Deebs: 45 pts (14/22) in last 2 games (AP/LaPrete)It was deja vu all over again as timely triples doomed the Buckeyes in a 70-68 home loss to Illinois dropping Ohio State to 17-8 overall and 7-7 in conference.
Back to back jams by B.J. Mullens cut the Illini lead to 50-47 with 8:25 left but the next few series proved pivotal. After a Trent Meachem three, Wil Buford forced a deep triple try early in the clock which Illinois turned into an offensive rebound and putback to move in front 55-47.Turner slowed the bleeding with a free throw but then Chester Frazier buried a three after excellent defense to that point forced him to launch the desperation shot with :03 left on the shot clock. 58-48 with 6:01 left. Essentially game over.
OSU did manage to cut the deficit to two at 67-65 after a P.J. Hill putback of a missed free throw but after Meachem hit two free throws extending the lead to 69-65 with :26 left, Matta failed to call timeout to set up a play. The resulting carnage came in the form of Buford missing a leaner after the Buckeyes ran off 14 seconds of valuable clock thanks to chaotic dribbling from Turner and Hill.
Matta had three timeouts. Why didn't he use one? I'm a supporter of Matta but I don't think there's any question that was a poor coaching decision. It probably didn't change the outcome but still a head scratcher.
Though the score didn't necessarily show it, this one appeared to be already in the bag thanks to another squad bombing the Buckeyes from deep. Illinois shot 53% beyond the arc (9/17) with more than a few coming under duress and/or deep in the shot clock. Frazier's second miracle three with the clock running out gave Illinois a 62-55 lead with 4:08 remaining, taking the air in the Schott with it.
Evan Turner tried to keep it close over the final seven minutes scoring 15 OSU's final 20 points but it wasn't enough to overcome the three point daggers.
Turner finished with 17 points, nine boards and five assists against only two turnovers but his poor first half (2 pts) contributed to a 32-27 halftime deficit that Ohio State would never overcome.
Jon Diebler, Wil Buford (7 pts, 3 reb, 2 asst, 2 blk) and yes, P.J. Hill picked up Turner's slack in the first half. Down 22-14, Diebler and Hill triggered a 10-2 run scoring five and four respectively as Hill pestered the top of Illini offense helping the Buckeyes tie the game at 24-24. Unfortunately, two turnovers created by B.J. Mullens not being able to sustain position on the block combined with Demetri McCamey getting loose for a conventional three point play then a deep three helped Illinois eventually close the half on an 8-3 run.
OSU did cut the lead to two on four different occasions in the second half before Hill's putback of Turner's missed free throw making it 67-65 but it seemed Illinois was in control all afternoon.
When the horn sounded OSU had three in double figures (Turner, Diebler 17, Buford 14) but the hot shooting they surrendered from deep combined with Illinois still looking to attack the foul line extended and short corners just as they did back on January 20 allowed Illinois to shoot 58% from the floor.
Once again, Matta got virtually nothing from the bigs. Mullens had eight points and one rebound while Invisidale played true to form with one point and one rebound. Yes, those numbers are accurate. What a bum he's turned out to be.The three game skid dropped Ohio State to 4-5 in their last nine games and it doesn't get any easier this week with Penn State on Tuesday preceding a trip to Purdue. As I said in the preview, I felt today's game could be the swing game of the season and I'm extremely nervous this team might be running out of steam.
If they are indeed on life support both physically and mentally this week could be their post season undoing.
In my opinion, even a split this week would likely mean the Buckeyes need to win the final two games (@Iowa, NU) to finish 10-8 in conference and 20-9 overall. That should enough but a first round conference tourney loss would likely put them on the bubble unless one of their three wins comes at Purdue.
So, what's going to happen this week? Two wins, a split or two losses?
I'm almost afraid to find out.
Comments
Couldn't stop Davis from shooting those open 12 footers.
On the positive side, we tied them in total rebounding and won the turnover battle. How'd that happen?
You smell that??? Smells like NIT.
Mullens is just stinking it up big time...
can we trade Lauderdale? I'd take Sylvester Mayes for him
Lauderdale is worthless. Turner finally decided to play with 5 minutes left, and once again three pointers from the other team killed us.
Hell, I'd take Gerald Eaker or Antonio Watson for him at this point.
"So, what’s going to happen this week? Two wins, a split or two losses?"
I'm optimistic, but I always thought the NCAA tournament would be a bonus for this team, and a well-earned one at that. This is a streaky team, so anything can still happen, but realistically speaking, I think they'll split. They beat PSU but lose a squeaker to Purdue.
They're just missing a couple of players for a good run in the Big 10(11) and NCAA tourney, too.
They're not giving up, and that's a quality I love about them.
GO BUCKS!
I really think losing Lighty is proving to be costlier than we may have thought. We are udderly punchless on offense and seem to lack any on the floor direction.
I have to give props to Turner for showing some moxy in the closing minutes, and Thad did try the zone, finally. But as soon as Turner woke up, Diebler disappeared!!! What will it take to get this team to play together?? As soon as one guy gets hot, all the others turn into spectator.
Also, not having any real mid-range threat is killing us. Illinois has two bigs that can light it up from 10 to 15 feet, something we desperately need.
I meant to say Thad finally tried some man to man, not the zone. I'll be poking hot needles into my eyeballs if anyone needs me.
They might need to win out to lock up a bid. They have to stay above .500 in the league for sure. The thing they have going for them is 5 wins vs. top 25 teams. I didn't get the game down here in Tampa(got stuck with teams that score 40 plus in one half) sounds like I didn't miss much.
"UDDERLY punchless?" that is, my friends, out of HOUND.
Give me Killer Macon.
how about for brayden bell?
It comes down to beating Iowa, Northwestern and Penn State. Then winning a game in the big ten tourney. Last year they were in this spot and couldn't do it, win games that they CAN win and MUST have. We'll see if Thad can get them going b/c I don't know. It also seems like the opponent makes nonsense shots to put the buckeyes away every game. Doesn't that have to stop at some point?
another game, another team destroying us from behind the arc. i said it after the loss against the nerds and ill say it again now - its like watching THE SAME GAME OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
the reality is that this team overachived to end up where they are right now. no point guard, invisible big men, an absolutely embarassing zone defense, messy rebounding, and costly turnovers have left the bucks in a position where they are fighting for their postseason lives every game until the end of the season.
and if the last three games (which they were also fighting for their postseason lives) were any indication, it doesnt look good at all.
sure, it hurts to lose someone like lighty, but lighty doesnt magically make thad stop running a zone defense that lets teams maul us from deep time and time again.
[...] Say it with me: N-I-T: “Once again, Matta got virtually nothing from the bigs. Mullens had eight points and one rebound while Invisidale played true to form with one point and one rebound. Yes, those numbers are accurate. What a bum he’s turned out to be. The three game skid dropped Ohio State to 4-5 in their last nine games and it doesn’t get any easier this week with Penn State on Tuesday preceding a trip to Purdue. As I said in the preview, I felt today’s game could be the swing game of the season and I’m extremely nervous this team might be running out of steam.” [Chris/Eleven Warriors] [...]
Too much attention being paid to 3 point percent. Take that away and they shot 61% from inside the arc. That is not acceptable.
Had it not been for all their turnovers, it wouldn't have been a close game.
On the other hand, we shot 33% in the first half, digging a whole from which there was no recovery. Happens way too often.
I would bet that anyone who watched the game and had no rooting interest in either team would have thought Illinois was the better of the two.
I've said it before, top to bottom, the Big 10 has the best crop of coaches in the country. Unfortunately, ours is an above average recruiter, but a below average game coach. Only guy he might outcoach is at Penn St and I am not even sure of that anymore.
I think a year like this is typical of what we will see in the future. Fighting to make the tourney, with the occasional Elite Eight run, or the frustration of watching a good team play stupid on their way to the NIT.
While the 3's definitely hurt us, I think we lost the game in the middle of our zone. I think Illi made what seemed like their first 10 shots, all inside of 12' from the hoop. The first what 5-10 mins of the game, they just absoluely abused our zone. I mean that was a clinic on how to attack a zone.
Then we went man-to-man for like 2 possesions, I think we forced a bad 30-footer and a turnover, then POOOF. Back to the zone.
I think Tampa's illegitiamate son may have finally earned the starting PG job. Simmons has taken a few GIANT steps back. He was throwing BRICKS, and that was when he actually hit the rim.
i just get by on my looks, not my grammar