Ohio State 74, Michigan State 67
2/21/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 21, 2010
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Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo
Opening Statement...
I'm disappointed for our team; I'm disappointed for our fans. I thought (the fans) were again unbelievable two games in a row. I thought we started out better and I can't figure out why we played so sluggishly most of that first half. The game plan was to run, and run, and run, and run, and I don't think we ran at all. We just weren't pushing it, I don't know why. A couple of things reared its ugly head; the turnovers, nine in the first half and one in the second, need to do a better job on that. Turner was 6-for-17, I'm fine with that. We got some points, we posted people up, we got in foul trouble with Morgan, but all in all, if you look at the guards I thought we missed some good shots early and then we just didn't get the ball inside early. That was disappointing. That too was against the game plan, we just didn't seem like the team that practiced this week and that should fall on me. We held them better defensively the second half and then we cut it to one. Then we went up one and then we missed a dunk and we missed free throws, and barely shot fifty percent from the line, you just can't beat good teams that way, and they're a good team. I still felt good about how we covered Turner. I did not think we did a good enough job against Diebler early and I felt we did a better job late. This will sound stupid, but our situation is still the same. If we had won here and lost there at Purdue, Purdue wins it anyway. So we have to beat Purdue down there either way. I think we have some disappointed guys right now, but I'm beside myself on why we didn't play like the game plan was. I don't know why we didn't push the ball early; we did the second half and had some success.
On whether he felt his guards were panicked during the runs...
Yeah my guards did not play, but I thought we were jacking shots. We kept telling them go inside, anytime we call a punch play it's to go inside, we were punching on the sideline and jacking on the court and I don't know why. It was a big game for Kalin and I don't know, he struggled a little bit early. Most of the second half he played better. I thought the only guy who played really well for us was Morgan, and Draymond Green wasn't bad, but Raymar I thought played awfully well and he got those two quick fouls. We chose to run the ball screen which worked them every time except for the last one, he hit the one free throw line jumper I think when we were down by one, but that wouldn't have changed the game plan, it would have just changed how we played. I did think there was a little panic; we didn't look stable there for a little bit.
On Turner during OSU's 7-0 run...
Yeah it was (all about him), but he hit the one shot and he should, but getting to the basket I think we got tired a little bit. We had Morgan in so much foul trouble he was afraid to step out on that. He's a good player, he's a good player and he's got size, but for the most part I thought we did a pretty good job on him. He's a good player and he plays 40 minutes a game so his stats are going to be good, and he's deserving of the accolades he's gotten, but he didn't beat us, I don't think. I think us missing ten of 18 free throws and some wide open shots, a dunk and a layup; all of that in the last five minutes hurt us. I thought Diebler hurt us in the one stretch that was big. We expected Turner to do what he did, and that was the quietest 20 points I've seen him have, but that's the way he plays. He's a very solid player.
On the last two big home games...
The difference in this game was we were up 12 to six, so we didn't start out so bad, we were getting loose balls, and we got a couple of offensive rebounds. I think I'll just say I didn't do a good job of getting them ready. As I always say, players play the game and players have to be ready to play and the coach's job is to put together the game plan, and nobody can fault anybody for missing shots. They made some early, we missed some. I don't have a good reason for that, it's more disappointing to me than it is for to you or the fans, I can promise you that, because most of these guys work 300 days a year to play 30 games and for different reasons there are always distractions. Different reasons you're not ready to play, I just didn't think we had any energy the first half. I think some other players would agree with that, but it wasn't from fatigue because you could see in the second half we brought a lot of energy along with the fans. Give them credit, we took our best shot and then we took a bad shot when we were down one after we had really been playing flawless as far as getting it in. We run a great out of bounds play and get a dunk on it and just miss it. I can't blame that on a kid, I can't blame that on staff, I can't blame that on anybody. The free throws we missed, I mean Durrell is one of our best free throw shooters and Delvon has been shooting the ball very well this year, we just missed them. I don't have a good answer for that.
On getting his team to look at the big picture...
I always look at the big picture. That's why I've done some of the idiotic things I do. The big picture is the program. I tell my team every year that we could win 20 games every year just by scheduling. I think our program is to that point, but to win the big games you have to defend, you have to rebound, you have to take care of the ball and we haven't done as good a job with this team. I think that it was a hard day for Kalin. I think he was really into the game. I didn't think I'd have him on Turner that much and I thought he took pretty good shots, but early we just didn't push it like we said we were going to and I don't know why. Some times different things affect you different ways. This has been a year when I've gone through just about everything, and this team is still 21-7 and still has a chance to play with anyone in the country. And yet, if you don't defend better, and you don't rebound better, you aren't winning anything that matters. This is a big gut check for us to go to Purdue. It's a hard place to win and everything will be on the line for them and us. I'm looking forward to a week of practice where we can just practice.
Ohio State head coach Thad Matta
Opening statement...
Obviously, I'm very proud of our guys and the way we got off to a great start. From the 14 minute mark and down they really stepped the energy and did a good job seeing what they need to see. Offensively, we did not shoot a great percentage, but I think we took good shots and did a good job executing. We told our guys at half time, you're playing one of the best teams in the country and they are going to make a run at you. Sure enough they did. They took the lead and the ball, they picked it up, and at that point I was not sure if it was a good sign, but I think they showed composure, kept it together and did a good job down the stretch finding guys and making free throws.
On Michigan State's run...
I think when you get to this stage, February 21, and you have two great basketball teams playing, a lot of it comes down to somebody making a big play. Jon did a great job spotting up. That was a big shot for us.
On Evan Turner...
I thought he might not go today. It's funny because I got a call Saturday morning at 6:49 a.m., saying Turner is sick. So we got him in and saw the doctors. When I came in he was sleeping in the locker room. The biggest thing is that he had not slept all night because of the head cold and flu like symptoms. I told him yesterday that I needed him to come out on the practice floor and smile. We were only on the court for 40 minutes, we walked through and covered 5 on 5 stuff. We got him on medication and he came up here last night and laid in the bleachers while we shot. Then afterward he went to his room and we did not see him until this morning. At breakfast he came down and loaded up a plate of food and never touched a bite of it. I said, this is not good. I thought he did a tremendous job battling through it and I give him lot of credit for how he played. He was a little off at the beginning; he had some great looks, but had no legs. With our luck we play again tomorrow night. So we need to get him rest and get ready to go.
On Turner guarding Lucas...
I don't know if you can completely defend Lucas. He is so good with the ball. I think Turner did a decent job using his length and challenging Lucas. Lucas is so quick with the ball, smart, makes great decisions, and makes everyone one around him better. We went into the game putting Will on him. Then we changed our line up right before the game. I think Turner was fine with it.
On rebounding...
When you play Michigan State, they do such a terrific job rebounding on both ends of the floor. We felt that if we could keep the rebounding close we would have a great shot to win the basketball game. It's amazing how the numbers stagger from last year's three games. Offensive rebounds and transition points against Michigan State and what they had against us in the two games they beat us and what we had against them in our win. Our guys saw it on paper and I thought they did a good job with it.
On road wins...
I think this says we are a pretty good basketball team and those are tough places to win. This place today was electric. I think if you look at the places we have had to play this year at Butler, at West Virginia, there is nothing they have not seen. After a couple years now guys have got a pretty good feel for what it is. I think they did a pretty good job of keeping their composure. One play, Evan dribbled the ball off his foot and Lucas stuck his foot out like a soccer player, stopped the play and they dunk at the other end. Sure enough we responded.
On after losing last game...
I told them that they have won 9 out of 10 games in one of the best leagues in the country. We did not play as good we could against Purdue, but there is so much more basketball to be played. We had to take off practice last Thursday then practiced Friday morning and brought them back in Friday night. I wanted to be around them just to keep checking how they were. I tell them the only thing that matters is what's in this locker room and how you guys feel and think. We are the ones who have control, there is not a thing that anyone came do outside to help us.
On the depth of Michigan State's bench...
I think they were trying (to push the ball). They got a couple easy ones to start the second half and for us it was a huge premium on getting back and trying to stop the ball. They do come out at you, I thought they were pushing up to the end when Morgan got the layup with 40 seconds left to go. It was important for us to get back.
On Evan Turner being the best player in the country...
I know he is to me. I know that Evan Turner is a great basketball player. He is a great kid, a great competitor and ambassador for the Ohio State University. I don't know what else is out there. I don't know what other guys mean to their team. I only watch our guys. I know that he is special. He is a tremendous player and real important to me.
