Ohio State
15-5, 5-4 Big Ten
Roster | Schedule
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February 3, 2009 7:00 PM ET - ESPN —— The Schott Columbus, OH |
#13 Purdue
17-4, 6-2 Big Ten
Roster | Schedule
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This week will give us a good indication as to which way the Buckeye's season will end up, as they host two ranked opponents in Purdue and Minnesota.
After losing their opening 2 games in conference play, Purdue has reeled off 6 straight to climb within a half game of Michigan State and at #13, they are the highest rated B10 team.
Ohio State is still torching the nets, connecting on better than 50 percent in 3 straight, but Purdue ranks 2nd in scoring defense, right behind Illinois and we remember how the Illini handled the Bucks a few weeks ago.
| # | Name | PTS | REB | ASST | POS | # | Name | PTS | REB | ASST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Jeremie Simmons | 8.1 | 1.8 | 3.3 | G | 3 | Chris Kramer | 4.6 | 2.6 | 2.4 |
| 33 | Jon Diebler | 11.0 | 3.2 | 2.6 | G | 5 | Keaton Grant | 7.9 | 2.7 | 2.1 |
| 21 | Evan Turner | 16.6 | 7.2 | 3.1 | F | 33 | E'Twaun Moore | 14.3 | 4.7 | 3.0 |
| 44 | William Buford | 11.4 | 3.4 | 1.2 | F | 4 | Robbie Hummel | 12.9 | 7.5 | 2.2 |
| 52 | Dallas Lauderdale | 5.4 | 4.3 | 0.4 | C | 25 | JuJuan Johnson | 12.5 | 5.8 | 0.8 |
Opponent
Purdue comes in scoring almost 67 points a game during league play, shooting 46 percent from the floor, including 54 for 128 from downtown. The Boilermakers lead the league in scoring margin, holding teams to 60 points and beating them by an average of 7 points.
Matt Painter has developed a great team, with 8 players that average over 17 minutes, 5 points and 2 rebounds. Five players dish out over 2 assists a game and the team totals 16. Lewis Jackson, Marcus Green and Nemanja Calasan will lead off the bench, combing for 18 points, 10 boards and 5 assists.
Purdue's 6 game winning streak has come against the lower tier of the B10, with only Minnesota being ranked and their 2 losses came against Illinois and Penn State. The Boilermakers have never won in Value City Arena, going 0-5 since it opened in 1998.
Buckeye Breakdown:
Ohio State is essentially shooting 50% in league play, hitting 212 of 426 shots, including 65 of 153 from deep. It has been great to watch their shot selection improve and to see the "drive first" mentality come alive, which is leading to more Ft attempts. The Buckeyes have attempted 55 freebies in the last 2 games.
There is no questions all eyes will be on BJ Mullens and Dallas Lauderdale, after their combined goose egg in Saturday's win. These two showed flashes against Michigan of becoming an inside presence, establishing post position with force, but they weren't even close to that level in Bloomington. Seriously, how do neither one of them score? I know the wings don't look inside as often as they should, be after a while you have to want the ball.
I'll be interested to see how the reigning Big Ten POW will respond against a tough defensive team. Turner seemed to score at will last week, scoring 53 points on 16-23 shooting and 21-23 FT's, but he had his worse game of the season against similar Illinois. Simmons and Buford also need to take pressure off Turner tonight.
I'll be happy if the Buckeyes can split this week. I thought they would go 10-8 before the season (12-6 before the Lighty injury), so a split keeps them on pace. If I was a gambling man, I would bet the Bucks to beat Minnesota, because tonight I think they lose a close one 71-66, as the Boilermaker defense becomes the difference down the stretch.
Etc
- Thad became the 2nd fastest OSU coach to win 50 Big Ten games, behind Fred Taylor.
- The last time OSU had 3 players score 20+ points, was in 1995, when Doug Etzler (37), Rick Yudt (26) and Carlos Davis (22) lead the Bucks in a 121-98 win over George Mason.
Comments
I think Simmons has to continue his stellar play of the last week or so. He is being aggressive without being out of control (low turnovers), as well as setting up Diebs, Buford & Turner. Agreed on BJ and Swatterdale (can I still call him that??). They need to at least pose a threat down low....15 pts, 10 reb and 3 blocks between the 2 of them would be nice.
If you think Simmons is "Stellar" you need to have your eyes checked. He did get lucky on a few shots. He normally is brick city from deep but if he can make atleast 35% we become a much better team.
You might see more out of the post players if we ever ran any offense for them. I really have to question matta's coaching this year. We never even let the bigs touch it down low.
Why continue to recruit 7 footers? His offense would be better suited with the 6'8" athletic type he had we he coached mid-major schools. Matta is like cooper. Tons of NFL/NBA talent = no Titles.(NIT doesn't count)
I miss Randy Ayers coaching style. Man to Man defense, full court pressure that would get tons of turnovers. I know what some will say about his program at the end it turned into boyz in the hood, but thats not his fault.
The Hoosiers nearly beat our ass because of that weak zone. Bottom line is the zone isn't effective against a good shooting team and I'm sick of seeing Dallas and BJ have to be guard a 3 point shooter in the corner everytime down. You play man and make them drive into the lane with BJ and Dallas there to change or block the shot. Just sayin' Go Bucks
You want to run the offense through our two bigs? BJ has shown some glimpses, but his inability to hold on to the ball is frightening. Dallas is just out there for D...i think Matta is doing the best he can with what's been most effective.
Do you not recall 2006 and how much foul trouble Oden would perpetually find himself in when we played straight man defense? Oden's productivity went up primarily due to the fact that the use of the zone defense allowed him to stay in the games longer.
If run properly the 2-3 zone can be demoralizing ... however with poor rotation as we have seen from time to time its going to get eaten alive. With the exception of Illinois I haven't really seen a team completely kill us because of the zone. If the dude from IU doesn't go off for 9/11 from three-point range then Indiana isn't even in that ball game.
If Simmons' play continues to improve and we utilize that great screen to open up Diebler and he continues to hit this team will be tough ... too many shooters. The only real issue then becomes depth.
Agreed about the potential foul trouble for the bigs, there is no depth behind Mullens and Lauderdale. That is why Thad has to stick with the zone. If Koufos would have stayed and Lighty/Kecman don't get hurt, we probably see more man to man defense.
Tampa, your hatred for Simmons is clear and at times this year, justified. However, he is getting more comfortable with the speed of the game and this offense, over his last 6 games he is averaging 10.5 points and 4.7 assists.
Over that same six game stretch, Tampa Hill is averaging 1 point and .67 assists per game.
But he plays hard.
Normally Brick City? What are you talking about? Simmons is 2nd on the team in 3 pointers made and in 3pt FG%. Your blatant love for Hill is skewing the facts about Simmons once again.
And his dreds flop extremely fast! T
Hill does seem to play better defense, but the only real stat to back it up is steals. Id like to see opposing guard PPG with each in the game.
To say Thad is like Cooper is absurd!!! he's already gone farther than Ayers, hell even O'Brien was a better coach than Ayers!!!
Its Thads fault top level recruiting leads to players leaving early, but it wasnt Ayers fault that his program turned into Thug U. How does that make any sense. You must be getting too much sun down there in Tampa.
Also, "why recruit 7 footers?", so basically having Oden on the team was pointless now?? Gimme a break.
Nothing in that guys post made a whole lotta sense. Probably should lay off the sauce.
all those empty seats, glad to see how pumped the city is for the big game. sickening. this is handcuffing the program and i wouldnt be surprised if thad did leave.
turnovers - gotta love em
geez
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?
Definitely plenty of people disguised as empty seats...I guess the $5 upper deck deal isn't having a positive effect...terrible.
Evan Turner = Baller
I like Matta changing it up...with simmons and hill almost incapable of bringing the ball up the floor, he's got Turner bringing it up and starting the offense nearly every time down...
This just in: CB/ATH Justin Green will switch his commitment from Ohio State to Illinois. He got Zooked.
I'll say it here, since I couldn't on BuckeyePlanet: Bitch Move. Locked up a scholly that could have gone elsewhere.
That sucks.
Turner = stud.
Info says Illinois, or Kentucky. POSSIBLY OSU. But Scout issued an article stating he will not be a Buckeye and will sign with Illinois.
The economy sucks right now...That being said, 5 bucks is not all that much to pay to see a Big 10 MCBB game
I have a co-worker from Kentucky and he was talking about getting Green a few weeks ago.
UGH!! How did he lose it like that?
I hope this is where Evan Turner takes over the extra session.
Tampa's boy screwed us bigtime with that turnover allowing purdue to tie it at 64...that and Turner bricking FT's of course he's working on a triple double but the missed FT's were huge.
I don't know why they keep showing that woman from Purdue, but she looks like Munson's landlady in Kingpin.
That slam might clinch it
Cramers mom. she is batshit crazy
That was pretty sick.
White dudes clowning. Awesome.
hahaha holy shit triple block too bad he drew the foul
also we're gonna win aaaaaaa awesome and unexpected
Whats up with Buford getting POG??? Like i said, Turner=Baller.
Scout already has Green on the commit list for illinois.
so much for the milk carton
Doesn't look good overall but if there is any hope Rivals has no update on Green and well I trust them more generally.
FWIW Turner should have got POG but those 3 missed FT in regulation were ultimately the diff between a win in regulation and the OT.
That's a good point.
Yeah Green is going to Illinois.. what a crap move to hold up a scholly til the eve before signing day..
Yeah Lavin can screw off for bring up Turner being 27/31 from the line prior to bricking those FTs.
That guy sucks ... couldn't hack it at UCLA, sucks as a commentator, and his hair has the ghey!
PJ plays defense simmons doesn't.
I wouldn't expect guys that manage a fantasy team to understand real basketball.
The best teams in basketball have pt guards that can pass and play d.
Nothing I said would make sense to a nonballer like yourself. Go back to your fantasy team and get pumped up about stat stuffers.
hey how did bj look tonight when he was 7 for 7 tom?
bottom line is we are a tougher team with pj in the game. I don't have time to research the stats but I would bet the house on it we hold teams to less points with hill in the game.
I knew I would get shit for that one, but your right Turner should have made more than 50% from the line. Buford was big tonight. I thought the team played good tonight and did a much better job getting out on the shooters.
I was at the game and i was up in the 300 section...
Ok first of all fans were still cheering really hard in the schott...
Second its a tuesday...
Third it is really cold out...and walking from your car to the schott to watch the game over sitting in front of your TV...is a tough choice...and i see that nearly everybody else on here did'n have the nerve to go to the game.
Forth, Is anybody watch the Florida vs South Carolina game... that team has won two championships in the last 5 years and their top sections at florida were also unfilled. Also they don't have a cold weather factor.
So get off your high horse and if you really wanna see the seats filled up get off your couch and internet and go buy the 5 buck ticket and then you can get on here and bash those who did'n go...which would be yourself by the way!
Chris, I normally always agree with you. But I can't in this situation. That last turnover was NOT PJ Hill's fault. One of the 1st things you are taught when you are learning to play basketball is to "meet the ball." When a pass is thrown your way, you do not wait on the ball, you meet it. On that particular pass Buford did not only wait on the ball, he was actually backing away from it. This created the perfect lane for a Purdue defender to steal the pass.....this is something that Buford has trouble with all the time, no matter who is passing him the ball. This is also 1 of the reason's I think he should come back next year. It is becoming very apparent that Buford IS the most talented player on our team, however, he is very unpolished and needs to work on his fundamentals and ball distribution.
Also, Evan Turner IS NOT a good enough ball handler to be bringing the ball up the court the mahority of the time. Hill and Simmons are both better choices, not to mention that I would rather have Turner working to get open without the ball in his hands.