Buckeyes Edge Badgers To Clinch Outright Title
Was that a heavyweight fight or a basketball game? In a contest that featured stomach turning injuries, tough defense and hard fouls, OSU closed with a 7-2 run over the final 3:42 to earn a 49-48 victory and a second straight outright Big11Ten conference championship. Mike Conley’s driving runner with 3.9 seconds remaining gave OSU the one point lead and Ron Lewis preserved it blocking Kammron Taylor’s off-balance running 15 foot jumper as time expired.
Conley’s winner came after Wisconsin took a 48-47 lead on an Alando Tucker layup with :54 remaining. On the ensuing possession, Ron Lewis had his shot blocked forcing OSU to foul Taylor with 20 seconds left. Fortunately, he clanked the front end of the 1-and-1 setting up Conley’s winner.
Ivan Harris had a big Senior Day leading OSU with 13 points while Conley and Greg Oden scored 11 apiece. If this was Oden’s last home game, it will not be remembered as one of his best. The big guy appeared to wear down as the Badgers took turns mauling him in the post. The physical defense and his sloppy footwork led to a season high 5 turnovers and only 5 rebounds (0 off). I really do not see how anyone can deny that Oden needs a second season in college to work on his offensive skills. Developing a mean streak would also pay huge dividends at the next level. Look, I know he is worthy of the #1 pick whenever he joins The League but if he wants to be a dominating player at both ends of the floor in the NBA from Day 1 (as he says he does) then he has no choice but to return. But I digress…
The Wisconsin cause was hampered by injuries, Tucker’s foul trouble and a stingy OSU defense that held the Badgers to 35% from the field and 29% (5/17) from beyond the arc. Tucker came in averaging 20 points but was held to 12 on 5-15 shooting, his lowest total in a conference game this season. Center Brian Butch suffered what I can only assume was an elbow dislocation during a nasty fall in the first half producing a TV replay that I never want to see again. I can safely say I would’ve begged the trainer to put me down if in that same predicament. Point guard Michael Flowers also missed some time with a twisted ankle suffered in a tangle with Jamar Butler.
The win will finally cement OSU as the #1 team in both polls and should lock up a #1 seed in the Big Dance as long as the Buckeyes beat Michigan saturday followed by at least one win in the conference tourney. It hasn’t always been pretty but props to Coach Matta for winning consecutive outright conference championships.
9 Responses
Greg Doyle at CBS.Sportsline.com wasn’t too impressed
TLB - February 25th, 2007 at 9:37 pm - #
I wasn’t really all that impressed either…it was an ugly game…
and with the middle open, even though Oden was getting gang-raped, OSU couldn’t take advantage…
tOSU should be #1…but I don’t think they are the #1 team in the country…if that makes any sense.
I was happy with the win, and thought the game was incredible…
but boy…are there holes on this team…
POJO_Risin - February 25th, 2007 at 9:58 pm - #
There are holes in our team, but that still gives us something to work on over the next couple of weeks. I still keep in perspective that we only have 9 scholarship players, 4 are freshmen and we have to suit up a manager in practice to go 5 on 5. It has not been pretty at times, but Thad has done an incredible job and the future looks so bright. It is amazing to think only 4 short years ago, we could only hope to go .500 in the conference and make the dance. Now we could be the #1 seed. We definitely need to appreciate it.
Corey - February 26th, 2007 at 10:59 am - #
Yes, the program is much better off than a few short years ago. But like the football team, there is too much potential here & I’d hate to get knocked off in the 1st or 2nd round of the tourney. Sometimes I feel like this team could easily get knocked off by a S. Illinois, Creighton, Winthrop, etc. in the tourney.
“The saddest thing in life is wasted talent” Lorenzo from “A Bronx Tale”
Turd Ferguson - February 26th, 2007 at 11:27 am - #
“The Buckeyes are who we thought they were!” — Bo Ryan
jason - February 26th, 2007 at 1:25 pm - #
40 minutes of hard nosed defense made me happy. No easy layups besides the Tucker play with less than a minute, but that dude is sick. Thank god he has no range although if he had range he would have been in the NBA 2 years ago.
Big up 2 Thad and the boys…nice reg. season. Another big up to the seniors for tough play in their Schott finale.
Travis - February 26th, 2007 at 1:50 pm - #
Well, who needs D for the NBA. Oden should head for the allstar game directly.
CJ - February 26th, 2007 at 7:06 pm - #
Great job on the website guys. You make us die hard buckeye fans proud!!
Go Buckeyes!
Steven
Woody - March 25th, 2007 at 8:33 am - #
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