Ohio State slipped to 3-7 lifetime in the Kohl Center. (AP / Andy Manis)Ohio State fell to 7-5 in conference after surrendering 14 offensive rebounds and 19 turnovers in a 55-50 loss last night in Madison.
The -11 offensive rebounding margin allowed Wisconsin to take 17 more shots offsetting another hot shooting night (21/38, 55%) by the Buckeyes.
Evan Turner led Ohio State with 23 points (9/13 FG), 5 rips 5 assists but his sixth turnover was a back breaker as the Buckeyes lost possession trailing 50-48 with 48 seconds left. Forced to foul, OSU would be outscored 5-2 the rest of the way erasing any chance of popping their cherry at Kohl.
It's easy to wrongfully blame Turner but once again he was basically forced to shoulder the offensive burden creating a scenario where he felt forced to do too much. The sophomore scored 15 of OSU's 27 second half points while no other Buckeye contributed more than five points (P.J. Hill) in the final 20 minutes.
Without Turner to offset the pathetic second half efforts from Buford (2 pts), Diebler (2 pts), Lauderdale (2 pts) and Mullens (1 pt) it's not even a game with 48 seconds remaining.
Jeremie Simmons stunk it up (0/3 FG, 2 TO) allowing Hill to tie a season high with 26 minutes and he played a serviceable game with the five points, three rebounds and two assists against one turnover. Even with Hill's effort, it's pretty safe to say poor point guard play and rebounding issues will likely be the nails in the coffin to an early out in March.
Still, Buckeye fans must keep perspective and realize this was not a game penciled in as a win at the start of the season so there's no cause for panic. Ohio State can still do some things and the fact they were even in the game on the road considering the rebounding and turnover woes is a testament to their growing mental toughness.
The loss does make the trip to Evanston increasingly important on Wednesday night with Minnesota, Wisconsin and Penn State all sitting at 7-6 and nipping at OSU's heels.
If players not named Turner can show up for 40 minutes a win is very realistic.
Comments
The Bucks were in a game they didn't deserve to be in. Too many TOs and poor rebounding, but played great defense. Can't turn the ball over late and expect success.
Buford and Diebler forced bad shots late as well.
Great effort, bad execustion.
Unless Lauderdale can get rebounds (2 ttl in the last 2 games combined), and Mullens not turning it over everytime he doesn't have an allyoop, the Bucks will have NO CHANCE to win a single game in the NCAA (if they even get there with the remaining schedule). When Diebler has to work for a shot, he has no chance as well. The big guys don't set screens properly and if and when they do, the guards don't brush off like they should.
I strongly feel as though the boys are already playing with tired legs...a staple of the last several Matta teams. Another NIT run might be in the cards.
Everyone was flat in the 2nd half except for Turner. I'm not sure what happened at half time but the inspiration was not there.
All homerism aside, this is a team who can become a force to be dealt with. I disagree that we shouldn't have been in the game. Our talent level was enough to overcome a poor rebounding effort and high turnover rate. This team has slowly emerged as the SECOND best team in the B10.
Its absolutely ludacris to say we wont be in the dance. This is an extremely solid team that has done well with a serious lack of depth.
I hereby renounce any naysayers of this team. This squad is not a sleeper, it is not an overachiever, it is a contender who should be in the sweet sixteen.
vincat21,
You're still suffering from Fiesta bowl hangover, dude. With a bench as light as ours, its extremely difficult to go full speed, you find me a coach that has lost as many players as Thad and has done this good of a job.
If all you wanna do is rip the team for losing one in every four or five, then I think the Dispatch has a spot for you.
I certainly don't blame Turner for the loss, but there's absolutely no excuse for his last turnover either, whether he felt like he was shouldering the offensive load or not. No player can play wildly out of control and expect anything good to come out of it, in spite of their talent. He forced it and he paid the consequences.
Bufurd, Deibler and Mullens were no-shows, and they typically help a lot. Kudos to Wisconsin for shutting them down.
In spite of all that, I still think this team is playing better than they really are, and that's good coaching. It's also good team chemistry.
I really believe the rebounding and turnover issues will be corrected with more experience.
Who would have guessed that Sir PJ would have had as many second half points as Buford, Diebler and Mullens combined?
We are not 0-7 in the Kohl Center. We've only lost our last 7.
The 1999 game was on ESPN Classic Friday, and we came out on top.
I don't think they are playing better than they are because of coaching.. and I don't think the chemistry is completely there either.. Watch the Cavs, that's team chemistry!
This team is playing so well because the talent is immense... we have some of the most talented young guys in all of d1 bball right now.. they just need more time to develop as as team..
I gotta say that Mullens stunk it up out there big time tonight.. he had 3 i think.. 3 turnovers in a row when he touched the ball.. I couldn't agree more about dicky v's comments about him and the NBA.. he looked lost out there tonight. and he has gotta figure out how to demand the ball down low..
Yeah, Mullens looks like he'll be great someday... but I really don't see how he figures to go so high this year.
Give him one more year in college to develop while leading OSU to a Final Four, and then draft him :)
How is it that Mullens still doesn't have a double-digit rebounding game and averages less than 5 rebounds per game? The dude's 7 feet tall.
Well, then we disagree. You can have all the talent in the world, but if they don't play as a team, they'll play worse.
I agree with that but I don't think they are playing that well as a team.. that was my point.. if they could get better chemistry they would be light years better.. when was the last time the game didn't ride on Evan Turner's shoulders? When was the last time you've seen them effectively use the entry pass to BJ like they should be?
I think they fight and play hard together.. I think they jive on the defensive end well together.. but the office at times is frustrating if Turner and Buford aren't money..
Because he was used to playing smaller kids in high school and pushing them around.. now he is out there with other big bodies and he is getting bullied around.. he needs to learn how to be agressive and dominate other players physically... BJ has the physical attributes and the skill, he needs to learn the rest though.. thats what made Greg Oden so special.. as a college freshman big man he literally dominated other players like they were middle schoolers.. look how silly he made Noah look during the championship game..
Nobody seems to realize how hard it is to win on the road in the B10.
This team is where they are because of talent. When they gel as a team, they are hard to beat. Lack of depth will bite them in the end.
If everyone comes back, we will be B10 title contenders.
So what you're saying is that the Kohl Center is almost to the Buckeye basketball team what the SEC is to our football team?
This team has done extraordinarily well with no real point guard. If and when Evan Turnover gets that monkey off his back, he'll be one of the ten best players in the country.
never thought i would say this, but, perhaps p.j. should be starting. simmons was way too casual with the ball and didn't contribute much on either end of the floor. the turnovers by simmons and diebler were particularly troubling because they were totally unforced. at least turner is attempting to do something. you simply can't give another team that many opportunities to score when your trying to win a close game. i still like their chances though, and i think they will be a dangerous team come tournament time. anyone else think mullens should be required to shave before each game?
"I think they fight and play hard together.. I think they jive on the defensive end well together."
And that was my point.
"This team has done extraordinarily well with no real point guard."
Damn right.
You know, I think what we have here is a minor quibble. You touched on it already--Turner is the only guy who consistently scores, BUT he has turnover issues. Nobody else has been able to do that, although Buford is on the threshold of doing so. In addition, they don't have a solid point guard.
So, in light of all that, they're playing better on offense than they really are, and they're still playing together as a team, as well as could be expected given all that.
"anyone else think mullens should be required to shave before each game?"
I think he should be required to catch the ball and make a layup or another post move 50 times in a row prior to stepping on the court each game. If he doesn't do it, he comes off the bench. If he does do it, he starts.
That's just me, though.
You are indeed correct, Pete. Thanks for catching. I had the lady in town this weekend prompting a light speed recap. OSU has lost 7 straight at Kohl but they are 3-7 lifetime in that building.
I would like to see a re-fresh of the Simmons - PJ comparison analysis over the last 5 games. I would bet we see a different picture now and Thad has responded with more minutes for Hill especially during crunchtime.
This team is exactly where they should be. Yeah a young team turned it over down the stretch in Madison. They had a chance to get a big win on the road but fell short. They are right on track at this point and a lock to get in the dance.
As much as it hurts to say, Wisky's "D" was on point! J.D. was virtually transparent! Evan is a monster, but that same behind the back move every time trying to go through the paint, was written all over his face! Turnovers killed this team, it happens to young teams! The Buckeyes will be alright regardless of this loss. Just think, if John hit a couple of threes or if J simmons hit a couple of shots....? It wasnt a bad loss for as many turnovers as of late! Mullens needs The Ohio State more than The Ohio State needs Mullens, couldnt have put it any better myself!
That was a team we should beat by double digits. Alway a tough place to win. The refs will pretty much let Wisconsin rape the players off the ball.
Anyone still think PJ Hill isn't better then Simmons?
Bottom line is careless mistakes and defensive rebounding killed us. You could tell Wisconsin wanted the win more than Ohio State.
Tired legs?! Thats bs. These guys are 18 to 20 years old. I don't ever remember having tired legs at that age. Had they played the night before maybe. They need to suck it up and hit the boards like they got a pair.
i agree with chip in that the team is pretty much where they should be. the loss does not hurt them that much, and they are in good position to make the dance. their zone is disruptive to opponents, but the down side is that good rebounding teams like sparty and wisconsin can take advantage of them. my biggest concern is the turnovers. you simply can't keep handing the ball over and expect to win close games. osu did not play that well, got poor performances from 3 of their starters, had 17 fewer fg attempts on the road...and still only lost by 5. i think thad has done a pretty good job with this team.
I still think Simmons is better than Hill. The problem is it's like comparing hot diarrhea to bloody diarrhea. They are both juco leftovers who wouldn't be on the roster if not for unexpected departures.
Tuner playing over his head again, trying to force shots and passes that aren't there. I think he needs to stop reading his press clipping and start leading the team.... that means more than just making shots. you've gotta make everyone around you better.
[...] State looks to bounce back from a sloppy 55-50 loss at Wisconsin as they travel to Evanston to take on [...]
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