Recap |
Box Score |
Notes
2005 BIG TEN
MEN'S BASKETBALL
TOURNAMENT
Game Seven • March 11, 2005 • United Center • Chicago, Ill.
#3 Wisconsin 60, #6 Ohio State 49
WISCONSIN COACH/PLAYER QUOTES
Head Coach Bo Ryan:
Opening Statement:
"The only comment I made coming out of the locker room was, `Zach Morley had 23 points; I left him in the game too long.' "
"I thought our guys hung in there when things weren't going real well. At the end, we found a little bit of rhythm and got to the line and hit some free throws. Ohio State played really hard and they had a run there in the second half where they just refused to give in to what was going on. That made it a real grinder at that point, and that's the way it is in this league. Don't let the differential there fool anybody. A couple shots in the end there could have made that game go one way or the other, and fortunately it went our way."
On the low shooting percentage for both teams:
"When they were missing it was good defense."
"I thought it was good defense both ways. Both teams were scrappy. There was a lot of contact, but it was play-on type contact. I thought there were a lot of things that were taken away from the team that had the ball at any particular time. It was our third time playing each other. We knew what they were going to run coming out of timeouts, and I think that they knew what we were going to run. That happens a lot when you get into tournaments like this. I'm thankful that the guys didn't give in when things weren't going well. I told guys to watch games that were on TV today at the hotel; to take a look at certain things. Everybody runs into lulls."
On the passing of Bruce Weber's mother:
"On behalf of Wisconsin to Bruce and his family from the Wisconsin people, we give our heartfelt condolences and our prayers and wishes to the family. Those of us who are fortunate to have great relationships with our folks, we know what something like this means. On behalf of Wisconsin and our entire family, our best wishes."
Zack Morley:
On his career high point total:
"I came out there tonight and had the shots fall. It got my confidence up. My teammates were able to find me in open spots, and I was able to knock them down."
On if he was feeling a rhythm before the game:
"I went out there and got warmed up and loose as I could. When I got into the game, I just played basketball and didn't worry about it too much."
On his shot opportunities:
"Any time you could get the closer shots, it gets your confidence up and it helps. Once I had the chance to hit the outside shots, that opened up and I knocked them down. It always helps when you start down low."
Mike Wilkinson:
On Zack Morley's play:
"Zack came up big tonight. He stepped on the floor and, ever since he got on the floor, he did things on both ends to help us. That is what we need. He came in and made some big shots, made some big stops, got some huge rebounds, played pretty good defense, and just contributed in every aspect."
On Wisconsin's 13 point lead at the beginning of the game:
"We knocked down some shots, we got some stops, and it kind of went from there. They came out and hit some good baskets, and we missed some open shots early. Then, we started to get the ball inside and got some good looks and they started to fall, and we started getting some stops at the defensive end. Every time you are making baskets on one end and stops on the other, good things are happening."
Alando Tucker:
On Zack Morley's performance:
"Every guy on the court could contribute. Zack stepped up. He wasn't afraid. He was comfortable with his shot that he was taking. They weren't forced. They went down, and that is what we expect from each player on the court at any given time, to have the confidence and step up to hit the big shot."
2005 BIG TEN
MEN'S BASKETBALL
TOURNAMENT
Game Seven • March 11, 2005 • United Center • Chicago, Ill.
#3 Wisconsin 60, #6 Ohio State 49
OHIO STATE COACH/PLAYER QUOTES
Thad Matta:
Opening Statement:
"I think when you play Wisconsin, and somebody asks how you how you beat them, I say we need to make shots and play defensively. I knew they were going to pack it in on Terrence Dials. Unfortunately, I think we made our first two threes and then missed 18 straight, and it's going to be hard to win that way. I think in the first half tonight, for whatever reason, we were very tentative with our offensive approach. We lost our confidence and quit attacking them. In the second half, I thought we were much better. We had no answers for them, inside or outside. That is how they play, and they are good at it. When you look at their seniors, they have been in this before and they didn't panic when they got tied up."
On getting the team fired up with three minutes to go in the first half:
"I honestly don't think that we ever felt that this was our NCAA tournament. I think that we wanted to be as tough and physical as possible, because, when you play Wisconsin, there is going to be contact and there was contact. After the Illinois win, we didn't say what a great win, what a great finish to the season. They came back in on Monday and Tuesday and even last night we competed. I felt like they were focused in today's shoot around."
Matt Sylvester:
On Wisconsin's Defense:
"They're very sound defensively. They packed it in around Terence Dials. They forced us to take the outside shot. We hit our first two and then missed 18 straight. I don't know what the reason is, but for the second straight game we came out without the proper intensity. I don't know what to blame that on. You can't spot a team points."
On Wisconsin's challenging Ohio State's shots and why the shots weren't falling:
"I don't know if there is anyway to explain it. I don't know if it's nerves. I don't know if it's still the Illinois game still in our minds. It may be just the nerves of being in the Big Ten Tournament. We just didn't hit them. It's sad because we've hit three's all year."
Terence Dials
On the challenge of the match-up Morley presents:
"We've seen guys like that before. We just needed to play smarter defense on him. On the scouting report, Coach Matta told us he's a shooter. He's no different than any of the other guys we've faced this year."
On the disappointment of the season being over:
"You lose a game and you are going to be upset. We won't play another game until November. We have a long time to think about things. We will have to work hard in the off season."
|
|
 |
