No PG. No rebounding. Tylenol please.Early on, it looked like the Buckeyes might be able to spring a road upset as they led Minnesota by seven but a 19-2 run to end the first half took care of those thoughts before the physical Gophers finally prevailed 68-59 this afternoon in The Barn.
I guess you can take the fact that Ohio State didn't quit, going on a 10-0 run after trailing 60-42 with 4:37 left, as a moral victory but the bottom line is this team has some major flaws that come to light each game, win or lose.
First, this team has no legit point guard. Simmons and Hill combined to shoot a frigid 2/12 with four assists against four turnovers and neither showed any ability to effectively penetrate the zone Tubby unleashed midway through the first half completely changing the complexion of the game. The play of Simmons and Hill further illustrated what an idiotic pair Crater and his momma truly are. More minutes were coming they just refused to be patient.
Simmons had actually shown some improvement against Iowa but there was no carryover. His play was so erratic Matta was forced to pine him leading to the lowest minutes Simmons has played (21) since the opener against Delaware State.
Hill was the benefactor of Simmons' stank, registering a career high 19 minutes in his return home but he tried to do a little too much after his lightning in a bottle effort against Iowa. I do like Hill's energy, but I don't like him thinking he's on the floor to launch 17 footers. He's got a 29% career FG% for a reason. If he's going to be in the rotation he's gotta stick to the role Thad wants him to play.
The other major issue killing the Buckeyes is a lack of consistent production from Lauderdale and Mullens. Those two were flat out pushed around today and Mullens appears to have one foot in Matta's doghouse as he didn't even enter the game until midway through the first half.
Mullens pulled down five caroms, Lauderdale just four in 29 minutes, allowing the Gophers to post a 35-27 edge on the glass including a 13-7 advantage at the offensive end. The Gopher rebounding cushion underscored what was truly a physical game with Evan Turner taking the brunt of the pounding.
To his credit, Turner battled on the boards pulling down a game-high eight rips while scoring 21 points but the physical toll he's taking has had a major impact on his shooting. In the three games against legit foes since Lighty's injury, Turner is shooting 32.6% (15/46) while playing no less than 39 minutes in each of those three contests.
Diebler also had a decent showing with 15 points (5/13 FG, 5/11 3FG) and 5 steals though he did have a game high three turnovers. If nothing else, he at least appears to have full confidence in his shot, even when it isn't falling which is the mentality he has to have as the only real option to consistently help Turner.
When the dust settled, the Buckeye offense rivaled the weather outside as Ohio State shot 34% from the floor (18/52). The low percentage was the product of few good looks at the hoop in the half court and a non-existent transition game.
Even with a loss that was worse than the final score, at least in my eyes, it's important to keep perspective. Winning on the road in conference is always a chore and it doesn't get any easier with a trip to East Lansing slated for 7pm Tuesday night before a two-home-game-breather against Houston Baptist and Indiana.
If you are Matta, what adjustments, if any, would you make from a strategy or personnel standpoint?
Comments
We've got to press. I know Matta is concerned about lack of depth and fatigue but without any consistant offense we need the press to limit opponents posessions. Start Turner at point with Diebler and Buford and the tall boys when K-man gets back - hopefully he can provide some minutes at the behind Madsen, Lauderdale and what's his name.
I agree with Turner logging some minutes at the point but I don't if I agree they should press. The 2-2-1 hasn't been overly effective against the decent teams they've played and with the depth taking a hit due to Lighty/Crater, I think pressing would be a mistake. Plus, if they play a big lineup, that means Lauderdale is trapping (Mullens under the hoop) which is a recipe for fouls 20-30 feet from the hoop. Just my $.02
They have to start looking at Mullens for more offense. He has nice feet and good touch around the basket. We simply can't throw the ball around the perimeter hoping Diebs is hot or give the ball to Turner and hope he can do something off the dribble.
And Thad needs to move away from the 2-3 when the guys aren't running it right. They get bunched up in the paint or on one side and the opposing team gets wide open looks at three pointers. Mix it up and play some man from time to time.
Somebody has to step up to consistently lead this team from the point guard position. Simmons is a headcase who thinks he can shoot from anywhere and dribble through a press and PJ Hill is wildly erratic.
Thad is a good coach and I'm sure he'll figure it out.
"The play of Simmons and Hill further illustrated what an idiotic pair Crater and his momma truly are. More minutes were coming they just refused to be patient."
Again, OSU doesn't need that kind of personality on the team. I'm glad he's gone. What a couple of entitlement fools.
Prepare yourselves for more games like this.
What a nauseating performance. Down nearly what, 18 and we're still in a zone. Can we not guard anyone man-to-man for even small stretches of the game?? This is D-1 basketball, they should know how to guard someone without fouling. When Minny went to that zone, I think my high school squad could have attacked that better than we did. You have to get it to the high post and attack from there. We got it to ET a couple of times in the high post and good things usually happened. And boy do we need a PG....I'd love to have Conley still around. Hell, I think I'd take back Fuss-Cheatem (sp?) at this point...
Um you fuckers should be eating crow after pj hill had a ton of huge plays to pull off the win earlier in the week. Bottom line is pj will play hardnosed d and not turn the ball over. I didn't see the game today but there is no question pj is ready to make this team a contender. #2 is a worthless piece of shit who takes bad shots and doesn't have a clue how to feed the post.
You have should your lack of basketball knowledge by saying you want brandon fuss back what a fucking joke your are. You have never play the game at any level and may god have mercy on your sole.
im drunk from being at epcot all day but for real pj hill is the pt and ive said it from day one. Mullens and Dallas need to step it the fuck up.
the zone must go. We have the shot blockers inside to take away the drive however we continue to give up wide open 3's. Matta is an over-rated coach just like tressel. take off the scarlet tinted glasses people.
BJ Mullens is going to the NBA after this year and is impostering a player who really gives a rip how his team does.
When he isn't in la-la land he actually is an impressive player. Then you have Lauderdale with great heart, but cant be asked to score 20 a game.
Couple that, with the lack of a true QB at the point and you have trouble.
Evan Turner isn't physically able to carry the team on his back and losing Lighty definitely increases the load.
Is Crater totally to blame or should have Matta seen this coming?
The Bucks only hope at this point is to hope Buford and Diebler find some consistency.
What evidence do you have to suggest Matta and Tress are overrated?
Get some new Dora The Explorer Crocs for your trip?
The hell are you even talking about? How is Matta overrated? How is Tressel overrated? Are you just throwing that bullshit meaningless word around to get a reaction, like usual?
"I didn’t see the game today but there is no question pj is ready to make this team a contender"
Step away from the heroin.
The line of the year. Already: "im drunk from being at epcot all day"
Two questions
1. Why aren't you all able to handle zone defense better. Wouldn't playing primarily zone defense at the very least lead to an understanding of the basic principles used to beat a zone?
2. Has Thad always played star players (or anyone for that matter) as much as he played Butler last year and Turner this year. It just seems like it is setting the team up for trouble down the road.
God has no problem with shoes, though He preferred sandals, I imagine.
1. To break a zone, you need to have at least one ball handler and I don't think we have any. I know everyone is still bemoaning Conley going early but Thad should have had someone other than Crater in the fold. There is no go-to guy and nobody who is able to create their own shot.
2. Turner has to be on the court or this team doesn't get within 20 of anyone.
Having just watched Michigan beat Illinois, I now have to wonder if the Bucks can finish any higher than 7th or 8th in the conference. Indiana might be the only road victory in sight.
Just All-Ohio my JR & SR years. Perhaps you missed my point, the PG play all year has me wanting Fuss back. That is how BAD it has been....
[...] averaging 10 minutes or more prior to the Lighty injury. And, ironically, the departure of Crater leaves Ohio State without a true point guard, as Simmons is more of a combo [...]
[...] Gophers took down OSU 68-59 back before the Fiesta Bowl was played and just five games after the Lighty [...]