March 11, 2006
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Ohio State Head Coach Thad Matta
Opening Statement:
"That was a tremendously hard-fought game by both teams. Honestly, it's a shame anybody had to lose that game. It was a game of runs. I thought we were getting some open shots but they wouldn't go in. As I told Je'Kel (Foster), I don't care if he goes 0-for-100 tomorrow (in the championship game), I'm going to ride him. Fortunately for us, we got a flow going again and knocked (our shots) down.
"The last time we played Indiana we gave up 78 points on about 60 possessions. It was one of our worst defensive outings. Today may have been one of the better ones we've had. As you get into these types of tournaments, it's about surviving and fortunately for us that's exactly what we did today."
On the out-of-bounds plays:
"It was really odd how our underneath out-of-bounds plays worked today but I thought we got some pretty good looks. The one thing that was hard in the last six or seven minutes was that both teams were so disheveled without (Marco) Killingsworth and Terence (Dials). It was really an odd game."
On the possibility of being a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament:
"I think (the players) are aware of that. I'm a little bit oblivious to it all from the standpoint that I haven't had a chance to look at a lot of other teams. For us and our guys that would be a tremendous honor. It's something no one would have predicted whether we end up being a one or a two.
"As I told our guys, the position they have put themselves in this year has been an old-school way to get there. When we started the season nobody gave us a chance but we just kept climbing and climbing. I think that has shown the character of our guys. Being in the position of being a No. 1 would be a great honor but I know it's going to be a war tomorrow to get that."
On whether Ohio State deserves to a be a No. 1 seed:
"As crazy as it sounds being a college basketball coach, I don't follow college basketball that closely. I only know what the Buckeyes are doing at all times.
"I do know this - winning the Big Ten was one of the hardest things I've ever done as a coach; the two months and two weeks it took to get that done. We' lost four games by a total of 15 points and in one of those we had a 17-point lead and another we had a 13-point lead. I wouldn't want to be in the (NCAA) committee's shoes. They do a tremendous job in where they put the people."
Terence Dials
On the last offensive possession:
"The play was designed for Jamar Butler to come off of a screen. It seemed like both (IU defenders) guarded Jamar and I saw Matt (Sylvester) wide open underneath the basket. It was pretty simple."
On defending Marco Killingsworth:
"It was a team effort. We all know (Marco) is a great player down in the post. In order to stop him, you need a total team effort. I got a lot of help from the other guys today. When (Indiana's) best player shoots 5-of-18, you have a great chance of winning the game."
"I enjoy competition. I enjoy playing against big players. (Killingsworth) is one of the best and I enjoy challenges. Guys competed today and both teams played hard."
On the physical style of play:
"We've had a lot of physical games. I'm not sure if you'd rank this as one of the top (physical games) but it definitely was physical. Guys were out there competing. This is a tournament atmosphere so it's just going to get us better prepared for the NCAA Tournament."
Matt Sylvester
On the last offensive possession:
"It was a play that had multiple options. They got switched up a little bit then (Terence Dials) found me under the basket. I told him, `I've been giving you assists for five years so it's about time he gave me one. It was a hard-fought game. Indiana is a really great team."
On the second-half:
"The threes weren't falling. We're the type of team where if one thing isn't working then we're going to go to something else. We're not a one-dimensional offense and Terence (Dials) was hitting his shots down low. When some of the outside shots weren't falling, we took it to the rim. It just seemed like common sense to us."
On J.J. Sullinger:
"J.J. (Sullinger) is a warrior. He's a banger. (Indiana's) guards were a little smaller and not as strong. He was able to rebound the ball and he just did a great job. He is competitive and that really showed today. He was the player of the game in my mind."
Indiana Head Coach Mike Davis
On the game:
"I thought our guys fought hard and showed a lot of courage by just sticking with it, especially when we were down by seven points. We made a run and got every look we wanted to down the stretch. The last two shots we missed were great looks. I am proud of our guys for just fighting hard and sticking with it. This is definitely something for us to take with us into next week in the tournament.
On Robert Vaden's ankle:
"It's day by day. He just tweaked it a little bit."
On his last Big Ten game as Indiana's coach:
"There are no special emotions, just disappointment on losing the game. I felt like we had an opportunity, but they came up with the big play. They made their plays and we missed ours. The other emotion I have is disappointment for my players because they played and fought hard."
On Earl Calloway:
"Earl has developed into a nice player for us. He gives you something you can't teach and that's speed and quickness. He's done a great job for us; he's getting better game by game. I think next year he's going to be either first-team or second-team all-league player."
On the low scores in the Big Ten Tournament:
"Every possession has been tough. We are getting the same looks, as a mater of fact we are probably getting better looks in this tournament than we got during the season. It's just the excitement of playing in the tournament. This tournament gets you ready for next week by getting all the nerves and jitters out."
On Roderick Wilmont:
"Rod (Wilmont) is an emotional young man. He plays with his heart. I wanted to go out to him but I wanted to shake the hands of all the players and coaches of the opposing team. There's no reason for him to feel bad about missing a shot. It's part of the game."
Marshall Strikland
On the game:
"It was a great game today. We gave it everything we had. Now we have to move on from today and get ready for next week. I think the level definitely stepped up during the second half. The importance of the game came out and it was a great game to be a part of."
On the last shot of the game:
"I thought Marco (Killingsworth) was going to make it because he got it into his left hand and I have seen him make that shot a thousand times. When it rimmed up and (Roderick) Wilmont came over, we had a another wide open look. You can't ask for a better opportunity than that."
On inspiring Roderick Wilmont:
"He played great and we want him to do great next week and throughout the rest of the season."
