Postgame Quotes-Western Michigan at Ohio :: Ohio 57, Western Michigan 54

Feb. 9, 2008

Western Michigan's David Kool

On Ohio's defense:

They did a good job of coming out and contesting every shot.

Western Michigan's Joe Reitz

He had a monster game and I don't think that I played particularly well. I thought that their big guys, especially him, got offensive rebounds at key times and down the stretch we didn't get enough stops or rebounds to win.

On Jerome Tillman:

We had to battle him. We knew he is a load down there. We just had to not let him get real low. He'll get down as low as he can and we just tried to get around him, so he can't get any easy baskets. That was the game plan going in. He's a decent shooter so we just got out and contested him.

Western Michigan Head Coach Steve Hawkins

On Leon Williams:

Well, he's a big fella. Joe (Reitz) was fighting foul trouble and we got him (Williams) into foul trouble early but we couldn't get more fouls called on him (Williams) later. It was two of the better big guys in the league going at it and our guy just fouled out.

On the level of frustration he was feeling:

Very.

On the most disappointing part of the game:

Losing.

Ohio's Leon Williams

On facing Reitz:

As far as battling in the post, it's been like that for four years. I'm glad I pulled this one out.

On his free throws near the end:

I didn't doubt myself for a second. I wasn't flustered or anything, I just went up and did what I have to do.

On his early foul trouble:

Every time I get those two early fouls I start to think it's not my day and here we go again.

Ohio's Bubba Walther

On his shots during the first half:

I think they lost me couple of times, and then the second half they just shut me down pretty much. The second half our focus was to go inside to Leon. I think my shots at the end of the first half loosened them up so we could do that.

Ohio Head Coach Tim O'Shea

On the game:

Some days you just feel grateful to survive and that's how I feel today. We had a lot going against us. They are an excellent team, but our two seniors really stepped up and the home court advantage was huge today.

On Bubba's performance:

We were abysmal offensively in the first half. We weren't scoring any points and a lot of that is because Western plays excellent defense, but you still have to make shots. Luckily for us, Bubba made three straight three's so that we could close it to five at the half. Even the second half, we were struggling offensively, but Bubba stepped up and made some shots for us.

On how important the win was:

For us, this is big because of the tie-breaker factor. We are the ones more likely to be worried about tie-breakers right now. The way they are playing, they are almost invincible at home and they have already won some games on the road. I think they are going to be the team in the West to beat.