Nov. 24, 2007

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EAST LANSING, Mich. -
Michigan State Coach Tom Izzo
"We're an out of sync basketball team and I don't know when that is going to change. I thought we started out descent again and made a couple of substitutions and then gave up three threes in a row. You have to give Oakland credit that every time we seemed to get a little lead, they just kept fighting back."

"Right now, we are playing a little wounded still. Marquise Gray hurt his ankle yesterday and then in a walkthrough today, he jumped up for a ball and came down on somebody's ankle and that is why he didn't really play. As you probably can see, Neitzel came back from Kansas and didn't practice. The poor kid is giving his all and doesn't have a lot in the tank right now."

"We did not play very good and Oakland played pretty well. We gave up 20 (offensive rebounds still). Your guess is as good as mine as to how G (Goran Suton) can get 20 rebounds one night and zero the night before. I think that's the inconsistency I'm talking about."

"All in all, I was not pleased but, I'm trying to figure out how we can keep the right lineups on the floor. We've got some guys that can shoot and some guys that can defend. We don't have a lot of guys that can do both right now. We're going to have to get better at that but it was really hard to run stuff for Drew (Neitzel) because the poor kid couldn't buy a basket. We're not going to look as good if he's not getting shots or making shots."

"If you look at the positives, it would be offensive rebounding and rebounding in general. The number of turnovers as well; however, I still think we made some ridiculous turnovers. I thought it was another learning experience."

Oakland Coach Greg Kampe
"We're upset that we couldn't finish this. We're very disappointed that we couldn't finish it, but we're very pleased we get the opportunity to come here and play. As I told our team after the game, Michigan State sets the standard for basketball in the state of Michigan. To be able to be able to perform on the same floor as them is an honor and a privilege. I was very proud of the way our team played today."

On the play of Jonathan Jones...
"I think you might want to ask Drew Neitzel what he thinks of Jonathan Jones. I have to believe he guarded Neitzel probably as well as Neitzel can be guarded. Neitzel made an unbelievable shot in the first half with us draped all over him and with one second left on the shot clock which completely turned the game around."

"I'm very, very pleased with J.J. (Jonathan Jones). He's a great basketball player, but he's got a lot to learn though if we're going to get to where we want to go. He understands and knows that. What makes him so good is that he's willing to learn and he knows he has to do that. He takes criticism very well...and I give it to him."