As Big Ten conference play comes into its final week, coaches and players alike are gearing up for the final run. With few games left in the regular season, teams hope to make statements for their tournament credentials. Northwestern faces an uphill battle in gaining an at-large bid, but remains a player in the race for the Big Ten Tournament title. North By Northwestern had the chance to catch up with some of the players this week to gauge thoughts going into the penultimate game of the regular season.
Take me back to the New York trip, what were your feelings about playing St. John’s in that atmosphere?
Michael “Juice” Thompson: Playing some good teams and playing them at Madison Square Garden, that’s a great experience for us. A lot of people don’t get the opportunity to play there. That being said, St. John’s is a well-coached team, they have some very good players. We gained a lot from that game even though we didn’t come out with the victory. Following their success after we played them; knowing they beat Duke, Villanova, Pittsburgh, I think it gave us a bit more confidence going into Big Ten Conference play.
Jeff Ryan: We came in undefeated and to get beat by St. John’s showed us we still had a lot to work on and a lot of room for improvement. St. John’s has proven to be a pretty solid team. They’re probably not the same team they were back in December and neither are we. Nevertheless, we try to build on those tough losses though, so the mood is pretty positive going into the end of conference play.
JerShon Cobb: I think we became closer and saw that we had some fight. They’re a good team. It was a great experience though, some people might not ever play there again. To say you played in Madison Square Garden is something you can tell your kids.
How are you viewing the possibility of postseason play?
MT: We’re taking it one game at a time and one day at a time. Each day we come to practice, we have the mindset that we want to come out and work as hard as we can.
JR: Anything can happen, it’s wide open. We’ve got a tremendous opportunity to make some noise in the Big Ten Tournament and see where it goes from there.
What message has Coach Carmody been preaching in the locker room?
MT: The message coach has been preaching to us is staying focused. Like I said we’re taking it one game at a time and we don’t want to get ahead of ourselves. We know what’s at stake and we know if we win out we still have a chance to make the NCAA tournament.
JC: We’re just taking it one game at a time so we don’t get ahead of ourselves.
What would you guys playing be for/representing if you were to end up in the NCAA Tournament?
MT: Definitely the history of Northwestern, never getting there, but especially because we want to start a winning culture here so that the next generation can have something to follow up to.
JR: Once the season is over and we look back on all this, you realize you’re playing for something much bigger than yourself and this team. The alumni base, including the former players, there’s a lot of people involved in this program. Our focus though is this group of guys and getting the job done on the court.
JC: All the years and all the players that couldn’t get there, it’s for them.
