Once more. Because it's awesome.A day later and surprise at the ease of the Buckeyes' huge win in Champaign still hasn't leveled off. It's clear that this team is starting to click and will be a force come tournament time, but the week ahead is everything in terms of deciding the Big Ten championship.
First up, Purdue on Wednesday. The Boilers, streaking in their own right with a seven game conference winning streak, will be looking for revenge from the stunner in Mackey. Or, as we like to call it, the night Evan Turner took Robbie Hummel's manhood. JaJuan Johnson didn't help the home team's cause in that one, settling for four points, but he's been the catalyst for Purdue's run, averaging 19.
On Sunday, Matta's crew takes on Sparty at the Breslin Center in what could very well be the de facto regular season championship game. The Buckeyes only have two wins in East Lansing in the past ten years and the reigning Big Ten Player of the Year, Kalin Lucas, has returned from his ankle injury and dealing recovery damage, so this certainly isn't one you're expecting to win. But, Turner and his teammates handled Michigan State the last time they met (albeit on a neutral court in the Big Ten tournament last March) the way the season started, I feel like I'm playing with house money right now.
I'm feeling so good, that I'm scanning the landscape and having a hard time finding a dominant team in the field for the NCAA tourney. Ohio State is probably looking at between a two and a five seed, depending on how things break, but when Diebler, Lighty and Lauderdale are on, that's a dangerous starting five.
Whatever happens, there will be a party.
The incredibly entertaining career of Mark Titus is coming to an end with Senior Night on March 2nd against the Illini. Following the game, he'll go under the knife for knee surgery and three months after that, he'll be soaking the IBA, or other such comparable league with his mid-range jumper.
To celebrate his greatness, he's hosting a Club Trillion Farewell Party at The Big Bang on the 27th. You don't need me to tell you that dueling pianos + Mark Titus = a night full of win.
If you need further encouragement, look no further than the invite:
Do you want to be a jealous doucher that only looks at pictures of the event but doesn't go to it themselves? Didn't think so. Even if you're not from Columbus, make the drive or catch a flight. It's what America would want.
The Ginn Way
CBS Sunday Morning ran a feel-good feature on the work Ted Ginn Sr. is doing at his Glenville Academy. We know he cranks out football talent (and his 2010 team might be the best yet) and it's a focus of the piece, but it's nice to see the other side of his work touched upon.
The falling Wolverine over Armen Keteyian's head during the interview sessions was a nice touch as well.
Your Monday Appreciation Session
It's easy around these parts to get caught up in commiserating and recriminations, especially after heartbreakers on the football field, but are we not living in the golden era of Buckeye athletics? The football team just won another conference championship, as did the lady hoopsters, claiming an unprecedented sixth straight and the men are in position as well. I can remember marveling in 2007 after the three pulled off the first-ever league sweep of the three sports. And here we are in great position to do it again.
Comments
Good article. Two minor things--the Purdue game is actually on Wednesday (not Tuesday) and the MSU game is actualy on Sunday (not Saturday).
Great Video on Pappa Ginn!!
The link to The Villain's tweet is a little disturbing. I realize he is still a kid and playing like a man, but he just called out The Illini as The Valentine's Day Massacre. It is possible that The Bucks could play them in the B10 Tourney and I hope he can back it up. I am just tired of all the calling attention to yourself crap. Why can't athlete's today just play, get it done and get on the bus and go home? Another example is Buford's attempt at the roundhouse dunk that he missed against a feeble IU team. Matta should have benched his butt for that bush league attempt, even if he made it. They could put together a very nice run, but please...just play...and a little humility along with it will make it more fun to watch.
done
Also, the Titus video while funny and impressive, I could have done without the intro where he refers to everyone and MotherFers.
BUSH LEAGUE.
MotherFers is funny, but there is a time and place for it. Not sure that was the place, while representing Ohio State University.
Relax Buckeye20, these are 19-22 year olds just having a little fun after putting in a season's length of hard work. As long as they stay focused and play hard then let them have fun.
Buckeye20, do you want to tell us to get off your lawn while you're at it?
No Matt, you can play on my lawn if you like.
I hate to be a Debbie Downer but this is just not a team I can get excited for. No true point guard, no good big man, and a lineup that is legitimately only 7 deep. That adds up to a 2nd round exit as a 5 seed and sweet 16 at best as something higher.
I'd love to be proved wrong but they remind me of a lot of Duke teams over the past 10 years without all the acclaim. Short benches generally = death.
And you guys thought I was the nattering nabob of negativity.
That may be true, but there something special can happen when you know that your team has the best player on the court no matter who they are playing.
I would be happy with a hoops reputation like Dukes.
But if you hit your baseball into his yard, your NEVER getting it back
Yes he would. I played baseball at Ohio State and would never keep Matt's baseball.
We are living in the golden age of Buckeye athletics, you can differentiate between long time fans and post-2002 fans by the comments. Lots of post- Tempe Bucknuts runnin around these days. Lots of them went back to whoever they we're rooting for in the last few years. But, when we hoist the crystal this january, they be back, another quailude and i'll love you in the mornin'!
Never saw more OSU propaganda then the year or two after the MNC.
With all due respect Slippy, Evan Turner is enough to get you excited about this team. He is a true point guard, Luaderdale is playing great right now and they can win out with just 7 players. They've won 9 straight conference games and almost pulled one off in Morgantown. If Turner doesn't get hurt, this team could be sitting in the top 7 right now, I don't know what more you can ask for in a football crazed town.
IMO, there are only a handful of teams that could give this team trouble come NCAA tourney time, so I expect them to battle for an Elite 8 position.
Buckeye20, that's great that you played for the baseball team, but you don't have to rub it in our faces on 11W. That's the problem with former Ohio State athletes these days. Why can’t a former athlete today just post on 11W, get it done and go about their day without making the rest of us non-OSU former athletes feel like slobs? A little humility along with it will make former OSU athletes blog comments that much more fun to read.
Anyone that can't get excited about this team, just can't get excited about anything.
You have the best player in the nation to watch everygame in Turner. A potential up and coming star in Buford. David Lightly has continually gotten better throughout the season. Diebler can get as hot as anyone in the country, granted he can disappear as well. Even Dallas Lauderdale is really coming into his own. Leads the league in block shots and finishes as strong as anyone in the league.
This team can win the Big Ten, and come tourney time they could be very scary. When you have a guy that can single handedly take over a game, that is very dangerous in a one and done!
I hate to be overly optimistic, but this team reminds me a lot of the Syracuse team with Carmelo Anthony. I wouldn't be shocked to see this team make a run at the Final 4.
I just can't understand how anyone can think this team isn't worth getting excited about?
Spiro Agnew? I thought you were dead!
Geez Matt, don't get so upset.
I'm fookin' excited. This team is quick, nasty, tenacious, and really looks like it could make a ton of noise in March. The 'group of death' run this week will be telling. If they win out...hot damn! It WILL be tough, Purdue wants our head on a stake and Sparty is..well..Sparty.
As for Buckeye20's little conniption, maybe The Villain was having a little fun at the expense of his high school teammate/friend? I bet there was a little talking going on prior to that game, one side backed it up the other didn't. Such is life.
from SBN:
Jon Diebler has had his right wrist X-rayed twice in the past 24 hours and it is immobilized in a splint, coach Thad Matta said today when asked about the junior guard rubbing the wrist after falling on it late in the win at Illinois on Sunday.
"It was not broken," Matta said during the Big Ten coaches teleconference. "We X-rayed it last night when we got back and then they did another X-ray today and the X-ray was negative. They’ve got him in a splint immobilizing it today, but everything is full go and hopefully, as the day wears on, we’ll get him in for treatment and more movement."
Turner is a SF playing PG. He's a great player yes but come tourney time we can't rely on one guy to carry the team against every team's best for 2 games a weekend. I know the other guys have been stepping up but they've also hit their lows at times.
I'd like to ask for a Center. As 'great' as Lauderdale can play he has a ceiling. His offensive skills are few and far between, and for our biggest guy to be 6'8'' and average less than 10 boards a game (partially defensive scheme problem) isn't a great recipe for tourney success.
All it's going to take is a few quick fouls on Turner. If the team gets down then they get into hurl 3 point mode and the margin gets bigger.
I'm not saying I'm an expert but I've been around basketball a long time and I don't see it.
I'll sure as hell still root my ass off for them, however.
"Turner is a SF playing PG."
Works pretty well for the Cavs, too.
I agree with the need for a "great" center, but I think Dallas has been effective. As for Turner, I think he has developed into a PG and will play that position at the next level.