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Wisconsin Coach Postgame Quotes
Wisconsin vs. Michigan
Jan. 23, 2015
Kohl Center - Madison, Wis.

Mike Eaves
On whether the loss was a matter of Michigan imposing their will on the Badgers at some point:
"Imposing their will in the form of their speed and skill with their forwards. We had difficult times staying with them in our defensive zone, even when it was 3-1 after the first period, we addressed that there were some needs that we needed to address. We got a Dutch uncle talk... We talked about some things we needed to tighten up in our own zone. Obviously they got talked to as well. They came out and they spent a lot of time in our own zone. They have that high-end skilled forward, and if we don't move our feet and have good angles and sticks, we saw the result. They got themselves back in the game. I thought in the first part of the third period, we actually had some time down in their zone. We were doing some good things, and then low and behold, we made just a couple enormous mistakes, and the puck was in our net."

On if he felt that they were in control of the game at any point:
"No. Again, I think that it was great to get the lead. That's something that we talked about this week. We went out, the power play clicked... we got two power play goals. But, being around the game long enough, we as a coaching staff saw things that were indicative that in our own zone, we were not doing the things that we needed to shut them down and get possession of the puck. We talked about it, but they wrapped it up in the second. We took penalties because we didn't move our feet. We were hooking and holding and that was an indicator that we weren't moving our feet well enough. Whether that was ours or theirs in terms of their speed, and we couldn't keep with it, I'm not sure. But they wrapped it up. To answer your question concisely, I certainly didn't feel like we were in control."

On how he felt that Joel Rumpel played:
"The only goal I didn't like was the tying goal... the one where the young man came around and wrapped it. It kind of tucked inside of him and went far post. Other than that, I thought he was pretty good."

On where he plans to go from here:
"Our talk after the game was the fact that what matters now is what we do from here until tomorrow night. It starts with us in our mindset, stretching, rehydrating and coming back. I said, you guys should be very interested in who comes back tomorrow night and responds and plays better. That's what you guys [can do] as teammates, and that's what we can control."

On if he sensed any loss of intensity in the mindset of the players after they took the 4-1 lead:
"No. They were excited. We haven't been there before. It's just that Michigan got in-zone time, and they started to do things that they wanted to do down in our zone, and kept themselves in the game. They got a couple goals in the second period."

On if the return of the student fans had any effect on the players tonight:
"The guys were talking about it on the bench. They were jacked. They said, look at this, this is great. It was very much a positive thing for our kids."

On Grant Besse's five goals in the last three games:
"I just think goal scorers get in a phase where the puck is going in for them, and I think that he'll continue to shoot now that the puck is doing that. We encourage him to do so, but when the puck starts going in like this, you'll find that he'll shoot even more, which is a good thing."


Wisconsin Players

Grant Besse
On how disappointing it was to fall to Michigan after being up 4-1:
"I'd say it's pretty disappointing. We were up three goals, 4-1 and then we ended up losing 7-4. Giving up six unanswered (goals) is pretty unacceptable."

On their strong start to the game:
"I would say it started with getting pucks in deep and getting pucks on net. I think that's how we found success in the first period, and we tried to get that back to that in the third. I think we did a little bit, but I had some defensive miscues, myself personally, and it cost us."

On what Michigan did to breakdown the Badger's lead:
"To be honest, I don't think it was them. I think we kind of did it to ourselves. We didn't get pucks out when we needed to; we didn't get pucks in when we needed to. We lost guys in the defensive zone. So I'd say as a team, we kind of coughed that one up ourselves rather than them taking it."

On if Michigan's speed gave them trouble:
"Obviously they have some high-end guys up front that will give you some trouble and can make you look silly. I'd say a combination of that and the fact that we had some lapses defensively was a big part of it."

Joseph LaBate
On what the turning point of the game was:
"Obviously we got a few quick goals, but we knew that we weren't playing up to our potential in the first period. In the second period, they got a couple goals, and it kind of went from there. I don't think we were doing the hard plays like (Grant) Besse said. We had to chip pucks in, chip pucks out, play a more dirty game, not so much finesse. They're a very transitional team."

On what his takeaway from the game is:
"Anytime you have a three-goal lead, it's pretty frustrating that they come back. Like I said, we need to play our game. We're not too fancy of a team. We need to get the puck out and kind of grind them down. I think when we had the puck down low, we were really taking it to them. I think we just need to capitalize on that more tomorrow."

Chase Drake
On how the Wolverines chipped away at their early deficit:
"When we had that 4-1 lead, I think we were a little too over confident. Maybe we just got a little bit back on our heels and just went away from our game plan of getting pucks in and getting pucks out and being physical. Because of that, we started chasing them around a lot and creating opportunities for them."