Preview: Ohio State vs. Notre Dame
 Ohio State 4-0, 0-0 Big Ten Roster | Schedule |
December 6, 2008 4:00 PM ET – ESPNU —— Lucas Oil Field Indianapolis, IN |
 #7 Notre Dame 6-1, 0-0 Big East Roster | Schedule |
Ohio State travels to Indianapolis to play Notre Dame on a “neutral court” as part of The Hartford Hall of Fame Classic, at Lucas Oil Stadium, new home to the Colts.
The undercard has Indiana taking on Gonzaga at 1:30, so any Hoosier fans left in the house are unlikely to cheer for their B10 brethren, unless they hate ND as much as we do.
These will be the first two hoops games held at this new facility, which opened in August, but has already been awarded the Final Four in 2010 and Super Bowl in 2012. There will be about 40,000 seats available for the game and if for some reason you get the itch to go, tickets are starting at a cool $125, but some nose bleed $15 cheapies can be found.
Obviously the Buckeyes are riding high after their 73-68 comeback victory Tuesday over #22 Miami. Notre Dame is one of the most veteran teams in the nation, starting 4 seniors and a junior, but OSU may have caught a break with the Irish’s top player, Luke Harangody possibly out with pneumonia.
| # | Name | PTS | REB | ASST | POS | # | Name | PTS | REB | ASST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Jeremie Simmons | 7.8 | 1.5 | 2.5 | G | 2 | Tory Jackson | 12.6 | 4.4 | 6.3 |
| 33 | Jon Diebler | 12.8 | 2.5 | 1.8 | G | 23 | Kyle McAlarney | 20.7 | 2.4 | 3.9 |
| 23 | David Lighty | 7.8 | 4.5 | 1.5 | F | 42 | Ryan Ayers | 13.6 | 3.3 | 1.4 |
| 21 | Evan Turner | 13.8 | 7.3 | 3.0 | F | 33 | Zach Hillesland | 6.6 | 7.0 | 3.3 |
| 52 | Dallas Lauderdale | 7.8 | 4.8 | 0.00 | C | 40 | Luke Zeller | 7.9 | 5.7 | 0.9 |
Opponent
Notre Dame is already battle tested this young season, making the trip to Hawaii for the Maui Invitational, where they took home second place by beating Indiana (88-50), Texas (81-80) and losing to UNC (102-87). They won their other three games by an average of 31 points and are scoring 87.1 points a game, ninth best in the country. This is simply a good team, who plays smart, shoots well and may be the best team OSU faces all season.
As mentioned, reigning Big East POY Harangody should be out sick, but they still have one of the best shooters in college hoops, Kyle McAlarney, who has made 39 of 76 three pointers attempted this year. He made 10 of 18 against UNC and 26 over his last three games. OSU will have to extend their zone pressure to the locker room, to help cover McAlarney’s range.
The Bucks will also have to be watchful of Ryan Ayers, Randy’s son and Tory Jackson. Ayers went for 35 in their last game, nailing 9 of 14 bombs and has hit 20 of 43 on the season. Jackson is their junior point guard who has played since he first walked on campus, but will not look to shoot the three as much, preferring the drive and dish.
Buckeye Breakdown:
At the beginning of the week, I didn’t expect a victory in either game, but after that second half performance on Tuesday, I now believe anything is possible. The key to this game is coming out and carrying over the defensive intensity, extending the zone to almost half court and pressuring the ball. I don’t know how much full court will be used, as the Irish have great ball handlers.
Ohio State is giving up only 47.3 points a game, good for second in the nation, while ranking fourth in defensive FG’s at 43 percent. I think they can defend the threeball against ND, but rebounding has me worried. OSU does a great job at forcing teams to take hurried shots as the clock runs down, but they still give up too many second chance points. Miami’s front line combined for 38 boards, including 15 on the offensive glass.
Another aspect that is worrisome is free throw shooting. OSU is shooting only 69% from the line this year, including 14 of 24 Tuesday. I think they need to be aggressive driving to the hoop again, in order to get the Irish in foul trouble and give the Bucks a chance at some allegedly easy points.
Expect Thad to use a short bench again, with the Buckeyes off until next Saturday after this one. Buford should see some time in the first half, but don’t be surprised to see Lighty, Turner and Diebler play 35+ minutes. Simmons will probably see the majority of time at the point, but Crater could be invaluable on defense and that alone may get him some extra minutes.
I still don’t know what to expect of Swatterdale and Mullens playing at the same time. ND starts three players above 6′7″, but I think Thad is a bit leery of foul trouble on the inside and we probably won’t see them together.
Etc
- Ohio State is 124-208 all-time against ranked teams.
- For all of you doubters, Thad Matta is now 211-66 in his 9th season.
- The Buckeyes have attempted as many three pointers, 83, as free throws this year.
When you are attempting as many threes as free throws something is wrong. One to much standing around and then throwing up a shot as time is expiring and two not enough penetration. Two things that the bucks do well. If Harangody is out they better drive like its back in style and get ND’s front court in foul trouble early. No more jacking up threes cause you think its cool.
averaging 25 wins a season is ridiculous, thad’s a boy wonder
wikipedia says he’s 203-66, not including this year of course, but even then, taht’d be 207.
regardless, still averaging like 22 wins a year, that’s awesome!
the only thing more out of hound than thads win total is his face, which is beautiful.
This is definitely a step up in competition over Miami. Time for the young Bucks to announce their arrival.
One word kept coming to my mind the other night about our Buckeyes – Athletic. We look very natural and smooth, especially, on defense. We’ll need the solid D all year as the offense will come and go. It is also very nice to have big men who fit the athletic description as well.
This team is going to be very fun to watch this year. Go Bucks! Beat ND!
ESPN-U? Who the hell gets that?
I do TLB-best channel on cable actually. Its always on at my house. The commercials are hilarious
They re-show all the game’s that were broadcasted on the ESPN networks during the week, so I usually got the re-watch the Buckeye games sober on like Tuesday around 5-7 pm
If Matta only substitutes when the Buckeyes are in control of the game, they could lead most of the way in my opinion.
Did anyone else hear 1460 last night? Bruce Hooley is on vacation in Arizona and said “write it down and take it to the bank” if Oklahoma and USC win this weekend, it will be Ohio State and Texas in the Fiesta Bowl.
Yes, I heard that, too, Corey. I think that’s the matchup that makes the most sense for the Fiesta Bowl. The two teams split two recent games – one a classic, the other not so much – and the matchups are interesting. This time, we have a talented freshman quarterback and a strong defense; this time, Texas will have an experienced quarterback and a defense prone to breakdowns.
I like the matchup from a regional and historical standpoint, but I’m thinking we lose by at least ten. Our best matchup was probably Georgia.
I wonder who Hooley talked to?
By the way: Great write-up, Corey. I really look forward to these.
Awesome. I’ll take that. I know some guys on here will pee their pants at the thought of us facing Texas, but beating a top 10 team is really the only way our program can regain national respect.
For the record, the only team that I dont wanna see us play is Florida….everyone else can bring it
I think this would be a great matchup for OSU, but honestly I don’t care who they play, I just like watching a BCS game with the Buckeyes in it.
It will be interesting to see how it shakes out, the Plain Dealer had a much different scenario laid out yesterday, where the BCS may try to have a Sugar Bowl with Texas and the SEC loser.
I’m still trying to think why everyone is having a nightmare about us playing texas or oklahoma or bama. I really think out of those 3 teams bama would give us the best matchup overall because of how they play their game. They use a solid D and a hard nose running game to beat there opponents. With just enough passing to keep them honest. We use a solid d with semi-hard nose running. For every 20 running plays we throw in a pass to keep it interesting. GOT TO KEEP ‘EM GUESSIN!! On the other hand we have Texas and ‘homa. They both use their great offenses to out score their opponents. They both hope their D’s play well enough that 40 points will be enough to win. Thats how they win there games. Neither team has won a game 17-10. The teams arent built that way. IF we play them, I am 100$ sure that our D will be the best they have faced ALL season. By far. IF our D shows up. Now, granted we havent played a team with their kind of offenses all year long. But, they havent played anyone with a defense all year long. I like our chances a lot. AND this year, the big 12 is better then the SEC so getting a win over the big 12 this year I believe is more repspectible then beating a SEC team.
NOT 100$. 100%.
Hey, let’s get back to the hoops and how good I look.
“Hey Everybody….come and see how good I look!!”
-Thad Matta
…but beating a top 10 SEC team is really the only way our program can regain national respect.”
Fixed it for you. Unfortunately, if OSU would pull off a victory against Texas, the national media and fans would claim Texas was overrated, “obviously” didn’t have a defense, and OSU would still need to beat an SEC team and one of their top notch defenses to prove anything. If you want OSU’s national perception to change, you’d better hope that OSU gets an SEC team in a BCS bowl for an opportunity to knock that monkey off their backs.
Tom-
To be serious for one moment, ANY team we beat, SEC or not, will be “overrated.” Even when we do beat that SEC team in the next couple seasons, that team will immediatly go to having a “down” year, the media and ESECPN will quickly point out that the SEC champion would annihilate us, even if it was on our home field during December, and they would say that we are still 1-9 vs. God’s Conference
Ski, 1-9??? Is that right???
Anyway, beating Texas would be a great win, alot of prominent talking heads think they’re the best team in the country.
Texas will simply stack 7 or 8 in the box and make Pryor throw. I have trouble seeing alot of success for us in this scenario.
But for our D, it is a good matchup, Texas and Penn St. have similar styles.
Did everyone hear if USC and the Sooners both win this weekend the Buckeyes will play Texas in the Fesita Bowl. That is from are Sourse in the OSU front office. But like I said for that to happen both of the above teams have to win. Looks like a rubber match?
Yea iball-
I’m almost 100$ sure LOL
ha ha ha… you got me….ha ha ha
Be careful Brian, you know how things can get out of hound around here pretty quickly
yes, that is true
How am I doing in the poll?
I saw that Plain Dealer article, and they speculated that if Texas did end up facing the Florida/Bama loser, we could be looking at a Fiesta Bowl vs Utah. Uh, no thanks. Little to gain and a lot to possibly lose.
Things are so messed up in the Big 12. I just read that McCoy won player of the year award BUT, was selected as the second team Qb behind Bradford.
Way to get your parents to vote for you, Charlie.
I dont even think his parents would vote for him.
Probably be pissed at him for eating all the biscuits and gravy
FYI-Luke Zeller was the freshman center for UNC who was hurt earlier in the season. The starting center for ND is luke harangody….come on youre btter than that
In other news, apparently Michigan still felt the need to hand out player awards for their 3-9 season. FAIL. Not only that, McGuffie was not present at the banquet, reinvigorating rumors that he’s gone. EPIC FAIL. It gets better, but not really surprising… one of their awards is called the Dick Katcher award. OUT OF HOUND FAIL.
From what I have read Harangody will not be playing tomorrow.
Dick Katcher sounds about right for that whole team.
Flip man, your not suprised that McGuffie wasnt there are you? Go to the ‘Shoe man, half of his body is still on the 22 yd. line
Let’s smack these dirty micks all around the court
(says the resident dirty mick)
Def. Plagerism but………
If the state of Michigan were a struggling athlete, we’d say, “Man, he needs a change of scenery.” Well, why can’t we give Michigan a change of scenery? What if we sold Michigan to Canada since it’s right on their border?
Think about it. Canada gets the spiritual lift of purchasing one of the 50 states, as well as musicians like Kid Rock, Bob Seger and Eminem, a second NBA and MLB team, an entry into the Big Ten, another NHL team, its first NFL team and, of course, more territory. Canadians would be flying high … so high they wouldn’t even mind that they were now involved in the WNBA. Meanwhile, America would escape billion-dollar buyouts for the car companies, and if we need a 50th state, we can always use Puerto Rico as long as it doesn’t put us over the luxury tax. Michigan natives get universal health care, a fresh start and a chance to feel like they’re spending more money than usual with the Canadian dollar. Everyone wins! I’m a genius. Just wait until I become Sports Czar and I talk my man Barry into this.
I agree that any BCS appearance is a victory in my book after this season. They got blown out on the west coast and gift wrapped a victory to PSU. LiC getting experience in a BCS game against a top notch opponent is a win-win regardless of the outcome. He will need it for future January matchups.
“At the beginning of the week, I didn’t expect a victory in either game, but after that second half performance on Tuesday, I now believe anything is possible.”
No doubt, Corey. During halftime on Tuesday I felt stupid for commenting that I felt we had more firepower than last year’s team. Not so much after Thad’s boys ran ‘em out of their own gym in the 2nd half. That was so sweet. I remember that last loss to them so that made it even sweeter.
Wait, this game is on ESPNU? So maybe five people will see it?
I fail to see how a BCS appearance that results in another crushing defeat and national embarassment is a “win”.
Brian-
I have been hearing the same thing on Harangody. ND has to look at the big picture and the Big East is no joke. A potential loss to OSU this early is not going to hurt their chance of a tourney bid. I don’t know if you saw the link, but he has a diary he writes for his hometown newspaper and he didn’t seem confident in playing. They have only been back from Hawaii for about 10 days now. I hope he doesn’t play.
Corey,
Neither do I. It will open up the middle for us and let Turner drive all day long. It should also allow Lauderdale and Mullens to push their weight around a bit. We’ll see though. We still have to stop their McAlarney. What channel is the game being shown?
ESPNU
Well aint that some BS!!
Try to find it streaming on justin.tv or channelsurfing.net
It reminds me of last year when the BTN got the Ohio State vs Wisconsin football game. Luckily for me there was a bar down the street that I could watch it at.
Seriously about that reach-around. Any chance Harangody can be involved in that? Something about a big doofus in a flat top that makes me weak in the knees.
With Luke out, the Bucks have got to put the ball in the hands of Evan Turner and David Lighty, and tell them to slash to the basket like there’s free food on the rim. College students love free food.
What I’m worried about is Kyle McAlarney. Barring him trying to play pattycake with Anthony Crater’s face, we’re going to have our work cut out for us with him. He’s one of the best shooters in the country.
I hope I’m not being overly pessimistic here, but I can’t see us winning this game. We’re a solid team, but Notre Dame is just good.
Dallas Swatterdale is going to be huge.
I got that Kyle. He hasnt been returning my emails tho……
“I fail to see how a BCS appearance that results in another crushing defeat and national embarassment is a ‘win’”.
What’s your suggestion then, Pogue? Pray we never play anyone good for fear of embarassment on the national stage? Turn down any BCS appearances unless we can face ND? Maybe Larry Coker can take over Florida if Urban goes to the NFL and we can finally beat the Gators? I don’t see how we can possibly be embarassed any further. Maybe losing to Utah, but I don’t think that would damage the perception any more than is has been damaged the last two years.
Travis-
Losing to the Stormin’ Mormans would put us on the ND & Michigan level
Couldn’t agree more, Travis. Well said.
You’re probably right, Ski. I believe earlier this season BYU fans were on here talking smack. When Mormons no longer fear you it’s time to take a long, hard look in the mirror. Although I think we could squeak one out with the Utes. It may take triple OT with Malcolm blocking an extra point, but I think we could pull it off.
Theoretical: If Pryor struggles, does Boeckman come in?
In bowl games, you need offense. I’m not sure how we are going to get it, but we need it. Tressel wouldn’t even throw Zwick in 2006 in the fire to see if he could complete a pass.
Not saying Boeckman or Zwick, would complete a pass. It’s just a thought.
Competitive for four quarters (or more) is what I’m looking for in the BCS game (if we get it).
If Boeckman were left in as starter, we would have lost to Wisconsin also. That kids career was over after the Illinois game in ‘07.
It’s a mental thing with him, like a pitcher in a slump. Plus, his arm sucks for a dude 6′6 or 6′5, whatever.
Now, if Mizzou beats Oklahoma, then Mizzou gets auto-bid, and Oklahoma will be in the Cotton Bowl,with Texas in MNC, right?
You can only have two teams from a conference in BCS bowls.
You argue that we have nothing to lose.
I submit our number one recruiting class and continued recruiting success. These kids are only coming in on unspoken promises from JT that we will be elite and will eventually beat an elite program or two. It’s just an assumption top recruits make. Continued big, ugly losses like the one we would (in all likelihood) suffer against Alabama, Florida, or Oklahoma are not the greatest ways to instill confidence in these kids.
I’m sorry, the BCS simply isn’t a good thing for the program right now. I personally guarantee another ugly loss will ensure decommits, a few transfers, and another ugly offseason. I’d much rather have gone to the Capital One Bowl and play a team we have a good chance of at least keeping it close against, i.e. Georgia. We have no way of winning back respect this year, not with this fat, slow, unathletic offensive line, simply inept playcalling and schemes on both sides of the ball, and an unproven freshman quarterback.
Even if we beat Bama or Texas or someone, the media meme will not be “give props to Ohio State”, it will be “What went wrong with Bama? Texas? Are these teams overrated?”
Also, on Boeckman: his struggles this year in particular were not entirely his own. The offensive line got blown up by Ohio people. Stop blaming it on the 6th year senior.
ATTENTION BUCKEYE FANS! Todd Boeckman may be a very good quarterback but he has fucking tree roots for legs and behind our porous line he does not, I REPEAT DOES NOT, give us a better look than Pryor. Stop with the “but what if Todd got some snaps?” I want to smash you in the face for even suggesting it. Thank you!
That’s rubbish. Name a major decommit from the past two offseasons.
Darrell Givens
players dont come to a school because you won games. They come to the school because of tradition, NFL chances, facilities, stadiums, and the chance to play in big games
But not the chance to get blown out of the building in big games, yes?
Uh our recruiting classes have gotten better despite the past few national embarrassments. Hell, we landed one of the top RB recruits in the nation from FLORIDA of all places. And I don’t think Terrelle Pryor cared about the two NC blowouts when he put on that OSU ballcap. Players don’t care about those losses, they want that national spotlight to show what they can do.
Even Michigan is slated to have a top 10 class for next year. Yes they suffered decommits, yes current players are leaving, but they still have a top 10 class after all that.
“Even if we beat Bama or Texas or someone, the media meme will not be “give props to Ohio State”, it will be “What went wrong with Bama? Texas? Are these teams overrated?””
No doubt they would be saying that. We can’t repair all the damage with one win. But it’s a big step in the right direction. A win against a lesser team is moving laterally, and I can’t fathom what a loss to a lesser team would do.
It’s just funny that you don’t even give OSU a chance against any of those teams. I don’t see the logic behind tucking your tail and hoping for an easier team to play. The risk reward of it alone is enough for me to not want it.
basketball, people, basketball. ND has great perimeter shooting, and so i worry about our zone – but da bucks showed great speed and the ability to get to the basket. throw in diebs nailing shots, and i’m thinking this could be a good game. would be a sweet win. anyone seen lauderdale’s miami dunk anywhere yet?
Darrell Givens was a Buckeye for like a month. It was also extremely early in the process.