Jim O’Brien Quotes from the ACC/Big Ten Conference Teleconference – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/19/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 19, 2001
Opening Statement
“I am happy with the progress our team is making. We had our first game against Winthrop, who played in the last three NCAA tournaments. We were very fortunate to win as big as we did (78-54) against a pretty good team. We have one more game vs. Albany before we face N.C. State next week.
“We are looking forward to playing in the challenge because it is our first time in it. It will be a new experience for us but something we are looking forward to.”
On gap left by former OSU center Ken Johnson
“We are going through some changes in our program. We have been spoiled with the luxury of having the ability of Ken Johnson to block shots. He left Ohio State as the shot block leader in the Big Ten. That is a tremendous accomplishment with all the big men who have played in this league. We have a lot of inexperience in the frontcourt. We have to do a lot better job in our team defense. We have a chance to be better with our team defense because we can do some things we were not able to do with Ken.”
On offensive and defensive changes without Ken Johnson
“We are not waiting as much offensively as we did last year. We spent a lot of time waiting for Ken to catch up with the offense. This year we are not waiting as much. We are getting out and pushing the ball a little more.
“There is not really one star this year. We do have a couple guys who are capable scorers.
“Defensively, when you play with a guy as big as Ken, who stands in the lane blocking shots, it really prevented us from doing some other things in extending the floor defensively.”
On Connolly and recovery from injury last year
“He is back healthy. He had ankle surgery when the season was over. He did not play basketball through the summer. It was something that needed to be done. He was hobbled basically the whole year. He went to Europe with us and played well. He has been as strong and prepared to play since he has been here, which has been three years now. He is a very good perimeter shooter and we will need his contributions this year.
On team strength
“Our strength is going to be on the perimeter. We have some experience on the perimeter with two juniors and two seniors. That will be the focus of what we are going to do.”
Noting the 2002 ACC/Big Ten Challenge
Ohio State will be playing for the first time in the ACC/BigTen Challenge. This is the third-consecutive year the event hasbeen played. The nine games this year will be televised by ESPN,ESPN2 and ESPN Regional Television Nov. 27-28. The Challenge thisyear will feature three of the 2001 NCAA Final Four teams in Duke,Maryland and Michigan State. The event also features the last twoNCAA champions: Duke and Michigan State. Ohio State will play N.C.State at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 27 on ESPN2 at Value City Arena.
ACC/Big Ten Challenge Schedule Tuesday, Nov. 27 Illinois at Maryland 7 p.m. ET (ESPN) N.C. State at Ohio State 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2) Duke vs. Iowa (United Center) 9 p.m. ET (ESPN) Minnesota at Wake Forest 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
Wednesday, Nov. 28 Wisconsin at Georgia Tech 7 p.m. ET (ESPN) Michigan State vs. Virginia (Richmond, Va.) 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2) Clemson at Penn State 8 p.m. ET (ESPN Plus) Indiana at North Carolina 9 p.m. ET (ESPN) Florida State at Northwestern 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
