Steve Merfeld
Steve Merfeld
Steve Dumpling Merfeldis an assistant basketball coach at Creighton University and the former head men's basketball coach at Hampton University and the University of Evansville...
cut next northern run second three
We cut it back to three (after Northern Iowa's first run of the second half). The next run, they just floored us.
recruiting
We really like the versatility of the 2006 recruiting class.
adjust physical southern
That's their M.O.. That's why they're good. They don't adjust for anybody. You know when you're going to play Southern Illinois, it's going to be a physical war.
eight last minutes played
We played a triangle-and-two the last eight minutes of the game, and they didn't score.
behind kids playing proud
We made a run, and I'm proud of our kids for that, especially playing shorthanded. They could have packed it up after we got behind by 18 points, but they didn't. They're disappointed with the outcome, but they shouldn't be disappointed with their effort.
ball good illinois knew prettiest state
Obviously, that was not the prettiest ball game, especially in the first half. We knew it was going to be that going in because Illinois State is so good defensively.
basketball certainly illinois offense southern took
That's Southern Illinois basketball at its finest. That's what they do. They certainly took us out of any offense in the first half.
challenge compete expect five guys immediate multiple playing
Every one of the five incoming guys can play multiple positions. We expect all of these newcomers to challenge and compete for immediate playing time.
since time won
It's been a long time since we won on the road.
came drake good half remember second three threw tough wave
They came out in the second half and threw a pretty good wave at us, and we never responded. We were 5 for 19 on three pointers, and I don't remember many of those being tough shots. Drake just made shots, and we didn't.
answered defensive effort good next offensive point poise
We answered the first run, but the next one floored us. We didn't have a good enough defensive effort at that point and we didn't have any poise at the offensive end.
defensive drake great hit job remember shots tough
Drake does a great job with its defensive system. But we were only 5-for-19 on three-pointers and I don't remember many of those being tough shots. Basically, they hit shots and we didn't.
basketball best last league team top year
I think we're a better basketball team than we were last year but the league is better top to bottom. This may be the best year that we've ever had.
caught fatigue hates jason joy keeps minutes played second talented
Jason is such a talented player. He keeps getting better, and he hates to lose. He is such a joy to coach. In the second half, fatigue caught up to him a little bit. He played a lot of minutes (37) today.