Ohio State remains on the outside looking in of the NCAA Tournament, with its final chance to impress the selection committee and potentially earn a bid coming later this week in Indianapolis at the Big Ten Tournament.
The 7th-seeded Buckeyes drew 10-seed Penn State Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Fresh off a 91-76 loss at Michigan State Saturday, Thad Matta joined Paul Keels and Ron Stokes on 97.1 The Fan for his weekly call-in show to talk about the loss to the Spartans and upcoming game against the Nittany Lions. The Buckeyes defeated Penn State 66-46 Jan. 25 in Columbus in the lone regular season meeting between the two teams.
Notes:
- "You're in that situation where now you lose, you go home. We challenged out guys today in practice just in terms of we need to be a better basketball team." — Thad Matta
- On his first reaction to see their matchup against Penn State, Matta said he knows the Nittany Lions are playing well right now. They've won four of their last six games.
- On Ohio State's loss to Michigan State Saturday, Matta said the Buckeyes didn't do enough to slow down their offense but "They made shots at an alarming rate."
- The Buckeyes largely shut down sharpshooting Spartan guard Bryn Forbes Saturday, after he buried them in Columbus with a bevy of 3-pointers 12 days earlier: "I thought our guys took that challenge to heart."
- "We gave too many easy ones early," Matta said. "That's tough to come back from."
- On Big Ten Player of the Year and Michigan State guard Denzel Valentine: "He's one of the best I've seen on screen and rolls ... He hurt us every way he could hurt us off ball screens. Just a great performance by him."
- Ohio State has won 14 its his last 17 games in the Big Ten Tournament under Matta: "You have to play forward in these tournaments. You cannot hold onto things. Just getting them to understand that and have a sense of urgency is essential."
- In having to play games on back-to-back days if you win, Matta said preparing ahead of time is a little easier since you've played the teams before in the season: "It's a quick film session, but getting rest is the biggest thing."
- If the Buckeyes beat Penn State, they take on Michigan State against Friday for the third time in three weeks. Matta joked: "I don't know a lot about that 'bye' team that they play. Hopefully they're pretty good and give them a run for their money."
- Matta said the one thing he's always tried to do is keep the big picture in mind with his teams. It was a little different this year with there being so many unknowns heading into the season, but he thinks it is playing a little bit better now that it was earlier in the season.
- Asked by a caller what he thought would be better with this team, the NCAA Tournament or NIT, Matta said there are pros and cons to both. The Buckeyes won the NIT in 2008 and it was essential for the following season: "We had a lot of guys coming back the next year, so we got three weeks extra of practice." Matta said he spoke with David Lighty recently (who was on that team) and he brought up that it was beneficial for the following year.
- Matta said, however, that all the focus is on Indianapolis and the Big Ten Tournament this weekend.
- Matta said JaQuan Lyle pointed out to him in practice Monday a drill they do every day in practice helping him out in the Michigan State game.
- Ohio State finished 11-of-21 from the free-throw line against Michigan State: "Those are free points, the clock is stopped, you're going to set your defense if you make them. We didn't do that consistently (Saturday)."
- Matta said sophomore Jae'Sean Tate was in practice Monday, even doing some right-handed layups after his shoulder surgery. Tate is set to head to Indianapolis with the team for the Big Ten Tournament, Matta said.
- On Penn State, Matta pointed out its two best players Brandon Taylor and Shep Garner, who each average more than 14 points per game: "It starts and stops with them."
- Ohio State could have to play four games in four days if it keeps winning in Indianapolis, but other teams are facing harder roads: "It's a gauntlet over there."
- Matta said he feels his team is in pretty good shape with having to potentially face a run like that.
- Keita Bates-Diop struggled Saturday at Michigan State, scoring just six points and not recording a rebound or an assist. Matta: "Some of the games, he hasn't produced like we've needed him to. And sometimes it has been a result of early foul trouble, but we need him to continue to play through that better."
- Matta said he is pleased with Marc Loving's demeanor on the court in the last few games. Loving scored a team-high 21 points Saturday and 25 in the win against Iowa the game before.
- Matta on JaQuan Lyle: "I think he's got a bright future here."
- "The down portions of these games cannot last long. You've got to move on and push and win the basketball game." — Matta
- Asked about his two centers Daniel Giddens and Trevor Thompson, Matta said they're continue to develop. He stressed the importance of getting production from that spot: "When that happens, we play much better."
- Matta said the two best rebounders he's ever coached are Jared Sullinger and David West. He said those guys didn't always box out, but somehow always came up with the basketball.
- Matta said he likes Indianapolis for the Big Ten Tournament instead of Chicago, because it is a 3-minute ride from the hotel to the arena and it is a cheaper city for the players' families to come and stay.
- "It's win or go home time." — Matta
