Post-Game Quotes: Ohio State

Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo

Opening statement….
First of all, I give Chris (Holtmann) lot of credit. You know, when you change your team at a year and do the things he's done and he's played probably his best basketball last four games, I got a lot of credit goes to him. Those freshmen have been good. (Justice) Sueing has been really good. That's the first part of this. The second part is, you know, we're playing good, and I'll get to that. But, our defense has been terrible. We're not guarding, and that's got to change. We went from No.1, No. 2 in the league in regular field goal percentage defense. We're still, I think, No. 1 in the league in three-point percentage defense, and yet we're not guarding. Some of it is matchups. Some of it's tough. They went real small a lot, playing (Isaac) Likekele at the five. And you know, we tried to stay traditional somewhat. But, we're shooting 54 percent and 60 percent and a coach should be happy. But, I'm honestly not, because I know we're not going to win that way. We've got to do a better job defensively. In saying that, we got to do a better job defensively, it usually turns into rebounding the ball. So, those are the two areas that I think I put a big emphasis on a week ago, and yet, hasn't carried over. I thought the second half, Tyson (Walker), AJ (Hoggard), Jaden (Akins) got after it. And in fairness to Malik, he kind of really had some back spasms and he just looked like he couldn't move at all. And that was a little tough on him. But, you know, we had a 10-point lead again and then ill-advised shot, turnover, two threes, and it's a ballgame. So, we still got some work to do. But if you're shooting the ball this good, we should be able to regain our defense because we've been there for probably two thirds of this year. So, it's not like we have to reinvent the wheel. We just have to get back to understanding that. I think it was Iowa women's basketball 40 years ago, you played offense on one end and defense on the other. If I could do that, I'd be really good, but I can't do that. So, the guys that are scoring – and Tyson's been one of my best defenders - but that's the only thing that's been negative. On a positive, the ball is moving. The fast break – we had 17 points on a break early. That was a big plus. You know, when we bared down, I thought we did a very good job defensively. With this team right now, it's sustaining things that has been a little bit of an issue and we'll just have to keep working on that. But we're not by ourselves. The whole country's got some problems with that. And, you know, we just got to figure out how we can get better at it. So, I was pleased. The crowd was awesome. Senior Day is a tough day for everybody, especially this year. And, you know, we're kind of on break and a lot of those kids stayed, and I can't thank everybody enough, the community and everybody that did their job. And now we sit back and wait tomorrow. I mean, we could be, I don't know, the No. 3 seed and we could be the No. 10 seed. I mean, I've never seen anything like this. It's incredible, but it's it is what it is. And we'll play the game while we play the game.

On the emotions of senior day and getting back into the right mindset after…
Mindset right now and focus is a challenge for everybody. It's going to be an interesting week because we're on spring break, which is kind of good, but I don't like it because, it'd be nice to get into a routine. We haven't been in a routine for like three years, through COVID and all the things we've gone through, so a routine is important.

On the team's ability to make a run and if they're currently in position to be able to do so…
Yeah. And you know what? I don't mind putting that pressure on us. Normally, I would downplay it. I do think we are. Read my lips. I don't think we're the best team I've had. I don't think we're great. But, I think we're coming into our own. I mean, we're averaging 81 points a game in the last five or six games. We're shooting now, I think, 50 percent from the field and 50 percent from the three. We screwed up there at the free throw line, but we're still up in the high eighties. But, ever since I came here, games are won - tournament games are won - with defense rebounding. And that leads to the running. We were doing a pretty good job the first half, we were running. The second half we just didn't do as good a job. They got a lot of penetration. When they get penetration, more chance for offensive rebounds, then you get a ton of them. But, I feel good because I think we can get that back. I really do. I mean, we've really done well and we've really improved in the area we were weakest. And we've really gone downhill in the area we were the strongest. But I think we can get that back and it's going to be a battle cry. I mean, who knows, maybe we can have an offensive practice for 10 minutes and practice defense for two days. Maybe that would help and maybe we'll do that. We're going to figure out a way. We're going to defend better than we be defended. I promise you that.

On A.J. Hoggard running the offense during the game…
He has 23 points and he takes 11 shots. AJ and I got a deal - the inside out threes. He can shoot them. The other ones, sometimes we don't agree on, and he's taking less and less of those. Now he's two for three. I thought every shot he took was a good shot. You know, he's been shooting 90 percent from the line every night in practice. The night before game, we shoot. He shot 91 percent last night. He only had seven assists because some guys missed some shots, but he did only have one turnover, too. Tyson's got six assists, he's got seven assists. He's got seven assists on 29 baskets. Not great for us, but it isn't bad. The ball is moving better. If we get our defense to match our offense right now - that seems it seems like it should be easier to do than it probably is - I think this team has a chance to make a run. It comes down to matchups in these tournaments. It could be the Big Ten tournament matchup. It could be the NCAA tournament. Stuff happens. But, our guard play has been better and better, and you usually need good guard play. And you need to be able to defend to win in any kind of tournament scenario.

On A.J. Hoggard's confidence at the free throw line in late-game situations…
Oh, it's phenomenal. That doesn't bother me a bit. It's phenomenal because he did his work. Simple. And (Assistant Coach) Mark Montgomery has done a very good job with him. He forces them to shoot those free throws every day. But, what's really cool is when you get results. The one thing about A.J. that I don't worry about? He's cocky enough to make those at the end. Don't worry about that. He's confident enough to make those at the end. So no, I don't worry about that at all. I think he's earned what he's got. He's put his time in. He's been religious about it, and he's been consistent all year. If I can convince him now on his three point shot to keep working on that the same way. I still want to get his body in better. I mean, we still got things to work on. But what he has worked on, he's done a damn good job.

On if there was a moment he thought he wouldn't be able to substitute the seniors out at the end because of a close game…
Yeah. We played Ohio State back when Draymond (Green) was here. I think we lost the Big Ten championship. That's when (Branden) Dawson blew his knee and we were up 16. I still think it's one of the greatest things you can do. Players deserve more than what you can do for them before the game. I've been there through a loss. People still stayed. It's a little harder. But yeah, you worry about that. You don't sleep very well. That's one of the reasons you don't sleep very well. And with five minutes left, I wasn't doing very well awake. So yeah, you worry about that, but you worry more about losing the game. I mean, God bless the seniors and it is important to me, but the win is important too because that helps them as we move forward.

On the difference-maker between winning and losing close games…
Well, I think guard play is one of them. Tyson Walker- that layup he made, I don't know how he got it off. He made a couple of big plays. Tyson's now the go-to guy in those type of situations for us when and sometimes we've just got to let them go, because when we when we screen for him, they trap him and stay with it, take it out of his hands. So, we did a few other things, but I think guard play is critical at the end of games. Last year we missed free throws. AJ shot 67 percent. We just we were very young at the guards. Now we've got some experience. Jaden's (Akins) shooting it really well. He's still got to figure out, what's a good shot, bad shot, here and there. I thought the change of the game, even though they came back, was when Tyson really got into it defensively and A.J. did. It was too bad because Malik just couldn't go with his back. I don't know why. He looked stiff as hell. He's had a few problems this week and I don't think it's anything serious. He wasn't moving as good. That was the only negative.

Ohio State Head Coach Chris Holtmann

On opening game run…
Yeah, I think that was obviously instrumental and then being able to keep us at arms length. Our guys really fought, it was a two-possession game the last five minutes but that run really hurt us.

On closing the deficit late in the game…
I really loved our guys approach; I loved our guys spirit and the way they had about them. It has just been consistent with what it has been the last few weeks. This is a hard place to play; Michigan State is a good team. The best shooting Michigan State team since the final four team that we played against. I really believe that, it is the best shooting team that they have had they just shoot it at a such a high level and they got older kids that are really performing as well as they have performed in their careers. So give them credit, they made some tough shots, but I loved the way our guys fought and gave us a real chance.

On Michigan State's hot-shooting in first half…
A couple of those they got in transition, a couple of those we had short closes, but to be honest they had one guy who had made a three who I don't think all year has raised up and made one. And then listen you are going to make some shots at home give them credit, it was a combination of both but I do think there were a couple that were really challenged that they made. That's kind of what they have done when they've played really well particularly here. They made a ton of threes, look at their last stretch; they have made a ton of threes in the last four games.

On the play of Brice Sensabaugh…
I think we had some really good possessions, that's what I would say, I think we had some really good offensive possessions. We had a couple loose ones to, but I think we had some really good possessions and that's what I will kind of say to that. It was a combination like Justice (Sueing) almost had a triple-double. I thought he was phenomenal, 10 points 9 rebounds 7 assists and I thought we really played quality offensive basketball for the most part. Sure, I think all of us might have had a couple possessions that we would like to have back. But, it was really a good offensive performance.

On slowing down Michigan State's offense…
You know, I think they just play faster home, and I think off their makes they are going to push it really aggressively. So, I think just that is what makes it a challenge and their ability to spread you out with four three point shooters and that's the real challenge is that they multiple guys who can make open threes in transition.

On closing season and transition into post season…
Well as you know, I think we all know, those one and dones its all about how you play on that given night. So, the fact of the matter is we have played well in this closing stretch, but its all about how you play when you are in a one and done situation on that given night. We will need to have great preparation for whoever we play and continue to play in a way that we have played here through the last couple of weeks and see where it goes from there.

On Michigan State's Senior Day environment…
It does. I honestly look at it and say "This can be really really good for us." For all these guys to have this experience in these settings, on the road at Purdue starting four, here starting four. I think we look at it and say "This came out really good for us." That is what we hope, that is what it has to be.

Graduate Forward Joey Hauser

Were you expecting to kiss the Spartan head…
I wasn't sure. I didn't really have a plan going into it, because I wasn't going to partake in the after the game stuff, but I figured when I was the last guy I had to do it. So there was no question about it at that point.

On drawing plays up specifically for him…
It is part of the process. I am at the point now that I am asked to make big shots and get plays drawn up for me and answer the bell there when they cut the lead; it's where I want to be. I didn't think much of it. I am just doing my same thing; get out there and get open. My teammates will find me. Mady (Sissoko) sets such a great screen. It has definitely been a process. It hasn't always been a time when a play has been drawn up for me in that moment.

On if this team is in a position to make a postseason run…
I think we are. There have been a lot of ups and downs; we dealt with some injuries early on. We had some crazy games. We had leads in some games that we just had some letdowns. I think we are in a position to make a run here. We will see where we end up for the Big Ten Tournament, just based on tomorrow's games. Wherever it is, we will be ready to go. This was a big win for us, obviously for our seniors. But also for our season and where we want to go. I think this teams is ready to make a run.

On drawing plays up specifically for the vibe on the offensive side…
We have been able to hang our hats on that. Our defense has been a let down here the last couple games. But we have been shooting it so well that it has been keeping us in games, building leads and go on runs. It is not every game that you are going to shoot it well, so defensively we need to get better, rebounding as well. But when the offense is clicking, I think we are tough to beat.

Jaden Akins Sophomore Guard

About how much it helps to have multiple guys on the floor that can shoot…
It helps a lot. It opens up driving lanes. People can't help as much because we got guys spacing the floor. I feel like it helps a lot.

About if it feels like they are coming together at the right time…
It definitely feels like that. We are getting hot at the right time, we just got to carry that through this month and beyond that. So, I feel like it is good that we are heating up, we still got some things to fix, but I feel like they are fixable problems.

About where the confidence is at…
I would say it is the highest it has been. Everybody's playing free right now and playing their game and doing what they know how to do.

About what it meant to send the seniors out with a game like this…
It means a lot to me. I love all of our seniors. It was their day. We had to find a way to win for them, it was great to be a part of.

Tyson Walker Senior Guard

About how special senior day was…
It definitely was a good feeling, everybody cheering for me. I don't think there is anything like it and I enjoyed it.

About how he felt about the "one more year" chants…
It was fun to hear that, and to know I'm wanted.

About how they will re-group for the Big Ten Tournament…
We got a big task at hand. We got to kind of put some games together, back-to-back-to-back. If we got to win or we are done, so we'll try to play as hard as we can.

About where their confidence stems from after hearing coach Tom Izzo saying he thinks Michigan State has a run in them…
We think it is very realistic. That is why we keep saying it. I think it just comes from us knowing what we are capable of and knowing that we haven't put a whole game together yet.

AJ Hoggard Junior Guard

About what makes the offense so successful…
We definitely are moving the ball a lot better. And it's definitely confidence. Guys trusting their work for the most part and it's all been fun. Seeing another guy be confident in himself and go out there and score and produce is fun. Especially like Jaden, he has been coming around these last couple games, that's definitely what we need from him to do what we want to do. We need those guys especially the veterans, we definitely need it from our veteran guys. Jaden chipping in was big for us. For him to continue to be as consistent as he has been will help us with our run and will help us with what we want to do.

About how much stress they put on defenses…
It's a lot of stress. Four guys scoring double digits, it is hard to beat a team like that. I don't really know how many teams have four people scoring double-digits a night like we have in these last couple games. It's definitely a challenge for the defense, we just got to continue to go out there and have confidence in our offense, but also bring the defense along with it. Put together full games and we should have fun.

About how it feels to him as a point guard to be able to get out of conference play soon knowing their transition offense is coming together…
Definitely should be able to (run the floor a bit more). So that will be fun. So (we) just need to continue to build on that and score in transition makes it easier. It makes it a lot easier for guys to make their buckets and to see the ball go in, so when we are in halfcourt they have confidence in themselves. So I'm just getting my guys shots, getting them open looks in transition is definitely good for the shooters and it helps them build their confidence throughout the game.

About if he wanted to join in on the "one more year" chants intended for his teammates…
Most definitely. Why wouldn't I? Just having seasoned guys is always fun. We got a good group of freshmen coming in. With some leadership to help those guys mold in a little faster than normal would be good as well. Having Tyson and Malik back is what you wish for. Whatever they do, their decision is their decision, I will be happy for them either way. Definitely them coming back would be something I will look forward to.

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Players Mentioned

Jaden Akins

Joey Hauser

A.J. Hoggard

Tyson Walker

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