Eleven Warriors

The scenery was much different. Instead of breathtaking seaside views, there were luxury suites. But there also wasn’t a slick surface.

Who'da thunk Value City Arena could outshine a U.S. Naval aircraft carrier?

Three-point threat. 

After Ohio State’s picturesque season opener on the deck of the USS Yorktown in Mt. Pleasant, S.C., was scrapped Friday night due to condensation on the court, the Buckeyes finally got their 2012-13 season under way – albeit 43 hours later than expected – defeating UAlbany, 82-60, in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic.

Ohio State’s scoring also took a respite. The Buckeyes missed their first five shots from the field and didn’t score until nearly three minutes had passed. But once Aaron Craft hit a three-pointer from the top of the key, it was only a matter of time before Ohio State took hold of the overmatched Great Danes.

Craft’s initial three was a harbinger of things to come. Already well known for his defensive skills, Craft set out during the offseason to improve on his offense and make himself a more all-around player. Consider the mission accomplished.

“After the season that was one of the biggest things we talked about,” Craft said. “We put a lot of effort in having guys shooting behind screens. My teammates have to trust me to make those shots, and I feel like I earned their confidence in the summer and fall. It’s not hard to knock down wide-open shots when you have great players around you.”

Craft finished with career highs in points with 20 and made three-pointers with five. He also dished out seven assists.

UAlbany guard Mike Black equals production.

#4 Ohio State 0-0, 0-0 Big Ten Roster | Schedule

November 11, 2012 2:00 PM ET - BTN.com —— The Schott Columbus, OH

Albany 1-0, 0-0 AEC Roster | Schedule

This time Ohio State might actually play its season opener.

In what was supposed to be a memorable start to the 2012-13 season, Ohio State and Marquette instead were left wondering what could have been. The second edition of the Carrier Classic was still memorable but for all the wrong reasons. At least in regards to the game that wasn’t meant to be.

As the teams were about to tipoff on the flight deck of the USS Yorktown in Mt. Pleasant, S.C., Friday night, condensation appeared in several areas of the court nearest to the ocean. After an hour of attempts to wipe up the moisture, the game was cancelled.

Two hours later, further down the Atlantic Coast, in Jacksonville, the Florida-Georgetown game onboard the USS Bataan was halted at halftime for the same issue.

Extra mops aren’t likely to be needed this afternoon in Value City Arena when Ohio State finally begins its season versus UAlbany. Nor is condensation expected to be an issue in San Diego today when Syracuse and San Diego State play on the USS Midway.

Still, the objective of the event was completed. Two basketball games – the Ohio State women lost to Notre Dame in the first game – were playing second fiddle to raising money and honoring United States servicemen and women.

“We’ll play anywhere, anytime in this type of event for this type of purpose,” Marquette head coach Buzz Williams said.

After two days filled with thanking troops for protecting the country and allowing the teams to play the very game they love, Ohio State and Marquette return to normalcy. The Buckeyes must do their best to compensate for the wacky schedule.

In the chaos after Friday’s cancellation, Matta said he didn’t know when Ohio State would practice on Saturday, but that the team would definitely be in the gym.

They’ll be indoors today, too. And the only time they’ll be on their hands and knees is when they go after a loose ball.

Few teams test linebackers like the Wisconsin Badgers. They field two physical running backs behind an offensive line that is equally as tall as they are wide and strong. And they run right at you. It’s the very definition of smash mouth, Midwestern football. 

Captain Etienne Sabino is ready for a triumphant return.

Two years ago, undefeated and No. 1 Ohio State went to Madison and came away with a resounding loss, sending the Buckeyes’ national title hopes tumbling. Wisconsin returned the opening kickoff, which didn’t help. But neither did the 179 rushing yards and three touchdowns that John Clay and James White ran for.

The week before, Ohio State was dealt a blow when “Star” Tyler Moeller suffered a torn pectoral muscle. Wisconsin’s elimination of the Buckeyes’ linebackers with a complex scheme that took them out of the game contributed to the Badgers’ offensive onslaught. Without linebackers, stopping Wisconsin’s vaunted rushing attack is all but hopeless.

“You have to have your weight up to tackle Montee Ball,” sophomore linebacker Ryan Shazier said. “And they have one of the best lines in college football.”

That’s why the confidence surrounding linebacker Etienne Sabino’s progress from a broken fibula in his lower right leg is so encouraging for Ohio State. The senior captain was injured in the first half against Nebraska on Oct. 6. Six weeks later, he is slated to not only play against the Badgers but start.

“He’s had two good days (of practice),” head coach Urban Meyer said Wednesday. “He’s still got a bit of a limp, but he’s practicing. As a matter of fact, he’s running with the first-team defense.”

For many years, if you had to unwillingly be awake at 7:00 A.M., there was always one upside: a Saved by the Bell rerun would be on TBS. Unfortunately that time slot is now occupied by a My Name is Earl/Home Improvement block, but it was a comforting bit of nostalgia to be able to eat breakfast and, with heavy-lidded eyes, watch the cheesy exploits of Zack Morris and company. 

Hey hey hey, what is going on here?

Unless, that is, the unthinkable happened and you turned on the TV to discover that—oh god, no!—a Tori episode was airing (a Wilhelm scream is implied here).

Even worse than installments of Good Morning, Miss Bliss or Saved by the Bell: The College Years, which were at least set at different locations, Tori episodes were nothing but a bastardized version of the show at its prime. 

Minus Kelly and Jessie—neither of whom were ever mentioned in the Tori bizarro world—SBTB lost two of its archetypes that couldn't be replaced with "the biker chick." And granted, the six main characters were all kind of awful people in their own right, but as a group, it somehow worked. Without the opposites attract, give-and-take between Slater and Jessie, and Zack's stalkerish behavior of Kelly that no one cared about because he managed to be sorta charming about it, there was no Zack Attack, caffeine pills, murder mysteries, The Attic, homeless blondes, or overnight stays at the mall.

Instead, we got Zack being part of a doo-wop group and falling for Slater's sister in her one and only appearance on the show, Zack delivering the Beldings' baby in an elevator during an earthquake, and Screech singing "Home at Our School" to the tune of "Home on the Range." Man, those suuuuuuuucked.

And that's what the Big Ten is when Ohio State has the week off: a Tori episode. 

While the Buckeyes were sitting back and laughing at the rest of the conference, they earned at least a share of the Leaders Division, who will be represented by Wisconsin in Indianapolis, as if there was ever any doubt about that. 

Elsewhere, Michigan Mr. Magoo'd their way to an OT victory, Purdue and Iowa spared their victims viewer(s) by narrowly avoiding OT, the officials continued their spiteful vendetta against Penn State, and Minnesota is now bowl eligible. Minnesota!

I know you're probably so excited, so excited, so scared to read recaps of the games, but hey, don't be scared! Listen, we'll get through this.

Georgia tries to become Gene Chizik's final SEC opponent, Oregon will try to put up Nintendo numbers on Cal (and they will) and the ABC primetime matchup features Manti Te'o going against a Jim Bollman offensive line. Should be morbid.

Young Johnny Manziel makes his first trip to Tuscaloosa. Will he get processed?

On our deathbed, we'll regret not organizing busloads of Buckeye-turned-Hoosier backers for the trip to Bloomington today.

Bret Bielema's tears are going to taste so, so sweet.

The pomp and circumstance surrounding the Carrier Classic onboard the USS Yorktown was akin to the Final Four. But condensation on the court as tipoff neared put a damper on the festivities. 

The masses trying to clean the court.

An hour after the initial delay, Mike Whalen, director of Morale Entertainment, decided the risks of playing weren’t worth it. Ultimately, the health of the student-athletes was the reason for the cancellation.

Several Marquette players slid from near half-court to the three-point line just prior to the scheduled 7 p.m. tipoff. The only area of the court affected was the end nearest to the ocean.

Volunteers working at the game, Ohio State and Marquette team managers and even players from both teams helped towel off the floor. But after another 20-minute runoff the condensation had not dissipated.

A contingency plan was comprised prior to the event, but it was too late to execute it. If inclement weather was in the forecast, the teams were going to play at the Citadel, located less than 15 miles from the Yorktown.

The Ohio State and Notre Dame women’s teams played at 4 p.m. and had minor issues with slippery spots on the court. Ohio State lost, 57-51.

Whalen said the warm, sunny day actually contributed to the problems for the men’s game. Because the court warmed up so much, the moisture was produced much more easily when the sun went down.