Madison Square Garden
2K Sports Coaches vs. Cancer
November 20, 2009

Ohio State Buckeyes
Head Coach Thad Matta
On tonight's game:
"I told these guys before the game that it is an odd game when you play these games at this point of the season.  You are looking at a 20 hour turnaround.  This game will come down to who wants to win the most because this will be a game of runs.  They made a run, they knocked us on our heels.  They would not go away.  They turned the pressure up a little bit.  All of a sudden we lost our composure in a lot of different ways especially on the defensive end and that let them in the game."

On Dallas Lauderdale:
"Dallas has been inching his way back in.  I think this has been good having two games out here.  He hasn't had a lot of practices.  He gives us a different look both offensively and defensively.  He has pretty good timing and as David (Lightlyqsaid it allows us to do a little bit more on the perimeter knowing he is back there."

On Evan Turner:
"When we execute what we are suppose to do, it is funny what happens.  He is a guy we have to lean on at times to kind of carry of us through.  I was very pleased with the way he was finishing down the stretch for us."

On their defense:
"As I looked at last night's tape, I thought our man-to-man was quite effective at times.  I was a little worried about just the quick turnaround and the effort and energy it took out of us last night.  I am not saying you don't have to play as hard playing zone but I was worried about foul trouble.  We didn't plan on going to man earlier than we did but when we did in the second half I was pretty pleased with what the guys did."

David Lighty
On tonight's game:
"It is real good.  We came up here with a mission to come out of here 2-0.  We all know that didn't happen but this is something we can keep our heads up about ... I was a little tentative playing against North Carolina where I could take big men.  I took it upon myself to be aggressive.  It was my mentality.  I was just trying to be aggressive and help my team win."

On Dallas Lauderdale:
"It helps out a ton with his length and athleticism and size.  It allows us to pressure the ball a little bit more and gamble a bit more with him back there altering shots with his defense."

Evan Turner
On starting the season with four double-doubles:
"It has been a good stretch of games.  I am just trying to play hard."

On tonight's game:
"It turned into a game. Basketball is a game of runs.  Fortunately we are mature enough to keep a lead.  We handled what we had to handle and we took care of business."

California Golden Bears
Head Coach Mike Montgomery
On the zone defense:
"I have to admit that I was shocked that we played 80 minutes against zone.  We didn't play against man at all.  Maybe we won't again--I don't know?  It just changes what you are doing a little bit.  We definitely played harder in the second half instead of letting them do onto us.  When that happens you are going to give yourself chances, at least to compete, which I thought we did which is important.  We, at least, learned that lesson."

On Ohio State's defense:
"The block shots were huge.  We got the ball point blank and we got it blocked.  We are going to have to get better at making and finishing plays inside."

On the zone defense:
"We are going to have to figure out ways to work against it.  We do practice against zone.  The league last year, there was a lot of zone being played and we struggled against some of them so we are going to have to work."

On playing without Theo Robertson:
"As Jerome said, you are going to play with guys you have.  I think everyone knows the value of Theo.  We didn't have him and then we played soft against zone.  I told our guys if we play our hardest and compete as hard as we can, we can live with the results.  You put it on the line and you take the results and I thought we did that a lot better tonight."

Jerome Randle
On tonight's game:
"We have to step up.   They just came out and attacked us.  I think our effort this game was way better than last game so I am happy about that."

On the team's defense:
"I was just trying to give my teammates words of encouragement to get it done on the defensive end.  We tried very hard and that is all you can ask for...try your very best."

More on tonight's game:
"It is like I just said, I am happy about the way my team came back and played.  They got a big lead and fought very hard in the second half.  The only thing is that we have to come out at the beginning of the buzzer playing like that."