Tony Bennett: "It's a Game of Runs"
Virginia head coach Tony Bennett met with the media following the Cavaliers' 59-53 overtime win over NC State Wednesday evening.
NOTE: Click on the video in the player above to watch Bennett’s press conference.
On forcing the game to overtime after giving up a 16-3 run for the Wolfpack...
We had a breakaway dunk. Blake [Buchanan] kind of brought it over his head. I thought there was a hustle play that Jordan [Minor] made down the stretch that turned the other way. They went on a 16-3 run after that. Taine [Murray] came in and gave us a great lift. I was so proud of him and happy for him. We've been using that, “Don't grow weary; do good in due time.” He found himself. You’ve got two guys in Jordan Minor and Taine Murray who, three months ago, you've been like, “Well, I don't know where this is going to be,” but look at the roles they both played. Because Jordan was so physical with [D.J.] Burns — leaning against each other and going at it hard, and you just look at the rebounding deal, and that's effort. We got wobbly and almost fell down, but the weebles wobbled, and we popped back up and made enough plays. It was a defensive battle. They're very athletic, and they guard you hard. They switch off certain screens, and they fight you to get open on cuts, so you had to be tough and sound, and when you weren't, they took your ball. It was a good effort by everyone tonight, for sure.
On Ryan Dunn’s leadership...
We need that. He was all over. Ryan's activity was at an elite level. His statline: he had six blocks, 12 rebounds, and that was just his activity. Jordan's physicalness and the lifts that we got were really important. He's really finding his way to impact the game, and he's been struggling with the line but to make that one was big for us. His enthusiasm and his passion in the crowd was terrific; that's as loud as it's been this year, and it was needed for us. That's what home court is about.
On defending NC State...
We thought we had to make some adjustments. Jordan didn't play as much. Where Burns catches the ball, a lot of times, it's pretty far out, so if you want to double him, he's one of the better big-man passers in our game and in our league, for sure. We weren't sharp on our traps there. A couple times, it was good, but we played a little more one-on-one and just did a few other things that we thought would keep us a little more connected. [D.J.] Horne got going down the stretch, and they made some tough shots. Casey [Morsell] made a tough shot on the out-of-bounds play, and so we just kept saying, “They’ve got to earn. They’ve got to earn.” Sometimes, twos are better than threes at certain points when you have a lead. We just tried to work that, but some adjustments [were made], and I think we have improved and played it a little differently as well.
On the team’s growth...
I hope so. All you can do is keep chipping away, as we’ve said, and to play. The Virginia Tech game was against a talented team, and we battled that. Then we played solid ball for most of the game against Georgia Tech. Even this game, it was a different game because it was deflating. Ryan almost had a tip dunk to end it. We thought there was a loose-ball play, missed a free throw, but then to have to come back, toughen up in that overtime, and then to see some of the plays being made. It was a little bit of both teams battling hard. I don’t know if fatigue played a role in this one or not, but these are two teams, defensive minded and not willing to give up. For NC State to play that hard and get back in the game on the road obviously speaks to the record, and credit to them as well.
On Buchanan’s physicality...
He played well at Georgia Tech for sure, and I didn't mention him, but he gave us a big lift. You know, [Ben] Middlebrooks is not a small guy either. He was active. He made a couple plays. He's getting closer on some of those little floater shots, and that's what we saw early. Hopefully, he's getting a second wind. He and Jordan are a nice combination when you can use them in that regard.
On NC State getting back into the game...
We came out on the right end of it. I think they went on a 16-3 run, and it's a game of runs. We missed some free throws, but they made some tough shots. We had a couple turnovers and a couple breakdowns that hurt us. Part of that is the inexperience. Part of it was the defensive pressure and defensive playmaking of NC State and then some offensive playmaking, but that's where I felt we got a little stagnant and stopped moving. We just couldn't quite get it. Maybe I should have called the timeout. I like when Reece [Beekman] has momentum, and the floor was starting to open up at the end, but they kind of jammed it up. They fought back, and we probably were a little loose. Again, we came away with enough, and we'll try not to do it next time.
On Murray’s free-throw shooting...
Well, he's one of our better shooters. I don't know from the three-point line, but from the line I think he is. I don't have it offhand, but we needed that lift. In a game like that, there wasn't a lot of clean looks and a lot of shots going in because of the fatigue facto. He came in, and I think he did a pretty good job guarding with his physicality, at times, on Casey. He could not get bumped off his line and then moved hard and took care of the ball. Again, it was quite an outing for him, and it was good to see him be steady like that.
On Isaac McKneely not getting into a rhythm...
You just watch; they would face guard him. They wouldn't let him come off screens. He had a move. We had a couple of different offensive bases that gave him a little bit of freedom, and then they switch. It's just one of those where you’ve got to be able to make some some plays. Casey was very good on him defensively. He was physical, and hopefully Isaac will learn from that and grow from it. He obviously still gave us some a big bucket here and there, but they made it their aim to say “He's going to earn everything, and we're going to get real physical.”