Post Game Quotes From Ohio State vs. Kansas – Ohio State Buckeyes
12/23/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 23, 2000
Recap| Box Score| Notes
Ohio State head coach Jim O’Brien
“I am exceptionally happy with the way our guys kept scrapping all the way to the end. We can take some positives out of this game. We were aggressive. We came into this game not wanting to be tentative or passive.
“When you get into a position against a team like this, you have to take advantage of everything. To take 42 free throws helps, but you need to make those shots. We also needed to make our open threes.
“Except for a couple of stretches, we played hard. They started taking advantage of their bigger players in the post, so we switched to a zone to stop that.
“On the last possession, we wanted to kick the ball back to the inbounder because Kenny was covered. We wanted to keep it as simple as possible.”
Ken Johnson
“This game was huge for us. We played against some real athletic guys. It was a huge opportunity. We just didn’t get it done.
“They (the coaches) were saying they were going to take it at me and I needed to stay out of foul trouble. I went in there to play some good `D’.
“This was a game we could have won. We missed shots and too many free throws. It was a great opportunity to come back and be in the game.
“My offense was awful. I tried to pick it up on defense. It was about making shots and free throws.”
Brian Brown
“I never thought we were out of it. We put ourselves in a position to win. We need to win next time.
“We were going to the basket hard. We didn’t get the job done. Kansas is a great team. I tip my hat to them. Free throws and turnovers were the difference in the game.”
Boban Savovic
“To win the tough game we need to make free throws. It was really tough. Personally, I thought we should have won.
(On the last shot) “The ball just got fumbled around. We didn’t execute like we should have.”
Kansas head coach Roy Williams
“This was a hard game to coach. The crowd was loud and they were a physical team. We made some great shots on a couple of runs.
“We had a couple of five-minute stretches where we got some good, open looks. That took us to about a 13-point lead.
“Foul trouble really hurt us. We had to adjust our substituting and the way we play.
(On Gregory) “We needed Kenny to be a key player tonight, especially coming off the injury. We also wanted him to perform well in front of the crowd.”
Kenny Gregory
“I didn’t expect to be the most famous person in the building tonight. I expected a lot of booing. I love Columbus, I’m from Columbus, this is my home. It would have been real tough to lose here today. I’m going to be here until Wednesday. It would have been tough to go out in public. I probably would have had to stay home for about four days and not enjoy my Christmas.
“I was so much into my teammates that I didn’t hear the boos. I heard a few boos here and there, but I’d have to ask my family how loud it was. I wasn’t really paying much attention.”
