Quotes from Mark Turgeon
12/6/2011 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 6, 2011
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Quotes from head coach Mark Turgeon in advance of Maryland's game with Mount St. Mary's Wednesday at 8 p.m. in Comcast Center.
On whether the experience from playing Illinois helped in the win over Notre Dame:
"Yeah, I don't think there is any question that it helped us win that game. In the Notre Dame game, even as poorly as we started and then Terrell [Stoglin] just kept us in it obviously, that our guys never expected to lose that game. I think across the bench, all the players, there was never a doubt in our mind that we weren't going to win that game. That's a good feeling; I don't know that we've had that a lot against teams of equal or better talent.
"I think we're all pretty confident; some of the mental games that we're playing with them and the things were trying to get them to do to believe in themselves a little bit more. But I do think the Illinois game definitely helped us because we did play a good 20 or 25 [minutes], whatever you want to say, but we didn't play the others and that's what cost us the game."
On what Pe'Shon Howard has learned from observing the team from the sidelines while injured:
"Well he's at practice every day, he's in every film session. I think sometimes when you've already played and then you're forced to sit and you already know what it takes to play, you can really learn a lot. I think what he's probably learned the most is that I'm not crazy and that I'm telling the guys the right things so he's actually been able to help me there with the players. I think he's learned a lot; he keeps saying `I want to be a coach now.' I said `I think you're smarter than that, Pe'Shon, than to do something like that.' I think it's really been good for him - it's been a good use of his time. We'll see when he gets back."
On if he can use the Notre Dame game as a barometer of how good they can be:
"No because I think we can play a lot better than we played. I don't want to get into negatives, but I just think we can play a lot better, even if we're playing nine walk-ons. I think we can do things a little more consistently than we are now and it starts in practice. It was just good for their confidence, that's the big thing. Terrell [Stoglin] had a superior effort for us to win that game. Terrell was off the charts."
On what Terrell Stoglin has improved on most since the beginning of the season:
"A lot of things: trying to run the offense, becoming a better point guard, putting more emphasis on defense, but probably most being a good teammate. That's where he's improved the most. It's something I've worked on with him."
On talking to the team about playing good basketball rather than talking about winning:
"Winning comes up more than I want it to, especially among the players and assistant coaches. My whole thing is if we do what we're supposed to do the rest takes care of itself. Then you don't put pressure on the kids that they have to win games. We'll be in a game this year or in the future where it'll be like `Coach you gotta have this one, if you don't win this one you're not going to the NCAA.' My answer will be no we don't have to win this game. We don't have to win this game. What we have to do is play well. That's kind of my approach and I try to do it that way.
"To me we have an opportunity here to really get better. We have some practice time coming up after this game tomorrow night where we can really improve and hopefully add a couple pieces and get ready for the ACC. I really try to approach it that way; I know it sounds crazy. I'm disappointed we lost to Illinois at home because the one thing you want to do, and to be a successful program, you have to be good at home. We're definitely better at home than we are in any other building we've played in but we still have to be better going forward."
