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HEAD COACH Greg Kampe

Opening Quote

Hope College is a traditional power coached by one of the best coaches I've ever seen in my life. I mean that from the bottom of my heart. I'm very pleased with our performance tonight. This was a great thing for us because they are so well coached and they run their stuff perfectly. They are smaller so we had to get out on the perimeter and defend it. We don't practice that but I thought we did a good job.

What did you get out of this game.

Well first of all, for the new kids it's an opportunity to play. Larry Wright and Derick Nelson haven't played in two years so they couldn't wait to just play and get the jitters out.

The second thing is, you know you have to defend this team. Every pass they make you have to defend and I thought we did a great job of that. We gave up 62 points so I'm very pleased with that.

And the third thing is you get a chance to see rotations. Ilija Milutinovic had some good minutes. Drew Valentine has had a pretty good preseason and he proved tonight he can play. We'll have our starters pretty well set but you'll always have injuries, sickness and you need people to come off the bench.

The starters tonight, is that the set line-up for the season?

Oh yeah, those are our starting five. Blake Cushingberry was our sixth man last year and he is going to stay in that role. Drew Maynard was a starter but now that Derrick is back, Drew will be coming off the bench. He is fine with that and he will get his minutes.

Larry Wright's first game at Oakland.

I'm very pleased. He had a good start but was a little ragged after the start. But he hasn't played in two years so all and all, I'm very pleased. He was pumped up to play and that was cool.

The play of Will Hudson.

I told you guys on media day, when I was asked who our most improved player was, and I said Will Hudson. He stepped up tonight and proved that. He's gained 15 pounds and he is playing with confidence. He took the ball to the basket tonight which he hasn't done before. We've worked very hard on getting him to do that. Will Hudson is going to be a force to be reckoned with in our league.

Were you surprised by anything out there?

You know you can talk to anyone who has played for me, that is the first time in my 26 years that I came out of an exhibition game not mad at somebody. I've always been mad at someone after an exhibition game. Some freshman who did something, a veteran who didn't come to play. But there is nothing to be mad about in this game. It was an excellent performance.

Larry Wright

How did you feel out there in your first official game at Oakland?

The first five minutes of the game I was pretty nervous. I came out with a lot of energy and was tired quickly. JJ (Johnathon Jones) came up to me and said just play the way you do in practice. I calmed down after that and got to business.

How is your chemistry with your teammates?

It's coming along good. At first, I felt out of place. Coach wanted me to shoot the ball a lot and at practice I was passing the ball so much. My teammates just starting encouraging me to shoot so now everything is falling into place.

About you and Johnathon Jones specifically.

We played AAU together. I really know how he plays and what kind of passes I can expect from him. I feel we have a pretty good connection.

How does it feel to be back in Michigan?

Oh man, it felt good to have all my family here. Having everyone supporting me, like they did in high school was great.

Which teammate really impressed you tonight?

Drew Valentine really impressed me tonight. He just does the little things that help get him rebounds and just gives us a spark out there.

Thoughts on the season opener on Saturday against Eastern Michigan.

We're just ready to win.