Turner Takes Over Late, Buckeyes Win 20th
Did ET lock up the Big Ten MVP award? (AP: Gilliam)Evan Turner made one final regular season case for conference MVP scoring 10 of Ohio State’s 14 points over the final 6:47 helping the Buckeyes hold off Northwestern 52-47 this afternoon in the Schott.
Turner finished with 17 on the day, none bigger than his 17 foot jumper with :06 left on the shot clock, :23 on the game clock, putting OSU in front 50-47 setting up a wild sequence of events culminating with Turner partially blocking a Luka Mirkovic triple try with :04 left before Jon Diebler iced it with two free throws.
Though we know better, it looked like a second half uprising wouldn’t be necessary as OSU jumped on Northwestern early using a 16-3 run backed by two triples from Diebler and five points each from Turner and Wil Buford to take a 21-6 lead with 10:57 left in the half.
The Wildcats responded by switching from man to a 1-3-1 zone and promptly went on a 9-0 run to to cut it to 21-16 before a jumper and two free throws from Buford gave OSU a 25-15 lead at the break.
Though the offense struggled to solve the 1-3-1, Matta’s habitual mostly zone strategy held steady forcing Northwestern to miss 11 of 13 three point tries and nine turnovers in the opening 20 minutes.
There was little carryover to start the second, however as Northwestern went on a 13-0 run after a Mullens dunk opened the half allowing the Wildcats to take a 28-27 lead with 12:15 remaining. The purple team shot 5/8 during the blitz while the Buckeyes were held scoreless for nearly seven minutes and missed nine of their first ten field goal attempts.
Soon after, Matta and company finally found a solution to the 1-3-1 in the form of B.J. Mullens. Taking advantage of smaller Northwestern defenders at the back of the zone, Mullens scored eight straight points on a combo of alley oops and put backs putting OSU in front 37-32 with 8:30 to play.
Of course, Northwestern would respond with a barrage of three triples (Moore 2, Coble) to take a 41-39 lead with 5:44 left but Turner-Time was already officially underway.
Besides three assists to Mullens during the big man’s mini-run and the aforementioned dagger with :23 left, Turner also showed us a sick spinning drive and scoop lay in and a nifty pull up jumper off a whirling drive from the top of the key before his clutch defensive play on Mirkovic cemented the win.
He did have four turnovers and disappeared for a bit early in the second half but he again showed an ability to put the team on his back when they need him most. For me, his performance locked up the Big Ten MVP award but my gut says Kalin Lucas will grab the trophy as the best player on the best team.
Still, take Turner off this team and they don’t win five conference games. Take Lucas off Sparty and they still finish top three. Talor Battle is a pimp is his own right but not as big a piece of PSU’s puzzle.
Scanning the box, OSU placed four in double figures led by Turner’s 17, coming on 7/11 shooting, with five assists. Diebler (3/7 3FG) and Buford (4/11 FG) added 11 each. Buford also pulled down a career high eight boards. Mullens was the last in doubles with ten points, all in the second half.
The victory moved Ohio State to 10-8, good for fourth place (tied) in the final conference standings. A likely win by Wisconsin over Indiana today (Wisc up 40-23 at press time) sets up a Buckeyes versus Badgers quarterfinal tilt on Friday (2:30pm). If Wisky loses, it’s Penn State.
Etc
- It looks like Dallas is going to live after he sprained his shoulder courtesy of a Himilayan Arm Chop from Kevin “My Mom’s on TV more than Obama” Coble. (I know the story behind it – just sayin’)
- Northwestern still hasn’t beaten OSU in Columbus since 1977. (29-0)
- After starting 2/13 from deep, Northwestern hit 7/14 the rest of the way.
Turner should come back, if only to resolve the turnover-prone label. But again, I thought Cook should come back and he’s done relatively well for himself. So perhaps I should stop being a homer.
Uh, I think that’s the anti-homer.
Well, what do you think is more homer – wanting kids to stay so your team will be better next year, or wanting them to go pro?
Thinking that they are infallible is homerish.
Wanting them back is being a good fan…speaking of that, I’d like to see Oden, Koufus, and Mullens on the same team!
for that matter how about cook and conley. Cook had 27 the other night and Conley had 31 and 9 dimes.
I hope they all come back but could we be that lucky. I think it all depends on what happens in the tourney. If mullens, turner, and buford show up and look like NBA talent should look like then they all will be gone. Lucky for us all 3 of these guys never play well on the same day. All three of these guy could be lottery picks in another year and win a national title together.
However in this economy who could blame them for getting some money for themselves and their families.
Well, I cant see Buford going sooner than late second round, even if he does somehow go off for like 20 a game all the sudden, which isnt gonna happen.
I still say Mullens is top 15 if he goes, but who knows, he may realize one more year could make him a few extra bucks.
Turner is a first rounder if he goes, but probably no sooner than 15th overall, if that. He would have to carry the team to the sweet 16 at the least to go any sooner.
Money aside, they should all stay, but ET makes the most sense to go, thats why Im confused he’d say he’s coming back so soon. He’s a good kid, I cant see him doing that to Thad.
they probably asked him in anticipation of his final home game this year and he gave the answer everyone wanted to hear. if it was worth anything it would have been noted in other news outlets, but it wasn’t because the season is still ongoing. all it means to me is that we will be more crushed if he declares in april.
man, people are all over turner coming back, but i just don’t see it. if the dude blows up in the Big 10s and the NCAA tourney, i think he’s gone
also i’m kind of freaking out that mark titus won’t have much longer to blog about being on the team.
because of this i’m going against my policy of Not Using Nicknames And Phrases People Couldn’t Be Reasonably Expected To Know, and for the rest of the season refer to evan turner exclusively as “the villain”
“also i’m kind of freaking out that mark titus won’t have much longer to blog about being on the team.”
It will be a sad, sad day indeed.
SO!
Who likes our chances against the Badgers?
I don’t.
Told ya ya agree with me more often than you’re willing to admit.
But no, I don’t either. Wisconsin’s game matches up perfectly against the zone defense of which we continue to be so fond.
I don’t either. I think there’s a decent chance they’ll come out playing like they think they’ve done enough to get a bid.
To clarify, I do think they have done enough and will get in either way. Just saying this team has struggled all year to play hard for 40 minutes even when it seemed do or die so hard to imagine they’ll be balls to the wall for 40 minutes agains Wisc if they think they are already in.
I don’t like their chances either. I didn’t get to see the Wisconsin game a few weeks ago, but Whisky has won 7 of their last 9, giving up only 60+ points one time (a 61-50 loss to MSU) and Ohio State has lost 4 of their last 7.
OSU is inconsistent and soft, 2 aspects that don’t bode well for my confidence going into the tourney.
Not sure how the bracket looks, but I got Wisky the team to beat. Theyre starting to play like the team everyone thought they’d be.
Not me either. I’ll second Chris’ observation about the inexplicable stretches of lousy, sloppy play in crucial stuations from this crop of Buckeye hoopsters. Some call it “lazy” play, but I think that’s a loaded word and I’ll call it “disinterested”. But there’s no reason to think it won’t happen Friday – after all, it happened today with LOTS on the line (in order: getting ALL the way off the bubble, respect i.e. not losing to Nerdwestern on our home floor, Friday not Thursday, and better than .500 in-conference). Maybe it’s a motivation/coaching problem, I don’t know.
But it IS a problem, and against a basically talent/size/athletic equivalent team that ALWAYS works hard like Wisky, it’s usually a fatal one.
I know that I have been known for drinking the Kool-Aid and all, but I like our chances this weekend.
And I know that I have no reason to think that. Just like to.
What I am interested to see is that I know we are a very good home team. And we suck on the road. But a neutral site? That is going to be very interesting.
I like to think that we ahve a very talented young team who sometimes plays like they are very talented and sometimes plays like they a very young. I am hoping that come the tourney they will play like they are very talented. And, (this is where mty glimmer of hope comes from) if Turner can continue to have Jordan like finishes like he had against Northwestern; who knows what will happen.
We are undefeated on a nuetral floor this year, so using that logic, we should win the whole friggin thing!!!
Are you a fan of The Pogues or just Gaelic language?
I would really like it if you explained your response to me.
I’m pretty sure he’s talking to me. The answer, anon, should be revealed by avatar. My knowledge of Gaelic (lol, gaylick) is limited at best.
I just wanna thank you, pogue, for choosing a picture where Shane’s not showing his teeth (if you can call them that) – even at that small size, nobody needs to see that.
I had to, it’s NSFW
We lost to them by 5 in the Kohl Center aka where no one wins…ever. (I know they lost 2 Big Ten games there this year but one was in OT and the other by one point.) I like our chances on a neutral court.
The assists to Mullens in the paint in the second half were great and got NW thinking about not playing the perimeter as much as they had been.
can anyone imagine if Tressel gave a speech like this…. what an Arrogant dick!
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/all-groller-urban-meyer-0308,0,2276728.column
Arrogant dick who was won two of the last three national titles. My coach could be Satan himself as long as his players don’t kill anybody, and I wouldn’t really care if he brings the program that amount of prestige.
The question was can anyone imagine what happens if Tressel gives a speech like this?? Not whether Meyer should or should not have given the speech. Sure he has won 2 National championships in 3 years… Kudos for that, but that does not give him a platform to use profane language where it is a reflection of the University or its players. Its like parenting, if the parents do it then it is hard to enforce discipline at home. I for one cannot believe a D1 coach would give a profanity laden speech that is open for the world to hear. He gets by with it because of the 2 championships…. if (when) he loses 4 games again then he shuts his trap… just like fellow Notre Damer Cheeseburger Charlie!
Satan Himself?? Then you are clueless…. a coaches job is to prepare a student athlete for life after college in addition to winning on the field. Lie, Cheat and steal for victories does nothing for the individuals on the team.
So how has Meyer lied, cheated and stole to win two national championships?
…you were the one who said ” My coach could be Satan himself as long as his players don’t kill anybody”……………. I never said Meyer did that, I was responding to your statement….. dude, you got issues!
You didn’t really think I meant Satan himself, did you?
Did you?
why would I doubt an honest guy like you?? You say Satan and I think you mean the Prince of darkness himself, who knew??
*sigh* I won’t even bother continuing this argument. All humor is lost on you.
dude, you obviusly missed my sarcastic humor as well.
IF OSU had won two of the last three, would you guys be having this conversation??
Joke, something Pogue would say.
1. Honesty. 2. Always show women respect. 3. No drugs. 4. No stealing. 5. No weapons
So when does Urban start employing these core values? 2011? That said, he’s welcome to succeed Tressel if he wants!
This coming from the state that threw the 2000 election, who the hell knows whats going on down there anyway.
Let’s remember how young this team is, as well as the depth (or lack there of)! I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, this team has already overachieved in my eyes! I’m not saying their a lock for the dance, I’m saying for all of the hurdles they’ve had, I’m impressed! With Dallas (injured?), I say we dont have a chance. With an already depleted bench, and the possibilty of one of our big men not at 100%…..we would have to have consistant play from both W. Bufford & B.J. not to mention Simmons..! I have yet to see that happen in one game let alone a tourney!
Did anyone notice P.J. and his growing confidence? That one trey was from deeep! Diebler & Turner are beasts…these guys have been playing entire games, and looking good! Regardless of either tourney…I hope this team comes back and shows the world what they can do, healthy & with depth! Danger! O – H….
what pipe?? what drugs?? not us…… it was a bubble blowing pipe—yea thats it, thats the ticket!!!
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3965090
this is what was found in the car
http://www.tishtashtoys.com/images/Products/newweblarge/MB533.jpg
I’m not sure who is a bigger douche bag you or the cops. They really are busy keeping the streets safe. Thank god they got that dangerous pipe off the streets. Talk about of waste of tax dollars. Oh by the way it had no trace of marijuana on it. People do smoke tobacco out of hookas.
douche??? is that the one you use every morning?? what is with the name calling on this site by a couple of people?? Chill out people…. that is exactly my point, how stupid it was to waste time over a pipe. No MJ in the car, then forget it and move on. Jeez…. get some hormone replacement and get off the rag.
Joe McKnight for Heisman!