Everything that head coach Kevin Willard and point guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie said after Maryland men’s basketball picks up its first win at Penn State in ten years following a 68-64 win at the Bryce Jordan Center:
Willard on Rodney Rice’s game-sealing shot, Julian Reese’s effort vs. Penn State
“Julian Reese won this game. I mean, it's not close, obviously. He kind of struggled early offensively. They did a good job of really kind of sending three guys on his post moves but he kept his head into it. He acted like a guy that's been around before, and he made every pick and roll, every two huge what we call ‘hibberts’ at the rim to save buckets. He was [the] difference in the game.”
Willard on Derik Queen’s 23 points, offensive success
“When you have Rodney in one corner and Selton in the other corner, we've done that a lot. It's just kind of, if they're going to switch and put the smaller guard on him then, you know. I think the biggest thing was I got on Derik about, it's time to be physical. And I think sometimes he tries to show his skills, but he was physical tonight and that was the difference too.”
Willard on the bounceback win after a heartbreaking loss vs. Michigan State
“I’d be lying if I didn't say we were all – it was a brutal loss on Wednesday. With the atmosphere we had with the crowd, with the opportunity to still stay in for the Big Ten championship, to lose the way we did, it was gut wrenching. But at halftime, I told these guys, like, hey guys, like we're only down six. Like, to me, that was a huge win. Because I knew we just weren't going to have a ton of energy. I knew emotionally, we were a little bit drained but I thought we came out and passed the ball really good. We got two quick assists, a three and a layup. And I just thought that gave us a little, just a little, a good mojo.”
Willard on rebounding vs. Penn State
“I was trying to play a little zone in the first half just because of trying to save Ja’Kobi and Rodney. They've played so many minutes. But what happens sometimes is, you're not in good defensive rebounding position. So I think our man to man defense, I think Julian being the anchor down there was a difference.”
Gillespie on having a short memory coming into Penn State
“We knew we needed this win and we knew we needed to bounce back from that heartbreaking loss. So I feel like we did that today.”
Gillespie on matching up against a star player in Ace Baldwin
“I mean, yeah, just because I have a lot of respect for those guys just because they're they've been doing it for a long time. So getting a match up with them, it just lets me know where I'm at and I feel like I belong up there with all those guys.”
Gillespie on the end of game efficiency
“If teams, it just depends how they play the pick-and-roll. If they're gonna focus more on me and leave Queen with the roll, I'm gonna hit him every time, and he's gonna make something good happen. So I feel like we got a good two-man connection going.”
Gillespie on Rodney Rice’s game-sealing shot
“Yeah, I mean that just shows what type of guy he is, what type of a teammate that he is. He wasn't his feelings because he wasn't making shots. He was ready and he made the most important shot of the game.”
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