Jan. 7, 2008
Recap | Box Score
Post-Game Quotes
Loyola vs. #14 Butler
January 7, 2008
Butler Head Coach Brad Stevens
Opening statement
"This was a really good team effort. We've challenged our guys since the Valparaiso game to come out early and we did that well tonight. The first five minutes of each half were really good."
On what worked well against Loyola
"A lot of guys did a good job guarding. This is not an easy team to guard. They don't shoot a lot of 3's, but they're 6'5, 6'7, and they shoot those floaters, so guarding them can be tough and we did a good job of that tonight."
On Loyola closing to within three in the second half
"They do a good job of spreading the floor. They have guys like [Tracy] Robinson and [Justin] Cerasoli who, when they get inside, can really take control and during that stretch, they were getting inside."
On the large amount of Butler fans at the Gentile Center
"It's great to have that many fans when you're playing on the road. There are a lot of Butler alums in Chicago and it's fun for us and it's fun for them. Sometimes it's more fun than others. This is not an easy place to win."
On A.J. Graves not scoring in the second half
"A.J. is one of the most unselfish people I know. Loyola did a good job of guarding him and he had to spread the ball around to other guys instead. There are nights where A.J. doesn't score, but he doesn't care as long as we win."
Loyola Head Coach Jim Whitesell
Opening statement
"You have to give Butler a lot of credit. In the second half we got it down to 42-39, it was a pivotal possession, and they got an easy dump-down. Then we never seemed to recover. We just couldn't match them with baskets or get the big stops. They are a team there that really runs quality offense. One thing you always say about Butler is they never beat themselves. They always take care of the ball. They get a good shot down on the floor. So give credit where credit's due. They're awfully good."
On the Butler defense
"Defensively, they're very solid. We tried to get the floor opened up a little bit, and they did a lot of switching, but we couldn't take advantage of it at times. In the first half, we got to the offensive boards quite a bit, but we dribbled once we got the offensive board, and they came down [and took them away]. We had three turnovers off offensive boards, so, I would say they're very good defensively.
On the Butler offense
"They really know how to play well together. You see that in the way the ball is always moved, and the extra pass is always made. That's an area where we need to improve. But that's what they do so well. They've got a lot of weapons offensively, and defensively, it's a well-seasoned team."
On Loyola's offense troubles
"I'm looking for all the offensive answers. When it was 42-39, we had to get a big stop. Momentum carries you through, and sometimes it helps you play better offensively. They go together. We just did not get it done, and I think you just need to tip your hat to the team that played much better than us. Their execution was excellent. We just have to keep pounding away. There's no magic potion, we just have to continue to work harder and stay with it."
Loyola sophomore forward Andy Polka
On Butler's Matt Howard
"He's a big body, he gets his position and he's a good finisher, and that's what makes a good big man."
