Northwestern University Athletics
Coach Quotes From the NU-Ohio State Game
3/5/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 5, 2003
EVANSTON, Ill. - The following are quotes from the two coaches following Wednesday night's men's basketball game at Welsh-Ryan Arena, won by Ohio State 52-48.
Northwestern Head Coach Bill Carmody
On how the team feels after the loss ...
"I know the team feels bad. I feel bad. This was a winnable game. I think we let them hang in there too long, and then Darby had that stretch where he just took over. That's what good players do."
On OSU's zone defense ...
"The zone can sometimes neutralize our team a little bit. I told them, 'You're going to play Iowa, which plays a two-three zone, and then Minnesota or Ohio State which plays a two-three zone.' So we're going to have to get together and come up with some sort of remedy."
On Ohio State's defensive adjustments ...
"They were switching on makes and misses, and we do that too. I think it was effective."
On the emotions of Senior Night ...
"I like those guys a lot, and I am glad their parents are here. They put a lot into this program and went through some ups and downs. Sometimes emotions run high when you play in front of your family, and it can wear you out."
Ohio State Head Coach Jim O'Brien
On the the difference in the game ...
"This was not one of our better efforts artistically. The only reason we won this game is because we stayed together and stuck with it. We played really, really hard. As the case has been all year, the reason we are where we are is because of our defense."
On Brent Darby's second-half, 7-0 run to give OSU the lead ...
"He was magnificent. He made three consecutive baskets where we went from not having the lead to having the lead. He showed a lot of toughness by making those plays. His first jumper was an airball, but he just stayed with it. Without him doing that during that stretch we might not have won this game."
On the adjustments of his team defense ...
"I think the key to our defense is changing it up. We started zone and that wasn't working because they made a couple of threes, and the man-to-man defense at the end of the first half was very effective. But we had to keep changing to keep them out of their rhythm."
On the difference between the two meetings with NU this season ...
"The game was eerily similar to the last time we played them. We took a lot of free throws and grabbed a lot more rebounds then they did."
