B10 Turner-ment MVP? So far, so good.
(AP:Darron Cummings)
Ohio State
22-9, 12-8 Big Ten
Roster | Schedule
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March 15, 2009 3:30 PM ET - CBS —— Conseco Fieldhouse Indianapolis, IN |
#24 Purdue
24-9, 13-7 Big Ten
Roster | Schedule
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For the third time in four years, the Buckeyes will play for the Big Ten Tournament title. They were successful capturing the crown 2 years ago, but lost to Iowa 3 years ago.
Everyone expected Purdue in this position before the season started and even tough they stumbled down the stretch a little, they still have one of the most talented teams in the conference now that Hummel is back healthy.
Purdue hasn't been to the title game since 1998, a feat Ohio State has pulled off 5 times in that span. The game will be played about 45 minutes from the Purdue campus, so a partisan crowd is to be expected.
| # | Name | PTS | REB | ASST | POS | # | Name | PTS | REB | ASST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | PJ Hill | 3.1 | 1.4 | 1.7 | G | 23 | Lewis Jackson | 5.8 | 2.4 | 3.4 |
| 33 | Jon Diebler | 11.3 | 3.5 | 2.5 | G | 3 | Chris Kramer | 5.1 | 2.8 | 2.5 |
| 21 | Evan Turner | 16.9 | 6.9 | 3.9 | F | 33 | E'Twuan Moore | 13.8 | 4.8 | 3.1 |
| 44 | William Buford | 11.2 | 3.7 | 1.1 | F | 4 | Robbie Hummel | 12.8 | 6.8 | 1.9 |
| 52 | Dallas Lauderdale | 4.6 | 3.5 | 0.2 | C | 25 | JuJuan Johnson | 13.1 | 5.7 | 0.7 |
Opponent
Purdue has been a tricky team to figure out lately. They thrashed the Buckeyes by 25 just a couple of weeks ago, but then lost to Northwestern and MSU to close out the season. They have easily won their first two games of the tourney, taking down Penn State by 14 and building a 20 point halftime lead on Illinois, before beating them by 10. In those games, Purdue has hit 19 threes and committed just 10 turnovers.
The Boilermakers come in scoring 65.7 points a game, on 45 percent shooting overall and 35 percent from deep. Matt Painter will rotate up to 8 guys today, with Keaton Grant and Marcus Green leading the way off the bench.
Robbie Hummel seems to be feeling much better these days and with him healthy, this is a different Purdue team. Hummel is battling Evan Turner for the tourney MVP, going for 39 points and 17 boards thus far. JaJuan Johnson had a quiet first round game, but he went for 20 yesterday and if you've forgotten, he torched OSU for 30 points in Cbus and 12 at Purdue.
Buckeye Breakdown:
It's been a great weekend hasn't it? This is the Ohio State team we have expected from the beginning, playing with intensity, rebounding consistently, driving to the lane and covering up the 3-point shooter. Every single player has stepped up their game this weekend and you can bet that 25 point loss to Purdue is still fresh in their minds, especially since they gave up in the 2nd half after numerous calls were missed.
Again, all of us know what the Buckeyes need to do in order to bring home their 2nd title in 3 years, so I want to take a moment to point out another spectacular coaching job by Thad Matta. For me personally, I don't know how anyone can question this guy's recruiting philosophy or his coaching. In the last 4 seasons, OSU has played in 8 different tournaments (B10, NIT, Pre-season NIT, NCAA), going to the finals 6 times and winning 3 of them. This will be Thad's 6th conference tournament final in his 9 years as a head coach, he is 4-1 in his previous 5 title games.
In the last 2 years, he has lost 5 players that should be in his current rotation; Eric Wallace, Kosta Koufos, David Lighty, Nicola Kecman and Nappy Crater, but yet her we are, playing for another title. Thad is 127-44 at OSU, only 7 NCAA teams have a better record over the last 3 years and his teams are 113-5 when leading with 5:00 left in the game. In time, I hope all Buckeye fans appreciate what he has done for Ohio State hoops, as I have said before, the year before he arrived OSU was 13-16.
I'm sticking with no predictions this weekend, it has worked thus far, but for what it's worth I still have that gut feeling Evan Turner is not going to let OSU lose and will be named B10 Turnerment MVP.
Etc
- This is the first time a 5 seed has reached the B10 finals.
- Ohio State's 82 points yesterday was the first time any team has scored 80+ points in the B10 tournament, since Indiana beat OSU 84-69 in the 2004 first round.
- Jim Nantz and Clark Kellog will call the game again for CBS and don't be surprised to see Ed Hightower in the striped shirt.
Comments
We don't need it. But I want it.
I'm so pumped up for this game
Forget hillmons...were gonna need mullendale to step up big time today
I've only got this comment for the Boilermakers;
Beware the Ides of March. Et tu Brutus (Buckeye)
I dont think anyone will question if Thad is a good coach or not. You don't win that many games without being able to bring in good players and teach them the game.
Some of us have been unfairly critical (me included) of his job lately because we see the team making the same mistakes over and over(not guarding the three, and not rebounding).
Now looks like they might be peaking at the right time. If they win today Ohio State should be looking at a 5th or 6th seed at worst. I still think that isn't where they should be but hey they are in the dance. If they play like they played sat. they could do some damage. GO BUCKS!
i guess i don't get what's so crazy about saying someone is a really good coach, but also acknowledging that there are legitimate criticisms to be made about their coaching. ESPECIALLY given all the crap we freely give Tressel during the football season for any number of reasons.
and this should go without saying, but obviously i hope we beat the living crap out of purdue and i eat crow
2003 Fiesta Bowl on ESPN Classic is airing right now. One hell of a way to pass the time until the game this afternoon.
now that Hummel is back healthy.
hey oh! quite a pun there...
good call on the fiesta bowl...
also, agree with the praise of Thad. He is a very good basketball coach and he needs an extension. He has shown he can do "a lot with alot" (Oden/Conley) and "a lot with a little" (this year).
Don't forget the 05-06 season that team had no business going 26-6. Personally I'm not sure where the notion that Matta is a bad coach comes from. People seem to forget this isn't OSU football we've had bad coaches in the past. Thad has brought us back to a respectable program, can you really say you'd rather go back to the Jim O'Brien scandal, or have the Randy Ayers thugs? Ohio State was not an elite program in basketball and for some reason people think they were. Personally I'm tickled to death we have a coach that can get us 20+ wins a season. So stop acting like Kentucky or Duke we're not going to win the B10 every year. He is taking a team of freshmen and sophomores without a real PG, without depth due to injury to the B10 Championship game. To me that's not half bad. I'll get off my soap box now. Go Bucks!!!
Scott... you be correct.
I'm impressed, droppin Shakespeare references on 11W
Testify and all that
Your right we don't have a real point guard. We have two PJ Hill and Evan Turner. Simmons is a small 2 guard. You have to admit PJ Hill has been playing well and when they Put Turner at the point it creates all kinds of problems for the other team. That has been the best coaching move Matta has made all year and could be what we need to get going on offense.
Anyone else notice how espn dogs the hell out of the bigten? They have their heads so far up the big east ass its crazy. I think Purdue, Ohio State, Michigan State, and Michigan could all make some noise. I can see 3 of those teams making the sweet 16.
we stepped out big time yesterday and were helped by MSU's shot deciding to stay in the locker room chillin' during the game...
may it be so yet again!
last Sunday we were talking about needing to beat the PurpleCats to be sure we're even IN and now we're talking about a Big Ten tourney title. it's been a great seven days!
Until yesterday almost every team we played had someone have a career day scoring.We still gave up some long rebounds but MSU didn't shoot like they did in Cbus. Turner is good but don't you wish he would kick it out just one time when he's driving to the hole.Diebb's has confidence in his shot.If we are a 9 seed we will win one but thats it. 5 or 6 seed we might reach sweet 16 land.
Thats why I like you man, you're right even I rip on Tressel left and right and i think he should get a lifetime contract, fuck it, go bucks.
BTW, Im enjoying the hell out of Tennessee going down, they gotta be top 5 in my most hated schools.
I hope Kiffin gets his ass put through the ringer this year, and his wife leaves him and goes into porn.
Evidently starting and stopping a game clock is a challenge for SEC officials. I'm a bit worried that Mike Slive is chairing the selection committee this year. I don't see how that conference deserves more than 3 bids in the tournament, with one of those being the compulsory nod to Miss State.
I just noticed Lunardi has us playing an 8-9 game against USC in Dayton. I wonder if that's just a cruel play by the sports gods to remind us about that thing in the Coliseum last year.
Off topic, who's down for a prank phone call?
http://www.google.com/search?q...
That foul was a gift. Great hustle by Turner.
This team is a walking turnover.
Another gift of a foul. It's Christmas in March.
turner is eel like you say?
The Big Ten seems averse to points in just about everything, doesn't it?
OOOOOOOOO
BJ Mullens not JUST gawky, but also AWKWARD LOOKING.
Don't bring that crap into the lane against Dallas!
Man Dallas needs to start getting after some rebounds on offense - I mean the last two he didn't even contest 'em...
Ugh...Turner is mugged at one end and no call, then he blocks 44's shot and they call him for the cheapie.
Simmons is apparently unaware of the 5 second rule.
at least it didnt hurt us
we dodged a full bullets at the end there... they were missin open shots and free throws
gotta throw the hammer down early 2nd half
Just checking in, introduced 11W to another Buckeye fan in ACC Country.
O H
We shot only 2 free throws in the first half. Of course, it would help if the stripers wouldn't swallow their whistles every time Turner drives the lane. Still, I think we need to attack the hoop more aggressively, ET's efforts notwithstanding.
Got to guard JaJuan Johnson. If he gets going then, the perimeter opens up and all hell breaks loose...
I O!
I don't recall seeing an O-board by OSU. Did they have any?
I O!!!
i could care less so long as hightower doesnt get on his power kick.
Jebus, this REFS REFS REFS REFS REFS business is fucking annoying. And untrue; that half was called as evenhanded as anybody could have asked.
Just shut up until there's something to actually be pissed about, please.
Horrendous call.
Was that charge call good enough for you? ;-)
Why, that's stupid - even Clark said it was a by-the-book charge, he just didn't like it. I didn't either, but it's not an outrage.
heh heh...that little cheapie on Moore was a make-up call.
Boy, those refs suck - did you see them gift Buford?
can the REAL big 10 player of the year get a damn call?
Yep! (see above)
BTW, don't get your shorts in a bunch about this. No one has said that the refs suck.
If mullens cant dunk that he better not leave
It's cool. They went on a run with Turner out. Now he has to deliver.
All right, we've played extremely bad thus far this half and we're still in contact, so that's good.
Defense has to pick up a bit and the Villain has to start doing his thing.
do we not know how to at least contest 3's?
You know who's losing this game for us right now all by themselves? Kyle Madsen and PJ Hill. Former is retarded on defense, latter is ultra-retarded on offense.
Right...Madsen is killing us on D.
my beef is with madsen and mullens. first of all, madsen doesn't really provide anything but minutes...and mullens has trouble playing defense, taking jump shots, and rebounding. give me a break with these guys.
We need a box and one on Moore. He's just too hot right now.
P.J. Hill with the drive! We need more of that or else we're never going to get any foul calls.
nice feed to dallas a little bit ago, we need more of that
I think BJ Mullens is more interested in what he is going to have for dinner tonight than this game.. He's almost lackadaisical at times..
ugh God that was a horrible turnover
We should sit PJ at this point and let turner bring the ball down with Diebs, Buford, Mullens and Dallas on the floor... I love PJ for his hustle and team spirit.. and I don't hate the guy but its times like this that his bball IQ is proven to be extremely low.. the guy just stands there and finds the first open person to pass to and constantly telegraphs his passes.. he can't create offense if he life depends on it..
hahaha WHAT IN THE HELL WAS THAT
Now THAT was an outrageous call.
That jump ball call is horrible. That's even worse than the charge on Turner.
That is without a doubt the worst call i have ever seen in my life
how can it be jump ball when his hands were of the ball for less then a second
That was AWFUL!!! JUMP BALL? SERIOUSLY!!??? EDDIE HIGHTOWER AND HIS CREW ARE MAKING THIS IMPOSSIBLE FOR OHIO STATE.
Worst call ever?!? What the hell are you talking about? Lauderdale was holding the ball like a pussy and deserved it. He's so soft. Not the best call ever but it shouldn't have come to that. He's got to chin it or swing some bows. Unreal how shitty he is.
Amazing Race obviously going for the LCD crowd.
Doesn't matter though. We're wiped, exhausted, whatever. Purdue knows all they've gotta do is spy Diebler and mug the Villain and this one's over. They were just a little better and a lot deeper.
are you guys sure? because if i'm not mistaken the rule for a jump ball reads "if a dude is standing there with the ball and a dude from the other team slaps it, JUMP BAWL CITAAAYY ps, ed hightower sexiest man alive"
hahahahhahaha this is pathetic
biggest difference between osu and purdue is the movement. i agree with the comment above me that says pj doesn't move, but rather dribbles around and then passes. also, what the hell is up with simmons just passing the ball to a covered man. they need to move the legs and get open, man.
Horrendous non-foul call with that guy going over the back on Turner.
How is that a jump ball again???????????????????????????????????
LOLOLOL TERRIBLE!!!
But they got it right on the second attempt. Better late than never I guess.
How about another 14-3 run to close this one?
Ok looks like its time to start gearing up for Mo Money and LBJ to put the Hammer down on the NYK
Ok looks like its time to start gearing up for Mo Money and LBJ to put the Hammer down on the NY Knickers
and how was he not in shooting motion???
seriously, it sounds like i'm being sarcastic but i love these clusterfuck games, purdue is outplaying the hell out of us here but we're only down by 5 (or less depending on how these FTs go)
ahahah lane violation
ET is just a baller
straight up
Gotta celebrate any time Lauderdale makes a free throw.
okay you know what, i gave matta shit for not being an x's and o's dude, but that planned play coming out of the timeout was brilliant, even if diebs missed it
Two huge rebounds out of Turner in the last 20 seconds. Would have been nice to have both of those FTs, but he's keeping us in it.
pj got raped.
how the fuck was that not over the back on peej?
P.J. Hill gets knocked to the floor, and no call. We might as well go back to the days of Jim Bain and Jim Burr doing the games.
Ditto
was that not over and back???
Ouch.
And that ignorant non-call is going to cost us the game. Disgusting.
aaawwww dammit. game over
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
thats bullshit....that no call cost us a shot at the tie.
Well, it was a good run. At least they didn't get blown out.
wweeeelll wait
hell of a run. must be nice to get the final in front of a home crowd.
Yep.
http://tr.im/hoGP
Lucky roll.
bleah, that'll probably do it
he almost broke the rim with those bricks that somehow dropped
At least when PJ Hill fouls dudes, he makes them pay.
pj almost killed that dude, damn
These guys have done one heck of a job getting to the championship game, and to give this Purdue team a run for their money when they blew them out by 25 a few weeks ago is impressive.
def will be a threat on the tourny
Yeah -- good experience and some of the guys not named Evan Turner are showing glimpses of becoming a damn good team with him.
welp, now i wanna see where we're seeded. certain teams i think we stack up very very well against, and i think we're looking at a 7 or 8 as it stands
will the buckeyes ever learn to defend the 3? can't win games when teams are draining 3s left and right...
I'm thinking 6 or a 7
buford and simmons i think will both be very very good in the future. if The Villain comes back next year we will be dangerous
you're probably right, they were saying 7 or 8 before the MSU game. a 6 would be awesome
Fuck. One helluva a run. If everyone comes back, watch out.
Oh no. It's duel time. We're putting it to a poll. :)
Think they would have moved to five if they won today? Four even?
naw, i don't see four. five at best, we kind of crapped out down the regular season stretch and everyone knows The Villain is the only big time player on our team
we should be atleast a 6th seed but im sure they will bend Ohio State over and send them to boise Idaho as a 8th.
i split the difference and voted 7 seed
I voted a 7 seed as well... I think this team showed a LOAD of character and heart this weekend. Beating up on MSU they way they did, and then taking Purdue to the wire as well. Turner is a BEAST. And nice of Diebler to be putting up points as well.
Oh... A rally at Michigan with their coach bout their chances of making the NCAA tourney! How sweet.... Guess they need basketball to feel good, since we sure as heck know they don't feel good in the fall! ;)
Turner is the key if he comes back the starting five would look like
PJ Hill PG
Diebler SG
Turner F
Lighty F
Lauderdale C
With Keckman, The big Greek 7 footer, Olfutt of the bench not a bad line up.
That is saying Mullens goes pro and Buford stays. Who knows I think if they get to the sweet 16 we could lose all Turner,Mullens, and Buford. That would suck.
This team's not going deep w/ a six-and-a-half man rotation (I add Mullens and Lauderdale and Simmons and Hill together and they make 2.5 actual players). Sweet 16 would be a HUGE accomplishment. This team's ceiling got way lower when Lighty went down.
Still gotta love the fight in them though, and the extra weight on The Villain's shoulders seemed to suit him. I think they're gonna be a force next year even if Mullens leaves (as long as Buford stays), but I'm still real skeptical of Simmons and Hill.
Cbs had us at 6th and Purdue at 5th earlier today.
Dude your a fair weather fan. You weren't talking shit about BJ Mullens and Dallas yesterday. If the guards would feed the post more they might do something. PJ and Simmons almost matched the big ten player of the year in points last game and had about 4 more dimes. Get your facts straight.
buford would be making a huge mistake if he left early, he's clearly not as good or as consistent as The Villain, and he's still a really young dude. mullens can leave or stay, i don't really think it will impact the team too greatly given our incoming talent.
i think a lot of our success next year relies on The Villain coming back; if he's back, along with lighty and (hopefully) buford, that's a really really good core of a team that can make a nice NCAA run.
as for now, i think making the sweet 16 would be a great accomplishment for the year, although i would say that given the talent on this team it shouldn't be unexpected
I wasn't talking at all here yesterday, buddy, and if I was, I can assure you I'd have said the exact same things. I did say some of them, actually, at OHD a few days ago, if you care to check.
That said, "fair weather fan (SIC)"? Fuck you.
Layla = ahhhhhhhh
College definitely needs to adopt the rule with the arc under the hoop to eliminate those charges right under the bucket. I hate that call more than any other, where a dude just stands directly under the bucket and draws a charge.
LOL at 'NAPPY Crater'.