Thad Matta Teleconference Quotes – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/8/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 8, 2007
Matta on the Start of Big Ten Season
“We had an important week with the home win vs. Indiana and the road win at Illinois. Now it’s welcome to the Big Ten. It does not get any easier for us. At the conclusion of the game tomorrow we will have played the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 or 4 team in the country on its home court.”
On Greg Oden’s Progress
“Greg is coming along. We continue to chip away at his cast. He is getting more and more movement with it. We don’t want to rush and jeopardize him. Greg is getting himself in better shape and is getting acclimated to the college game. He is doing all the things he can to help our basketball team.”
On the Next Step for Oden
“He needs to build his base foundation of conditioning and getting to use his right hand freely. Getting back to where he once was is the biggest challenge.”
On Difficulty of Road Games
“It shows how powerful the Big Ten is and how tough college basketball is in general. It shows the advantages of playing at home. If you look over the course of the years it’s been pretty similar. When you go on the road it is a 40 minute basketball game. You have to stay together and compete as a team.”
On Playing at Wisconsin
“I think our guys have a pretty good understanding that it’s Game 3 of the Big Ten season. We preach in our program `you don’t get too high and you don’t get too low.’ We have a good understand of what we need to do to win the basketball game.”
On Challenges of Playing with Young Players
“The verdict is still out on us. We have played three games on the road and one we were not very good. As a young team we are looking for consistent play. I know it will be a crazy environment tomorrow night but we’ve been in three already so hopefully that will negate that a little bit.”
