Big Ten Teleconference Quotes – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/15/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 15, 2007
Thad Matta, head coach
On last week
“We had a tough loss at Wisconsin. We got ourselves in a little bit of a hole and ran out of time in the comeback. We then had a great win against Tennessee. They, like Wisconsin, are a terrific basketball team. We were fortunate to hit a big shot at the end and come out on top.”
On NBA Age Limit Rule (19 years old)
“It has been beneficial for us. Our guys have continued to make strides in the right way for us this year. You have seen it across the climate of college basketball. (The age limit) allows those guys to get a taste of how good college basketball is and what it takes and what they need to do to get better.”
On NCAA Academic Standards and Future
“(Oden) is in tremendous academic standing and that is vitally important to him that he does well academically. Hopefully we won’t be penalized if he is able to leave to pursue a dream and is in good academic standing.”
Young team and publicity
“The focus is on what we have to do (as a team). I’ve told these guys there has been a lot written and said about this team but there is a lot we have yet to accomplish before any of what has been said can be believed.”
Upper classman and work with the freshmen
“With the four guys we have back form last year’s team, they have a Big Ten Championship under their belt. The five new guys don’t have that. They can constantly look to the upper classmen for direction because they know what it takes to get it done.”
On Northwestern
“They are a team that is very disciplined. They are going to run their offence and play their couple of defenses. They have a system in place and recruit well to their system. They have a great understanding of how they play and execute their system.”
On how Oden dunks and blocks are viewed
“It’s a good play and on to the next one. Our guys know I like a good dunk because I could not dunk. It is a good play though and we want to capitalize on a blocked shot and go down and convert it on offense. In a coach’s mind, a dunk really is just two points.”
