Postgame Quotes: Ohio State 82, No. 23 Indiana 70 – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/25/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 25, 2015
POSTGAME QUOTES?
Ohio State 82 (16-5, 5-3 B1G), No. 23 Indiana 70 (15-5, 5-2 B1G)
January 25, 2015
?Value City Arena – Columbus, Ohio
Attendance: 17,322
Thad Matta, Ohio State head coach
On adjusting vs. the Hoosiers
“We had to make some quick changes today in terms of guys and what we needed them to do. The way they started the game led me to believe they just wouldn’t miss, but we got down, stayed the course defending and I’m proud of how they came together to win that game.”
On the combination of Shannon Scott and D’Angelo Russell
“I thought Shannon (Scott) was not great in the first half but he was tremendous in the second half. He needed that, that’s for sure. Having the luxury of switching between him and D’Angelo (Russell) is great for this team because they all feed off one another and it’s nice knowing you may have two point guards out there.”
On Jae’Sean Tate’s performance vs. Indiana
“I think with Jae’Sean (Tate), the one thing that I have learned for certain about him is that he will do whatever it takes to help us win as a team. He is a winner. Tonight he took advantage of the switches, worked in the post-position and he’s really starting to understand the defense. He has great athleticism and quickness and his role continues to evolve.”
D’Angelo Russell, freshman guard?
On a career-high 10 assists vs. Indiana
“We shot 62% from the field. I give credit to all my teammates they were making shots and finishing. All I was doing was finding them, so it made my job easier.”
Shannon Scott, senior guard?
On Ohio State’ resiliency vs. the Hoosiers
“I think our guys did a great job of being tough for this game and finding a way, having a strong will and ending on top. For some reason everyone starts off hot on us, they’re just never missing shots. I think we did a great job of not getting frustrated about that. The first four minutes they shot 100% and if a team shoots 100% for the game then we’re going to lose. I think we did a great job of staying composed and playing our defense.”
?
On goals for the season
“We want to be at the top. We’re probably fifth or six in the Big Ten right now, but we’re doing anything we can to get to the top. We want that No.1 spot, so if that means beating big teams like this to do then we have to do it.”
O sharing the point guard position with D’Angelo Russell
“The way he controlled the game in the first half was unbelievable. I have no problem going off the ball and letting him get the lead for us like he did. He did a great job out there.”
Jae’Sean Tate, freshman forward
On adjusting to his role with the Buckeyes
“At first coming in in the summer, it was difficult. Just trying to find out where you fit in and trying to execute your role. Throughout the course of this season, I’ve begun to feel more comfortable and my game has been taking off from there. I feel like every game I’m improving as a college basketball player.”
Tom Crean, Indiana head coach
On Ohio State’s defensive presence?
“[Ohio State] has as good of a help defense year in and year out as anybody in our league and that would put them as good as anybody in the country when it comes to help defense because they always have great individual defenders but they cover for each other so well. If it’s not Aaron Craft, it’s Shannon Scott.”
On the play of D’Angelo Russell and Shannon Scott?
“The bottom line today is D’Angelo Russell and Shannon Scott played the way we couldn’t let them play, and we did. They had a lot to do with it, no doubt about it, but we never took them out of what they wanted to do. They never got uncomfortable and therefore everybody on the team was a beneficiary of it.”
On Indiana turnovers
?”We reverted back to our mistakes. Troy [Williams] tried to make plays that weren’t there. Stan [Robinson] tried to make plays that weren’t there. James [Blackmon Jr.] and Rob [Johnson] didn’t cut and move without the ball the way that they need to. We have plays and things of that nature but it’s really more about our spacing and concepts right now.”
