Every week, the Big Ten coaches do a teleconference with the media. Here are some highlights from yesterday's:
Indiana's Tom Crean on how Ohio State's student section being moved behind the benches affects opponents in games: "They were screaming from the start. I think the security does a good job of making sure it's not as directed at the players. But as they say, it's fair game for the coach. So you've just got to do your best to shut that out. It's a little over the top, there's no doubt about that. But that's college basketball, and I think that's part of the pageantry of the whole thing. So my hat's off to them. It's not a place that I want my family sitting nearby, but I think they're really good, and that's part of the problem is, when you go into a timeout. The fans do a good job of playing up to that."
Iowa's Fran McCaffery on Matt Gatens: "In his games where he's been off, he's shot the ball well and he typically scores relatively consistently, because he's always going to make his free throws. But the thing that makes him special is his consistency of effort, and his consistency at the defensive end of the floor. So what you're going to get, is a very good performance from him, even if he shoots 6-for-15 or even less than that because you're going to get his ability to stop the other team's best perimeter player and he's going to get to the free throw line and set an example for our younger guys on how you have to compete."
Illinois' Bruce Weber on the loss to Northwestern: "We just couldn't get over the hump. I was almost pleading with them 'come on guys, we can win this thing. Come together. Make plays. Don't play not to lose.' But we just didn't have that emotional zip that we needed to get a win that we had at Michigan State -- the look in the eyes, it was not the same."
Northwestern's Bill Carmody on which teams could make a run in the tournament: "It's just like football. Last year, the Packers come down here and beat the Bears and then they go on this run and they win the Super Bowl. The Giants – Coughlin was getting fired six weeks ago, they go on a run and now they're superbowl champs. So that can happen to a bunch of a team in our conference. I think Michigan State, you always have to think them and Wisconsin, those guys could get going and people could get healthy and probably mount some deep run into the tournament."
Purdue's Matt Painter on the team's leadership: "I think it's an area we're lacking in and I would say just being consistent. I thought Hummel gave us a good effort the other night, but the other two (seniors) didn't give us a lot. And we need those three guys – our seniors – especially in a big game like Indiana, to be there for us. They're playing the majority of the minutes and we're just not getting it right now. We have to be more consistent and it starts at the top. With that being said, it starts with me. I kind of figure out who can be there on a daily basis and be productive."
Michigan State's Tom Izzo on Draymond Green coming back from his injury: "First of all, he is a very, very tough kid, physically extremely tough and mentally not far behind. And that definitely helps. And he also got a break in an injury that looked like it could be maybe even year-threatening. I don't know many guys that could come back from that so quickly. But at the same time, that's what he's been for us. He's almost never been injured, he's been so versatile, and I'm just thankful I have him, and thankful he is who he is. Coaches are always trying to make guys tougher. And not play with any injury that is threatening, but playing with the bumps and bruises you get in athletics, and he demonstrated that to the fullest."