Feb. 26, 2008

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NORTHERN ILLINOIS MEN'S BASKETBALL 2007-08
NIU vs. Western Michigan - February 26, 2008
DeKalb, Ill. - Convocation Center

POSTGAME QUOTES

Western Michigan Head Coach Steve Hawkins

"It was a very, very difficult game to play in. It was not exactly circumstances in which you want to compete. We won the game...who cares? It was a different, different feeling from the beginning. We played with heavy hearts. There is no question I'm proud of the kids effort and proud that we got the win. I'm happy we could help NIU get back to some kind of normalcy.

"These two teams really got after each other in Kalamazoo. I thought both teams were rusty. We're tired. With that and the circumstances of the evening, it took until the last 8-10 minutes to get a normal feeling when the game got close. I've never been through anything like this and I hope I never do. I didn't even want to yell at the refs like I normally do."

Western Michigan F Joe Reitz

"There was a different feel to a game like this. Both teams played hard. I think sports can be therapeutic if we can use basketball as a medium to help people get back to normal. To start out it had a different feel, then once you get going and you start playing, it feels more normal."

Western Michigan G David Kool

"Everything about it was different. All they went through, we felt for them."

NIU Head Coach Ricardo Patton

"I am extremely proud of our young men, coming out and playing as hard as we did. I thought our defensive play in the first half was as well as we have played all year long. I thought [we] handled things well and came out and had a focus about us. Certainly coming into the game, before the tip it was a strange atmosphere for the fans and the players. You didn't know whether to clap, cheer or what.

"Once they threw the ball up, we were concentrating on that. I know our players were excited about being back together. I think basketball and athletics can help bring back some sense of normalcy.

"My heart goes out to the families, the parents who in their quiet moments have to think about the ones they have lost. From that standpoint, does it matter who wins any game? We talk to our players all the time about the most important things in your life being your relationships with your friends, your family and your God.

"We played with great passion and a sense of appreciation for having the opportunity to be college athletes and a chance to represent this great university."

NIU G Jarvis Nichols

"At the beginning of the game, I thought we had the jitters, a little bit of rustiness but we wanted to come out and win the game and get better as a team."

--NIU--