Men’s Basketball Quotes – Jan. 30, 2007 – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/30/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 30, 2007
Head coach Thad Matta
On Greg Oden and Othello Hunter’s personal losses
“Sunday was a tough day because the guys were finding out the news. I think basketball has sort of helped both Greg (Oden) and Othello (Hunter). Getting into the gym has helped to clear their minds and help get into a normal routine. For Greg, he’s doing the best that he can. The team is aware of what is going on with their teammates and have a great understanding of what the guys are going through right now. It helps everyone see we have a human side to the team that is much bigger than basketball.”
On Purdue
“Obviously they have played some great basketball this year. The confidence they have is well deserved because they are an undefeated basketball team at home, and that tells our guys we have another challenge at hand. It’s another Big Ten game. There are no easy games for us, so we need to get our guys ready to play each game. Tomorrow night we want to be playing our best basketball. We learned from the Michigan State game not to let a team get on a run and break our confidence. You have to do things to put yourself into position to win a Big Ten game because in order to win at this level you have to play your best basketball every night you take the floor.”
Ron Lewis, senior guard
On the Ohio State freshmen
“They should be ready for Purdue because we have already been through every situation this season. We had Michigan State come back on us at home and we have been on the road at Wisconsin and didn’t get the job done. We have a lot of threats on this team. It’s a transition to add Greg (Oden) in the center but we are getting more comfortable with the inside-outside game.” On Ohio State
“I am seeing a lot of development with the leadership within the team. Before Greg was playing I had to make more plays and now we have different aspects in our game, so I am just knocking down shots and guarding good players. The team has made a transition with the inside-outside game and it affects Daequan (Cook) and me more than others because it cuts down on our drives.”
On Purdue
“It’s a big game. In conference play these games count a lot for us. Purdue is a team with all of their leadership back while we have a team of freshmen. Key wins on the road is what sets your team apart in the Big Ten.”
Jamar Butler, junior guard
On what makes Ohio State a winning team
“We are a close, really close team. We all get along and play in a system. We listen to what coach says and execute with our system.”
On differences with having Greg Oden in the game
“The first opportunity on offense is Greg. At first we didn’t go to him, but now we know the first option is to go through Greg.”
On playing Michigan State
“Our shots never went down. Then Neitzel, I don’t know what to say about him. He made some great shots. We had our hands in his face, but he made the shots. I’m just glad they didn’t make the last one.”
