WMU - Ball State Post Game Quotes

Head Coach Steve Hawkins

Opening statement

“This game came down to Ball State just having more passion at the front end of the game. We dug ourselves a hole  and I don't really know the answer for why that happened, but it did. We are a frustrated team right now searching for answers. 

"Early on I thought we let some of our offensive frustrations have an impact on the defensive side of the floor. We shot 24 percent in the first half and we were not getting back on defense, that enabled Ball State to get into transition and build a lead. We were better at times offensively in the second half but it was too little too late. We just did not have enough energy. This team does not have margin for error, and against Kent State and Akron we played with a lot of passion, a lot of purpose and didn't make shots but in this game we didn't play with passion. If that happens with this team then we are going to be in trouble.”

On Western Michigan offense

“We had some really good looks, we missed some bunnies around the rim and some really clean looks from three. They are a good defensive team but we just missed some shots, we knew coming in they would play what we call a pack-line defense and they really cover down hard if you throw the ball into the big guys. We knew that if they did that, we would have some opportunities around the perimeter and we wanted to drive on some of those close outs and we were able to get to the rim but we missed a lot of shots. You have to win those plays.” 

 On Western Michigan's effort

“They were running their offense harder than we were playing defense, this team just does not have margin for error. We can't just come out and throw jabs. On ball screens they just played harder and when we finally started to compete and were able to catch up, you put yourself in a position where you have to play perfectly. They were just a step quicker than us until we started to compete. That falls on me, that is not our guys responsibility, effort is something that I have to make sure we have. I didn't see this coming, this is the first night that we just did not have the effort that we have had in the past.  That is on me to make sure our team is ready to play and compete.” 

On keeping Western Michigan motivated

“The answer is work. That is always the answer it doesn't matter whether it's a basketball game, a relationship, a job... the answer is always work. As a basketball team we are beyond trying to give them confidence and pumping sunshine into them, we have to draw a line in the sand. We have standards in this program and tonight we did not play up to those.  That part of things will get better because I know our guys and so we will go back to work.

"I'm tired of people talking about next year already, I don't really think our seniors Anthony, Jared or Taylor really care about next year. We have to plant our feet and draw a line in the sand and say this is who we are. If we don't, this is what we are going to see but if we do there is not a team on our schedule we can't beat. We have to play harder and better than we did tonight.” 

Senior Forward Anthony Avery Jr.

“We were down by 20 and Coach Hawk just told us to play hard and with more energy. The ball just wasn't falling for us tonight, give credit to Ball State's defense but we need to make more shots around the rim. We just need to watch film, get in the gym, work to get better and move onto the next game.”

Sophomore Guard Thomas Wilder

“They made it tough on us to hit shots, we just have to get into the gym. We played hard to get back in the game but we came up short. We just have to put it all together, watch the film and get better.”