MADISON, Wis. – Thad Matta glanced down at Bo Ryan with a wry smile on his face. All Ryan could do was give a chuckle in return and lift his hands as to say, “I don’t know how that went in.”
It was an appropriate expression from Ryan, coming after an off-balance bank shot from Traevon Jackson, because it was similar to Michael Jordan’s reaction in the 1992 NBA Finals when he made his sixth 3 in the first half against the Portland Trail Blazers – this coming on the 50th birthday of Jordan.
For Wisconsin, it was one of those games.
“That kind of typified the day,” Matta said. “They were rolling.”
The Badgers shot a season-high 52.7 percent from the field in dispatching Ohio State, 71-49. The 49 points from Ohio State were its lowest output of the season.
Ohio State’s trip to Madison represented an opportunity to get a signature road victory, something that has eluded the Buckeyes all season. Ohio State was 0-4 away from Columbus against the top 50 RPI schools. Wisconsin, ranked 32nd, would’ve been a feather in Ohio State’s cap come Selection Sunday. Instead, the story held true.
But more than that, the 13th-ranked Buckeyes seemed listless for 40 minutes in a defining game.
“We shouldn’t have to jumpstart guys to get ready for games,” point guard Aaron Craft said.
Wisconsin used an 18-0 run in the first half to build a 20-point lead. The Badgers’ offensive onslaught, words that are rarely used in the same sentence, coincided with Ohio State missing 14 consecutive field goals after converting its first three shots. Entering the game, No. 20 Wisconsin had gone 11 minutes with only one field goal. That proved to be little problem against the Buckeyes.
Ohio State allowed a combined 18 three-pointers in its previous two games. Three teams were able to make 11 3s apiece in the past five games against the Buckeyes. On Friday, Matta said his club would have to concentrate for 40 minutes and limit Wisconsin’s three-point attempts. It looked like the Buckeyes failed on both accounts.
“It just seems like we aren’t playing our style of defense,” Craft said. “That’s carried us to where we are now. If we want to go in the right direction, (defense is) the first thing we have to address and get back. We can’t be giving up wide-open shots and wide-open layups and expect to be in the ballgame at the end.”
Wisconsin made five 3s in the first half in building a 39-22 halftime lead. The advantage grew to 26 in the second half. Four Wisconsin players finished in double figures with Jared Berggren and Ben Brust leading the way with 15 points. Sam Dekker had 13 and Jackson added 10.
“This one’s gotta be on us,” said Craft, meaning the players, not Matta and the coaching staff. “If the coaches can’t get us to play, that’s on our individual selves and that’s on our teammates. We have to get ready to play. We can’t play like this in February. This is beginning of the year mistakes and mental errors. We need to hold each other accountable and get better.”
The Buckeyes only made 10 field goals in the first half and shot 37.5 percent from the field for the game. Their first three-pointer didn’t come until late in the second half. It got so bad that Matta sat most of his starters for the final 10 minutes.
“If I had more (players), I would have played them,” he said. “I was just searching for someone who could make a layup, make a free throw.”
There weren’t many. Deshaun Thomas led Ohio State in scoring with 18 points, and Sam Thompson had 10. The other six Buckeyes who scored finished in single digits. Without Thomas, Ohio State was just 13 of 39 from the field. The Buckeyes had an embarrassingly low six assists.
In the Big Ten standings, Ohio State now occupies fifth place, and a tough stretch of games remains. More alarming, however, is the direction the season is going. The Buckeyes have lost three of four games – two to top-five teams – and the only win was a lackluster performance against Northwestern.
Following Sunday’s game, Matta kept the team in the locker room for 20 minutes. The coaching veteran told his players that he was at a loss for what’s occurring, according to Thomas. No answer is in sight.
“I think we all have to go around and talk about what we need to do,” Craft said. “It’s not on one person, it’s on all of us as group. We just need to hold each other accountable more and expect more from one another. We’re a lot better than we’re giving each other credit.”
This situation isn’t entirely unprecedented for Ohio State. One year ago, it went 2-3 during a five-game stretch in February, with two of those losses coming at home. A team meeting and star player Jared Sullinger sitting down privately with the coaching staff is what it took to steer things in the right direction.
The Buckeyes won two must-win games the final week of the regular season to earn a share of the Big Ten title and carried that momentum to the NCAA Tournament, resulting in a Final Four berth.
“There are certain games you remember that change the season, that change the climate of our team,” said Matta, prophetically, on Friday.
The loss to Wisconsin appears to be that game – for better or worse. The Buckeyes came to that realization after stepping out of a demoralized locker room Sunday night.
“We can’t run from this game,” Craft said.
Said Matta, echoing his point guard: “We won’t forget this basketball game.”
Comments
Anybody else notice Della Valle had more blocks than Amir?
Don't want to get down on any Buckeye, but 0 points, 0 rebounds says something about Amir today. C'mon man, show some passion and fight!
Ross still looks lost, Matta needs to find more minutes for Della Valle
Sad Matta. Urban was at the B1G saying we need better recruiting. I think he needs to talk to Sad. What player on the BB team or recruit gets you excited? Beside Thomas. He's gone and who can blame him.
Still don't get why he doesn't get ten minutes a game as the backup SG. He showed he is willing to hustle on defense and he doesn't have that fear of taking the open shot. He is worth at least two 3s a game and that could make all the difference when we are listless on offense.
We suck. When does football season start?
Unfortunately this is a valid opinion. Many players on the team have stopped progressing.
I'm not sure who plays in his place, but, if they're going to struggle anyway, i'd rather not watch LS Jr. anymore.
Its a foregone conclusion, but why would anyone even ask if Thomas would consider a Sr. season.
This team can still (potentially) beat quality opponents in B1G tourney and NCAA's, but it will take more luck than skill, because there just isnt that much.
Also, Wisky played like a team with nothing to lose. Has anyone ever seen UW attempt as many shots in the front half of the play clock as they did in the forst 10 min.? Much less hit at a 60% clip? They got hot, and everyone rode the wave (which was a perfect storm, for this Buckeye team)
WB
I have been saying the same thing most of the past six weeks. Smith jr isn't a D1 player at a place like Ohio state. Let someone else play. How much worse could it be?
You realize Lenzelle has the highest 3pt% on the team, highest rb% of anyone who doesn't play the 5, highest ast/to ratio of anyone who doesn't play point, and the same true shooting percentage as Deshaun, right?
Tommy boom!!!!
Percentages? That doesnt change me not enjoying wathcing him play. Also, this:
1.4 3-pt FG's/ game
1.5 FT's/ game
5.2 Reb/ game
1.7 Assists/ game
0 Blocks
.4 Steals compared to 1.5 turnovers/ game
28.1 Minutes/ game
Not trying to be argumentative, but for a 3rd year player, that looks to me like a player just taking up minutes. Thats a lot of minutes for that kind of production, especially with the amount of experience he should have by now.
Probably just frustrated because I hoped he might be one of the players to step up this year. And do we need to count how many chages he makes on breakaways?
Like I said, I dont know who the answer is, but I'm frustrated watching him play.
WB
Im with you in your frustration. I'm a fan of Smith and think he gets a bad rap. Like you, I expected him to step up this year and he has not. Not sure why, but I think he's playing second fiddle to DT. I'm with you and we'll get through it, that's why we come here.
He may ultimately be a better backup player to play balls out for 15 min a game.
Right. I think he could get those same numbers, with 1/2 the minutes
WB
If you are interested in playing time neutral stats, percentages would be the better way to go. Or per min or per possession stuff.
Horrible game but let's see how they rebound from this. Now, how long until we obliterate them on the football field?
Also, at least Craft didnt try to shoot himself out of his slump, after his 2/8 start. Burford used to try to shot himself out of slumps, and finish 3/15....
WB
This team will be a trendy pick to get upset in the first round of the NCAA and I can't say I will disagree with that.
Seems odd considering we are 16-1 against teams not currently in Top 25. In other words, against teams like the one we would face in the first round.
Let them pick against us. I'd like that
This was a complete disaster of a game. There really isn't any way around that.
I hope matta realizes that the only way we are going to score is by spacing the floor out more. Della Valle is the only guy who can do that. Hopefully he will concede to letting up a few more points so we can actually score
This is the only reason that Ross sees any minutes at all. I'm not convinced Della Valle can't hold his own on d anyways.
I think this team is who they are... inconsistent, near leaderless, and unorganized...that being said as crazy as college basketball is, if OSU can get a spot in the tourney, one player getting hot at the right time could spark some kind of run, dont count them out yet but wow do they need to find something, and something fast.
I agree with this except for the leaderless comment. That's a slap in the face to Craft. A team doesn't have to be Final Four caliber to have a great leader. Knock his jump shot, not his leadership.
Look I love Craft as much as the next guy but if he was a fearless leader, he wouldn't have let that debacle of a game happen. Everyone was listless and bored with the game. Leaders put their foot in a$$ when needed and AC didn't do it!
This can't be a serious statement. The best 'leader' in the world can't change ball trajectory to make it go in the basket. If they didn't miss 14 shots in a row (a good deal were good shots) this is a different game.
I was upset I couldn't watch this game, but now I'm glad I didn't. This team will get knocked out in the first round if they can't figure out how to ball in the hole.
Remember a few weeks ago, when we'd see posts in here that went, "Strangely, I'm not really that upset about this loss?"
Yeah, I miss those days.
It might be time to simply accept that we made multiple misjudgments recruiting the current sophomore class, and that there's no solution other than waiting out their underachieving. I just hope that several years out of the national spotlight, and the revivals of Michigan and Indiana, don't kill off the momentum we had built during the Oden-Turner-Sully era.
The most "loud mouth, disrespect" poster on 11W.
This team did beat Wisky by 10 a few short weeks ago....
WB
No inside game makes it that much easier to D us up.
Sully inside with Diebler outside demanded respect. We need to find something similar. Maybe McDonald & ADV can be a poor man's version of that? Worth a shot.
+1
+1 No doubt.
Maybe they can be given some minutes. But to fully change the lineup you are looking at a 6-game season before tournament play starts, where they would be going up against rotations that have had a full season to gel.
Wait, so you're telling me I sat through 95% of the game...only to miss a couple of Sam's Dunks??!!
Long way to go. Thad makes millions a year I'm sure he will figure this out.
I think it's time to move Aaron Craft back to the 6th man spot he excelled at 2 years ago. He's a terrible offensive player! Amir Williams has to be the most overrated player to ever step foot on campus! I think In big games he can't handle the pressure so he collects 2 quick fouls so he doesn't have to try to perform. Without DeShaun Thomas this team would be the worst in the Big Ten! It's amazing to see a team with so much talent continue to look so lost and underdeveloped every game! I honestly don't know where we go from here!
Welll, after yesterday, there's nowhere to go but up.
"It's just another case of there you are". ~ Doc (1918-2012)
Well, that was a thing and it happened. Williams having 0 points and 0 rebounds is absolutely ridiculous, I'm sorry but that kid needs to be put in a closet for about an hour with Bob Knight, I mean someone light a fire under the kid's ass already, dude's a near 7-footer and he can't get a single damn point or rebound?
There are a lot of places to place blame for this season. The inability of Williams and Ross to develop thus far is at the top of my list.
At the current rate, McDonald will be the better upperclassman. It may be time to start filtering him Williams' minutes. Would be a bonus if that's what finally got Amir going, whether now or in the off-season.
Craft as good as he is on defense he is worse on offense. He needs to realize Thomas is the man and everytime down the court Thomas at least needs to touch the ball once. Maybe they should try to shake it up and start Scott to push the ball more.
Craft, Scott, Smith, Thomas, Ravenel
This gives Williams time to see what the game is like and avoid early foul trouble and hopefully that lineup can trapt and play in transition more.
I feel as if our team is getting worse lol
i thank the heavens every day that i was raised to root for a football school
Trey Mcdonald seems to have been stepping up and really seems much more deserving of some minutes then amir or ravenell. Also della valle should come in for smith jr to help space the floor. he could be a great shooter like diebler and help open up the lane. I think if you can put deshaun down in the post and della valle on the wing of the same side it could be very effective because deshaun almost requires a double team but you wouldnt be able to double down because della valle's ability to shoot. it would be pick your poison like diebler and sully
I know it's a small sample size, but Della Valle is only hitting 40% on the season. The evidence that he's a great shooter seems a little weak to me.
McDonald is working hard--I liked the offensive boards today--but given his size, strength, and lack of real offensive ability, there's only so much he's going to be able to help.
The most "loud mouth, disrespect" poster on 11W.
the evidence he is a great shooter is watching him shoot haha
watch craft shoot it looks like he's a 5th grader that hasn't been taught proper shooting form yet.
True but he has the best chance of being a consistent shooter that osu desperately need. And McDonald at least seems to play with hustle and heart unlike amir who played very emotionless today. McDonald really needed to knock down those free throws though. That was pretty awful
A downvote for providing factual data on Della Valle's shooting this season, as opposed to simply going "Hey, he's a white guy so he must be our shooter!" Real mature, people.
The most "loud mouth, disrespect" poster on 11W.
No need to make this race related. Della Valle came in as a 3pt specialist. It has nothing to do with him being white.
And as I've said on countless threads, the more you complain about downvotes, the mroe downvotes you will get
Sorry Urban, Woody is still my favorite
I agree with you. If Della Valle was the answer to our problems I think he would be out on the floor and not riding the bench. I think he will start eventually, but obviously Matta isn't ready to play him yet. Matta's seen him shoot more than me so I think i'll just trust his judgement.
I'll take my downvotes yet again and tell you that Della Valle got beaten to the ball by every cupcake team we played in non-conference, is not a strong handler, and that he is the slowest, smallest, weakest guy on the court every time he is out there.
An urgent plea to voters: You are under no obligation nor do you have any good reason to vote for us, so please stop doing it.
We're looking at a 7 seed or potentially even being on the bubble if we lose 4 out of the next 5 (which don't even tell me that isn't likely because at this point it absolutely is possible). Don't see how we can pick up much ground in the Big Ten tourney either since we obviously won't be getting the bye.
This season is just uggggghhhh
Had to think about this for awhile; tough season for sure.
"Don't put syrup on shit, and tell me it's pancakes"
No matter how sh*tty the tour is, it's always tough to leave.
You're underrating just how tough the big ten is. Kenpom has 6 B1G teams in the top 14, with Illinois and Iowa in the 30-40 range.
It may well be that tough but the NCAA tournament is what will decide it in the minds of most folks. The recent performances of teams other than Indiana and MSU hint it may not be as strong as currently thought. At the very least I see a higher probability for an early NCAA tournament exit from every team other than those two than should be expected from the strongest conference. If it happens "toughest" will become "overrated."
Many OSU players would do fine on Division 3 teams. Or on women's teams. What a weak team this year. Basketball has really fallen off the map at OSU.
After one bad season?
"Don't put syrup on shit, and tell me it's pancakes"
No matter how sh*tty the tour is, it's always tough to leave.
Bad season that will still most likely end up with 20 wins. Many teams would kill for that
Nothing like dancing on the field in 02...
Reposted----------
As a Buckeye fan, I am an eternal optimist. However, this Basketball team is not good. Not a contender. At 4.09 left in the game we're down by 22. Looks too much like the Indiana game. We don't have a reliable 3 pt shooter. We don't rebound well enough. We're not using pressure defense to cause turnovers. (full court press). We're not good enough to challenge for the Big 10 title. Maybe we can be a spoiler. We do have a few good players but we need a good recruiting class (or two) to get back to the standards we are used to.
as i said after the last loss, we're just not that good against the top teams this year.
we'll be lucky to get out of the round of 32.
Every team we've played who's been ranked, we've lost to. (except michaign @ home)
@ #2 Duke
#9 Kansas
@ #11 illinios
@ #18 MSU
@ 3 Michigan
#1 Indiana
@ #20 Wisconsin
and our best qualitily road win... i dunno @ purdue.....
we lost a shit ton of talent from last year, and honestly, i'm shocked we have 18 wins.
1-7 Against Ranked Teams, 3 of which were complete blowout losses
3-5 on the Road (all 3 wins against teams below .500 on the season)
They have the resume of a bubble team
Not arguing with the fact that we struggle against top comeptition, but what was the 3rd blow our loss? Illinois, Wisconsin,..?
A 10 point loss to Indiana is hardly what I'd call a "blowout." The other games we were in until the very end, except maybe Kansas which we lost around the 3 minute mark
Sorry Urban, Woody is still my favorite
I guess I wouldn't describe the Indiana game as a blowout, but it certainly wasn't close. There wasn't an instance in that game where it looked like OSU was going to win.
we're literly riding on one victory right now, and thats the michigan game we won.
every other game that's "mattered", we've lost.
not entirely true. beat wisconsin the first time they play them.
they weren't ranked number 2 at time... crap i don't they were ranked at all
they weren't. but it's still a quality win that "matters".
Apparently Craft and Smith jr aren't starter worthy anymore? I thought they were the 2nd and 3rd best players on the team correct me if I'm wrong. It's amazing how they were so praised in the past and now people say they aren't D-1 worthy and shouldn't be starting...
Run_Fido's favorite word is strawman.
Lenzelle should donate his scholarship. Dude is horrendous and he has been the king of inconsistency for the three yrs he has been in the program. The good thing about today's game is we are one game closer to his last game. About 50 or so more games to go.
This is just ignorant. I do not get the Lenzelle hate, especially when there are so many other candidates.
I called 11-7 after the Illinois loss. Ill stick with that call but I feel they are a better 11-7 team now than then.
This team has shown an ability at times to have that second scorer but we just dont know who it will be.
I gotta get on Matta a little. I would like to see him come out with an offensive lineup to start games. Sit Thompson or Lenzelle and start Ross. Get a little offensive mo and bring in the defensive guys toclamp down on the lead. Their starters cant build leads unless the other team is screwing up.
Anybody else think Q might be better at defending the 5 spot sometimes. He's long for his 6'9' height and wont be susceptible to the things he is on the wings.
I bet if we all made love later, we'd feel a lot better.
(And, no, I don't mean to each other...I mean to hot broads.)
And if we can't do that later tonight, we can at least get blind, shit-faced, 7 foot tall, bullet-proof, invisible, knee-drop, commode hugging drunk. Guaranteed short term memory loss.
"Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx
haaaa WHAT?! Kate, you're killing me --- funny stuff!
LOLz!
Hahaaaaaaaaa!
"You win with people." - Woody Hayes
*facepalm*
Yee-ouch.
"Success - it's what you do with what you got" - Woody Hayes
Is it football season yet?
The reality is in today's college basketball, you will not be a championship contender if you do not have at least 3-4 guys on the floor at all times who can hit the 3. Right now, we usually have 1-2.
It's just one of many criteria, but right now it is the difference between us and the better teams in the big ten. Teams have learned they can go under every screen and pack the paint against us. It's no coincidence that we can't get good looks within 15 ft anymore either.
I have stopped looking for ways this team can improve because it's mostly too late for that. The blueprint this team has to follow is defense first, creating offense. Give up nothing easy. Deshaun scores 20-25 and we hold the other team to 50 or so.
The story of this season to me is what happened (or didn't happen) in the off-season. I can see 1 guy that is noticably better this yr than last, and that's Shannon Scott. Craft and Thompson didn't learn to shoot, Deshaun and Ross didn't commit themselves to getting better on defense, and Amir still plays like a highschooler lost in the B1G.
McDonald might have made a good leap but we didn't see him enough last yr to accurately judge. The whole team is basically talented as hell so there's plenty of room to make it happen before next season, but something will have to be different this summer than last years.
I disagree with you on few levels. 1. Thompson has and is developing his shot. 2. I'm not sure as much that we can't shoot as opposed to we're afraid to shot. There's a big difference between shooting with confidence and shooting with reservation. I think this is a big problem. Too many guys on the team are doing the latter and I think it's because of Thomas' offensive prowess. You mention that we didn't see enough of macdonald last year and I agree but take it further in that we didn't really see anyone last year beyond craft, smith, ravenelle and Thomas - matta didn't use his bench last year and I think we're seeing the consequences of that now. Honestly I think DT has been known to go pro after this year and I think it's subtracted from the team. His ethic is apparent on defense. He's a great offensive weapon but I don't see him as a team player this year. I could be wrong, but perhaps losing him after this year with allow the team to develop chemistry and the younger players to step up.
Q: When you look at teams like Butler a few years ago, who basically had a heavy upperclassmen team that peaked as Juniors/ Seniors, do you think this years squad can turn it around and bring all facets together next season?
"Don't put syrup on shit, and tell me it's pancakes"
No matter how sh*tty the tour is, it's always tough to leave.
Emphatic, absolutely
Still going to need some shooting and some post play. McDonald with some help from Loving on the inside? DeValle with some help from Kam Williams from the outside? Continued development from Ross, Thompson, and Scott ... Maybe. 20 points from DT will be hard to replace. Those Freshmen I mention above would need to be court ready, not in 3 years like everyone on here seems to have patience for.
We always disagree on basketball. However, we are few who tak about it openly and passionately. How many points do you think we gain on defense by losing Thomas?
I'll try to be respectful here, but you don't possibly think we become a better team without Thomas do you? He loafs on D at times but take 20 points away from a team that couldn't score 50 today? We went down this road last week. We'll struggle next year, too.
I'd have to say we'd lose more than we'd gain.
"Don't put syrup on shit, and tell me it's pancakes"
No matter how sh*tty the tour is, it's always tough to leave.
I appreciate your consideration and tone. I think there's a lot more to a team than one guy. My perspective comes from he fact that the offense is supposedly centered around him and the fact that he does nothing on defense. I would actually consider him a defensive liability after the past few games. I'm thinking more in terms of team chemistry, does a guy with the NBA mentality, Thomas, take more from a team than it gives - do you think guys on the team think twice before they shoot because of him? I know I would. I think teams with 5-8 good guys are better than teams with 1 excellent player and 8 supporters. I'm just thinking about the teams chemsitry and how DT effects it especially with his poor defense. I also intend no disrepsect and hope my post reflects as much.
Seriously, you're singling out Thomas for bad defense? Did you watch the other four slugs on the floor? LS Jr. couldn't guard my grandmother and I'll never know why he gets minutes against good teams. Thompson, average at best. Amir, useless, especially when he's playing 10 minutes a game. Craft, gives a lot of effort, but when you're that bad on offense, it's about the only reason he can justify being on the court. And it's just lousy team defense. Hard to tell from watching on TV, but it doesn't seem that anyone ever calls out picks on defense. I learned to do that on my grade school team. No cohesion whatsoever. The defense has been exposed in the last few weeks as being pretty average. Subtract the numbers from the 10 patsies they played before the league play started, I'd bet the numbers wouldn't be all that exciting.
And it's not Thomas' fault the other guys can't hit a freaking open shot. They're just bad shooters, and combine that with taking bad shots, and you get what happened today. I applaud Thomas for still showing up and shooting the lights out when the rest of the team is afraid to shoot. I feel sorry for him that he didn't go pro last year. Playing with this team could drop him out of the first round.
? - Do we get penalized for this win, away at Top 25 not get credit for the home win against Wisconsin when they weren't in te Top 25? To me, we split home and home with a top 25 team.
We are supposedly a top 15 team. A competitive loss would be understood by voters. Not this, especially after the two preceding performances.
The lack of interior force is really hurting us, as well as the team being dependant one pretty much 1 guy for their offensive threat. The inside/outside combo. others have alluded to would be fantastic. You just gotta have that inside guy so the defense has to pick their poison.
I really miss Jon 3-bler being able to burn defenses if they sagged in on our bigs.
Maybe ADV can be that guy. It certainly is a good time to find out, before the tournaments start.
We did take Duke to the wire at their house...we've shown were just as good if not better than Michigan in that match-up. Wisconsin is a frustrating team to play against. Ohio State is certainly not as bad as the scoreboard showed today. I think we turn it around.
"You win with people." - Woody Hayes
The Duke game needs to be forgotten. That was way back at the start of the season. Michigan is not looking so hot recently either.
Remember when USC blew out the football team in 2008? That impression was carried around all season by non-OSU folks but the team that played (and should have beaten) a Texas team that thought it should be in the championship game was a much different and better team at the end of the season. This is like that, except in reverse.
I can pick better games to selectively forget.
In retro, these guys missed a ton of easy shots/ dunks/ layups, while Wisky was on fire...it was a bad, blow out loss, but could've been closer.
"Don't put syrup on shit, and tell me it's pancakes"
No matter how sh*tty the tour is, it's always tough to leave.
Oden
Sullinger
Turner
Conley
These guys were superstars. I mean like cream of the cream of the crop type players. Matta seems lost without a super talented guy to carry the squad on his back. I have an idea what that says about his coaching, but I'll let you figure that one out.
Our honor Defend!
Kind of strange that last year, players were saying the exact same thing about our effort and coming out ready to play. It was more troubling last year because of the talent that we had, this year I think there a couple of missing pieces. I just find it hard to digest that players don't come out ready to play. That blows my mind. I do believe that we have a few players that have not developed to the level required to compete at this level. We started out the season ranked in the Top 5 and now we will be lucky to finish in the top 25. Not Good. But, we are spoiled. We have had a good run and a down year is bound to occur every now and then. Let's see where this shakes out, but we aren't very good right now.
Amadeo led the team in assists (2) and blocks (2). I think that tells us all we need to know about how the game went.
A lot of vitriol here for the basketball Buckeyes. I absolutely understand being critical, frustrated, exasperated, but why the hate? LSjr belongs on a D3 team? Aaron Craft shouldn't start? Those simply are untrue statements. You don't have to view the life through scarlet-colored glasses to realize its not the end of the world, or even the end of the basketball world. The B1G is a brutal, ass kicking conference and we've had a few more ups than downs, and a few big downs, but keep the faith. In Matta I trust. And Craft.
Losing DT will be a kick in the balls, but there is a significant chance that Ross, Thompson, Williams, Craft's offense, LSjr will develop in the offseason and surprise some haters. Also, losing DT is not guaranteed.
Many people said the exact same thing coming into this season...
You never know when the switch will flip on.
True, but does past failure mean you give up and never try again?
No. But it does mean I am way, way, way way, WAY more skeptical that it will happen than I was coming into this season.