This is Shaka’s post-game radio presser by Steve ‘the Homer’ True and MU HOF’r Tony Smith on 94.5 FM ESPN.
Tony Smith: Forget the Xs and Os…. This was your basic knockdown dragout brawl.
Shaka: “I’m really proud of them…it was one of those games…at halftime, Tony, that we have to be much better on defense to have a chance of winning this game. They scored 44 points in the first half…and told the players that we really needed to crush it…let them miss and grab the ball and it was just That’s what our players did.
No goal line.#MUBB | | #WeAreMarkette pic.twitter.com/APHSDdZJUD
— Marquette Basketball (@MarquetteMBB) December 31, 2022
Smith: It was hyper-physical there… I… man, there was no contact there. But it was the same on both ends…
Shaka: “I thought the referee was very consistent in letting both teams play…. did a really good job playing with … double team helped us out … took away some of their post ups ….and he gave us Stevie Mitchell’s offensive lift really helped the team.
Homer: Speaking of defense…Nova scored 48 points in the first 22 minutes…and scored 13 points in the last 16 minutes…
Shaka: I did what I had to do… The theme of the game was “what you need”. The reality is … we can talk about things … we can go through things … we have to do what we need to do … and there aren’t many successful teams here in this venue … and our fellow I’ve had winning experience here before…and did a good job of staying committed and doing what I needed to do.
I need it!!! @rwbaird | | #MUBB pic.twitter.com/VfVbJSLNcS
— Marquette Basketball (@MarquetteMBB) December 31, 2022
Homer: The game was tied at 66…then there was a pass from Oso to a cutting Omax Prosper…with a dunk with 1:36 left…how was the play…? What did you see? Apparently it worked…
Shaka: We were just trying to secure the move and not stagnate…we made a good cut…and we got the ball back to Oso….and we A friend of mine cut him, and he was able to finish the race…
Smith: If I was playing with Oso…I know I would…if the ball went to Oso…you have to keep moving…he’ll find you….
Shaka: They do… it takes real effort and commitment to know you might not get it. But the next guy might get it… so , you have to sacrifice your cut.I thought Stevie did a good job early on to be open during the cut…and the rest of us had some too. ..
Defense??Offense??LETS GO! #MUBB | | #WeAreMarkette pic.twitter.com/D83M3EI4we
— Marquette Basketball (@MarquetteMBB) December 31, 2022
Homer: What was the first thing you wanted to say to Marquette fans about the game?
Shaka: I am grateful to them. [started getting emotional] In the 2022 calendar….it always gets a little sentimental at this time of year…the last 12 months…all the great moments…all the huge crowds on the Fiserv Forum…all the support our fans and students give everyone… This is a truly special place…and we are grateful to people like Earl Tatum who set the standard for this program we are going to live.
Homer: If the fans call me now…they will thank you for a year…
Shaka: Thanks guys!
