It's going to take 40 minutes of the best basketball we can give. Do we have that in us? Without a shadow of a doubt. We've worked all year to get an opportunity like this.
It's that time of year where you got to do all the little things. I think our team really feeds from that.
You just have to constantly remind them of their goals. A lot of the reason why we were on the bubble last year is because Illinois came in here and beat us on our home floor. If that won't motivate them, I don't know what will.
Fans in Mackey Arena this year will be treated to some unbelievable basketball, ... We plan on putting our best foot forward night-in and night-out. We want and expect to win, and we know we'll have to be at the top of our game each time we take the court.
Turnovers were a big problem earlier a year ago and we have matured so much. We really took care of the ball and looked for that extra pass in the second half.
We just played a team that has everyone returning. We were 3-1 against them a year ago and I said they were the most talented team in the league. There won't be a tougher task on the road than this.
We had the scare of our life a year ago, being on the bubble in February. We don't want to relive that experience.
We were in the same situation last year, so I know how it feels. My goal every year is to get five or six teams from this conference in, so I hope that happens.