Gameday Preview: UNC-Asheville at OSU
Will Koufos repeat his NIT success?
 Ohio State 19-13, 10-8 Big Ten Roster | Schedule |
March 18, 2008 7:00 PM ET - ESPN2 —— The Schott Columbus, OH |
 NC Asheville 23-9, 10-4 Big South Roster | Schedule |
OPPONENT: UNC Asheville is the first Big South team to be invited to the NIT and they are thrilled to be here, even holding a NIT selection party at the local Wild Wings Cafe. They seem to be experienced and take good care of the rock, winning a share of the regular season title and losing to Winthrop in the tournament final.
The Bulldogs come in with a 23-9 record, 10-4 in Big South play and score 75.4 points a game. On the season they shot 48.7 percent from the floor and 36 percent from threeland. As mentioned their assists (17.4) to turnover (13.3) ratio is outstanding and their rebounding is just as good, with six players grabbing more than 4 a game and 36.8 as a team.
KEY PLAYERS: The Bulldogs feature five players in double digits, all juniors or seniors. Bryan Smithson is a 6′0″ senior who leads this team in scoring at 16.4 a game to go along with 4.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists. KJ Garland, a 6′1″ senior, scores 13.4 points, grabs 4.4 boards and leads the team in assists with 5.9 per game.
Kenny George is the 7′7″ junior who literally doesn’t leave the floor to dunk the basketball. George scores 12.4 points a game in just over 19 lumbering minutes and leads the nation in shooting at 69 percent. He also ranks eighth nationally with 3.4 blocks a game.
Vincent James and Reid Augst are the others in double figures, scoring 10.6 and 10.3 respectively. James is a 6′7″ senior who also grabs 4.6 caroms and dishes out 1.5 assists per game. Augst, a 6′6″ junior averages 4.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. John Williams, a 6′4″ freshman chips in with 6.5 points and 6′6″ sophomore Sean Smith will help out with 5.1 points per game.
NOTES: UNC-Asheville lost at North Carolina (93-81) and at Tennessee (86-73)… The Bulldogs are coached by Eddie Beidenbach in his 12th season… UNC-Asheville has an enrollment of 3500… They averaged less than 1100 fans per home game.
BUCKEYE BREAKDOWN: I actually like the fact Ohio State received the NIT bid. This young team needs to gain valuable tournament experience going into next year. I know the NIT is second tiered talent, but that is what OSU seemed to be all year and I will take the extra practice versus a NCAA first round loss.
However, if OSU takes on any type of sulking attitude towards this game, they could suffer a dreaded NIT first round embarrassment. The Bulldogs are excited to play a major conference team and Ohio State needs to match their opening intensity. It is no secret this nucleus of young players must get stronger on the inside and handling the ball, so a run through this tournament can help develop the much needed toughness.
KEY PLAYERS: I think I just expected too much from this team. I should have realized after the exhibition loss to Findlay that the early exit of Michael Conley was going to have a crippling effect. Jamar Butler simply is not a floor general and was hurt most by Conley’s departure. While Butler did lead OSU in scoring this year, his shot selection, lack of offensive imagination and untimely turnovers really hurt this team. He will go down as one of the best guards statistically at Ohio State, but I think his play tonight may help define his legacy. He can not let this team have a one and done in this tournament.
Kosta Koufos could have a big game tonight. Koufos will force Andre the Giant to guard him on the perimeter, which will open his driving game and he should be able to beat his defender down the floor to get some early touches and baskets. Kosta has been coming off the bench recently and was a beast early against Michigan State, but once again his teammates stopped feeding him the ball and he became a non-factor.
I really like the recent development of David Lighty and see him separating himself as the next leader of this team. His defense has always been solid and again, offensive expectations were a bit high, but he is scoring over 10 points a game the last three and his slashing has opened up different opportunities for the sometimes futile offense.
The combination of David Lighty, Evan Turner and William Buford is going to be sick next year. Turner has preformed well this season and while his trouble with turnovers have plagued him, his defense probably doesn’t get enough credit.
Othello Hunter has scored double digits in three straight and should be able to continue that trend tonight. Beyond Paul Bunyan, UNC-Asheville is not that tall and Hunter will be much faster getting up and down the court. Fellow senior Matt Turwilliger has been playing some good defensive minutes lately, but I’m excited to see Dallas Lauderdale get his minutes next year.
The NIT is also a perfect setting for Jon Diebler to gain some confidence after a tough freshman season. Division II basketball in Ohio is obviously no training ground for Big Ten hoops. Diebler would be smart to take a page from Lighty and Turner’s playbook and drive the ball every so often. He played a season low 4 minutes against MSU and looks as if all faith in his shot is gone.
NOTES: If for no other reason, OSU needs a win tonight to get Thad his 20th victory and keep his streak alive… OSU is 4-7 in their last 11 games… The Buckeyes lost to Georgia Tech, 72-58 in their last NIT appearance back in 2003…
30 Responses
Im anxious to see how many people show up at the Schott considering OSU is on spring break coupled with not making the tournament.
cl - 03/18/08 @ 12:12 am - #
IN IT TO WIN IT
#1 SEED BABY LET’S ROCK
bup bup bup - 03/18/08 @ 12:40 am - #
Heck yes, I’m going to watch the game. It’s OSU. I will be watching from the stands, along with my father, so if OSU loses, and you see a guy hanging from the upper tier, that’ll be me.
Go Bucks!
Joe - 03/18/08 @ 2:53 am - #
Avg. 1100 fans per game……should feel right at home in the Schott.
Bubba’s BBQ wings from Wild Wing Cafe are delicious. A southern style BBQ with vinegar base.
Their guards are pretty good, has me a little worried. But then again, it is the NIT.
TLB - 03/18/08 @ 8:39 am - #
cant wait for the game tonight! who cares if its the NIT - its the buckeyes and they need / deserve our support. i really want this win so thad can get to twenty wins again.
go bucks!
morgan - 03/18/08 @ 8:42 am - #
I’m pumped, I still want Thad to get his 20 wins on the year!
Wil - 03/18/08 @ 8:43 am - #
Next game to be at St. John’s…….I am all for this! Maybe it will also go back to the old school atmosphere too!!!!!!
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/bball/stories/2008/03/18/osu_men_short18.ART_ART_03-18-08_C3_879M7HJ.html?sid=101
Wil - 03/18/08 @ 8:48 am - #
I’ll be watching another uninspired performance that they come up just short. The bucks will lose b/c asheville is playing with something to prove and the bucks feel jilted again. Motivation is a big factor and we don’t have it. It’s a shame too b/c St Johns would be a great place to watch bb again, that place rocks more b/c big business won’t have all the lower seats to leave empty like the schott.
JoseOle - 03/18/08 @ 8:56 am - #
I wish I had a time machine and could shoot the person who designed the Schott and the ahole who took the money and thus left us with “Value City Arena.” What a joke.
I hope the team comes out hungry tonight and plays hard. I know it isn’t the NCAA tourney, but they still have an opportunity to win.
Anybody looking to get their bloodpressure up should read this piece. I despise Beano Cook. He is a fat blathering idiot and I hope he gets mauled by wolves. http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080318/SPORTS0601/803180348/1070/SPORTS0602
Kyle - 03/18/08 @ 9:30 am - #
I heard Beano bitching last night on ESPN radio talking about how North Carolina and Texas get automatic tickets punched for the Final Four since they will play virtually home games and then the Final Four is in Texas. He’s saying its unfair when these games of such stature are supposed to be played on a neutral site to make it fair but are not and these “home” teams don’t even have to get on a plane to play. Good point but my beef: Where is all this crying, whining, and bitching by the old man when LSU plays a few minutes from home in the football championship. Obviously unfair for Big 10 teams. I think this should be a larger issue than it is. It just doesn’t get enough attention as it should. They should at least play it once in the Midwest every few years(the new field in Indy maybe?) Beano always bitches about Big 10 not giving in and wanting a playoff, well if I were the Big 10 commish, why would I want to when all the games are going to be played deep in enemy territory? Its just not fair.
cl - 03/18/08 @ 10:47 am - #
UNC-A avgs less than 1100 fans per game because their arena only holds 1200 fans. It is effectively a glorified HS gym. I have been to Winthrop several times to watch games. They have a nice facility, parking is free, and game tickets cost from $5-11 dollars. they typically have about 4-5K per game there.
http://www.uncabulldogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=19200&KEY=&ATCLID=1158272
The entire Big South Conference plays in small places.
Charleston Southern - N. Charleston Coliseum (off Campus) -11475
Liberty College - Vines Center - 8500
Winthrop U - Winthrop Coliseum - 6100
VMI - Cameron Hall - 5800
Radford - Dedmon Center - 5000
High Point U - Mills Athletic Center - 2565
UNC-A - Justice Center - 1200
Coastal Carolina - Kimbel Arena - 1039
Phil - 03/18/08 @ 11:11 am - #
OSU vs. Andre the Giant….. Gotta take this one like David vs. Goliath. David has to be quicker and get the big guy before he has a chance to get set under the hoop. Da Bucks also gotta get this guy in foul trouble early and limit his minutes–
OSU 83 UNC (Ashville) 74
Mitch G. - 03/18/08 @ 11:35 am - #
The giant already only plays 19mins a game. How are you going to limit him more than that? Besides he only averages 1.5 fouls a game. All he has to do is stand straight up and you can neither score on him nor call him for a foul.
The key to the game will be to limit the big man’s impact during his 20mins and outplay the rest of the team from the perimeter.
TheThad2.5 - 03/18/08 @ 12:32 pm - #
Don’t overlook their guards. Undersized, but quick. They are the key to this game……..that and Jamar Butler deciding if he wants to play or watch.
TLB - 03/18/08 @ 12:44 pm - #
I’m hoping for a Wiggler dunk on that sasquatch looking fool. Take your cameras to the game people, I’ll pay good money to have that poster hanging on my wall.
Tyler - 03/18/08 @ 2:41 pm - #
On a footbal note Pete Fiutak of Fox sports had this to say sunday when referring to people complaining about tOSU in the upcoming year:
Reason for the OSU haters to worry: On talent and returning experience, this is the best team in America. Sorry, but it is. No one, when it comes to NFL potential, touches OSU’s starting lineup after James Laurinaitis, Alex Boone and Malcolm Jenkins — all first-round draft picks had they left early — chose to return.
Wil - 03/18/08 @ 3:15 pm - #
Pryor is announcing tomorrow at noon!
cl - 03/18/08 @ 3:52 pm - #
Did Kenny George play Xerxes in 300?
cl - 03/18/08 @ 6:20 pm - #
thank God for the UNC-A turnovers early, capped off just moments ago with the bounce pass to Thad.
vico - 03/18/08 @ 6:23 pm - #
no doubt..they’re up to 13 turnovers…good thing since they’re shooting 63%
Chris - 03/18/08 @ 6:41 pm - #
6-11 from 3
cl - 03/18/08 @ 6:44 pm - #
Butler has a little life to him this evening.
Jason - 03/18/08 @ 7:07 pm - #
Anyone else bored with this game?
I know the announcers are.
TLB - 03/18/08 @ 7:15 pm - #
Yeah, pretty hard to get up for an NIT battle. The Jackets were up 1-0 last I checked.
Jason - 03/18/08 @ 7:20 pm - #
scrumin’ after every whistle
TLB - 03/18/08 @ 7:21 pm - #
it doesn’t take much for me to get excited about a Buckeye game in anything. And this game is so much more fun to watch when Kenny George is on the bench. He’s every bit the presence as advertised.
vico - 03/18/08 @ 7:31 pm - #
i think Jamar Butlers Jersey should be retired, am i alone in this?
kris - 03/18/08 @ 7:47 pm - #
Kris, your not alone but too few in number. I’m with you.
cl - 03/18/08 @ 8:17 pm - #
Yeah, he should have been dismissed from the team for quitting.
TLB - 03/18/08 @ 8:17 pm - #
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