Clemson vs. Michigan Post-Game Quotes

Nov. 30, 2010

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Clemson Head Coach Brad Brownell

Overall Thoughts: “We lacked some spark and energy early in the game. Our defense didn’t have the kind of pressure that we have had earlier this season. The way Michigan runs their offense puts you on your heels, and I attribute that to our slow start. We didn’t make shots, but then we did make a few adjustments. We could never get that big shot to go.

“We didn’t make shots. Some of that was Michigan’s defense. What was more troubling to me was our defense. We didn’t handle their offense well. They got very comfortable and made shots.

“We didn’t do enough in the first half defensively to give ourselves a shot in the game. We played better in the second half, but you have to play really well to come back from being down 16. When we made a mistake defensively, they took advantage and finished.

“Milton (Jennings) wasn’t as good as he’s been of late. And he could have played defense a little better. So we had to start playing guys like Tanner (Smith) and Noel (Johnson) to force something and try to overcome it. We are not going to play that way very much, but Michigan was packing it in defensively.

“Michigan made shots when they were open. If we were a step behind, they always finished.”

Michigan Head Coach John Beilein

Overall Thoughts: “It’s hard to play Clemson at home. We had a big first half and that was important for us to have. You have a good first half and then it becomes such a mental game after that. You just want to go home with the lead, but you still have 20 more minutes to play against a good team. The second half is not as much execution as it is mental toughness: rebounds, defensive stops. We did that today in a tough place and we have a very happy locker room up there.

“It’s hard to win on the road. No matter who you are, it’s hard to win on the road. It feels good. The mark of a good team is one that can win on the road and even win 50 percent of their road games. To have this win against a good Clemson team is very important. It was almost good that they got it down to eight in the second half so that we knew we had to push through that and build the lead back up.

“I knew we weren’t going to beat them by 40. They ended up beating us in the second half by eight. Scoring 69 or 70 points against a good team like Clemson is definitely a quality win. I wasn’t sure who was going to step up and make free throws for us down the stretch, but our guys stepped up. We had three or four of those guys who hadn’t been in that situation before and that was big for us.”