Post Game Quotes From Ohio State vs. No. 1 Illinois – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/6/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 6, 2005
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Thad Matta, Ohio State head coach
On the game
“Saying this was a big win would be the understatement of the night. I couldn’t be happier for these players, with everything they have been through and everything they have been through as a team. The commitment they have to the program is amazing. I told them going into the game they were going to have to give every ounce of everything they have.”
On halftime words of wisdom to the team
“I told them they have to take care of the ball. That was the first thing I wrote on the board when we came in at halftime. Illinois is so good that if you mishandle the ball they’ll take it down and suddenly there’s two or three more points.”
On deciding to go for the win
“Each coach met with me and gave me their thoughts. I thought about it for a second and I said ‘We’re going for the win’.” When I went and told the players we were going for the win they were more excited than I have ever seen them.”
On the game plan
“I told the team we just had to keep chipping away.”
On the lack of a possible NCAA tournament bid for the team
“I don’t want this season to end with these guys. But I have to remember we’re going to Chicago for the Big Ten tournament.”
Terence Dials, junior center
On the game
“I’m speechless right now. This is just an unbelievable feeling right now. Beating the No. 1 team in the nation on senior night, on your home court, there is no better feeling. I’m really at a loss for words.”
Tony Stockman, senior guard
On the comeback
“We just kept listening to the coaches and kept playing hard. They would increase the lead and we would cut into it. We never stopped fighting.”
On shutting down the Illinois guards
“It wasn’t a matter of trying to stop them, but we just tried to make them take tough shots. We really focused on eliminating their easy shots and transition buckets. At the end of the game we were getting in the passing lanes and forcing them to look into the post.”
Brandon Fuss-Cheatham, senior guard
On the magnitude of the game
“All year long we set small goals. We looked at every game as a big game. Every game, especially this one, was like a tournament game for was. In the huddle with a couple seconds left we said we were tired of losing games in the last minutes. Coach Matta said we were going for the win instead of the tie and it was great to come through.”
Matt Sylvester, junior forward
On the game winning shot
“In the huddle Coach Matta was telling us we were going to go for the win and I told him if I get the shot I’m going to make it. We used Tony (Stockman) as a decoy and most of their players thought he was getting the ball. Terence (Dials) set a great screen and before their players knew I had it, I let it go and it went in. It didn’t feel great coming out of my hand but fortunately it went in.”
On his scoring
“I just felt really confident today. I tried to use my quickness against bigger guys and tried to go over the smaller guys. But this crowd was so great today. It was easy to play with a lot of energy in this environment. I was just feeling it today. What a day.”
Bruce Weber, Illinois head coach
On the game
“We needed to play the style we have been successful at playing. Ohio State got on our heels and did not quit. We just were not aggressive enough.
“It was the first time in a long time we took questionable shots. In the first half we took tougher shots and I thought we played good basketball.”
On the second half
“In the second half we did not execute down the stretch. We thought we could break them in those last five seconds, but (Matt) Sylvester was able to hit the shot.”
On the loss
“It is hard to play on the road. It is something we can learn from. We were going to lose sooner or later and that happened to be today. I would rather lose now than in three weeks.”
