Postgame Quotes From No. 22/24 Ohio State vs. Tennessee State – Ohio State Buckeyes
12/23/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 23, 2005
Recap | Box Score | Notes
Thad Matta, Ohio State head coach
On the game
“One of the big keys, like we tell them when you go on the road, is you have a cognitive learning delay as the game starts. We try to tell them (Wayne) Arnold can shoot the basketball, but we were slow getting there. At the start of the game we might have come out thinking it was going to be a little easier than what it was. On their first few 3s they didn’t even hit the rim – they hit nothing but net. We were a little shell-shocked. They pressured us and we tried to prepare our kids for that, but until you get in the game you might not be ready. Going into this game I was more nervous than any game so far this season. Watching them play on tape, they have six guys who put the ball in the basket, guys who can stretch your defense and when you put Larry Turner in there they’re a very good basketball team. For whatever read we weren’t as sharp as we needed to be and we need to get that corrected before our next game.”
On shutting TSU down midway through the second half
“We were more active. We took away their penetration better. We were helping and stopping their penetration better. We didn’t close out on (Bruce) Price to start the second half and he can dot the `i.’ I think our guys did a descent job of that tonight in stretches. The good thing is like I told them after the game, we can get better.”
On the fans and atmosphere during the game
“The crowd tonight was phenomenal. I thank our fans for coming out. They were a tremendous boost. That’s a great feeling for our guys and we appreciate that. Our fans did a tremendous job for us tonight.”
Terence Dials, senior center
On the play of Tennessee State
“I was not surprised at all at how well they played. Coach told us they were good and they are. They gave it their all. They played a great game.”
On his own play
“I got a lot of easy buckets. The guards got me the ball in position to score. All I had to do was turn and shoot. My teammates made it easy for me.”
J.J. Sullinger, senior guard
On the way other teams view the Buckeyes
“I think they look at us differently now that we are ranked. I look at teams differently when they are ranked. We need to keep playing well. I am glad to get this win.”
On his block of a Larry Turner dunk
“I knew we couldn’t give up easy buckets. You don’t want to give up dunks because they can be momentum builders. The crowd responded because it was a hustle play by both of us.”
Je’Kel Foster, senior guard
On the play of Tennessee State
“You have to give them credit. We had to play very hard tonight. They played a great game. I am glad we can leave here with a win.”
On his own play
“I give my teammates the credit. They got me a lot of open shots. I felt comfortable shooting the ball. I just tried to knock down my shots.”
Cy Alexander, Tennessee State Head Coach
On the game
“I think this was a very well played game on the part of both teams. The thing that makes this loss even more disheartening is that we might have lost Bruce Price for the season.”
On Ohio State
“I think we played well and ran our offence well, but Ohio State is a heck of a team and they just kept coming and didn’t slow down.”
On playing on the road
“We have been on the road for five games now and we have been in all of them. If we would have played a few of these games at home I think we could have won a few more.”
