Northwestern University Athletics
Quotes From The NU-Ohio State Men's Basketball Game
2/24/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 24, 2001
EVANSTON, Ill. - The following are quotes from Northwestern head coach Bill Carmody and Ohio State coach Jim O'Brien after Saturday's men's basketball game, won by the Buckeyes, 69-57.
OSU COACH JIM O'BRIEN
"We came into this game knowing that this was going to be a very hard game, and I think a lot of the credit should go to the Northwestern players. We had a hard time guarding some of their things, but the bottom line for us was that we wanted to come in here -- especially two days after a terrific win against Illinois -- and just survive and have one more point than they did. At the end, our guys really just found a way to win, and we have to very pleased about it."
"We wanted to stay within striking distance and hopefully get something going for us at some time during the game, and that's exactly what happened."
On Ken Johnson
"When you think about the magnitude of his accomplishment, in view of all the really good big people that have played in this conference, for him to be the all-time shot blocker is phenomenal. I'm very happy for him.
"This is a tough game for him because they play with five guys that play away from the basket. The trade-off is on the other end, where we didn't think Hardy could guard Kenny, but he picked up a few fouls and had to sit out a little bit too much."
On playing Northwestern
"I think, more than anything, that when you play against this team it's not so much playing against individual players as much as you play against the system. And when you play these guys early on, I think the system was very new to all of them, and I think it takes awhile for guys to be more comfortable and accustomed to what Bill (Carmody) wants them to do. Without question, they seem more comfortable running their stuff than they did when we played them in early January."
NORTHWESTERN COACH BILL CARMODY
"It's a game I hope next year we win. I thought our guys played hard, I thought their guys played hard. That's a very good team with a lot of balance, and they showed that tonight."
"I thought we played pretty well, but we clearly turned the ball over too many times. It was just too many turnovers against a team that's not really pressing you. Conference play is tough, and they came in here and got a win."
"I thought it was one of our better games. I thought we competed as well as we have. I thought we were a pretty decent team out there tonight. Some things you're disappointed with, like the turnovers, but I like the way the guys played."
"I thought there were a couple of little bounces. We had a couple of fast break situations, and it seemed like three of the four times we turned it over. The way I look at it, we were a few turnovers away. Take away five turnovers, and who knows?"
On Ken Johnson
"He's a good player. He probably blocked five, six or seven shots. Every time you drive you have to think about it. He's a good player and he makes them all better."
