Nov. 13, 2006
Butler University vs. Notre Dame Quotes
Monday, November 13, 2006
Butler 71, Notre Dame 69
Butler University
Head Coach Todd Lickliter
“It was fun. I thought it was a great basketball game. I think our big guys were out-sized every once in a while. Heart-wise, our guys have a lot of heart. Notre Dame is a good team. We struggled to stop them a little bit, but hats off to our guys.”
“We are thankful to be able to play in the NIT. Then to get to stay at home, it is a lot of fun. We have a tremendous respect for Notre Dame, so that made things even better.”
A.J. Graves
“It was just playing offense. I was just trying to get to an open spot. Just try to play the role I am playing. They are a good defensive team. It was a fight to get open.” – on his game
“Mike (Green) is a great player. It helps to play with a player like him.” – on playing with Mike Green.
“It is great for any Indiana kid to get to play in a tournament like this and a venue like this.” – on playing with two other Indiana teams in Indianapolis.
“I would be happy if we play IU. I would be happy if we play Lafayette. We are just going to take who comes at us.” – on playing in the championship game on Tuesday.
Mike Green
“They guarded pretty well. I was able to drive and get to the basket and finish. We have a lot of shooters, and it is my job to find shooters.” – on the game.
“I love it here. It is big time. I wanted to be a part of the tradition of Butler basketball. To play in Hinkle Fieldhouse and to be a part of the tradition.” – on playing in his first season for Butler.
Notre Dame
Head Coach Mike Brey
“Luke (Harangody) was like a man out there. He made his free throws and he was just tough all around.”
“We are a team of eight freshman and sophomores. We were a fragile team if it is safe to say. This was a tough atmosphere coming to Indianapolis, playing Butler. It was definitely a road game.”
“This group of guys needs some mental toughness.”
“We are going to use this game as a learning opportunity. Butler has beaten five of the last six times. Defensively, Butler spread us thin and took our big guys out of the post.”
Russell Carter
“Butler is a quick team that moved the defense out of the way. On the final play, it was a read and we were looking to get an open shot. We practiced this in practice yesterday, but in today’s game Butler switched defensively and we couldn’t get the open shot we wanted.”