Post Game Quotes
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March 19, 2016
Recap | Final Stats | Notes | USATSI Gallery 
Senior Center Mike Tobey:
On the game being close ’til the end…
“I think it really came down to the end, not turning the ball over. It was a possession game. The ability to make tough games down the end. They made some really tough plays, especially Roosevelt Jones, especially at the end there. But at the end of the day, our four-guard lineup did a lot for us today and really made some tough plays at the end to get the win.”
On the boost by the offense in the second half…
“That was definitely something we needed; we just needed an energy boost going into the second half. That was a big key for us at halftime and I think we did a good job of getting inside, especially A.J., he really went to work in the second half. We tried to use our size advantage.”
On grinding it out…
‘That was an exhausting game. They’re a phenomenal team. In a lot of ways, they’re kind of like us. They try to make you work for everything when you’re on offense and they’re on defense. They did a really good job tonight and that was one of the hardest fought games, especially defensively, that we’ve had in a while.”
Senior Forward Evan Nolte:
On returning to the Sweet 16…
“It’s awesome. We all know last year what happened. It’s really good to be back there. It feels good right now. You know you’ve got to enjoy it a little bit but then also tomorrow just try to get as ready as we can for the next game. It’s a good feeling, a really good feeling to make it past this weekend.”
Junior Guard London Perrantes:
On what changed in the second half…
“Everybody just stepped up. [Redshirt sophomore guard] Devon [Hall] played really well defensively. It just goes to show how our team is assembled.”
On shooting 73.1 percent as a team in the second half…
“We took good shots. [Redshirt senior guard] Malcom [Brogdon] was getting into the paint. [Sophomore guard] Marial [Shayok] was shooting the ball extremely well. We didn’t shoot the ball as good as we can from the outside, but we exploited the inside matchups. AG [redshirt senior forward Anthony Gill] was getting some easy looks, Marial was playing well. Everybody got into the lane and finished pretty well. Once we get our shots going I feel like we’ll be good.”
On Butler hitting difficult shots…
“We always say that they aren’t going to make tough shots forever. Well, they did definitely make a lot of tough shots until the end of the game, but it just came down to a couple of good, big stops, and a couple of big plays on the offensive end. That’s what it comes down to: making plays.”
On the offense leading the way in the second half.. “We were playing pretty good defense in the first half. (Andrew Chrabascz) was definitely making some tough plays, shooting the ball extremely well, getting to the rim. We didn’t score that much. We wanted to come out and be aggressive. I feel like we definitely got out energy offensively, which is a lot different than what we usually do.”
On getting back to the Sweet 16…
“I haven’t been there since my freshman year. Having that experience under my belt, going in as a different player and a different team. We definitely have a different team than we had my first year. I’m excited to get back.”
Senior Center Mike Tobey:
On sophomore forward Marial Shayok’s hard work…
“Marial’s an extremely hard worker. He’s done a great job, and I think his game’s really developed these last two years that he’s been here. I think being able to do something like that tonight is definitely a big confidence booster for him.”
On Michigan State’s absence from the Sweet 16…
“I mean, I know people probably want to make that into a story, but for us, we just want to play who’s in front of us. We’re not too worried about anything else that happens in the tournament. All we have to worry about is the game in front of us.”
On advancing to the Sweet 16…
“Just to be in this tournament still, especially with how things are going this year, is definitely something that’s extremely gratifying. With it being my last year, I definitely want to go as far as we possibly can. Being in the Sweet 16, we feel extremely blessed.”
Redshirt Sophomore Guard Darius Thompson:
On what changed in the second half…
“On this team, anybody is capable of stepping up any night. We went to the four-guard spread, that’s really Marial’s offensive game, just letting them go and play. He was starting to make a lot of shots.”
Redshirt Sophomore Guard Devon Hall:
On the lift Shayok provided…
“Oh, tremendous. That’s not something we didn’t think he couldn’t do. We know he was capable of it. It was huge for us for him to make those big plays.”
On the message to the team at halftime…
“We’re a tough team, so I think we were just able to come out with a lot of energy. Coach [Tony Bennett] preached that in the locker room, once we got out, and before we headed out onto the court. I think that coming out with a lot of energy was really key.”
On whether Shayok guarding Butler forward Andrew Chrabascz was the turning point…
“Yeah, for sure. I think that helped out a lot. He really, really had it going, and I think being able to put a guard on him to make him a little more uncomfortable was key.”
Butler
Senior Forward Austin Etherington:
On His Take on the Game…
“I think this game showed a lot about our team. We didn’t let up at all. They had a couple big plays down the stretch and that was obviously the difference. They made some adjustments at halftime that changed some things. I couldn’t be more proud of this team. I’ve only been here two years so some of our seniors have been through a lot more than I have. This year, I got to be a part of an amazing team.”
Sophomore Forward Kelan Martin:
On the Difference in the Game…
“We played hard throughout the whole game. We battled in the first half, and in the second half, we just came up short. You couldn’t ask for much more from us or our seniors. I think we played pretty good.”
On if Virginia’s Defense Wore Them Down in the Second Half…
“They just changed their offense a little bit. I think they were frustrated with our defense and how we were playing them on and off the ball. You can’t ask much more from us.”
On What Head Coach Chris Holtmann Told the Team After the Game…
“He said he couldn’t be happier for our four seniors. They contributed throughout the whole season and they’re a tough group.”