March 16, 2006

Ohio State Head Coach Thad Matta

On OSU defensive awareness
"I think we are getter better at being able to do two things at one time. Our post defense had gotten better. The help that we needed in situation is still not 100 percent. If you think back to January and playing a Michigan State and you have five miscues that lead to 12 points. Now we have cut those down to three or four a game. We are better at guarding the ball one on one and we are more active defensively. That has been one of the major battle cries."

On the play of Je'Kel Foster
"It would be a tremendous boost to our team if he was making shots. He does so much off the ball. When he does score it makes him so much more of a better player for us. Honestly, I haven't even looked at the numbers at what he has shot. I have told him that we don't have him out there to set screens. We want him to do what he does. When you take a look at all the intangibles that Ja'Kel (Foster) brings...when his shot goes in it just makes us a better team but it's not like we need him to score."

Is it more important for a coaching staff or players to have tournament experience when preparing for an NCAA game?
"I think having guys that have been in the tournament does help. They just understand the magnitude of every possession. For me, my first game in the NCAA Tournament I don't know if you could draw up a better scenario for what happened. We were up 43-10 at halftime over Wake Forest. I felt really good that day. For me, each year is a different team. Quite obviously the surroundings tell the guys how important it is. We don't talk a whole lot about it. The talk is all about us (Ohio State) as a program, Davidson and what we have a chance to win the game."

On not overlooking Davidson
"I have told our guys. I have been on that side before. I have been a 16 seed, a 14 seed, and a 12 seed so I understand that when that ball gets thrown up tomorrow you can throw those seeds out the window."
"With Davidson the first thing is their experience. Offensively, they want to push the ball. I think getting back and not giving up easy baskets is key. Also we must have awareness of who is on the court and what they are trying to get done. It is a big scouting game for us. Different guys like to do certain things. Hopefully we are able to contain them."

On the excitement around Ohio State basketball
"I think our guys see the commitment from our staff and the energy from our staff. One of the top priorities of my job is recruiting and I think that our players are the best recruiters we have. Our guys understand that I have the capacity to not live in the future and to live in the moment."
"I think (our recruiting class) it has increased the awareness for Ohio State basketball this year. Our fans have been tremendous and the energy they have given us throughout the year we have been grateful for."

On the status of Matt Terwilliger
"He has worked out with us for the past couple of days. I don't know 100 percent if we will play him tomorrow. It is great to see him dunk at a practice here this morning. As I told him and his parents, I will never put his health ahead of the game of basketball."

On keeping Terance Dials out of foul trouble
"He has made drastic improvements in staying out of foul trouble. You go back to early on and him getting into foul trouble. He has a better understanding of his defensive positioning and a better idea of what he is doing offensively with the ball."

On a winning formula in the NCAA Tournament
"I think it comes down to having really good players. I have been blessed number one to be in the tournament. A lot of it is just getting on a roll and feeling comfortable with everything you do. I wish I had something written down that worked because I am nervous as can be able tomorrow's game right now."

On playing at UD Arena
"I am not going to lie. My best memory in this building was when we were down seven points with a 1:52 left to go and I scored the final eight points of the game including a last second shot. To show you how good of a player I was, I only had 10 for the game. It is funny because I had hit two threes and we called timeout and the coach calls us over. He said, `We are going to get the ball to Tucker. If he isn't open we are going to get it to Folk and If Folk isn't open we are going to get it to Mitchell and if Mitchell isn't open then you Krabik you get open.' Luckily my teammates got me the ball and I got the shot in."
"Overall the memories of the building are beating Arizona when I was at Miami in the first NCAA Tournament I was ever in. Coming up here with Xavier and Xavier hadn't won here in seven and we won two years in a row. Then coming back and winning four games in four days...knocking off the number team in the nation in the Quarterfinals and beating Dayton on its home court have been very good memories."

Ohio State Forward Matt Sylvester

On the fact that some people think Ohio State University is vulnerable to the upset
"I think to anyone who thinks that only has to look at Thad Matta's past record in the NCAA Tournament. I think that he's proven time and time again that he's one of the best in the country at getting his players ready for the NCAA Tournament."

On playing at University of Dayton Arena, where his father Mike played
"I don't know how many tips he gave me as anything different because it's UD Arena. I remember a lot of stories and a lot of tradition; you know the UCLA thing (in the 1967 NCAA Tournament) and all that. It feels good to be back here, and I'm excited to get some shots up in this arena."

On the new coaching staff and what it means to him
"It's been a long road with a lot of ups and down. I think the new staff really just helped me get refocused on and off the floor. They really sparked my interest back in basketball, and also sparked my interest in just being a good person and being a productive citizen. I've said it a million times, I really owe my life to these guys. They saved my life and saved the life of Ohio State basketball, and the sky's the limit right now with these guys in charge."

On the team being experienced, but not in the NCAA Tournament
"We have a lot of people from a lot of different walks of life. Terence has played in the tournament, Je'Kel has been to a couple of junior colleges and now to a big-time program, and J.J. came from a big-time program in Arkansas. I've been here for five years and we've had all kinds of different life experiences that have shaped us into a solid core of guys to build a team around. I don't think not being at a tournament really means that much. It's just another game, and we have game experience."

Ohio State Senior Guard J.J. Sullinger

On the team's defense improving throughout the season
"We just try to get better every day, to work on the things that we're not necessarily good at. For the most part it starts with this man right here, Je'Kel Foster. He's definitely one of the stoppers. He brings it every day. It's kind of contagious; as he goes we go."

On the team being experienced, but not in the NCAA Tournament
"I think everything that we've been through from the very beginning until now, that kind of compensates the lack of experience in the NCAA tournament. But, it's no secret that I haven't been to the NCAA Tournament and neither has Matt played in it. Terence is the only one on the team (who has played in the NCAA Tournament). Coach Matta has, and he's done pretty good. We'll just do whatever he asks. He has the formula to win, so we'll just follow his lead."

On head coach Thad Matta's NCAA Tournament record
"You are only as good as your leader, and Coach Matta definitely has the formula to win. The staff does a very good job of scouting and getting us well prepared. I think that's what the NCAA tournament is about because you go up against some people that you might not necessarily have any idea about. But, they do a real good job of getting us prepared and keeping us focused."

Ohio State Senior Guard Je'Kel Foster
On the fact that some people think Ohio State University is vulnerable to the upset
"We're just going to put the (last) game that we lost behind us, and we're looking straight forward right now and let our defense do the talking tomorrow, and just play Ohio State basketball."

On his recent shooting slump
"I kind of think about it, but I have great teammates and great coaches and they are behind me and they believe me, so they keep telling me to shoot it and I'm just going to keep confidence in myself and just shoot the ball."

On how much he's been working on his shooting
"I've probably got up approximately 1,000 shots or something. After the game, me and my dad have been shooting, just working on my form. Things will be better up here today."

On what his father noticed about his shooting
"He was in Indy. He was saying that the ball was coming out the side of my hand, so he told me to spread my fingers when I shot the ball and follow through. I'll be doing that tomorrow"

On the fatigue level of the team
"The coaches did a great job of getting us rest. We practiced a couple of days, but they did a good job of resting our legs."

Ohio State Senior Forward/Center Terence Dials

On the last meeting with Davidson
"I'm sure there's no one on the team that was there when I was there. From what I recall, they are a well-coached team. They play hard and play together. From what we've seen so far on film they can shoot the three real well, so we're going to definitely be aware of that."

On the team's defense improving throughout the season
"I think not just Je'kel, but Jamar does a great job of getting pressure up on the guards, and it makes things a lot easier on the big guys when the opposing guards have pressure on them and things of that nature. It definitely starts with the backcourt, and like J.J. said it gets contagious, and guys want to play defense and play a lot harder. We've gotten better at that as the season went on. Especially when we we're not shooting well, we have to play good defense to win games."

On if the adrenalin has started flowing the day before the game
"We haven't done too much yet to have the adrenalin flowing. Just being in the NCAA Tournament, knowing that we're here gets us excited. I think that when tip off comes tomorrow guys will be excited and the adrenaline will definitely be flowing at that point in time. But right now, I'm not sure. It's been so much like business trip so far, we haven't really had time to think about it."

On the pre-game practice at the arena
"I think it's good just to get used to the gym. Obviously as you said the surroundings are going to matter, but to get a feel for the balls, the rims and get familiar with how the gym is so guys are more comfortable tomorrow at 12 o'clock when we come out to the floor."