News From The Locker Room
1/21/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 21, 2001
Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo:
"Today was more of an old-fashioned Big Ten game, it was a grind. I'm not sure I am totally pleased with my team and I am Jim (O'Brien) is not totally pleased with his team. It seemed like neither one of us could get totally in sync in the half-court offense. I thought they got some turnovers of ours and some lay-ups on the break that hurt us in the first half after playing pretty good defense. The couple of misses shots they got we lay-ups and I think in the second half we did some of the same and I am not sure either team was very good in the half court and that is because both defenses were playing well. I thought the key to the game for us was we did as good a job as I think you can do against three-point shooters. To hold them to 2-11 might have been where the game was won, along with our rebounding."
"It was not an easy win, I think Jim did a great job in changing up defenses on us and yet Jason (Richardson) really stepped up big and Zach (Randolp) at times learned a few lessons on getting shots blocked and hitting a few."
Ohio State Head Coach Jim O'Brien:
"It (the offensive glass) was a major concern for us. We talked about two issues that we thought were critical - rebounding on defense and getting back in transition. They ended up with 46 of their 71 points that were second-chance points and (points) off of turnovers, so that was a fear I had - trying to keep them off of the glass. They just manhandled us underneath the basket for their second-chance opportunities."
"I thought we did a pretty good job guarding them in the half court, but when the shots go up, and they rebound them and put them back up, that's a real problem for us. Then on the other end they guard you so tough it was really hard for us to get a whole lot going on offense. Disappointedly, we're trying to throw the ball in to Ken (Johnson) and he gets 10 shots, but he doesn't get any free throws and we really need to try and get him at the foul line."
On MSU's Jason Richardson - "He's really improved his game. He's gone from a guy that a year ago we wouldn't guard on the perimeter, to a guy that you absolutely have to guard. He has the ability not only to shoot three's, but when he comes off his screens and is close to the basket, unless you have somebody who's every bit as athletic or as big guarding him, he has the ability to get his shot over people and he's all over the rim too."