March 18, 2008

Recap |  Box Score |  Notes

Ohio Head Coach Tim O'Shea

Opening Statement:

Anybody who questions the value of the postseason, hopefully saw out there today why it is a great value for our team and our program to play in it. Our team got to experience postseason and that is critical when trying to develop a certain mentality in your program. When we go into the season next year, guys will realize that there is the MAC Tournament and there is something beyond. 

On Damon Huffman:

I think that is the last of the Huffman group. I hope there are no more of them because Trevor Huffman (of Kent State) sank a 35-footer on us to beat us my first year here, and then his brother comes in here. That has to be the best performance of any player who has stepped on the Convo floor this year by an opposing player. I don't think that there is any question about it; he was spectacular.

On younger players' performance:

I was so proud of Tommy Freeman's performance as a freshman. What a valuable thing for him to have that postseason experience.  Asown Sayles, we wanted to give him a chance and he got extended minutes tonight, and really did a lot with it I thought. These are guys who are building toward, not only this season, but next season. 

On Asown Sayles:

I told him how proud I was of him. He is the one guy who has hung in there all season with the right attitude. Guys started clapping today in the pregame when I told them that I was going to play Asown, to give him a chance. They feel that way about his attitude because his heart is in the right place. Maybe we will see more of him on Monday.

On Brown:

I think people now have an appreciation for how good the better teams in the Ivy League are. They really know how to play, and they are skilled; especially when they have seniors like Huffman and McAndrew. Those are guys who have been through the war and really know how to play. 

Ohio senior forward Leon Williams

On playing in the postseason:

It felt good when we found out that we were going to play another game. At least it did for me being a senior. I didn't want it to end. When we lost to Miami, I didn't think that we were going to get a chance to play in the postseason. It lifted my spirits and I was excited.

On Damon Huffman:

I felt like we were playing good defense, he was just making better shots. I tip my hat to him.

Ohio freshman guard Tommy Freeman

On playing in the postseason:

I was really excited to get the opportunity to play another game also. To get the opportunity to play in the postseason in my first year at Ohio is a big thing. One of my goals is to get to the postseason all four years. Going the first is really exciting just to get that experience under my belt.

On his game-clinching 3-pointer with 55 seconds left:

I have always been one to get more shots, to come back to the gym late at night.  I'm always hungry to get better. I think that my preparation didn't let me down. I was confident in my shot and just knocked it down.

Brown Head Coach Craig Robinson

On adjusting to the Bobcats' comeback in the second half:

The difference was their 14 offensive rebounds and the foul shots in the game were tied. I think they tried a lot of different things on us, but I think we handled everything pretty well, except for the physicality on the boards. They made themselves known to us. 

On Damon Huffman:

In (Ohio's) defense, these games are hard to scout because you don't know who you're playing until you're on your way out here. I'm sure they read and got tapes, like we did, and they knew who Damon was. Damon had a good game. He's first-team All-Ivy League. He spent the summer in Chicago working on his game, playing against guys who are much better than he is and I think it shows. He has won a lot of games for us this year. He likes playing in the MAC. We had a game like this against Eastern Michigan and a game like this tonight. 

On the CBI:

I think this is a terrific idea. We were very excited to play. I think the Gazelle Group is a first-class organization and they're giving people the opportunity to keep playing who feel they have the right to keep playing. It is very exciting for us to be a part of. I hope this thing has some legs and keeps going. We're excited to be part of this inaugural event.

Brown guard David Huffman

On the Bobcats' comeback:

They started making plays down the stretch and we didn't make enough plays. When we're ahead we do a good job of getting to the foul line and running through our offense, I think that is one of our strengths. Once they got back into it, it was an even game until the end.

On scoring 39 points:

I would trade every point for that win just to play another game.