March 4, 2008

Recap |  Box Score |  Notes

Akron head coach Keith Dambrot

Opening Statement:

It was a good game. I give our guys credit. We got manhandled a lot inside tonight but we hung in there. We've done something that our teams have never done with good teams; win at Ohio, Miami and Bowling Green. We have played well on the road and I give them credit.

On the stretch at the end of the year:

On the positives of this team:

The biggest difference between this team that we have this year and teams in the past is that we are better in the last eight seconds of the clock than we have ever been.

On his team this year:

A lot of times, through adversity, your team gets a little bit better. This team has probably had more adversity than any team we have had. We played a good six weeks with Cedric (Middleton) banged up and couldn't practice. We played a good three, four weeks with (Jeremiah) Wood banged up or not playing at all. (Nick) Dials was banged up. We lost our point guard at the beginning of the year who hadn't played at all. Sometimes adversity brings out strength in guys, and this team surprises me a little bit.

On Leon Williams' performance:

He was like Charles Atlas out there today. He was throwing guys around like they were pieces of swiss cheese. He manhandled us. We didn't have any answers for him. He has never beat us that badly, ever. He pounded us early and often today and Jerome (Tillman) didn't do much worse.

Ohio head coach Tim O'Shea

Opening Statement:

Honestly, I thought we played well for a good portion of this game. I thought we did a lot of really good things out there. I thought Akron played a really great game. They made threes, they played with great poise, but we pushed them to the limit. I thought we put them on the free throw line too much late in the second half which disappointed me. I think, overall, that I have no problem with our effort. Our guys played hard and gave everything I could have asked of them. Obviously you hate to lose at home, but we lost to a great opponent.

On Ohio's inconsistencies on defense:

We got spread out too much, and that's to their credit. We weren't as patient as we should have been with the shot clock. I think we were trying so hard to make plays that we opened up driving lanes that they were able to take advantage of.

On Leon Williams getting into foul trouble early:

It was a huge factor for us, because he had to sit a good portion of the second half and he was playing great.

On the high final scores for both teams as opposed to last time the teams met (Akron, 55-54):

Both teams were going pretty good offensively. The game had a really nice flow to it. We made a couple runs at them and just couldn't get over the hump. It was one of those games you needed to tie it up, get the lead, and try to get a run going. To their credit, we couldn't get it done. That is a veteran team and they played like it.

Ohio senior guard Bubba Walther

On getting the bye:

Our goals are still there to get a bye, but we're kind of stumbling into it. We need to take care of our business on Sunday.

On getting the rest of the team going:

We need to just make shots. It's not like they're bad players, we're just going through a funk right now. They're all good shooters. In practice, we're a good shooting team, and it just seems like once we get to the games that we're just not scoring. I think as seniors, and Jerome being as talented as he is, we know that we do have to carry the team. I think that they'll get it together.

On postseason momentum:

Last year Miami lost its last two games going into the tournament and it won. We don't want to lose again going into the tournament. I think momentum is key, but then again, it's been proven that you don't have to win all your games going in.

On playing Akron:

I've really put everything behind me. I mean I talked to Coach (Dambrot) outside for about 10 minutes. Everything with all the feelings are all good and it's just behind me. I just want to beat them.

Ohio senior forward Leon Williams

On Ohio's defense:
We broke down consistently. We just weren't playing solid defense like we usually do. It takes a toll when they keep making layups like that, and just making shots at the end of the shot clock.

On his performance against Akron's defense:

I was being aggressive and not trying to be denied. It wasn't something special I was doing, I was just being aggressive.

On postseason momentum:

Momentum can do a lot for a team. It gives you that extra confidence and that extra needed push for the postseason.

On Sunday's game possibly being his last game at home:

I'm not that excited that it's my last game in the Convo. I'm just looking for a big crowd and a good atmosphere. Other than that, I'll just take it all in.