After another loss in which Ohio State failed to erase an early and partially self-inflicted deficit, Thad Matta has said he’s changed just about everything in order to get his Buckeyes to start games faster.
It appears now that includes potentially thrusting freshman forward Jae'Sean Tate, who has provided a spark for the team coming off the bench, into the starting lineup against Northwestern in Evanston.
“Obviously that is a possibility,” Matta said on the Big Ten Basketball Coaches Teleconference Tuesday morning, “but I’ve always liked what he brings off the bench for us it’s just a different motor, it’s a different type of player but I wouldn’t rule out not starting him on Thursday night.”
Notes:
- Matta said he’s tried altering when the Buckeyes wake-up times, what they show in terms of film/scout, when they go to bed and “anything along those lines that we think could be good for us.”
- Matta said Ohio State needs to learn from the similar demons that plagued them last season: “As I told the team, we lost nine or 10 games last year and we led all of them at the half.” He added: “I’ve gotta do a better job of getting these guys it’s not the last possession that matters, it’s the 72 before that
- Matta said, “We have to be a 40-minute basketball team.”
Tom Crean (Indiana)
- On win against Illinois over the weekend: “We’re extremely excited to get a win … at the end of the day, we were able to make one more run. Our guys showed poise.”
- Crean on an upcoming duel with Maryland for league in the conference: “We haven’t all year and we certainly aren’t going to start now.”
Fran McCaffery (Iowa)
- Following a convincing win against Ohio State at home last weekend, the Hawkeyes travel to Madison Tuesday night. "We had a good week. Won two tough, hard-fought games."
John Groce (Illinois)
- Groce lamented a declining trend in Illinois’ defense after a loss to Indiana Sunday. “It’s gotta be more important … that’s the first thing.” He added: “In this league, if you’re going to try to outscore teams through the 18 games, you’re greatly mistaken.”
- Groce said he thought the Fighting Illini’s defense stood out in a win against Maryland two weeks ago and that against the Hoosiers, they “took a step back defensively … I thought our defense was atrocious and has to get better (this weekend).”
Chris Collins (Northwestern)
- After losing its last four games, Collins said the Wildcats are “coming off an incredibly tough week, two last-possession losses which is par for the course in this conference … just haven’t been able to get over the hump.”
- Northwestern plays Ohio State Thursday night in Evanston.
Mark Turgeon (Maryland)
- As one of two new teams in the Big Ten this season, the Terrapins have taken the conference by storm with a 17-2 record and 5-1 record in league play. Turgeon said, “whenever you can get off to a good start in a new league it’s good …. everything’s new to us … but it is what it is, but starting out well really helps things.”
- Maryland travels to Indiana this weekend: “Like always in league play, it’s another tough week.”
Matt Painter (Purdue)
- After a road win against Penn State last weekend, Painted said, “we’re very fortunate to win the game with 16 turnovers.” Turnovers, in general, have hindered the Boilermakers all season.
Pat Chambers (Penn State)
- After winning 11 of its 12 first games, Penn State hasn’t won a game since before Christmas Eve. “We’re close, we’re competing. Ball’s not bouncing our way,” Chambers said.
- The Nittany Lions have lost their last five games. Chambers said they can’t continue to rely on guard D.J. Newbill to do everything for them. “We need a full-team effort … the last four games could’ve easily gone our way.”
Tom Izzo (Michigan State)
- In what’s been called a down year in the Big Ten, Izzo said the top of the conference is weaker than in years past but the depth of the league is as good as it’s been. “I don’t think it’s any questions it’s Wisconsin and the rest — Maryland’s proving to be in that class.”
- Izzo added that there’s not a team in the Big Ten in which you can’t prepare for and he thought “Wisconsin learned that” after a surprising loss to Rutgers on the road last week.
Eddie Jordan (Rutgers)
- After starting 2-4 in the Big Ten, Jordan said Rutgers road struggles aren’t a result of being overwhelmed in a new conference. “These kids … they understand what it is playing in front of a lot of people, against the top teams in the country. I don’t think that we’re in shell shock or in awe of the competition or the magnitude of the game.”
- Jordan on his thoughts on playing in the conference: “Great coaching. I mean, great coaching. Teams are bigger than we are, especially their backcourt … I think we’ve been competitive.” He added: “We’re not shellshocked for sure. We just have to play better.”
Bo Ryan (Wisconsin)
- The Badgers, which sit atop of the league with Maryland, play Iowa Tuesday and Michigan Saturday.
- On playing Iowa forward and Strongsville, Ohio, native Aaron White: “Number one he’s a stand-up guy, it’s easy to enjoy watching that guy except when he’s playing against us.”
John Beilein (Michigan)
- In what’s already been a lackluster season, the Wolverines have lost star junior guard Caris Levert to a foot injury. “He reinjured the same foot he had a stress fracture in last season,” Beilein said. “We have to regroup and try to get better every single day.”
- Beilein added of Levert: “Same foot, same bone, everything.” Beilein said he expects Levert to make a full recovery.
Richard Pitino (Minnesota)
- On beating Rutgers: "(It's) good to see our guys feel good about themselves."
Tim Miles (Nebraska)
- Miles said the Cornhuskers have started Big Ten play similarly to how they ended it last season, but added playing better defense remains a priority. "I think it's been a strong identity for us."
