Ohio vs. Miami 2008 MAC Tournament Quarterfinals Postgame Quotes

March 14, 2008

Recap | Box Score | Notes

Ohio vs. Miami

MAC Tournament Quarterfinals

March 14, 2008

Quicken Loans Arena - Cleveland, Ohio

Postgame Quotes

Ohio Head Coach Tim O'Shea

Opening statement:

I think the story of the game was rebounding. They earned a lot of second chance baskets and they had some contributions from guys off their bench - especially from 3-point shooting. We were right there to the end but we never offensively got on a good run. I thought the guys played very hard, I saw a lot of effort out there and you can't fault that. We didn't shoot the ball particularly well from the perimeter whereas Miami did. We started the game well. We started with a lot of energy and I though the guys played hard but give Miami a lot of credit. They did a great job rebounding the basketball and creating second chance shot opportunities.

On Miami's Michael Bramos:

He hit some big time shots. He hit some tough, tough shots - he really did. He really stepped up for them. He's a guy that missed a few games in the middle of the season with an injury and since he's come back and gotten healthy he might be the best player in the league right now. He's really been outstanding.

On Leon Williams:

The first thing I said in the locker room was thanking Leon for the four years that we've had him. He's been unbelievable, he really has. He's a guy that has never missed a practice. I don't recall him every being late. I have never had to discipline him for anything at all. He's one of the those kids where if some asks me 10 years down the road, "Who's your all-time favorite player?'; if he's not the first name out of my mouth he will be the second. He's been wonderful. I think he has a lot more basketball left in him. that's what I told him in the locker room. I just really thanked him for the four years that we've had him because it's unusual to have a guy that is your best player that also has the best attitude. He's always been a team-first guy. One of the saddest things about this year has been knowing it will come to an end eventually and we're not going to have Leon anymore. That's not just a huge loss on the court but your going to miss him just for the kind of person he is.

On Miami's bench scoring in the first half:

(Nick) Winbush and (Alex) Moosmann hit some tough shots. That's not what you expect from them. Between the two of them I think they hit (five) threes. That was huge for Miami.

Ohio forward Leon Williams

On the loss:

It hurt. I was devastated. I didn't picture it ending like this. I wish it didn't end like this. I wish I had one more year. I can't believe it's over.

On Ohio's troubles getting him the ball:

I wasn't frustrated so much at that, I was more frustrated about not making my free throws. Usually I make them, but it just wasn't falling. I just feel like if they take me away, there's someone else open. We just didn't capitalize.

On his future in basketball:

Of course I'm going to play, but it's not the NCAA Tournament. If it's not the NCAA, it's not the same.

Ohio forward Justin Orr

On playing more aggressively:

It was a tournament game. I just knew that for the team I had to go out there and give extra effort and energy and try and bring as much as I can. We just came up short.

Ohio forward Jerome Tillman

On the teams' struggles down the stretch this season:

I can't really call it. We always work really hard in practice but sometimes things just don't go your way. We are going to continue working hard and put this behind us. It's going to be tough.

On playing his last game with fellow forward Leon Williams:

It was tough seeing Leon at the end of the game because he is my guy. I feel like I let them down. I know Leon is going to have a successful career no matter what he does but I'm always behind him - he's always going to be my guy. I love him to death.