In the wake of a loss to middling Michigan Sunday afternoon, Ohio State has now lost back-to-back games after previously winning five of its last six.
The Buckeyes play Nebraska Thursday and Purdue Sunday in Columbus. On the Big Ten teleconference Monday morning, coach Thad Matta briefly met with the media to address getting production from Marc Loving and Anthony Lee’s health.
Matta said senior center Anthony Lee, who has missed the last three games with a groin injury, remains day-to-day. “It’s a groin strain and it’s just not getting better like we thought it would. He did a little bit of shooting Friday, Saturday .. there was still some pain in there … it just sort of is what it is.”
Matta added that Lee’s absence hurt the Buckeyes in a 64-57 loss to the Wolverines. “I think our post perimeter defense was not as effective as it needed to be … he’s a guy who’s a little quicker to the ball, more athletic, probably affected us a little bit.”
After a three-game suspension, Marc Loving, the sophomore forward and Ohio State’s top 3-point shooter, has yet to regain his footing. Matta said he hopes Loving does so against the Cornhuskers and the Boilermakers. “You hope is ability to shoot the basketball — that we get him back on track. We’ve just got to get Marc back to level he was playing at.”
John Beilein (Michigan)
After five-straight losses, Michigan beat arch rival Ohio State Sunday in Ann Arbor. For the Wolverines, which have cobbled together a season filled with disappointment and injuries, Beilein said, “I think we saw some of our hard work pay off.”
Tim Miles (Nebraska)
After a blowout loss to Iowa at home, Miles banned his players from entering into the locker room following the game. He said it's an ongoing punishment and joked it won't end unless the Cornhuskers hold "D'Angelo Russell scoreless."
Asked about the decision to do so, Miles said, “We were down 50-20 at one point so I had a lot of time to think."
He added: "I'm looking at our team, we look soft ... That's a little bit generational, it's easy to quit ... I don't care if we're not going to the NCAA unless a miracle happens, that's unacceptable ... I mean, compared to our effort, the punishment is less than punitive."
Matt Painter (Purdue)
After winning four of their last four games, the Boilermakers have surged back into postseason contention following a shaky start to conference play. “A lot of things can’t get cured with a speech.” He added: “I thought we had it in us as a group to have a better fight.” Painter said Purdue still has shortcomings, but “we have two big guys that are tough to match up … we didn’t do a good job of complimenting them and they weren’t consistent all the time.”
Tom Izzo (Michigan State)
After four-straight wins against Northwestern, Ohio State, Michigan and Illinois, Michigan State has resuscitated its postseason hopes. Izzo, though, remains guarded. “In this league as soon as you go up you can down,” he said. “You need to keep everything in perspective.”
Mark Turgeon (Maryland)
On Tuesday night, the Terrapins play Big Ten leader Wisconsin in College Park. For Maryland, which was won three-straight after midseason struggles that knocked it from its perch near the top of the conference, it’s a chance to bolster its resume. “Our big guys will have to step up and take up the challenge."
Pat Chambers (Penn State)
Chambers said senior guard, D.J. Newbill, the team’s best player, isn’t getting proper recognition. “Because we’re not winning,” Chambers said, “D.J. is not getting the credit he deserves.”
Bo Ryan (Wisconsin)
Asked about clinching the Big Ten and the Badgers place in the national picture, Ryan said, “I have no idea what you’re referring to … I thought you guys knew by now.”
