Not sure if anyone noticed how awfully horrid Bufford was against UC. Apparently we can win without him doing anything and being the turnover machine but what is his deal? I understand streaky shooters which he is but he has looked at several times piss awful. He made one shot for three points and missed 8 very makeable shots, turned the ball over 6-7 times with a few of them being ball handling mistakes. Thad won't pull him when he is playing like this but he really brought them down all night long. I think he is a good guy and has lots of natural gifts but if I'm an NBA scout I want nothing to do with him. Come on Willie!!!
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The silver lining in Buford's performance is that he played like he did and we still won. But damn, son...that's not going to fly against Syracuse.
Class of 2010.
He is worthless. He has Lebronitis. Doesn't show up when it matters.
He was absolutely worthless and we are fortunate that UC wasn't that good becasue it seemed like he was trying to give it away. Glad we one but Wille has to get his head out of his arse and play like a senior or bench him cause we have a better chance with Sam Thompson playing.
BOO HOO. Seriously, I don't get you people. You can't just look at a great team effort by the Buckeyes against a very good defensive team in UC as what it is. Everytime Ohio State has a player disappear, another player shows up. THAT IS CALLED GOOD BASKETBALL!!!!! Act like you've watched it before.
Buford could hand the ball to the other team, piss himself on the bench, and airball 10 shots for all I care. We won. Game over. End of story.
Ive watched all year and Buford has played Huedeni all year! How about you get a clue.
It is BUFORD.
The guys on ESPN and CBS say Buford has to get it together. He is to the Buckeyes what Lebron is to the Heat. For them to win a title he will need to show up and play well down the stretch. I just don't see it.
Yea, he had a really rough game. If WillieB is not on the floor, that leaves a better defender to cover someone else - likely Thomas. WB is a huge threat to score as many as anyone ... we need him out there. Sorry I'm not so jaded that I can just pounce on him or anyone for that matter.
The other silver lining: Willie has never played in an Elite 8 game, so we really don't know what he's capable of ;)
Slightly kidding, but maybe...
A guy named parker for UC had a lot to do with his game.
Bru
Buford did play like a lobotomized one legged sloth, but Ohio State still won.
Thomas is going to destroy the Syracuse zone!
Tomorrow
Buffffffffffffford needs to go see a shrink, I have never seen a guy that lost so much confidence so quickly.
Even if Willie isn't scoring he has to get attention from the other team and be game planned for. It helps the other guys. Who knows, maybe a coach will back off him a little defensively because of his problems lately and he will just go off for thirty. We all know he can. He has been heavily covered up all season by the opposing teams better defenders too, keep in mind.
On the absolute plus side, at least he wasn't forcing shots and only charged once. Maybe other teams will still be fooled the next 3 games into not deciding to let Buford be the one that beats them and putting some top defenders on him.
I am not enamored with Buford's play at times but to call him "worthless" is way over the top. He is a great Buckeye and an important member of a thing we call a "team". Yes, he's had his share of troubling moments and games. Ask any of his teamates if they think he's "worthless" and I bet you get punched in the mouth.
Besides, this team does not need Budford to have a big scoring night to win and they just proved it!
I think we are getting away from what really happened in this game. CRAFT TAKING OVER!!! I know he didnt have a great offensive night, but down the stretch he put this team on his back! His defense was absolutely INCREDIBLE!!! He was the difference maker. Lets just give Thomas the William Buford scoring role and whatever Buford gives us is gravy! GO BUCKS BABY!!!
Buford hasn’t shown up except in a handful of games during the season. If Matta had allowed another player to develop off the bench, he would be making bigger contribution by now. Unfortunately, time for that has run out, it is Buford or bust. The latter is looking more likely but I hope not.
Lets enjoy the fact that Shannon Scott was a breathe of fresh air last night while Buford was out. sure he doesnt shoot the ball too well yet, but he was playing up tempo, made some good passes, and was aggressive defensively. Thats why its a team game, gotta love getting solid minutes from the bench when it counts.
Buford was worthless lastnight, I call it like I see it and he looked like he was paid-off to keep that one close. Hate to say this but UC has been our easiest opponnent so far but imagine playing UK in the finals and Buford plays like that? I am happy that we are still dancing but my personal opinion of Buford on the court has gotten ugly. Come on Willie lets get yor stuff together!
I'm with you breakaway, chill out on the buford bashing. bad game-yes. worthless-No.
We got the win, let Thad handle the rest.
*edit- bad game offensively
I know there's a game saturday, and my ass will be there.
WB had 4 TO's (and 3 steals). I would like to know who do some of you folks want him to sit for (that's a scoring threat).
"It's just another case of there you are". ~ Doc (1918-2012)
Exactly ... there isn't a scoring threat. There are good role players, great athletes, exciting players (Thompson leads this group) but none of them demand serious defensive attention that will help free up other players named Thomas. At some point, Thomas will get the majority of defensive attention and we'll need WillieB, Craft or others to step in to make them pay. Maybe even Lenzelle, which he shows he can do every now and then!
Go Bucks!
Sure, his offense wasn't there but he was not "completely worthless."
"On the absolute plus side, at least he wasn't forcing shots and only charged once. "
LOL yeah...I guess those random contested runners that clank off the rim aren't forced. "Only charged once"...this isn't a good thing. After however many consecutive games, the dude should learn to JUMP STOP. It's a wasted possession every time he gets called for a charge.
You guys do realize he's shooting 33% since that game winner at MSU. 33 freaking percent??!! That's from the field, not from 3 either. That is straight awful. Every other starter is up near 50%. 10 fouls and 8 turnovers in 3 NCAA games. He had the exact same shooting % as last year's sweet 16 game. Just have to hope he gets in foul trouble and is forced to go to the bench because Thad clearly doesn't care if he continues to shoot 33% and turn it over at will.
What happened when WB was benched with 4 fouls? With Scott in his place the Bucks went on a run. Scott is quicker and plays better D. And he shoots as well as WB. (meh)
How many of you Willy bashers were also calling for Matta to bench Sully during the season?
Hasn't every team put one of, if not there best defender on Buford every game so far?
Who on the bench can command that attention?
"In the last 27 years, Ohio State has three Elite 8 appearances and two of them belong to Thad Matta. Don't ever leave, Coach."
Stop questioning Matta's coaching, and who he is playing because he has gotten us this far by not doing what so many of you cry babies ask for.
I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault.
JACK TATUM
Yeah. So... Thad "doesn't care"? Thad is going to do whatever it takes to win. If he had a better option don't you think he would be using it? Budford's 33% is a small thing if the rest of the team is shooting 50%. Singiling out Buford for scorn and calling him "worthless" after a double digit win, as some are doing here, is just mind-blowing to me.
Looks like WB has turned into the Joe Bauserman of the hoops season. He's not. I, for one, am tired of the constant bashing.
"It's just another case of there you are". ~ Doc (1918-2012)
Buford hasn't played bad in every big game this year. He was great against Duke, Kansas (I think going off memory), and at MSU. He was bad in multiple other games.
He just needs to give us a 12-15 point effot without taking more than 8 shots. If he can do that, with Thomas Sullinger and a few other contributions we'll score 65+ and likely go far
I agree with RBuck.
I went to OSU in the mid 90s. My freshman year, we had all those bad eggs in Greg Simpson, Gerald Eaker, Charles Macon etc. Randy Ayers had lost the team (I think they were shooting guns at each other or something like that), and purged everyone. The next year, we won maybe 6 games with a whole bunch of walk ons and such. We were terrible until the Redd/Penn team.
We have a good team in the Elite 8. While I agree some players can frustrate us at times, just enjoy the ride already.
I don't hate the kid, he seems like a nice young man. This is a sports forum and I'm gonna call it the way I see it. That was one of his worst games as a Buckeye and I am being critical on him becasue he is a senior and I think that he can be a GREAT player who we have to have show up against these potential next few opponents. I counted 6 TO's but the box only gave him 4. Either way his offensive game was bringingg the Buckeye's down and the fact was that when he sat with 4th foul they played better with Scott on the floor and Scott is not a scoring threat at all. I'd just like him to get his head in the game and play like the senior he is. We can beat Syracuse and UNC and play in the national title game but WB has to play better than lastnight. IMO
We could go back –and-forth for hours discussing the nuances of Buford’s game and Buckeye basketball. Instead, I’d prefer to enjoy this elite feeling for the next 36 hours.
but ...
This zealousness and amount of negative criticism this student athlete has received from bloggers on this site and elsewhere, continues to amaze me.
Yes. He had a poor shooting night. We all wish Buford would find his shot sooner than later. But to say he is completely to blame for when the Bucks do poorly is not only inaccurate but insane.
This is the second time I’ve come to the defense of WB this season. One was after Ramzy’s column a few weeks ago. The next game he exploded for a very impressive 25 pts and the game winner vs. MSU. I hope that happens this week.
... ok I don’t mean to drag other players into the mix b/c I cheer for ALL THE BUCKEYES. But it consistently amazes me how fans can ignore other players faults, but ride on Buford for every mistake.
• Yes, WB had 4 turnovers. So did Craft. #Swoon
• Yes, WB shot 1/8. Craft shot 2/7 and also had zero pts until late into the second half.
• Yes, WB had 4 fouls … but how many times this year has he honestly been in foul trouble. I’d say this was the first time I can remember and he usually plays 35+ minutes a game.
• WB had 5 rebounds and 3 steals.
• All game he played solid D.
So did he have a good game? I’d say, no. But it wasn’t as awful as people make it out to me. He also contributed on some scoring plays where he didn’t get an assist. Finally, he didn’t miss “bunnies” the shots he took from inside were contested shots. That is all.
Go Bucks. Beat cuse
Buford is great. As a sidekick. He's a Wesley Matthews, a very solid guy to have, but won't be the stone cold killer to carry your team.
Moses Cleveland you are totally right that we could go back in forth on opinions. I like the kid and his game and I really hope the very best for him. I am simply saying that I am shocked how a senior player with his skills could play that bad against UC. That could have been his last game as a Buckeye and it seemed as if he was in another world. I respect his game and I expect more from him cause I know he can give it. I like and respect your opinion but as a rational sports fan I have to tell it like I see it. I was at a table full of what I'd call respectable/smart OSU fans lastnight and we all agreed that he looked really really bad on the offensive side and with a height advantage we all thought this was his game to put up 20 plus. Hope he shows up big against Syracuse.
Calling one of our own who just so happens to be a college athlete worthless seems more than a little harsh to me. I would be willing to bet that those who say he is worthless know the least about basketball. I genuinely hope he does not read this crap.
Kevin
OH!!!!!
Proud parent of a Senior at The Ohio State University
I agree 100% with Moses...
This bashing of our OSU team is not needed, nor accepted by 'True' fans. This is a blog in support of OSU not against it. I continue to see this trend and is getting annoying.
Go Bucks
Rather_be_golfing: "'True' [Buckeye] fans" sounds danerously close to my reference to the "[Buckeye] inner circle," which got me labelled as the 11W version of Dr. Phillip Barbay.
Relax guys no need to get your panties in a bunch. It is alright to disagree and I respect all opinions but if I have to hear someone tell me I'm not a "true OSU fan" or that I don't know anything about basketball I might puke in my hand. Are we gonna whip out the true OSU fan resumes or debate about basketball knowledge? Sorry I wasn't rosey and cheerful but sometimes reality stinks. Now I'm off to my laptop to research what it is to be considered a " True Fan" and see if I can download the Bob Knight book on basketball 101.
So you missed the 7 straight points he was responsible that started our run in the second half right before he picked up his 4th foul. The amount of disdain for Buford is absurd. So to ignore his really strong defensive effort and the spark for the run that put the game out of reach is flat out wrong and not a matter of opinion.
"Who cares? Go Bucks." - Aaron Untch
I'm with Adam on this. Even after OSU FB wins people complain about play-calling, etc. You mean NO ONE on here had ANYTHING bad to say about Bauserman? I thought this was a "supporting" site or whatever. Buford's 22 or 23 years old first of all. Secondly, he shouldn't give a rip what people post on this or any other site about him. Thirdly, he obviously has hopes of playing in the NBA...you don't think fans will lay into him if he shoots 33% from the field? Wait, nevermind, if he shoots 33% he either won't play or will go to the D-League with those numbers.
Thank you REDSTORMS45 for a bit of support. Apparently critical views on OSU student athlete's are not welcome at 11Warriors. I do not recall WB contributing much at all to that second half run but maybe I should look closer.I thought that when he sat with 4 fouls the team played better. I personally thought that for the level of importance of that game he should have put up a better offensive effort and what I can't seem to convey to anyone one here is that I love WB and his style of game , I don't like his very inconsistent offensive production . He is a great athlete and has as silkey smooth of a shooting stroke that you will ever find and he reminds me sometimes of Ray Allen. I hope and pray that he has a great game against Syracuse and I will be the first to recognize it when he does show up. 33% from the field from your best shooter is not gonna beat UNC/KANSAS or UK.
Obviously we saw what he can do - look at Purdue and MSU games when he was nearly unguardable. The frustration as fans is that he can do that, but he can also go 1-8 with 4 turnovers or 2-16. His highs are great, but his lows are maddening. The problem is he's thrown out 5 bad games and maybe an "average" game against Loyola since the regular season ended. I don't know what's going on, but he seems to be cracking as the stage gets bigger.