not end out my faculty profession with these guys within the locker room.
Q. What labored within the first half? What did you suppose would work along with your sport plan? Simply converse concerning the begin you guys had.
GREG TRIBBLE: I felt like we had been making a whole lot of photographs within the first half which led to — they can not get out in transition as a lot in case you are making photographs. And I really feel like within the second half we weren’t making as many photographs and we began playing they usually’re a extremely good workforce on offense, and as soon as they begin getting open photographs it is exhausting to cease them from making photographs. So that they had been simply actual good in transition, and we simply did not have good transition protection tonight.
Q. Enrique, simply that first half, the top on an 8-0 run that extends 28 to eight, I consider. Kalkbrenner, Alexander, Scheierman are all concerned. How tough was that match-up, and for you particularly, Kalkbrenner?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: He is a giant participant. He has good measurement, however I feel match-up clever, we did a very good job. I believed the complete sport tried to remove their good tendencies, however total I feel they simply caught us in transition they usually’re actually good on the three-point line. So that they hit some good threes.
Q. Enrique, are you able to discuss what the banging inside and drawing him defensively outdoors with the threes, what was that tempo like for you and did it take a toll as the sport went on, the frenetic first six minutes?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: I imply, I do not suppose it took a toll. I simply suppose I acquired in foul bother and we determine to place Sammy on him. However that is what bigs do. We go down there and we’re bodily, attempt to catch them outdoors the submit. I do know I had a very good submit place and he struggled after I was utilizing my strikes. So it is simply basketball.
Q. From speaking to you guys, I do know that you simply thought psychological toughness actually carried you thru the Mac match and right here, however you did not play your greatest. I am certain you guys suppose that as we speak wasn’t your greatest. So what do you suppose form of simply prevented it from being — reaching your full potential as a gaggle relating to the expertise and expertise you guys have?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: I feel — potential clever, I feel our workforce is reaching our potential. You recognize, I feel our complete season there was ebbs and flows all through the complete season, however on this sport, some video games you get out shot. Merely it. I do not suppose any of our guys stop. None of our guys did not cease taking part in exhausting. Everyone gave their greatest efforts till the shot clock went off. So all we will do is check out the drafting board and hopefully these freshmen, juniors and sophomores are available in subsequent season and see that and use that as a possibility to study.
Q. Enrique, you got here out and banked in a three-pointer to start and I feel you took like eight of them. I do not know. Possibly John did not design it that manner, however what was happening there with you taking pictures the threes and simply how did you’re feeling about that?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: You recognize, he performs within the paint loads. So we tried to stretch out the ground a bit of bit extra. And all people believes in my three. I have been working very exhausting on it. And I simply knocked down just a few, in order that they needed to change protection, and we determined to assault a distinct manner.
Q. This sport solely happened two hours away from house. Fairly good devoted exhibiting from the Akron crowd, and at instances within the first half, fairly energetic. How did you guys attempt to journey that momentum from the group, as nicely, and what was it like simply to see the Akron devoted right here?
GREG TRIBBLE: It meant loads. Clearly, our followers, they care about us. They present as much as each house sport. That is why we had been so good at house this 12 months. I imply, it simply feels good to see some acquainted faces in Pittsburgh, and we simply tried to feed off of that. And that is it, actually.
Q. For you three guys, you guys got here in earlier than the pandemic. You guys have been in Akron for 5 years, Enrique six as a pupil, clearly. In the event you might take us again to once you had been youngsters to now as form of grown males or adults, what’s that been like, this full expertise of faculty basketball with two match appearances?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: I imply, like I mentioned yesterday, the journey has been superb. Tremendous grateful for the journey. I would not ask for it to go any totally different. I am very pleased with what I used to be in a position to accomplish right here and all of us had been in a position to accomplish right here. And I simply — I am joyful that we’re in a position to depart on a legacy. Akron basketball, Akron tradition. We have performed a whole lot of profitable, and we wish to simply cross on the torch. These guys in 2019, 2020 handed the torch to us. Time for us to cross the torch.
ALI ALI: I might say I am undoubtedly appreciative of the run we have had the final 4 or 5 years, and simply wanting again, like, clearly as a child, center schooler, highschool, like for me, not having a DI supply, senior 12 months beginning like Groce coming in giving me one likelihood, and nobody else giving me an opportunity popping out of highschool. So I feel simply coming into this match has been the story of our lives, all the time been underdogs. So I imply, I am simply grateful and appreciative for all of the individuals I’ve met on the best way.
GREG TRIBBLE: I am simply grateful for the chance of Coach Groce and the teaching employees for even believing in me to come back to this college. Simply instructing the youthful guys, simply do not take it with no consideration. You recognize, clearly, we put in a whole lot of work to get to the place we’re at now to do as a lot profitable as we’ve got, and simply instructing them, that is what it is all about. Simply instructing them that you simply simply cannot take it with no consideration. You gotta work exhausting each day.
MODERATOR: Thanks, student-athletes. All proper. Questions for Coach Groce.
Q. Coach, did the primary half form of go in accordance with plan or was there a giant deviation from what you thought?
JOHN GROCE: Till the final couple minutes. I believed that was the largest juncture within the sport. We had been up 34-31 with about two minutes to go within the half after which they went on an 8-0 run. I believed that was the largest two minutes of the sport. So give them credit score. We had a pair possessions there the place we did not get matched up in transition. The blokes alluded to that. You recognize, we had a questionable shot, you understand, could not fairly get the ball a few instances the place we wished to get it. However for essentially the most half, aside from these two minutes, we performed the sport plan to precision, fairly frankly. We actually did. Terry was speaking about Freeman’s eight threes. I truly hoped he’d get 15 up.
Q. Coach, you began off the sport with Enrique Freeman up prime taking these eight threes all through the sport. You had Sammy Hunter within the submit. Is that one thing you guys had deliberate for?
JOHN GROCE: Loads of it is primarily based on how Kalkbrenner performs defensively. For my part, he makes them go defensively. So the blokes are actually good, give good effort. However you are speaking concerning the three time Large East Defensive Participant of the Yr. He is huge, as Rique mentioned. So I’ve acquired confidence in Enrique and Sammy to shoot the ball from the three-point line and past. In order that was a part of it, making an attempt to get him out of the paint a bit of bit. Give them credit score, Greg made a change, like good coaches like him do, and altered his protection a bit of bit. However I believed Ali was efficient within the first half. I believed the decide and roll sport was efficient within the first half. I believed we did a whole lot of actually good issues. Till their run the final two minutes, as the unique query was requested there, I do not know if it might have went a lot better.
Second juncture of the sport that I believed acquired away from us was the beginning of the second half. We simply weren’t — weren’t fairly as efficient as we had been the primary 18 minutes, after which we had been taking part in behind from there.
Q. John, given Enrique’s journey, how robust is it, then, subbing him out with 1:23 to go understanding you are not going to have him once more?
JOHN GROCE: Robust. It is not simply because pretty much as good of participant a as he’s. That is a part of it. Nevertheless it’s the particular person he’s, the chief, the teammate, how coachable he’s, his work ethic, how a lot he cares about different individuals. I’ve nicknamed him the unicorn for a cause.
Q. Coach, in that second half, when the offense is not executing, looks like photographs are discovering any and each method to not fall. What is the message to your workforce?
JOHN GROCE: Effectively, my entire deal, and it’s each sport, it is the standard of the shot that is necessary to me. I consider in them that they will make good photographs. So I am extra involved concerning the high quality of the shot we’re getting. I believed turnovers can be huge for us, and you’ll have a look at the stats. We solely turned it 5 instances the complete sport, which is nice. I believed defensive rebounding can be a bonus for us. They acquired us a bit of bit on the glass there throughout that one stretch that I used to be a bit of disenchanted in. We missed a block-out on Mason Miller and a pair guys there that ended up throughout that stretch of two or three minutes after I talked concerning the unhealthy begin a bit of bit to the second half the place it form of acquired away from us a bit of bit. I believed that offensive rebounding by them was part of that. However, you understand, yeah. Clearly you wish to make photographs. Proper? Who would not wish to make photographs? We have taken a whole lot of satisfaction in having a whole lot of psychological toughness of having the ability to play by means of stretches. We had a semifinal sport in Cleveland the place we scored 16 factors within the first half and had 13 turnovers and we had been solely down ten as a result of our protection was so good. Then we scored 50 within the second half and shot the duvet off the ball.
So that you wish to make photographs. I do suppose should you can rebound and maintain the ball and defend, you are all the time going to have an opportunity. However this was a bit of distinctive as we speak. Their offense, as the blokes had been alluding to, was simply prolific. Noticed it on movie coming into the sport, felt that manner in the course of the sport. My opinion hasn’t modified on that. Simply have a whole lot of solutions offensively. They have measurement on the rim and a man that may rating within the submit. They have a number of play makers, nice passers. And so they shoot the ball from three very nicely. You are not going to search out very many nights the place you’ve got acquired all 4 or 5 of these guys that shoot threes for them to all be off in the identical evening. After which they run great things.
So I knew it was going to be a problem to cease them. Once more, I believed the important thing can be might we hold scoring, and clearly we had been ready to do this for about 18 minutes however weren’t fairly in a position to maintain that for the remaining 22 minutes.
Q. Coach, you used the phrase prolific to explain their offense. Was there an offense this season, whether or not or not it’s common season or MAC match or nonconference, that ready you for what they create with Kalkbrenner and Alexander and Scheierman?
JOHN GROCE: No. I imply, I feel they’re pretty much as good of an offensive workforce when it comes to their personnel, their mix of measurement, taking pictures, play making, what they run offensively. They’re pretty much as good of an offensive workforce as we have went in opposition to in my seven years at Akron.
Q. You’ve got been on this state of affairs earlier than after being eradicated within the NCAA Event. Simply curious, what do you say to your workforce afterwards within the locker room?
JOHN GROCE: I simply informed them how proud I used to be of them. I addressed the sport briefly, and clearly did not go the best way that we wished it to or envisioned or deliberate for it to. Give Creighton credit score. However simply informed them how grateful I used to be for what I simply mentioned on the outset of this; 5 years, 4 years, two years, one 12 months, particularly these seniors, and actually all of them. You recognize, I loved being with them, teaching them. They’re an awesome group of fellows. As Freeman has mentioned a number of instances, we do not have a nasty apple in our locker room. That does not imply we do not undergo instances which are robust. All of us do, proper? You guys do, we do. Nevertheless it’s the individuals you do it with, how a lot you care about one another. We had good individuals in there, and it made it tremendous gratifying, and I am simply grateful to have had the chance to educate them. These guys will all the time be part of not solely the Akron household, however my private household. You recognize, I really like them. They’re nice, nice, nice guys.
Q. John, Enrique mentioned he was joyful to have the ability to depart a legacy. How would you outline the legacy?
JOHN GROCE: Effectively, that is an advanced query, proper? As a result of what you see is the profitable, you understand, the profitable share total, league play, the most effective within the league, the championships, the banners, all that. And that is actually part of it. However I feel it is extra of — and a few the younger guys simply spoke after the older guys had an opportunity to talk within the locker room about how grateful they had been that guys taught them what exhausting work appeared like. You recognize, what management appeared like, what being an awesome teammate appeared like, what being at a do-both place, which means, we count on you to get it performed academically and earn your diploma and make progress in direction of diploma whereas additionally taking part in at a excessive stage, what that appears like. You recognize, all these guys you noticed up right here, plus Hunter and Thornton, exemplified that every day. And they also had been in a position to see all that and really feel all that. So to me it is greater than all of the profitable. That is actually part of it. However once more, it is who they’re as individuals, who they’re as college students, the truth that they will recover from themselves and care about any individual aside from themselves, you understand, only a particular group.
Q. Clearly, the loss continues to be contemporary, however all three guys touched on passing that torch within the legacy of Akron basketball. What does the way forward for Akron basketball appear like in your eyes?
JOHN GROCE: Effectively, for us proper now, clearly, I am making an attempt to course of this one, proper? However on the finish of the day, we wish to proceed to fill our locker room with people who care about one another and care about profitable. That is what these guys would let you know. It is actually not any extra sophisticated than that. Do you care about one another, actually take care of one another, maintain one another, and do you care about profitable forward of non-public agenda? Proper? Sounds apparent, sounds straightforward. It is not. You recognize, in order that was their mentality. I feel the youthful guys noticed that. And we wish to proceed to construct on that.
Q. I do know you’d want to be becoming a member of him within the spherical of 32, however do you may have any message to your previous good friend and rival Keith Dambrot?
JOHN GROCE: I will do this most likely a bit of later. I have not had an opportunity to do this. So I have been occupied with what we’re doing proper now.
Q. Are you able to inform us what you may inform him or speak to him about afterward?
JOHN GROCE: Normally he and I — I mentioned this earlier, we’ll textual content or we’ll name and I am joyful for him, clearly, and what he is been in a position to do. I feel you have a look at the final time that they had been within the match, I feel, was the ’70s. Is that right? Yeah. So it is actually — it is superior, you understand, what he is been in a position to do. And I am joyful for him and Donna with the retirement, and Keith’s a giant cause why I ended up come to go Akron. I mentioned that earlier, was due to Keith and all of the success that he had had and the battles that we had after I was at Ohio, and the familiarity with Akron and Northeast Ohio due to my time within the state at so many Ohio universities. And so, I had nice familiarity with Akron and was drawn to that. However largely due to Keith.
MODERATOR: Thanks, Coach. Admire your time.
JOHN GROCE: Positive.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports activities
142246-1-2377 2024-03-21 20:31:00 GMT
PITTSBURGH, Pa. — No. 11 Creighton closed the primary half on an 8-0 run and by no means appeared again in a 77-60 win over 14th-seeded Akron in NCAA Event First Spherical motion at PPG Paints Area in Pittsburgh, Pa., on Thursday afternoon.
The Bluejays improved to 24-9 with the win and can play on Saturday in opposition to Eleventh-seeded Oregon, which defeated sixth-seeded South Carolina.
Creighton took a 39-34 lead into the break after a fast-paced first half that noticed each groups join with regularity from three-point vary early on. Creighton made its first 5 three-point makes an attempt, whereas nationwide rebounding chief Enrique Freeman buried three three-pointers within the first 5 minutes. The groups exchanged six leads and it was tied 9 instances earlier than the break, with Creighton scoring the ultimate eight factors to assert a 39-34 lead. That run featured three-pointers by Trey Alexander and Mason Miller earlier than a hoop from Baylor Scheierman to finish the half.
Ryan Kalkbrenner and Alexander every had 11 factors on the break for CU, whereas Scheierman had eight factors and 7 rebounds. CU shot 60 % within the first half (15-25), together with 7-of-10 (70 %) from three-point vary. Akron was led by 15 factors and eight rebounds by Freeman, whereas Ali Ali added 10 factors.
The Bluejays rode that momentum out of the break as Miller and Scheierman buried triples to push the result in 9 (45-36), however Creighton pulled away for good with a 10-0 run that pushed its result in 59-42 after Miller related on his third triple of the competition.
Creighton had a balanced offensive effort, as all 5 starters scored in double-figures. Scheierman had his BIG EAST-leading sixteenth double-double of the 12 months with 15 factors and 13 rebounds. Kalkbrenner (23) and Alexander (19) had been joined within the scoring column by Miller (10) and Ashworth (10). Creighton shot 56.5 % from the sector and made 10-of-17 three-point photographs (a season-high 58.8 %). The Bluejays received the board battle 38-26 and zipped previous Akron 13-2 in quick break factors.
Freeman earned his nation-leading thirty first double-double of the season to steer Akron, ending with 21 factors and 14 rebounds. Ali completed with 14 factors earlier than fouling out. The Zips shot 37.9 % from the sector and made simply 6-of-28 three-point tries. Akron ends its season with a 24-11 mark.
A sport time and tv community will likely be introduced on the conclusion of as we speak’s video games.
NOTES: Ryan Kalkbrenner grew to become Creighton’s second participant ever to look in 4 totally different NCAA Tournaments, becoming a member of Kyle Korver … This afternoon was Creighton’s two hundredth sport as a workforce whereas ranked within the Related Press underneath Greg McDermott. The Bluejays are 140-60 in these contests … Creighton made a three-pointer for the 1,018th straight sport … Baylor Scheierman made a three-pointer for the twenty first straight sport, and 79th time in his final 80 video games. Scheierman’s first three-pointer was additionally his one centesimal of the season, one thing solely Kyle Korver (2x) and Ethan Wragge had performed beforehand in Creighton historical past … At the moment was Creighton’s 99th straight sport on tv … Baylor Scheierman handed Kyle Korver for essentially the most three-point makes an attempt by a participant in CU single-season historical past … Isaac Traudt had his first blocked shot of the season … Baylor Scheierman (287) grew to become the primary Creighton participant with a number of seasons of 300 rebounds since Bob Portman in 1967-68 and 1968-69 … Creighton improved to 19-25 all-time within the NCAA Event, together with a 13-12 mark in its opening sport and 2-1 as a No. 3 seed … Creighton is now 4-1 all-time in opposition to Akron, and 2-0 in postseason play … Creighton performed its 52nd straight sport with out a participant fouling out, the nation’s longest streak since not less than 2005-06 … Ryan Kalkbrenner (97) grew to become the second participant in CU historical past to dam 100 photographs in a season, becoming a member of Benoit Benjamin who did it twice … Creighton’s 58.8 % taking pictures from deep was a program file for an NCAA Event sport … Ryan Kalkbrenner, Baylor Scheierman and Trey Alexander all recorded 15+ factors and 5+ rebounds in as we speak’s win. They’re simply second BIG EAST trio to do that in a NCAA Event sport during the last 10 years, the opposite being Xavier’s J.P. Macura, Trevon Bluiett and Kerem Kanter within the 2018 Spherical of 64 vs Texas Southern … Creighton scored 77 factors as we speak, all from its starters. The final workforce to attain that many factors in an NCAA Event sport regardless of having zero from its bench was Rutgers (87 factors) in a Play-In Spherical loss to Notre Dame in 2022. The final workforce to attain 77+ with zero bench factors in a WIN, was Minnesota (86 vs Louisville) within the 2019 Spherical of 64. The final BIG EAST faculty to do that (no matter end result) was Windfall within the a 1997 Elite-8 loss to Arizona (92 factors).
Thursday, March 21, 2024
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
PPG Paints Area
Creighton Bluejays
Media Convention
Creighton – 77, Akron – 60 Milwaukee,
MODERATOR: We’ll begin with a gap assertion from Coach Greg McDermott. Coach?
GREG McDERMOTT: Initially, congratulations to Coach Groce, his employees and his workforce on an exceptional 12 months. I gained a brand new appreciation for the job he does in our preparation for Akron. That workforce was very related defensively, very unselfish on the offensive finish, and as I discussed a pair days in the past, they misplaced a number of shut video games that had been actually not removed from profitable 30 video games this 12 months.
So that they had our utmost respect, and I feel you noticed, particularly within the first half, you understand, it is a high quality, high quality workforce that we beat as we speak. So we’re excited as a result of we beat a very good basketball workforce. And pleased with our guys. I believed we took actually good photographs, and after we take actually good photographs, we’re a fairly good basketball workforce. And we gotta clear up some issues with among the turnovers, however defensively I believed we adjusted as the sport went on and did a a lot better job within the second half.
MODERATOR: Questions for the student-athletes.
Q. Baylor, what flipped in these final couple minutes earlier than halftime? You guys go on the run and do not look again from there. What modified?
BAYLOR SCHEIERMAN: I feel we had been in a position to get some stops in a row and on the offensive finish get photographs. And like coach mentioned, we actually struggled with turnovers within the first half and within the final 4 minutes we had been in a position to maintain the ball and get photographs and stops and after we had been ready to do this, that is after we actually gained some separation.
Q. Felt like Akron, although they had been hitting photographs, had been taking part in at your guys’ most well-liked tempo. Did you’re feeling like as the primary half wore on and the second half acquired going that that began to put on into them?
RYAN KALKBRENNER: Yeah, that is form of how we strategy a whole lot of video games is, even firstly of the sport some tempo might not give us a whole lot of buckets early on as a result of the opposite workforce is contemporary, however we play at that tempo and observe at that tempo on a regular basis, so we will hold that up for 40 minutes. Not each workforce we play in opposition to can. So once you begin sporting into them like that you simply begin to get just a few straightforward baskets or just a few attractiveness since you’re operating the opposite workforce. So I feel that undoubtedly helped us towards the top of the primary half and finish of the second half.
Q. What modified defensively for you within the second half within the job you probably did on Enrique Freeman?
RYAN KALKBRENNER: I feel it is a bit of bit getting used to how he performs. You may watch somebody on movie loads and get as used to it as you possibly can, however on the finish of the day he is a extremely good participant and simply made some psychological changes as to how I wished to protect him within the submit and did a bit of higher job. He nonetheless acquired just a few buckets as a result of he is a extremely good participant, however yeah simply having the ability to make changes within the sport.
Q. Mason, when do you know that one thing was going best for you and what sort of an impression once you’re hitting your photographs like that may that make in your workforce and in your teammates?
MASON MILLER: Truthfully, I imply simply each single day, I imply, I work on my shot each single day, so I form of come into the sport anticipating to make photographs like that. I suppose simply operating to the nook, getting open appears and taking part in throughout the offensive form of helps the workforce loads, particularly when we’ve got nice gamers like Ryan and Baylor over right here having the ability to area the ground for them, it is enormous for them.
Q. For any of you guys, the expertise you guys have at this stage, how did that assist as we speak and the way can that aid you the remainder of the match?
BAYLOR SCHEIERMAN: I simply suppose the sport is 40 minutes lengthy and there is a whole lot of ups and downs that go all through a basketball sport, and clearly within the first half there was some issues that did not go proper for us they usually had been form of hanging with us and whatnot, however then we had been in a position to get stops and get a sport of runs and we had been in a position to go on ours and proceed with it. So I feel the expertise of understanding that the sport is 40 minutes and something can occur, I feel that helps us out.
Q. Baylor, is there no matter opponent all the time a problem that comes with the primary sport of the match simply getting the kinks out of the best way and discovering your rhythm?
BAYLOR SCHEIERMAN: Yeah, I feel so. Clearly it is a — the match is so enjoyable and never all people will get to participate of it. And the beginning of the sport, the ambiance is just a bit totally different than an everyday sport. And no matter who you play the primary spherical, a whole lot of instances it may be actually robust. I imply, final 12 months at NC State it was a tricky sport. This 12 months, identical factor. So no matter your opponent, the primary sport is all the time a problem.
MODERATOR: All proper. Thanks. Pupil-athletes might be dismissed.
MODERATOR: Questions for coach McDermott.
Q. I do not know what you had been saying to them within the huddle as that first half was happening, however clearly each groups had been making a whole lot of photographs. Did you get a way that due to the best way the tempo was going that Akron wasn’t actually making an attempt to decelerate and play to their fashion, that you simply guys had been finally going to interrupt by means of?
GREG McDERMOTT: Among the issues I mentioned within the huddle I am unable to repeat to you. And that does not occur with me fairly often. However I used to be not stunned that they got here at us in transition. In watching them play, they’re opportunistic, however they’ve a whole lot of guys that may deal with it in transition and lead the break. So I used to be not stunned they got here at us the best way that they did.
We had some psychological errors that allowed them to form of get going, and Freeman banks in his first three. That is a nervy shot for a man that does not shoot loads. Kalkbrenner makes one, too. But when the primary one would not go in with the financial institution, perhaps he is not as snug. Probably the most he is ever shot in a sport this 12 months was three, and he shot 47 on the 12 months. So we actually did not suppose coming in that he can be keen to shoot eight three-point photographs. So we needed to alter, clearly, as the sport went on.
Q. Greg, how a lot did you form of financial institution on that, when it began to show into form of a one-on-one there with Kalkbrenner and Freeman that the remainder of your guys, the supporting forged, would begin to get open appears the best way that they did?
GREG McDERMOTT: Yeah, particularly when Freeman picked up just a few fouls, that takes away a bit of little bit of his aggressiveness, and that is naturally going to occur once you’re in foul bother. In order we acquired that lead, we made it some extent to play by means of Kalkbrenner. And I believed the blokes did a very good job of selecting their spots. And like I mentioned within the open, the 17 three-point photographs, we had a pair we had to absorb late clock conditions, however I feel they had been actually good threes for us in opposition to a workforce that is been a lead all season of taking away threes and ensuring the share, I feel the workforce shot 30 % in opposition to Akron on the season from three. So to do what we did offensively in opposition to what I take into account a really defensive workforce can be a credit score to our workforce.
Q. Coach, that is the fourth 12 months in a row that you simply guys have received a match sport and you’ve got now handed all different Creighton coaches mixed for many wins within the NCAA Event. To have 4 years in a row the place you will get a win in March and to have the success that you have had, what does that say about this workforce that they will carry out presently of 12 months?
GREG McDERMOTT: Effectively, to begin with, you by no means take with no consideration getting right here, as a result of it is actually tough. What’s it, 16 or 17 % of the Division I groups get within the match? That is not very many. And there was a whole lot of disappointment on Choice Sunday with groups throughout the nation that felt they had been deserving they usually did not get in. So the very first thing you do is you recognize the chance, and then you definitely have fun the issues that you have performed to get right here. Like I informed the blokes within the locker room earlier than the sport, we discuss course of all 12 months lengthy, trusting the method, trusting your work. You recognize, that course of is what led us to right here. And that course of is what is going on to provide us hopefully a possibility to form of end the job and hold advancing on this match. However I’ve had — actually solely a kind of groups was an inexperienced workforce. The workforce when — three years in the past when Nembhard harm acquired harm and Trey needed to slide to the purpose guard place and we had been taking part in some freshmen, Alex O’Connell had solely transferred in for one 12 months, Ryan Hawkins for one 12 months. The remainder of the groups, we have had some fairly good expertise within the match, and I feel that actually helps you once you come again. You recognize what to anticipate. Groups which are right here the primary time are taking footage and doing all that after they go on the courtroom. Our guys as we speak had been like, all proper, that is the place we anticipated to be. What are we going to do, and let’s do it and get out of right here.
So we actually recognize the chance to play within the match, and we hope we’re blessed to have the ability to stick round until Saturday and we’ll attempt to give it our greatest.
Q. Greg, I am simply curious what you might need mentioned to Kalkbrenner once you pulled him over to the sideline on that made breakaway that did not precisely go the best manner.
GREG McDERMOTT: Effectively, he had one early within the season the place he tried to interrupt a press by himself, which was the primary time that I would ever seen that within the 4 years that I’ve coached him. At the moment was the primary as nicely. So we had been chuckling about — he mentioned he thought of going behind his again on the finish. That is what introduced my chuckle. However he performs the sport the best manner, he performs with emotion. You may inform he likes to play the sport. Impacts the sport in so many ways in which do not present up on the stats sheet. In order that was a enjoyable second for each of us.
Q. As the sport wore on, I do know it is by design defensively, I do know you gave up some offensive rebounds, however you probably did drive them to take the photographs that you simply designed your protection to drive groups to take. How did that execution ramp up as the sport went on?
GREG McDERMOTT: I imply, we needed to make some changes when the bigs had been hitting threes. So we needed to change a bit of bit extra, after which we acquired cross-matched just a few instances. However I believed early within the second half, I believed — I am unable to bear in mind who hit him. I feel Johnson hit a pair robust twos the place we went over the display screen, we had been there. He hits a 16, 17 footer with a hand in his face. That is form of what we’re making an attempt to do. So I used to be joyful, actually, after the primary seven or eight minutes of the sport. I believed we settled in a bit of bit higher defensively. However credit score to them, additionally they made some robust photographs.
Q. I do know you had been locked into your sport. I am questioning how a lot you had been conscious of what was happening in Omaha with Duquesne, which is the host faculty right here, and beating BYU, and the group’s response to that. At instances throughout your sport, whether or not the identical factor was occurring again house?
GREG McDERMOTT: It was a bit of unusual to play the sport with that happening, by the best way as a result of the cheers and the ooohs and ahs did not actually match as much as what was happening on the ground in entrance of us. In order that was considerably difficult for our guys. However I had noticed within the locker room earlier than I left that that they had the lead and clearly noticed the response. Keith’s been a good friend of mine a very long time. We coached in opposition to one another again after I was at Northern Iowa and Creighton was within the Valley and he was at Akron. We have identified one another a very long time. What a good way for him to exit as his profession is winding down. However he is all the time been a terrific coach. He is tremendously revered in our career, and good issues occur to good individuals typically, and he deserved that. So I am actually joyful for him and his program and, particularly his household with among the issues they are going by means of.
MODERATOR: Thanks, Coach. Congratulations.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports activities
142241-1-2377 2024-03-21 20:05:00 GMT
Thursday, March 21, 2024
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
PPG Paints Area
Akron Zips
Coach John Groce
Enrique Freeman
Greg Tribble
Ali Ali
Media Convention
JOHN GROCE: Clearly did not fairly go the best way that we had deliberate or wished it to. Give Creighton a whole lot of credit score. I believed they had been actually difficult to protect. I felt that manner coming into the sport. I believed it was necessary that we had useful possessions on offense and scored. And I believed we acquired some fairly good photographs. We made them early. Did not make as lots of them within the second half, however I believed they had been good ones, and the sport acquired away from us just a bit bit there. However give them credit score. They are a good basketball workforce, however I am actually pleased with these guys, pleased with our entire workforce, however particularly, senior class and what they’ve meant to our program, in some instances 5 years, 4 years, two years and one 12 months between the 5 guys. And what they’ve performed for our program, and it isn’t simply the profitable. You recognize, clearly that is the half that you simply get to see is the three championships over 5 years and the win share and all that that these guys have been in a position to attain. Nevertheless it’s greater than that to me. It is the people who they’re, the people who they’ve change into, the leaders that they have been, the best way they’re on campus, the best way they deal with individuals, the teammates that they have been, their work capability, their dedication to being nice, their dedication to one another, how a lot they care about one another, and the way a lot they care about profitable. And in a day and age the place our society can are usually the other of that or 180 of that or there’s selfishness and all that with groups, and the truth that we did not have any of that makes this group actually, actually, actually particular. It has been an actual privilege to educate them and to work with them. Like I mentioned, Kaleb one 12 months, Sammy two years, Ali 4 and Reque and Greg 5. Simply very, very grateful and really feel very blessed. Wished we would have performed a bit of bit higher as we speak, however proper now I form of have an angle of gratitude for these three guys and Thornton and Hunter, who aren’t up right here.
MODERATOR: Questions for student-athletes.
Q. Enrique, you went from getting dragged to open tryouts and now in March Insanity, I do not know if anyone’s informed you, I am certain you understand, although, most double doubles, third in NCAA Division I historical past. How does that really feel to form of end this a part of your story?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: I imply, clearly the accolades really feel good, however like Coach mentioned, I am simply in actual good gratitude with how this workforce, all through the complete season, all through my complete time right here, we labored very exhausting, and I feel we did one thing very particular in Akron, and I am glad we had been in a position to placed on for the town.
Q. Ali, what does it imply so that you can form of end off your story coming again to Akron, you get again to March Insanity and end it out along with your guys? Clearly not the best way you wished the sport to finish, however your story as a complete, speak concerning the ending for you.
ALI ALI: Clearly not the perfect ending that we wished, however I acquired to exit with the people who I care about essentially the most, you understand, outdoors of my household again house. Truthfully, like, these are like my brothers. I do not actually acquired too many associates again house. These are the blokes I am round loads. So if I’ll lose, I’ll lose with them. If I’ll win, I’ll win with them. That was a giant a part of coming again understanding I might remorse it if I did not end out my faculty profession with these guys within the locker room.
Q. What labored within the first half? What did you suppose would work along with your sport plan? Simply converse concerning the begin you guys had.
GREG TRIBBLE: I felt like we had been making a whole lot of photographs within the first half which led to — they can not get out in transition as a lot in case you are making photographs. And I really feel like within the second half we weren’t making as many photographs and we began playing they usually’re a extremely good workforce on offense, and as soon as they begin getting open photographs it is exhausting to cease them from making photographs. So that they had been simply actual good in transition, and we simply did not have good transition protection tonight.
Q. Enrique, simply that first half, the top on an 8-0 run that extends 28 to eight, I consider. Kalkbrenner, Alexander, Scheierman are all concerned. How tough was that match-up, and for you particularly, Kalkbrenner?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: He is a giant participant. He has good measurement, however I feel match-up clever, we did a very good job. I believed the complete sport tried to remove their good tendencies, however total I feel they simply caught us in transition they usually’re actually good on the three-point line. So that they hit some good threes.
Q. Enrique, are you able to discuss what the banging inside and drawing him defensively outdoors with the threes, what was that tempo like for you and did it take a toll as the sport went on, the frenetic first six minutes?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: I imply, I do not suppose it took a toll. I simply suppose I acquired in foul bother and we determine to place Sammy on him. However that is what bigs do. We go down there and we’re bodily, attempt to catch them outdoors the submit. I do know I had a very good submit place and he struggled after I was utilizing my strikes. So it is simply basketball.
Q. From speaking to you guys, I do know that you simply thought psychological toughness actually carried you thru the Mac match and right here, however you did not play your greatest. I am certain you guys suppose that as we speak wasn’t your greatest. So what do you suppose form of simply prevented it from being — reaching your full potential as a gaggle relating to the expertise and expertise you guys have?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: I feel — potential clever, I feel our workforce is reaching our potential. You recognize, I feel our complete season there was ebbs and flows all through the complete season, however on this sport, some video games you get out shot. Merely it. I do not suppose any of our guys stop. None of our guys did not cease taking part in exhausting. Everyone gave their greatest efforts till the shot clock went off. So all we will do is check out the drafting board and hopefully these freshmen, juniors and sophomores are available in subsequent season and see that and use that as a possibility to study.
Q. Enrique, you got here out and banked in a three-pointer to start and I feel you took like eight of them. I do not know. Possibly John did not design it that manner, however what was happening there with you taking pictures the threes and simply how did you’re feeling about that?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: You recognize, he performs within the paint loads. So we tried to stretch out the ground a bit of bit extra. And all people believes in my three. I have been working very exhausting on it. And I simply knocked down just a few, in order that they needed to change protection, and we determined to assault a distinct manner.
Q. This sport solely happened two hours away from house. Fairly good devoted exhibiting from the Akron crowd, and at instances within the first half, fairly energetic. How did you guys attempt to journey that momentum from the group, as nicely, and what was it like simply to see the Akron devoted right here?
GREG TRIBBLE: It meant loads. Clearly, our followers, they care about us. They present as much as each house sport. That is why we had been so good at house this 12 months. I imply, it simply feels good to see some acquainted faces in Pittsburgh, and we simply tried to feed off of that. And that is it, actually.
Q. For you three guys, you guys got here in earlier than the pandemic. You guys have been in Akron for 5 years, Enrique six as a pupil, clearly. In the event you might take us again to once you had been youngsters to now as form of grown males or adults, what’s that been like, this full expertise of faculty basketball with two match appearances?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: I imply, like I mentioned yesterday, the journey has been superb. Tremendous grateful for the journey. I would not ask for it to go any totally different. I am very pleased with what I used to be in a position to accomplish right here and all of us had been in a position to accomplish right here. And I simply — I am joyful that we’re in a position to depart on a legacy. Akron basketball, Akron tradition. We have performed a whole lot of profitable, and we wish to simply cross on the torch. These guys in 2019, 2020 handed the torch to us. Time for us to cross the torch.
ALI ALI: I might say I am undoubtedly appreciative of the run we have had the final 4 or 5 years, and simply wanting again, like, clearly as a child, center schooler, highschool, like for me, not having a DI supply, senior 12 months beginning like Groce coming in giving me one likelihood, and nobody else giving me an opportunity popping out of highschool. So I feel simply coming into this match has been the story of our lives, all the time been underdogs. So I imply, I am simply grateful and appreciative for all of the individuals I’ve met on the best way.
GREG TRIBBLE: I am simply grateful for the chance of Coach Groce and the teaching employees for even believing in me to come back to this college. Simply instructing the youthful guys, simply do not take it with no consideration. You recognize, clearly, we put in a whole lot of work to get to the place we’re at now to do as a lot profitable as we’ve got, and simply instructing them, that is what it is all about. Simply instructing them that you simply simply cannot take it with no consideration. You gotta work exhausting each day.
MODERATOR: Thanks, student-athletes. All proper. Questions for Coach Groce.
Q. Coach, did the primary half form of go in accordance with plan or was there a giant deviation from what you thought?
JOHN GROCE: Till the final couple minutes. I believed that was the largest juncture within the sport. We had been up 34-31 with about two minutes to go within the half after which they went on an 8-0 run. I believed that was the largest two minutes of the sport. So give them credit score. We had a pair possessions there the place we did not get matched up in transition. The blokes alluded to that. You recognize, we had a questionable shot, you understand, could not fairly get the ball a few instances the place we wished to get it. However for essentially the most half, aside from these two minutes, we performed the sport plan to precision, fairly frankly. We actually did. Terry was speaking about Freeman’s eight threes. I truly hoped he’d get 15 up.
Q. Coach, you began off the sport with Enrique Freeman up prime taking these eight threes all through the sport. You had Sammy Hunter within the submit. Is that one thing you guys had deliberate for?
JOHN GROCE: Loads of it is primarily based on how Kalkbrenner performs defensively. For my part, he makes them go defensively. So the blokes are actually good, give good effort. However you are speaking concerning the three time Large East Defensive Participant of the Yr. He is huge, as Rique mentioned. So I’ve acquired confidence in Enrique and Sammy to shoot the ball from the three-point line and past. In order that was a part of it, making an attempt to get him out of the paint a bit of bit. Give them credit score, Greg made a change, like good coaches like him do, and altered his protection a bit of bit. However I believed Ali was efficient within the first half. I believed the decide and roll sport was efficient within the first half. I believed we did a whole lot of actually good issues. Till their run the final two minutes, as the unique query was requested there, I do not know if it might have went a lot better.
Second juncture of the sport that I believed acquired away from us was the beginning of the second half. We simply weren’t — weren’t fairly as efficient as we had been the primary 18 minutes, after which we had been taking part in behind from there.
Q. John, given Enrique’s journey, how robust is it, then, subbing him out with 1:23 to go understanding you are not going to have him once more?
JOHN GROCE: Robust. It is not simply because pretty much as good of participant a as he’s. That is a part of it. Nevertheless it’s the particular person he’s, the chief, the teammate, how coachable he’s, his work ethic, how a lot he cares about different individuals. I’ve nicknamed him the unicorn for a cause.
Q. Coach, in that second half, when the offense is not executing, looks like photographs are discovering any and each method to not fall. What is the message to your workforce?
JOHN GROCE: Effectively, my entire deal, and it’s each sport, it is the standard of the shot that is necessary to me. I consider in them that they will make good photographs. So I am extra involved concerning the high quality of the shot we’re getting. I believed turnovers can be huge for us, and you’ll have a look at the stats. We solely turned it 5 instances the complete sport, which is nice. I believed defensive rebounding can be a bonus for us. They acquired us a bit of bit on the glass there throughout that one stretch that I used to be a bit of disenchanted in. We missed a block-out on Mason Miller and a pair guys there that ended up throughout that stretch of two or three minutes after I talked concerning the unhealthy begin a bit of bit to the second half the place it form of acquired away from us a bit of bit. I believed that offensive rebounding by them was part of that. However, you understand, yeah. Clearly you wish to make photographs. Proper? Who would not wish to make photographs? We have taken a whole lot of satisfaction in having a whole lot of psychological toughness of having the ability to play by means of stretches. We had a semifinal sport in Cleveland the place we scored 16 factors within the first half and had 13 turnovers and we had been solely down ten as a result of our protection was so good. Then we scored 50 within the second half and shot the duvet off the ball.
So that you wish to make photographs. I do suppose should you can rebound and maintain the ball and defend, you are all the time going to have an opportunity. However this was a bit of distinctive as we speak. Their offense, as the blokes had been alluding to, was simply prolific. Noticed it on movie coming into the sport, felt that manner in the course of the sport. My opinion hasn’t modified on that. Simply have a whole lot of solutions offensively. They have measurement on the rim and a man that may rating within the submit. They have a number of play makers, nice passers. And so they shoot the ball from three very nicely. You are not going to search out very many nights the place you’ve got acquired all 4 or 5 of these guys that shoot threes for them to all be off in the identical evening. After which they run great things.
So I knew it was going to be a problem to cease them. Once more, I believed the important thing can be might we hold scoring, and clearly we had been ready to do this for about 18 minutes however weren’t fairly in a position to maintain that for the remaining 22 minutes.
Q. Coach, you used the phrase prolific to explain their offense. Was there an offense this season, whether or not or not it’s common season or MAC match or nonconference, that ready you for what they create with Kalkbrenner and Alexander and Scheierman?
JOHN GROCE: No. I imply, I feel they’re pretty much as good of an offensive workforce when it comes to their personnel, their mix of measurement, taking pictures, play making, what they run offensively. They’re pretty much as good of an offensive workforce as we have went in opposition to in my seven years at Akron.
Q. You’ve got been on this state of affairs earlier than after being eradicated within the NCAA Event. Simply curious, what do you say to your workforce afterwards within the locker room?
JOHN GROCE: I simply informed them how proud I used to be of them. I addressed the sport briefly, and clearly did not go the best way that we wished it to or envisioned or deliberate for it to. Give Creighton credit score. However simply informed them how grateful I used to be for what I simply mentioned on the outset of this; 5 years, 4 years, two years, one 12 months, particularly these seniors, and actually all of them. You recognize, I loved being with them, teaching them. They’re an awesome group of fellows. As Freeman has mentioned a number of instances, we do not have a nasty apple in our locker room. That does not imply we do not undergo instances which are robust. All of us do, proper? You guys do, we do. Nevertheless it’s the individuals you do it with, how a lot you care about one another. We had good individuals in there, and it made it tremendous gratifying, and I am simply grateful to have had the chance to educate them. These guys will all the time be part of not solely the Akron household, however my private household. You recognize, I really like them. They’re nice, nice, nice guys.
Q. John, Enrique mentioned he was joyful to have the ability to depart a legacy. How would you outline the legacy?
JOHN GROCE: Effectively, that is an advanced query, proper? As a result of what you see is the profitable, you understand, the profitable share total, league play, the most effective within the league, the championships, the banners, all that. And that is actually part of it. However I feel it is extra of — and a few the younger guys simply spoke after the older guys had an opportunity to talk within the locker room about how grateful they had been that guys taught them what exhausting work appeared like. You recognize, what management appeared like, what being an awesome teammate appeared like, what being at a do-both place, which means, we count on you to get it performed academically and earn your diploma and make progress in direction of diploma whereas additionally taking part in at a excessive stage, what that appears like. You recognize, all these guys you noticed up right here, plus Hunter and Thornton, exemplified that every day. And they also had been in a position to see all that and really feel all that. So to me it is greater than all of the profitable. That is actually part of it. However once more, it is who they’re as individuals, who they’re as college students, the truth that they will recover from themselves and care about any individual aside from themselves, you understand, only a particular group.
Q. Clearly, the loss continues to be contemporary, however all three guys touched on passing that torch within the legacy of Akron basketball. What does the way forward for Akron basketball appear like in your eyes?
JOHN GROCE: Effectively, for us proper now, clearly, I am making an attempt to course of this one, proper? However on the finish of the day, we wish to proceed to fill our locker room with people who care about one another and care about profitable. That is what these guys would let you know. It is actually not any extra sophisticated than that. Do you care about one another, actually take care of one another, maintain one another, and do you care about profitable forward of non-public agenda? Proper? Sounds apparent, sounds straightforward. It is not. You recognize, in order that was their mentality. I feel the youthful guys noticed that. And we wish to proceed to construct on that.
Q. I do know you’d want to be becoming a member of him within the spherical of 32, however do you may have any message to your previous good friend and rival Keith Dambrot?
JOHN GROCE: I will do this most likely a bit of later. I have not had an opportunity to do this. So I have been occupied with what we’re doing proper now.
Q. Are you able to inform us what you may inform him or speak to him about afterward?
JOHN GROCE: Normally he and I — I mentioned this earlier, we’ll textual content or we’ll name and I am joyful for him, clearly, and what he is been in a position to do. I feel you have a look at the final time that they had been within the match, I feel, was the ’70s. Is that right? Yeah. So it is actually — it is superior, you understand, what he is been in a position to do. And I am joyful for him and Donna with the retirement, and Keith’s a giant cause why I ended up come to go Akron. I mentioned that earlier, was due to Keith and all of the success that he had had and the battles that we had after I was at Ohio, and the familiarity with Akron and Northeast Ohio due to my time within the state at so many Ohio universities. And so, I had nice familiarity with Akron and was drawn to that. However largely due to Keith.
MODERATOR: Thanks, Coach. Admire your time.
JOHN GROCE: Positive.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports activities
142246-1-2377 2024-03-21 20:31:00 GMT
PITTSBURGH, Pa. — No. 11 Creighton closed the primary half on an 8-0 run and by no means appeared again in a 77-60 win over 14th-seeded Akron in NCAA Event First Spherical motion at PPG Paints Area in Pittsburgh, Pa., on Thursday afternoon.
The Bluejays improved to 24-9 with the win and can play on Saturday in opposition to Eleventh-seeded Oregon, which defeated sixth-seeded South Carolina.
Creighton took a 39-34 lead into the break after a fast-paced first half that noticed each groups join with regularity from three-point vary early on. Creighton made its first 5 three-point makes an attempt, whereas nationwide rebounding chief Enrique Freeman buried three three-pointers within the first 5 minutes. The groups exchanged six leads and it was tied 9 instances earlier than the break, with Creighton scoring the ultimate eight factors to assert a 39-34 lead. That run featured three-pointers by Trey Alexander and Mason Miller earlier than a hoop from Baylor Scheierman to finish the half.
Ryan Kalkbrenner and Alexander every had 11 factors on the break for CU, whereas Scheierman had eight factors and 7 rebounds. CU shot 60 % within the first half (15-25), together with 7-of-10 (70 %) from three-point vary. Akron was led by 15 factors and eight rebounds by Freeman, whereas Ali Ali added 10 factors.
The Bluejays rode that momentum out of the break as Miller and Scheierman buried triples to push the result in 9 (45-36), however Creighton pulled away for good with a 10-0 run that pushed its result in 59-42 after Miller related on his third triple of the competition.
Creighton had a balanced offensive effort, as all 5 starters scored in double-figures. Scheierman had his BIG EAST-leading sixteenth double-double of the 12 months with 15 factors and 13 rebounds. Kalkbrenner (23) and Alexander (19) had been joined within the scoring column by Miller (10) and Ashworth (10). Creighton shot 56.5 % from the sector and made 10-of-17 three-point photographs (a season-high 58.8 %). The Bluejays received the board battle 38-26 and zipped previous Akron 13-2 in quick break factors.
Freeman earned his nation-leading thirty first double-double of the season to steer Akron, ending with 21 factors and 14 rebounds. Ali completed with 14 factors earlier than fouling out. The Zips shot 37.9 % from the sector and made simply 6-of-28 three-point tries. Akron ends its season with a 24-11 mark.
A sport time and tv community will likely be introduced on the conclusion of as we speak’s video games.
NOTES: Ryan Kalkbrenner grew to become Creighton’s second participant ever to look in 4 totally different NCAA Tournaments, becoming a member of Kyle Korver … This afternoon was Creighton’s two hundredth sport as a workforce whereas ranked within the Related Press underneath Greg McDermott. The Bluejays are 140-60 in these contests … Creighton made a three-pointer for the 1,018th straight sport … Baylor Scheierman made a three-pointer for the twenty first straight sport, and 79th time in his final 80 video games. Scheierman’s first three-pointer was additionally his one centesimal of the season, one thing solely Kyle Korver (2x) and Ethan Wragge had performed beforehand in Creighton historical past … At the moment was Creighton’s 99th straight sport on tv … Baylor Scheierman handed Kyle Korver for essentially the most three-point makes an attempt by a participant in CU single-season historical past … Isaac Traudt had his first blocked shot of the season … Baylor Scheierman (287) grew to become the primary Creighton participant with a number of seasons of 300 rebounds since Bob Portman in 1967-68 and 1968-69 … Creighton improved to 19-25 all-time within the NCAA Event, together with a 13-12 mark in its opening sport and 2-1 as a No. 3 seed … Creighton is now 4-1 all-time in opposition to Akron, and 2-0 in postseason play … Creighton performed its 52nd straight sport with out a participant fouling out, the nation’s longest streak since not less than 2005-06 … Ryan Kalkbrenner (97) grew to become the second participant in CU historical past to dam 100 photographs in a season, becoming a member of Benoit Benjamin who did it twice … Creighton’s 58.8 % taking pictures from deep was a program file for an NCAA Event sport … Ryan Kalkbrenner, Baylor Scheierman and Trey Alexander all recorded 15+ factors and 5+ rebounds in as we speak’s win. They’re simply second BIG EAST trio to do that in a NCAA Event sport during the last 10 years, the opposite being Xavier’s J.P. Macura, Trevon Bluiett and Kerem Kanter within the 2018 Spherical of 64 vs Texas Southern … Creighton scored 77 factors as we speak, all from its starters. The final workforce to attain that many factors in an NCAA Event sport regardless of having zero from its bench was Rutgers (87 factors) in a Play-In Spherical loss to Notre Dame in 2022. The final workforce to attain 77+ with zero bench factors in a WIN, was Minnesota (86 vs Louisville) within the 2019 Spherical of 64. The final BIG EAST faculty to do that (no matter end result) was Windfall within the a 1997 Elite-8 loss to Arizona (92 factors).
Thursday, March 21, 2024
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
PPG Paints Area
Creighton Bluejays
Media Convention
Creighton – 77, Akron – 60 Milwaukee,
MODERATOR: We’ll begin with a gap assertion from Coach Greg McDermott. Coach?
GREG McDERMOTT: Initially, congratulations to Coach Groce, his employees and his workforce on an exceptional 12 months. I gained a brand new appreciation for the job he does in our preparation for Akron. That workforce was very related defensively, very unselfish on the offensive finish, and as I discussed a pair days in the past, they misplaced a number of shut video games that had been actually not removed from profitable 30 video games this 12 months.
So that they had our utmost respect, and I feel you noticed, particularly within the first half, you understand, it is a high quality, high quality workforce that we beat as we speak. So we’re excited as a result of we beat a very good basketball workforce. And pleased with our guys. I believed we took actually good photographs, and after we take actually good photographs, we’re a fairly good basketball workforce. And we gotta clear up some issues with among the turnovers, however defensively I believed we adjusted as the sport went on and did a a lot better job within the second half.
MODERATOR: Questions for the student-athletes.
Q. Baylor, what flipped in these final couple minutes earlier than halftime? You guys go on the run and do not look again from there. What modified?
BAYLOR SCHEIERMAN: I feel we had been in a position to get some stops in a row and on the offensive finish get photographs. And like coach mentioned, we actually struggled with turnovers within the first half and within the final 4 minutes we had been in a position to maintain the ball and get photographs and stops and after we had been ready to do this, that is after we actually gained some separation.
Q. Felt like Akron, although they had been hitting photographs, had been taking part in at your guys’ most well-liked tempo. Did you’re feeling like as the primary half wore on and the second half acquired going that that began to put on into them?
RYAN KALKBRENNER: Yeah, that is form of how we strategy a whole lot of video games is, even firstly of the sport some tempo might not give us a whole lot of buckets early on as a result of the opposite workforce is contemporary, however we play at that tempo and observe at that tempo on a regular basis, so we will hold that up for 40 minutes. Not each workforce we play in opposition to can. So once you begin sporting into them like that you simply begin to get just a few straightforward baskets or just a few attractiveness since you’re operating the opposite workforce. So I feel that undoubtedly helped us towards the top of the primary half and finish of the second half.
Q. What modified defensively for you within the second half within the job you probably did on Enrique Freeman?
RYAN KALKBRENNER: I feel it is a bit of bit getting used to how he performs. You may watch somebody on movie loads and get as used to it as you possibly can, however on the finish of the day he is a extremely good participant and simply made some psychological changes as to how I wished to protect him within the submit and did a bit of higher job. He nonetheless acquired just a few buckets as a result of he is a extremely good participant, however yeah simply having the ability to make changes within the sport.
Q. Mason, when do you know that one thing was going best for you and what sort of an impression once you’re hitting your photographs like that may that make in your workforce and in your teammates?
MASON MILLER: Truthfully, I imply simply each single day, I imply, I work on my shot each single day, so I form of come into the sport anticipating to make photographs like that. I suppose simply operating to the nook, getting open appears and taking part in throughout the offensive form of helps the workforce loads, particularly when we’ve got nice gamers like Ryan and Baylor over right here having the ability to area the ground for them, it is enormous for them.
Q. For any of you guys, the expertise you guys have at this stage, how did that assist as we speak and the way can that aid you the remainder of the match?
BAYLOR SCHEIERMAN: I simply suppose the sport is 40 minutes lengthy and there is a whole lot of ups and downs that go all through a basketball sport, and clearly within the first half there was some issues that did not go proper for us they usually had been form of hanging with us and whatnot, however then we had been in a position to get stops and get a sport of runs and we had been in a position to go on ours and proceed with it. So I feel the expertise of understanding that the sport is 40 minutes and something can occur, I feel that helps us out.
Q. Baylor, is there no matter opponent all the time a problem that comes with the primary sport of the match simply getting the kinks out of the best way and discovering your rhythm?
BAYLOR SCHEIERMAN: Yeah, I feel so. Clearly it is a — the match is so enjoyable and never all people will get to participate of it. And the beginning of the sport, the ambiance is just a bit totally different than an everyday sport. And no matter who you play the primary spherical, a whole lot of instances it may be actually robust. I imply, final 12 months at NC State it was a tricky sport. This 12 months, identical factor. So no matter your opponent, the primary sport is all the time a problem.
MODERATOR: All proper. Thanks. Pupil-athletes might be dismissed.
MODERATOR: Questions for coach McDermott.
Q. I do not know what you had been saying to them within the huddle as that first half was happening, however clearly each groups had been making a whole lot of photographs. Did you get a way that due to the best way the tempo was going that Akron wasn’t actually making an attempt to decelerate and play to their fashion, that you simply guys had been finally going to interrupt by means of?
GREG McDERMOTT: Among the issues I mentioned within the huddle I am unable to repeat to you. And that does not occur with me fairly often. However I used to be not stunned that they got here at us in transition. In watching them play, they’re opportunistic, however they’ve a whole lot of guys that may deal with it in transition and lead the break. So I used to be not stunned they got here at us the best way that they did.
We had some psychological errors that allowed them to form of get going, and Freeman banks in his first three. That is a nervy shot for a man that does not shoot loads. Kalkbrenner makes one, too. But when the primary one would not go in with the financial institution, perhaps he is not as snug. Probably the most he is ever shot in a sport this 12 months was three, and he shot 47 on the 12 months. So we actually did not suppose coming in that he can be keen to shoot eight three-point photographs. So we needed to alter, clearly, as the sport went on.
Q. Greg, how a lot did you form of financial institution on that, when it began to show into form of a one-on-one there with Kalkbrenner and Freeman that the remainder of your guys, the supporting forged, would begin to get open appears the best way that they did?
GREG McDERMOTT: Yeah, particularly when Freeman picked up just a few fouls, that takes away a bit of little bit of his aggressiveness, and that is naturally going to occur once you’re in foul bother. In order we acquired that lead, we made it some extent to play by means of Kalkbrenner. And I believed the blokes did a very good job of selecting their spots. And like I mentioned within the open, the 17 three-point photographs, we had a pair we had to absorb late clock conditions, however I feel they had been actually good threes for us in opposition to a workforce that is been a lead all season of taking away threes and ensuring the share, I feel the workforce shot 30 % in opposition to Akron on the season from three. So to do what we did offensively in opposition to what I take into account a really defensive workforce can be a credit score to our workforce.
Q. Coach, that is the fourth 12 months in a row that you simply guys have received a match sport and you’ve got now handed all different Creighton coaches mixed for many wins within the NCAA Event. To have 4 years in a row the place you will get a win in March and to have the success that you have had, what does that say about this workforce that they will carry out presently of 12 months?
GREG McDERMOTT: Effectively, to begin with, you by no means take with no consideration getting right here, as a result of it is actually tough. What’s it, 16 or 17 % of the Division I groups get within the match? That is not very many. And there was a whole lot of disappointment on Choice Sunday with groups throughout the nation that felt they had been deserving they usually did not get in. So the very first thing you do is you recognize the chance, and then you definitely have fun the issues that you have performed to get right here. Like I informed the blokes within the locker room earlier than the sport, we discuss course of all 12 months lengthy, trusting the method, trusting your work. You recognize, that course of is what led us to right here. And that course of is what is going on to provide us hopefully a possibility to form of end the job and hold advancing on this match. However I’ve had — actually solely a kind of groups was an inexperienced workforce. The workforce when — three years in the past when Nembhard harm acquired harm and Trey needed to slide to the purpose guard place and we had been taking part in some freshmen, Alex O’Connell had solely transferred in for one 12 months, Ryan Hawkins for one 12 months. The remainder of the groups, we have had some fairly good expertise within the match, and I feel that actually helps you once you come again. You recognize what to anticipate. Groups which are right here the primary time are taking footage and doing all that after they go on the courtroom. Our guys as we speak had been like, all proper, that is the place we anticipated to be. What are we going to do, and let’s do it and get out of right here.
So we actually recognize the chance to play within the match, and we hope we’re blessed to have the ability to stick round until Saturday and we’ll attempt to give it our greatest.
Q. Greg, I am simply curious what you might need mentioned to Kalkbrenner once you pulled him over to the sideline on that made breakaway that did not precisely go the best manner.
GREG McDERMOTT: Effectively, he had one early within the season the place he tried to interrupt a press by himself, which was the primary time that I would ever seen that within the 4 years that I’ve coached him. At the moment was the primary as nicely. So we had been chuckling about — he mentioned he thought of going behind his again on the finish. That is what introduced my chuckle. However he performs the sport the best manner, he performs with emotion. You may inform he likes to play the sport. Impacts the sport in so many ways in which do not present up on the stats sheet. In order that was a enjoyable second for each of us.
Q. As the sport wore on, I do know it is by design defensively, I do know you gave up some offensive rebounds, however you probably did drive them to take the photographs that you simply designed your protection to drive groups to take. How did that execution ramp up as the sport went on?
GREG McDERMOTT: I imply, we needed to make some changes when the bigs had been hitting threes. So we needed to change a bit of bit extra, after which we acquired cross-matched just a few instances. However I believed early within the second half, I believed — I am unable to bear in mind who hit him. I feel Johnson hit a pair robust twos the place we went over the display screen, we had been there. He hits a 16, 17 footer with a hand in his face. That is form of what we’re making an attempt to do. So I used to be joyful, actually, after the primary seven or eight minutes of the sport. I believed we settled in a bit of bit higher defensively. However credit score to them, additionally they made some robust photographs.
Q. I do know you had been locked into your sport. I am questioning how a lot you had been conscious of what was happening in Omaha with Duquesne, which is the host faculty right here, and beating BYU, and the group’s response to that. At instances throughout your sport, whether or not the identical factor was occurring again house?
GREG McDERMOTT: It was a bit of unusual to play the sport with that happening, by the best way as a result of the cheers and the ooohs and ahs did not actually match as much as what was happening on the ground in entrance of us. In order that was considerably difficult for our guys. However I had noticed within the locker room earlier than I left that that they had the lead and clearly noticed the response. Keith’s been a good friend of mine a very long time. We coached in opposition to one another again after I was at Northern Iowa and Creighton was within the Valley and he was at Akron. We have identified one another a very long time. What a good way for him to exit as his profession is winding down. However he is all the time been a terrific coach. He is tremendously revered in our career, and good issues occur to good individuals typically, and he deserved that. So I am actually joyful for him and his program and, particularly his household with among the issues they are going by means of.
MODERATOR: Thanks, Coach. Congratulations.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports activities
142241-1-2377 2024-03-21 20:05:00 GMT
Thursday, March 21, 2024
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
PPG Paints Area
Akron Zips
Coach John Groce
Enrique Freeman
Greg Tribble
Ali Ali
Media Convention
JOHN GROCE: Clearly did not fairly go the best way that we had deliberate or wished it to. Give Creighton a whole lot of credit score. I believed they had been actually difficult to protect. I felt that manner coming into the sport. I believed it was necessary that we had useful possessions on offense and scored. And I believed we acquired some fairly good photographs. We made them early. Did not make as lots of them within the second half, however I believed they had been good ones, and the sport acquired away from us just a bit bit there. However give them credit score. They are a good basketball workforce, however I am actually pleased with these guys, pleased with our entire workforce, however particularly, senior class and what they’ve meant to our program, in some instances 5 years, 4 years, two years and one 12 months between the 5 guys. And what they’ve performed for our program, and it isn’t simply the profitable. You recognize, clearly that is the half that you simply get to see is the three championships over 5 years and the win share and all that that these guys have been in a position to attain. Nevertheless it’s greater than that to me. It is the people who they’re, the people who they’ve change into, the leaders that they have been, the best way they’re on campus, the best way they deal with individuals, the teammates that they have been, their work capability, their dedication to being nice, their dedication to one another, how a lot they care about one another, and the way a lot they care about profitable. And in a day and age the place our society can are usually the other of that or 180 of that or there’s selfishness and all that with groups, and the truth that we did not have any of that makes this group actually, actually, actually particular. It has been an actual privilege to educate them and to work with them. Like I mentioned, Kaleb one 12 months, Sammy two years, Ali 4 and Reque and Greg 5. Simply very, very grateful and really feel very blessed. Wished we would have performed a bit of bit higher as we speak, however proper now I form of have an angle of gratitude for these three guys and Thornton and Hunter, who aren’t up right here.
MODERATOR: Questions for student-athletes.
Q. Enrique, you went from getting dragged to open tryouts and now in March Insanity, I do not know if anyone’s informed you, I am certain you understand, although, most double doubles, third in NCAA Division I historical past. How does that really feel to form of end this a part of your story?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: I imply, clearly the accolades really feel good, however like Coach mentioned, I am simply in actual good gratitude with how this workforce, all through the complete season, all through my complete time right here, we labored very exhausting, and I feel we did one thing very particular in Akron, and I am glad we had been in a position to placed on for the town.
Q. Ali, what does it imply so that you can form of end off your story coming again to Akron, you get again to March Insanity and end it out along with your guys? Clearly not the best way you wished the sport to finish, however your story as a complete, speak concerning the ending for you.
ALI ALI: Clearly not the perfect ending that we wished, however I acquired to exit with the people who I care about essentially the most, you understand, outdoors of my household again house. Truthfully, like, these are like my brothers. I do not actually acquired too many associates again house. These are the blokes I am round loads. So if I’ll lose, I’ll lose with them. If I’ll win, I’ll win with them. That was a giant a part of coming again understanding I might remorse it if I did not end out my faculty profession with these guys within the locker room.
Q. What labored within the first half? What did you suppose would work along with your sport plan? Simply converse concerning the begin you guys had.
GREG TRIBBLE: I felt like we had been making a whole lot of photographs within the first half which led to — they can not get out in transition as a lot in case you are making photographs. And I really feel like within the second half we weren’t making as many photographs and we began playing they usually’re a extremely good workforce on offense, and as soon as they begin getting open photographs it is exhausting to cease them from making photographs. So that they had been simply actual good in transition, and we simply did not have good transition protection tonight.
Q. Enrique, simply that first half, the top on an 8-0 run that extends 28 to eight, I consider. Kalkbrenner, Alexander, Scheierman are all concerned. How tough was that match-up, and for you particularly, Kalkbrenner?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: He is a giant participant. He has good measurement, however I feel match-up clever, we did a very good job. I believed the complete sport tried to remove their good tendencies, however total I feel they simply caught us in transition they usually’re actually good on the three-point line. So that they hit some good threes.
Q. Enrique, are you able to discuss what the banging inside and drawing him defensively outdoors with the threes, what was that tempo like for you and did it take a toll as the sport went on, the frenetic first six minutes?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: I imply, I do not suppose it took a toll. I simply suppose I acquired in foul bother and we determine to place Sammy on him. However that is what bigs do. We go down there and we’re bodily, attempt to catch them outdoors the submit. I do know I had a very good submit place and he struggled after I was utilizing my strikes. So it is simply basketball.
Q. From speaking to you guys, I do know that you simply thought psychological toughness actually carried you thru the Mac match and right here, however you did not play your greatest. I am certain you guys suppose that as we speak wasn’t your greatest. So what do you suppose form of simply prevented it from being — reaching your full potential as a gaggle relating to the expertise and expertise you guys have?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: I feel — potential clever, I feel our workforce is reaching our potential. You recognize, I feel our complete season there was ebbs and flows all through the complete season, however on this sport, some video games you get out shot. Merely it. I do not suppose any of our guys stop. None of our guys did not cease taking part in exhausting. Everyone gave their greatest efforts till the shot clock went off. So all we will do is check out the drafting board and hopefully these freshmen, juniors and sophomores are available in subsequent season and see that and use that as a possibility to study.
Q. Enrique, you got here out and banked in a three-pointer to start and I feel you took like eight of them. I do not know. Possibly John did not design it that manner, however what was happening there with you taking pictures the threes and simply how did you’re feeling about that?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: You recognize, he performs within the paint loads. So we tried to stretch out the ground a bit of bit extra. And all people believes in my three. I have been working very exhausting on it. And I simply knocked down just a few, in order that they needed to change protection, and we determined to assault a distinct manner.
Q. This sport solely happened two hours away from house. Fairly good devoted exhibiting from the Akron crowd, and at instances within the first half, fairly energetic. How did you guys attempt to journey that momentum from the group, as nicely, and what was it like simply to see the Akron devoted right here?
GREG TRIBBLE: It meant loads. Clearly, our followers, they care about us. They present as much as each house sport. That is why we had been so good at house this 12 months. I imply, it simply feels good to see some acquainted faces in Pittsburgh, and we simply tried to feed off of that. And that is it, actually.
Q. For you three guys, you guys got here in earlier than the pandemic. You guys have been in Akron for 5 years, Enrique six as a pupil, clearly. In the event you might take us again to once you had been youngsters to now as form of grown males or adults, what’s that been like, this full expertise of faculty basketball with two match appearances?
ENRIQUE FREEMAN: I imply, like I mentioned yesterday, the journey has been superb. Tremendous grateful for the journey. I would not ask for it to go any totally different. I am very pleased with what I used to be in a position to accomplish right here and all of us had been in a position to accomplish right here. And I simply — I am joyful that we’re in a position to depart on a legacy. Akron basketball, Akron tradition. We have performed a whole lot of profitable, and we wish to simply cross on the torch. These guys in 2019, 2020 handed the torch to us. Time for us to cross the torch.
ALI ALI: I might say I am undoubtedly appreciative of the run we have had the final 4 or 5 years, and simply wanting again, like, clearly as a child, center schooler, highschool, like for me, not having a DI supply, senior 12 months beginning like Groce coming in giving me one likelihood, and nobody else giving me an opportunity popping out of highschool. So I feel simply coming into this match has been the story of our lives, all the time been underdogs. So I imply, I am simply grateful and appreciative for all of the individuals I’ve met on the best way.
GREG TRIBBLE: I am simply grateful for the chance of Coach Groce and the teaching employees for even believing in me to come back to this college. Simply instructing the youthful guys, simply do not take it with no consideration. You recognize, clearly, we put in a whole lot of work to get to the place we’re at now to do as a lot profitable as we’ve got, and simply instructing them, that is what it is all about. Simply instructing them that you simply simply cannot take it with no consideration. You gotta work exhausting each day.
MODERATOR: Thanks, student-athletes. All proper. Questions for Coach Groce.
Q. Coach, did the primary half form of go in accordance with plan or was there a giant deviation from what you thought?
JOHN GROCE: Till the final couple minutes. I believed that was the largest juncture within the sport. We had been up 34-31 with about two minutes to go within the half after which they went on an 8-0 run. I believed that was the largest two minutes of the sport. So give them credit score. We had a pair possessions there the place we did not get matched up in transition. The blokes alluded to that. You recognize, we had a questionable shot, you understand, could not fairly get the ball a few instances the place we wished to get it. However for essentially the most half, aside from these two minutes, we performed the sport plan to precision, fairly frankly. We actually did. Terry was speaking about Freeman’s eight threes. I truly hoped he’d get 15 up.
Q. Coach, you began off the sport with Enrique Freeman up prime taking these eight threes all through the sport. You had Sammy Hunter within the submit. Is that one thing you guys had deliberate for?
JOHN GROCE: Loads of it is primarily based on how Kalkbrenner performs defensively. For my part, he makes them go defensively. So the blokes are actually good, give good effort. However you are speaking concerning the three time Large East Defensive Participant of the Yr. He is huge, as Rique mentioned. So I’ve acquired confidence in Enrique and Sammy to shoot the ball from the three-point line and past. In order that was a part of it, making an attempt to get him out of the paint a bit of bit. Give them credit score, Greg made a change, like good coaches like him do, and altered his protection a bit of bit. However I believed Ali was efficient within the first half. I believed the decide and roll sport was efficient within the first half. I believed we did a whole lot of actually good issues. Till their run the final two minutes, as the unique query was requested there, I do not know if it might have went a lot better.
Second juncture of the sport that I believed acquired away from us was the beginning of the second half. We simply weren’t — weren’t fairly as efficient as we had been the primary 18 minutes, after which we had been taking part in behind from there.
Q. John, given Enrique’s journey, how robust is it, then, subbing him out with 1:23 to go understanding you are not going to have him once more?
JOHN GROCE: Robust. It is not simply because pretty much as good of participant a as he’s. That is a part of it. Nevertheless it’s the particular person he’s, the chief, the teammate, how coachable he’s, his work ethic, how a lot he cares about different individuals. I’ve nicknamed him the unicorn for a cause.
Q. Coach, in that second half, when the offense is not executing, looks like photographs are discovering any and each method to not fall. What is the message to your workforce?
JOHN GROCE: Effectively, my entire deal, and it’s each sport, it is the standard of the shot that is necessary to me. I consider in them that they will make good photographs. So I am extra involved concerning the high quality of the shot we’re getting. I believed turnovers can be huge for us, and you’ll have a look at the stats. We solely turned it 5 instances the complete sport, which is nice. I believed defensive rebounding can be a bonus for us. They acquired us a bit of bit on the glass there throughout that one stretch that I used to be a bit of disenchanted in. We missed a block-out on Mason Miller and a pair guys there that ended up throughout that stretch of two or three minutes after I talked concerning the unhealthy begin a bit of bit to the second half the place it form of acquired away from us a bit of bit. I believed that offensive rebounding by them was part of that. However, you understand, yeah. Clearly you wish to make photographs. Proper? Who would not wish to make photographs? We have taken a whole lot of satisfaction in having a whole lot of psychological toughness of having the ability to play by means of stretches. We had a semifinal sport in Cleveland the place we scored 16 factors within the first half and had 13 turnovers and we had been solely down ten as a result of our protection was so good. Then we scored 50 within the second half and shot the duvet off the ball.
So that you wish to make photographs. I do suppose should you can rebound and maintain the ball and defend, you are all the time going to have an opportunity. However this was a bit of distinctive as we speak. Their offense, as the blokes had been alluding to, was simply prolific. Noticed it on movie coming into the sport, felt that manner in the course of the sport. My opinion hasn’t modified on that. Simply have a whole lot of solutions offensively. They have measurement on the rim and a man that may rating within the submit. They have a number of play makers, nice passers. And so they shoot the ball from three very nicely. You are not going to search out very many nights the place you’ve got acquired all 4 or 5 of these guys that shoot threes for them to all be off in the identical evening. After which they run great things.
So I knew it was going to be a problem to cease them. Once more, I believed the important thing can be might we hold scoring, and clearly we had been ready to do this for about 18 minutes however weren’t fairly in a position to maintain that for the remaining 22 minutes.
Q. Coach, you used the phrase prolific to explain their offense. Was there an offense this season, whether or not or not it’s common season or MAC match or nonconference, that ready you for what they create with Kalkbrenner and Alexander and Scheierman?
JOHN GROCE: No. I imply, I feel they’re pretty much as good of an offensive workforce when it comes to their personnel, their mix of measurement, taking pictures, play making, what they run offensively. They’re pretty much as good of an offensive workforce as we have went in opposition to in my seven years at Akron.
Q. You’ve got been on this state of affairs earlier than after being eradicated within the NCAA Event. Simply curious, what do you say to your workforce afterwards within the locker room?
JOHN GROCE: I simply informed them how proud I used to be of them. I addressed the sport briefly, and clearly did not go the best way that we wished it to or envisioned or deliberate for it to. Give Creighton credit score. However simply informed them how grateful I used to be for what I simply mentioned on the outset of this; 5 years, 4 years, two years, one 12 months, particularly these seniors, and actually all of them. You recognize, I loved being with them, teaching them. They’re an awesome group of fellows. As Freeman has mentioned a number of instances, we do not have a nasty apple in our locker room. That does not imply we do not undergo instances which are robust. All of us do, proper? You guys do, we do. Nevertheless it’s the individuals you do it with, how a lot you care about one another. We had good individuals in there, and it made it tremendous gratifying, and I am simply grateful to have had the chance to educate them. These guys will all the time be part of not solely the Akron household, however my private household. You recognize, I really like them. They’re nice, nice, nice guys.
Q. John, Enrique mentioned he was joyful to have the ability to depart a legacy. How would you outline the legacy?
JOHN GROCE: Effectively, that is an advanced query, proper? As a result of what you see is the profitable, you understand, the profitable share total, league play, the most effective within the league, the championships, the banners, all that. And that is actually part of it. However I feel it is extra of — and a few the younger guys simply spoke after the older guys had an opportunity to talk within the locker room about how grateful they had been that guys taught them what exhausting work appeared like. You recognize, what management appeared like, what being an awesome teammate appeared like, what being at a do-both place, which means, we count on you to get it performed academically and earn your diploma and make progress in direction of diploma whereas additionally taking part in at a excessive stage, what that appears like. You recognize, all these guys you noticed up right here, plus Hunter and Thornton, exemplified that every day. And they also had been in a position to see all that and really feel all that. So to me it is greater than all of the profitable. That is actually part of it. However once more, it is who they’re as individuals, who they’re as college students, the truth that they will recover from themselves and care about any individual aside from themselves, you understand, only a particular group.
Q. Clearly, the loss continues to be contemporary, however all three guys touched on passing that torch within the legacy of Akron basketball. What does the way forward for Akron basketball appear like in your eyes?
JOHN GROCE: Effectively, for us proper now, clearly, I am making an attempt to course of this one, proper? However on the finish of the day, we wish to proceed to fill our locker room with people who care about one another and care about profitable. That is what these guys would let you know. It is actually not any extra sophisticated than that. Do you care about one another, actually take care of one another, maintain one another, and do you care about profitable forward of non-public agenda? Proper? Sounds apparent, sounds straightforward. It is not. You recognize, in order that was their mentality. I feel the youthful guys noticed that. And we wish to proceed to construct on that.
Q. I do know you’d want to be becoming a member of him within the spherical of 32, however do you may have any message to your previous good friend and rival Keith Dambrot?
JOHN GROCE: I will do this most likely a bit of later. I have not had an opportunity to do this. So I have been occupied with what we’re doing proper now.
Q. Are you able to inform us what you may inform him or speak to him about afterward?
JOHN GROCE: Normally he and I — I mentioned this earlier, we’ll textual content or we’ll name and I am joyful for him, clearly, and what he is been in a position to do. I feel you have a look at the final time that they had been within the match, I feel, was the ’70s. Is that right? Yeah. So it is actually — it is superior, you understand, what he is been in a position to do. And I am joyful for him and Donna with the retirement, and Keith’s a giant cause why I ended up come to go Akron. I mentioned that earlier, was due to Keith and all of the success that he had had and the battles that we had after I was at Ohio, and the familiarity with Akron and Northeast Ohio due to my time within the state at so many Ohio universities. And so, I had nice familiarity with Akron and was drawn to that. However largely due to Keith.
MODERATOR: Thanks, Coach. Admire your time.
JOHN GROCE: Positive.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports activities
142246-1-2377 2024-03-21 20:31:00 GMT