Eleven Warriors

Caution: You may faint upon reading the next sentence so consider yourself warned.

Much maligned point guards Jeremie Simmons and P.J. Hill combined for 27 points on 10/17 shooting as Ohio State stopped a three game skid with a 73-59 victory over Penn State tonight in the Schott.

The win moved Ohio State into a four way tie for fourth place in the Big Ten, improving OSU to 8-7 in conference and 18-8 overall.

It looked like the Buckeyes might have an easy night jumping out to a 19-2 lead during a seven minute stretch in which they held the Lions scoreless in mostly man to man defense (or a triangle and two) but Penn State would respond with a 21-3 blitz of their own, against what seemed like mostly zone to reclaim the lead at 23-22.

Giving props to Hill, he camped out in Talor Battle's shorts during the 19-2 run in addition to scoring five points in what was his first start of the year while Simmons came out cold.

Sensing the need to do something, Simmons stepped up toward the end of the half with a nifty drive and a three at right before the buzzer putting OSU in front 32-30 at intermission.

The combined first half contributions from Hill and Simmons (10 pts, 4/8 FG) along with 11 points from Wil Buford helped offset a scoreless half from Evan Turner who simply couldn't create any space to get his shot against the bigger, more physical Jamelle Cornley.

I might be on the hippie lettuce but I think Matta sensed the same thing and subsequently kept two bigs on the floor together much of the second half to take advantage of other match ups with Turner serving as a key distributor.

Turner would finish with a career high eight assists, five in the second half, though the final 20 minutes didn't start well as Penn State went on a modest 16-9 run to take a 46-41 lead at the 12:40 mark. Enter Simmons.

The guy who lost his starting job after shooting just 2/13 during the three game losing streak ignited a 23-6 run with three triples while B.J. Mullens added eight points providing OSU a decisive 64-52 cushion with 3:29 left.

The stellar efforts from Hill (13 pts, 5/8 FG, 2 asst, 1 TO) and Simmons (14 pts, 5/9 FG, 2 reb, 1 asst) weren't the only bright spots as Kyle Madsen also deserves some props for 18 solid minutes. Madsen battled down low grabbing four boards and tipping a few other boards to teammates while scoring four points.

Mullens also showed up tonight posting 13 points (5/7 FG)and five boards with four coming on the offensive glass. On the other hand, Invisidale was, well, Invisidale with three points and two boards in 15 minutes.

Jon Diebler finished with nine points overall and five boards in the second half while Wil Buford once again showed up in the first half (11 pts, 5/10 FG) only to disappear in the second going 0/1 in very limited action. It looked like Buford got yanked for another lost rotation early and never came back in the game as Matta shifted to a bigger lineup.

Looking at the final numbers, the Buckeyes got back to form hitting 52% from the floor while the man/zone combo held PSU to 43%. Ohio State also posted a 29-23 edge on the glass and after checking the box score about ten times, they also turned it over just SIX times.

Obviously, this game was correctly hyped as a must-win and the Buckeyes responded. Now, they take the show on the road to face arguably the second best team in the conference in West Lafayette.

I don't forsee an upset but I like the fact the game will be much more important to Ohio State than Purdue.

Jeremie Simmons and P.J. Freaking Hill...I still can't believe what I just witnessed.

Ohio State 17-8, 7-7 Big Ten Roster | Schedule

February 24, 2009 7:00 PM ET - ESPN —— The Schott Columbus, OH

Penn State 19-8, 8-6 Big Ten Roster | Schedule

It seems like the sky is falling for most Buckeye hoops fans, but a win over Penn State tonight would bring them into a fourth place tie and a chance to control their own tournament destiny.

The Nittany Lions are seeking their 20th win tonight, looking to reach that plateau for the first time since the Crispin brothers lead them to a Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2000-2001 and a 21-12 record.

Ohio State obviously has to end the 3 game skid and keep their season from slipping away into NIT land. I think they can still pull it together to capture 3 wins in the last 4 games, but this game tonight is the most pivotal in the final stretch.

#	Name	PTS	REB	ASST	POS	#	Name	PTS	REB	ASST
2	Jeremie Simmons	7.3	1.6	2.9	G	12	Talor Battle	17.3	5.2	5.0
33	Jon Diebler	11.3	3.3	2.6	G	11	Stanley Pringle	12.7	3.2	2.8
21	Evan Turner	17.2	7.3	3.5	F	15	David Jackson	3.9	3.2	0.7
44	William Buford	11.4	3.3	1.2	F	2	Jamelle Cornley	14.6	6.6	1.2
52	Dallas Lauderdale	4.9	4.0	0.3	C	22	Andrew Jones III	5.4	5.5	0.3

Opponent

PSU comes in scoring 60.1 points a game in conference play, ranking them ahead of only Indiana and Iowa, but they have 3 of the top 17 scorers in the league. During B10 play, they are shooting 40.9 percent from the floor, including 35 percent from deep and a conference low 65 percent from the line.

Penn State is in the upper half in most defensive categories, giving up just 62 points a game during conference play, including 33 against Illinois in their last outing 6 days ago. It is surprising to see them 2 games above .500, considering their -1.6 scoring margin, but they have senior leadership in Cornley and Pringle, which can only help them in a potential close game with the Bucks.

Ed DeChellis will use a 7 man rotation, bringing in Danny Morrissey and Jeff Brooks off the bench. He'll play Cornely, Pringle and Battle over 30 minutes, with Jones III getting close to 25.

Buckeye Breakdown:

Don't quit on this team just yet. It has been a struggle the last 3 games, but as of right now, they are still slated to be in the dance as a 9 seed. If they win 3 of their last 4, it would give them a 20-9 record heading into the B10 tourney. Get a win there and no doubt the Bucks will be dancing.

Due to vacation, I did not get to see the Wisconsin and Northwestern games, but after reading the comments and watching the Illinois game, the season long weaknesses are still glaring. It's hard to believe the Bucks are still shooting over 50 percent in league play, considering no PG has emerged and the inside play of late makes you want to puke.

What's happened to Simmons? Since February came, he is 6 for 21 from the floor, with just 9 assists in 5 games and has allowed Hill to outplay him. He has had 3 games where he didn't have any assists and 3 where he didn't make a 3-pointer. I still believe this team can make some noise, but if Simmons doesn't return to his form of three weeks ago, Ohio State will play exactly 6 more game this year.

We saw glimpses of man to man late in the game against Illinois and I know most of us wonder why we don't see it more often. It gets tiring watching the opposition make 3 pointers at ease and when they don't make them, an offensive rebound is sure to follow. Remember though, the Buckeyes are simply too thin to play man. There is absolutely no depth inside and teams would just force Mullens and Invisidale to hedge beyond the three point line, guaranteeing foul trouble in most games.

I'm curious to hear your opinion though. Do you think Mullens doesn't get the ball enough because the guards don't look or because he can't consistently hold his position. For me, he has serious trouble gaining and holding his position on the block.

Etc

• Turner is 1 of 9 players who leads his team in points, rebounds, assists and steals, but the only 1 whose team has a chance for a tournament bid.
• Ohio State has beaten Penn State 10 straight times.
• It is our last chance to see 11W favorites Steve Lavin and Erin Andrews

With only a few position groups (defensive backs and linebackers, namely) still to perform at the NFL combine, data is flowing in on the the four Buckeyes that have already worked out and so far, it's a mixed bag.

Robiskie has done the most to help his stock, turning in top 10 performances in the vertical jump, 3-cone drill and 20-yard shuttle. He's earned praise for his precision routes and fundamentals and the 4.49 he popped on his second 40 attempt likely earned him some additional jack.

Beanie, for his part, matched Moreno in the bench press (25 reps), slightly edged him in the 40 (4.59 -- though to be fair, Moreno did quite well on the agility drills) and topped all running backs in the broad jump. So, that explains this. And this.

Still, durability is on the minds of many GMs when it comes to Wells. Take this from his analysis at NFL.com:

Negatives: Primary concern -- and the only one that will keep him from being a top 10 pick -- is Wells' struggles with durability. Fought nagging injuries throughout much of his career at Ohio State and some have questioned whether he knows the difference between pain and injury. Sat out three full games and parts of several others (including the 2009 Fiesta Bowl -- his final game in a Buckeye uniform) with foot, hamstring and head (concussion) injuries.

Ouch.

It hurts so much to read that because it's true. I cringed a bit when Chris pointed this out after the Illinois game because it was the giant elephant in the room when discussing this team for the past few seasons. When he was healthy and chugging, there was nobody like him. Unfortunately, we only got to see that about 70% of the time. It does kind of make you wonder about things like whether or not you'd rather have a guy like Pittman, who was nowhere near as talented (though still a great player in his own right), but was on the field every Saturday or a back like Beanie who gave you devastating-awesomeness when he wasn't hobbling to the sideline. I love the guy -- his name will go to my first-born -- but what are the odds he plays a 16-game season anytime soon?

Getting back to the Combine, Boone seemed to get through the interview process by doing what he had to: manning-up and being candid. He finished fourth at the bench (33 reps) amongst linemen, which will certainly help, but as you would imagine, didn't register on any of the speed or agility drills. His negatives:

Negatives: May need to play right tackle in the pros, as he is more of a mauler than an athlete. ... Lumbers in space, and does not play through the whistle. ... Needs more consistency using his punch to keep pass rushers off balance. ... Does not move his feet or hands quickly enough to handle explosive speed on the edge. ... Also loses his balance when sustaining because he leans too far forward and his hands are not inside the body. ... Plays too upright in pass protection. ... Lacks great flexibility to adjust to oncoming blitzers.

Finally, Hartline did extremely well in the agility drills, including the top time amongst receivers in the 60-yard shuttle, which leads me to believe there's a chance he gets drafted after all. Though we've been brutal on him for talking a big game and failing to produce, it had to have been tough breaking in a new (running first) quarterback and we wish him the best.

There. I've said something nice about Brian Hartline. Can you?

It was deja vu all over again as timely triples doomed the Buckeyes in a 70-68 home loss to Illinois dropping Ohio State to 17-8 overall and 7-7 in conference.

Back to back jams by B.J. Mullens cut the Illini lead to 50-47 with 8:25 left but the next few series proved pivotal. After a Trent Meachem three, Wil Buford forced a deep triple try early in the clock which Illinois turned into an offensive rebound and putback to move in front 55-47.

Turner slowed the bleeding with a free throw but then Chester Frazier buried a three after excellent defense to that point forced him to launch the desperation shot with :03 left on the shot clock. 58-48 with 6:01 left. Essentially game over.

OSU did manage to cut the deficit to two at 67-65 after a P.J. Hill putback of a missed free throw but after Meachem hit two free throws extending the lead to 69-65 with :26 left, Matta failed to call timeout to set up a play. The resulting carnage came in the form of Buford missing a leaner after the Buckeyes ran off 14 seconds of valuable clock thanks to chaotic dribbling from Turner and Hill.

Matta had three timeouts. Why didn't he use one? I'm a supporter of Matta but I don't think there's any question that was a poor coaching decision. It probably didn't change the outcome but still a head scratcher.

Though the score didn't necessarily show it, this one appeared to be already in the bag thanks to another squad bombing the Buckeyes from deep. Illinois shot 53% beyond the arc (9/17) with more than a few coming under duress and/or deep in the shot clock. Frazier's second miracle three with the clock running out gave Illinois a 62-55 lead with 4:08 remaining, taking the air in the Schott with it.

Evan Turner tried to keep it close over the final seven minutes scoring 15 OSU's final 20 points but it wasn't enough to overcome the three point daggers.

Turner finished with 17 points, nine boards and five assists against only two turnovers but his poor first half (2 pts) contributed to a 32-27 halftime deficit that Ohio State would never overcome.

Jon Diebler, Wil Buford (7 pts, 3 reb, 2 asst, 2 blk) and yes, P.J. Hill picked up Turner's slack in the first half. Down 22-14, Diebler and Hill triggered a 10-2 run scoring five and four respectively as Hill pestered the top of Illini offense helping the Buckeyes tie the game at 24-24. Unfortunately, two turnovers created by B.J. Mullens not being able to sustain position on the block combined with Demetri McCamey getting loose for a conventional three point play then a deep three helped Illinois eventually close the half on an 8-3 run.

OSU did cut the lead to two on four different occasions in the second half before Hill's putback of Turner's missed free throw making it 67-65 but it seemed Illinois was in control all afternoon.

When the horn sounded OSU had three in double figures (Turner, Diebler 17, Buford 14) but the hot shooting they surrendered from deep combined with Illinois still looking to attack the foul line extended and short corners just as they did back on January 20 allowed Illinois to shoot 58% from the floor.

Once again, Matta got virtually nothing from the bigs. Mullens had eight points and one rebound while Invisidale played true to form with one point and one rebound. Yes, those numbers are accurate. What a bum he's turned out to be.

The three game skid dropped Ohio State to 4-5 in their last nine games and it doesn't get any easier this week with Penn State on Tuesday preceding a trip to Purdue. As I said in the preview, I felt today's game could be the swing game of the season and I'm extremely nervous this team might be running out of steam.

If they are indeed on life support both physically and mentally this week could be their post season undoing.

In my opinion, even a split this week would likely mean the Buckeyes need to win the final two games (@Iowa, NU) to finish 10-8 in conference and 20-9 overall. That should enough but a first round conference tourney loss would likely put them on the bubble unless one of their three wins comes at Purdue.

So, what's going to happen this week? Two wins, a split or two losses?

I'm almost afraid to find out.

Ohio State 17-7, 7-6 Big Ten Roster | Schedule

February 22, 2009 1:00 PM ET - CBS —— The Schott Columbus, OH

#16 Illinois 21-6, 9-5 Big Ten Roster | Schedule

The Buckeyes welcome Illinois to the Schott for a national TV clash on the heels of back to back road losses against Northwestern and Wisconsin dropping them to 7-6 in conference play.

The Illini arrive in Columbus holding on to third place in the Big Ten standings at 9-4 with their most recent outing resulting in a dismal 38-33 loss, at home no less, to Penn State. The loss snapped a three game win streak as Bruce Weber's squad shot 30% from the floor with 15 turnovers triggering the lowest offensive output for the program since 1947.

This will be the second match up between OSU and Illinois this season after the Illini took Ohio State behind the woodshed thrashing the Buckeyes 67-49 in Champaign on January 20th.

The win snapped a five game losing streak against the Buckeyes as Illinois handed OSU their worst loss in conference play since a 19 point beat down at the hands of the Illini back in 2005.

#	Name	PTS	REB	ASST	POS	#	Name	PTS	REB	ASST
2	Jeremie Simmons	7.3	1.6	2.9	G	3	Chester Frazier	5.4	4.8	5.3
33	Jon Diebler	11.3	3.3	2.6	G	32	Demetri McCamey	11.8	2.7	4.8
21	Evan Turner	17.2	7.3	3.5	F	1	Trent Meachem	10.0	2.3	2.5
44	William Buford	11.4	3.3	1.2	F	24	Mike Davis	10.6	7.8	1.8
52	Dallas Invisidale	4.9	4.0	0.3	C	54	Mike Tisdale	11.0	4.0	0.6

Opponent

Chester Frazier and company completely shut down Evan Turner in the first contest holding him to a season low four points on 2/7 shooting while forcing the Buckeyes into more turnovers (20) than field goals (19). The key for Weber was employing heavy ball pressure on the lackluster OSU point guards making it extremely difficult for them to initiate the offense while Frazier took nest in Turner's shorts allowing him a season low two field goals. Surely, the best scoring and field goal percentage defense in the conference (55.6) will use the same game plan in an effort to disrupt the league's best field goal shooting team and second best scoring offense (67.0) on Sunday.

Offensively, Illinois attacked the OSU zone at foul line extended and in the short corners led by 7'1" Mike Tisdale's 15 points. Ball movement around the zone allowed Illinois to place four in double figures and with four guys averaging double digits on the year, it will take a a more inspired effort from Buckeye defenders if they plan to pull a very necessary mild upset at home.

Demetri McCamey hurt OSU with a 13 point, 7 assist outing and besides Tisdale the front liners need to keep an eye on the athletic Mike Davis and Dominique Keller, a 6'7", 230 lb reserve who took advantage of OSU's lack of a true four man on defense to take a season high 10 shots, making six, in a 12 point, six rebound performance in only 20 minutes.

Buckeye Breakdown:

I expect some home cookin' will be the remedy for what was a lackluster effort in Evanston both on the court and the sidelines but it's going to take more than playing hard to secure what would be a huge boost to the resume. I know plenty of folks think an NCAA bid is all but secured however I think this could easily be the swing game of the season.

A win would stop a two game slide (admittedly roadies) and give the Buckeyes a much needed jolt of confidence which is of increased importance considering this game is the first of three critical match ups in seven days with Penn State coming to Columbus on Tuesday and a trip to West Lafayette slated for Saturday.

Conversely, a home loss would send the Buckeyes limping into two crucial games riding a three game losing streak combined with the increasing no-brainer that is Lighty won't be back to help right the ship.

As usual, an Ohio State victory will hinge on whether or not Evan Turner goes off and gets some legit help from at least one and a half other teammates. Jon Diebler was that second scorer against Northwestern blowing up for 28 but those came against arguably the league's worst defense. Of course, Illinois shut down Diebler in the first game holding him to six points on just five shots and I think it's logical to predict he'll be a non-to-small factor scoring wise on Sunday.

Truth is, Diebler has a penchant for going off against the Big Ten's garbage defenses. His four best scoring outputs in conference are against the three worst defenses: 28 on Northwestern, 27 on Iowa and 21 and 17, respectively, on Indiana.

The good news is it can also be argued Diebler is streaky which could carryover to Sunday but I have a hunch it will be Buford, not Diebler, who steps up against the athletic Illini.

If nothing else, Buford is due to break out of his three game shooting slump and he'll likely have to take plenty of shots since he's one of two Buckeyes who can create his own. Buford hit only 5 of 14 in the loss at Assembly Hall but one thing I don't worry about with him is confidence.

B.J. Mullens went for 14 and seven but struggled with the physicality of the Illini defense committing four turnovers back in January. Still, he's a guy that could be a major factor. He did a good job of attacking the bucket in the first game but that was rendered irrelevant thanks to a 2/9 performance from the stripe.

For all the flak he takes, Mullens has averaged 11 and 8 over the last three games and reached double figures in 10 of the last 12 Big Ten games. Plus, he doesn't totally shrivel against the league's top three teams. In four games against Michigan State, Purdue and Illinois, he's averaging 14.8 points and 6.5 boards. Certainly not otherworldly but decent.

As for the other big, I'm not even discussing the regression that is Dallas Invisidale until there's a worthy reason. Obviously, Matta's actions speak for us - Dallas has seen no more than 13 minutes the last three games after averaging over 22 minutes in each of the previous 10 conference games. Disappointing. And my expectations of 7.5 ppg and 6.5 rpg seemed so realistic back in November.

Quickly, other keys to this one include better ball handling from Turner and the gruesome twosome of Hill and Simmons yielding more field goal attempts and the obvious need to improve defensive intensity on the glass and in swiftness of rotations.

I admit this could be a homer pick but something tells me OSU avoids the three game losing streak thanks to home court and the fact they need this one significantly more than Illinois and they know it.

OSU 66 Illinois 64

Ohio State junior captain, David Lighty has now been injured for about two months and it does not seem like he will be returning anytime soon. While it is possible that DL could rejoin the team for the last stretch of the Big Ten schedule and the ensuing post-season, is this what is best for the Buckeyes at this point in the season? While the return could boost team morale and give the team a second wind in getting their captain and top defender back, it also, putting the last two games aside, could throw off some of the team chemistry and consistency in the offense that has been developed by the younger players during Lighty’s absence. Let’s discuss the pros and cons of Lighty returning to the Buckeyes for the rest of the 2008-2009 campaign:

Pros

There is no question that David Lighty was the heart and soul of this basketball team in the beginning of the season. Returning as the only member who played on the 2006-2007 National Runner-Up team (Kyle Madsen sat out after transferring), Lighty had the experience on the national stage that none of his other teammates had. Being that there was no seniors on the roster this year, he was to be counted on to guide the ‘Young Bucks’ through a tough Big Ten slate.

Lighty is averaging 9.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game this season, and while those are not eye opening numbers, they are very solid for what the Buckeyes would need down the stretch, especially with the transformation of Evan Turner into a superstar, and the emergence of William Buford as a true secondary scoring threat. He was also averaging 32.9 minutes per game before his injury, and would help energize a rotation that is visibly tired from the season-long lack of depth on the roster.

More importantly, Lighty is the team’s best defender, both on and off the ball, and would really help sure-up the Buckeyes match-up zone defense that has been susceptible to giving up too many offensive rebounds and easy buckets during the season. Losses against Wisconsin and Northwestern in the last two games can be attributed to these inefficiencies and Lighty surely would have helped defend the perimeter much better than any of the Buckeyes have in the last week.

There are times this season when the Buckeyes look lost on the court or lose focus when things are not going their way. While Evan Turner has done a great job of being an on-court leader and taking the team on his back (turnovers in big spots omitted), he can not replace David Lighty as the true captain of this team. Lighty’s experience on the big stage and knowledge of the game is needed for this team to reach its full potential, both on and off the court, and the return of such an important player to the program could give the Bucks just what they need to separate themselves from the middle of the pack in the Big Ten.

Cons

While Lighty can bring another body in the rotation and leadership both on the court and in the locker room, his return could also be detrimental to the rest of the Buckeyes’ season on the hardwood.

During Lighty’s absence, OSU has seen the aforementioned emergence of Evan Turner as a superstar and William Buford as the second scoring threat, but more importantly has developed a team identity that was not present during the beginning of the Big Ten season (one again, last two games aside). Everyone has settled into their roles and knows what is expected of them night in and night out, making this team more consistent on both ends of the floor as the season has progressed. Bringing DL back now could only disrupt any signs of chemistry that certainly were not there before Lighty's injury, and would cause a problem in the rotation. Currently, Lauderdale, Turner, Buford, Diebler, and Simmons are the starters with Mullens, Hill, and Madsen coming off the bench. Bring Lighty back and one of those starters has to sit. Diebler would be the likely option, but that creates a situation where Lighty, Turner, and Buford may be too much alike or where Buford or Turner may yield to Lighty when the team needs them to be as assertive as they have been all year. Also, Diebler is one of the team's most improved defenders this season and while he has been inconsistent in terms of his offensive numbers, he has been a nice compliment, and even sometimes a go to guy, to Turner and Buford on the perimeter. In a nut shell, bringing Lighty back would cause all sorts of rotation questions and would force the team to have to develop a new chemistry that included Lighty.

One final argument against bringing Lighty back comes from the selfish-view of an OSU fan. Lighty is certainly not a guy who is going to leave early for the NBA, and sitting out this year would allow him to red-shirt and play two more full seasons in Columbus. With the likely departure of BJ Mullens and the possibility of Evan Turner and William Buford joining him in “The League” after this year, the Buckeyes will be depleted once again in terms of depth and will be left with another young team with very little experience. Lighty, who will be back next year no matter what, will certainly help glue together what could be a potential disaster next season, but more importantly would help bring some senior leadership (along with Diebler and Lauderdale) to the plethora of talent that is coming to C-Bus for autumn 2010. What better way to ease in Jared Sullinger & Co. then to have a player with Lighty’s experience teach them how to be successful at the college level. It may be a selfish thing to ask for, but with the season winding down and Lighty’s return not imminent, it may also be the best option for the future of the program.

The NFL combine kicks off today and if you're unemployed, a student, or lucky enough to have a job with duties that include watching the NFL Network, you can tune into 25 hours of coverage beginning at 2:30PM ET.

Eight Buckeyes will be attending the event¹, which is the third-most of any school (USC is sending 11 and LSU is sending nine), but Nader Abdallah, who wasn't invited to the combine, has seen his stock rise enough in recent weeks (thanks to stellar play in the Texas vs. the Nation game) and is looking like a potential late-round pick. Which is pretty awesome considering how he stepped up his play during the course of the season.

There are also some rumors bubbling that Jenkins needs to turn in a fast forty time or he's projecting at a safety at the next level, but I'll believe that when I see it. Given Ohio State's cornerback tradition, there's no doubt he can play the corner in the NFL.

Looking at the other Buckeyes going to the event, Beanie is being viewed as the second-best running back available behind Georgia's Moreno, and you can probably chalk that up to injury concerns. Had he avoided injuries while in Columbus, there's no doubt that he'd be a top-ten selection, but you reap what you sow, I guess.

Freeman is supposedly rising, while Laurinaitis may be falling (which matches up nicely with our notion that he was just slightly overrated during his time as a Buckeye). Robiskie is looking like a late-round pick, while Hartline and Washington are just hoping to show enough to warrant a pick.

And then there's Mr. Boone. After a less-than stellar final two seasons as a Buckeye, his stock was sliding, but after his incident from a few weeks ago, he's probably going to have to turn in a Mandarich-like combine to even appear on the radars of scouts and GMs. Wish him the best, but would not want to be him this weekend during the interview sessions.

So, what say you? Does Boone even stand a chance of getting drafted? Where do you see Beanie going? Jenkins? Freeman? How do you see Hartline's CFL career panning out?

Further reading:

• Mock Draft database
• List of the 21 native Ohioans attending the Combine.
• Combine drills explained.

¹ The eight: Jenkins, Washington, Laurinaitis, Freeman, Robiskie, Hartline, Beanie and Boone.

You can bet the Buckeye faithful are going to be fired up after Ohio State blew a 40-28 lead early in the second half surrendering a 21-3 run over an eight minute span before a John Shurna three pointer with :03 gave Northwestern a 72-69 victory.

Jon Diebler did all he could pouring in 28 points thanks to a career high eight triples and a clutch steal and layup tying the game at 69 with :28 remaining setting up Shurna's game winner.

It should've never came down to a last shot but the efficient Wildcats continued to find open looks against a porous OSU zone hitting 13/25 treys including a 7/12 effort from Craig Moore (23 pts) and a 4/6 night from Kevin Coble (26 pts).

Failure to identify and challenge the Northwestern perimeter shooters and 15 turnovers offset OSU's 29-18 edge on the glass.

The most error prone Buckeye was Evan Turner who coughed it up eight times but at least he was consistent with four in each half. Turner did finish with 14 points and six rips but the turnovers and two missed free throws in the final seven minutes of a tight game didn't help the cause.

Turner has racked up 14 turnovers during the two game losing streak proving once again this team will go only as far as he can take them.

In the post, B.J. Mullens came away with 11 points and 11 boards but struggled in the second half with only four points and three boards while Dallas Invisi-dale produced only four points and 3 boards in 13 minutes. Surprisingly, Matta used Kyle Madsen to chew up 14 minutes and he responded with six points on 3/3 shooting.

OSU scored enough points to win but it's going to be a tough stretch run if William Buford can't get back on track. The freshman made only 1/8 shots, a three cutting the Wildcat lead to 69-67 with :58 left, extending his shooting slump to a dismal 11/33 over the last three games.

Buford's worst shooting night as a Buckeye ended a four game streak in double figures though he has reached double figures in 10 of 13 conference tilts.

The much maligned point guard duo produced a mixed bag as Jeremie Simmons fared a little better than his previous three games (0 asst, 5 TO) with three points (1/5 FG), four assists and zero turnovers while P.J. Hill added zero points and two assists against one turnover. Seriously, can we trade these guys in for a rack of old worn Wilson Jet's? I digress...

The early second half scoring drought came out of nowhere as the Buckeyes broke open a 21-21 game closing the first half on a 16-7 run to take a 37-28 lead into the locker room.

Diebler was large early on hitting 5/6 triples giving him 15 of OSU's first 21 points. Turner and Mullens took it from there keying the 16-7 run with seven and five points, respectively. Mullens threw one down off a nifty feed from Turner giving OSU a 31-26 lead and hit 3/4 from the stripe thanks to establishing post position and forcing fouls. His efforts helped the Buckeyes generate 12 second chance points in the opening twenty minutes.

For the game, OSU shot 52% from the floor and from three land (10/19) but took 14 less shots.

With Penn State upsetting Illinois, the loss drops Ohio State into a three way tie for fifth place with the Illini on the slate Sunday at 1pm in the Schott.

All of a sudden OSU's tourney hopes are a little cloudy though they control their destiny with three straight games against teams ahead of them in the standings. After the Sunday home game against Illy, Penn State visits Tuesday before a Saturday roadie at Purdue. A trip to Iowa followed by the season finale at home to Northwestern closes out the regular season.

At 7-6 in conference, the Buckeyes might need three wins or else two wins plus a win in the conference tourney to secure a bid. That seems like an obtainable but very challenging task. Protecting home court could very well determine Ohio State's post season fate.

Ohio State 17-6, 7-5 Big Ten Roster | Schedule

February 18, 2009 9:00 PM ET - BTN —— Welsh-Ryan Arena Evanston, IL

Northwestern 13-10, 4-8 Big Ten Roster | Schedule

Ohio State looks to bounce back from a sloppy 55-50 loss at Wisconsin as they travel to Evanston to take on Northwestern.

The Buckeyes have won 11 straight over the purple team though they are just 43-40 lifetime in Evanston. Thad Matta is a perfect 7-0 against the 'Cats including a pair of double digit wins last season that featured strong performances from Evan Turner and Jon Diebler. Yes, I said Jon Diebler.

Northwestern comes in losers of three straight albeit by a combined nine points. The Wildcats dropped a 70-67 overtime decision against Michigan on Sunday after a heartbreaking 60-59 loss at home to Illinois and a 56-51 defeat at the beaks of the Hawkeyes.

I fully expect a Buckeye victory but you can bet the Wildcats will give OSU their best shot at home trying to stop a three game slide.

#	Name	PTS	REB	ASST	POS	#	Name	PTS	REB	ASST
2	Jeremie Simmons	7.4	1.6	2.8	G	22	Michael Thompson	10.0	2.2	3.9
33	Jon Diebler	10.6	3.3	2.7	G	20	Craig Moore	14.6	3.3	2.7
21	Evan Turner	17.3	7.4	3.3	F	44	Kevin Coble	15.5	4.8	2.4
44	William Buford	11.8	3.3	1.1	F	24	John Shurna	7.7	3.0	1.2
52	Dallas Invisi-dale	5.0	4.0	0.3	C	54	Kyle Rowley	3.8	1.8	0.7

Opponent

Northwestern isn't the second coming of Loyola Marymount to be sure but they aren't the same slow it down team you daddy thinks of anymore either. The 'Cats sit right in the middle of the conference pack in points per game (61.8) and they're third in 3pt FG% (38.6%) however they are dead last in 3pt FG% defense as well as offensive and defensive rebounding.

The good news for Bill Carmody is he's likely to have 6'11" freshman center Luka Mirkovic back from a one game stint on the toilet. Mirkovic set career highs in points (14), rebounds (12) and assists (4) in the loss to Illinois before sitting out the Michigan loss due to illness.

The return of Mirkovic is a plus but the key to Northwestern's success hinges on the play of their big three comprised of Kevin Coble, Craig Moore and Michael Thompson.

All three players log 33+ minutes per game with Coble serving as the most valuable Wildcat though he's struggled from the floor the last two outings hitting just 10/30 shots. Moore has also been ice cold (5/18) the last two games after scoring double figures in eight consecutive contests.

Thompson is hasn't seen double figures in the last five games but both he and Moore are shooting 41% from deep on the season so it will be key for OSU to find those two in the match up zone.

Buckeye Breakdown:

The Buckeyes come in vying for their eighth conference win but they'll have to fare better at valuing the ball and hitting the glass than they did against Wisconsin to escape with the W. Ohio State committed a greasy 19 turnovers in Madison and though it was a different roster, they turned it over 20 and 18 times respectively in the two wins over Northwestern last season. If the Wildcats control the tempo possessions will be at a premium increasing the need for OSU to avoid sloppy miscues.

Since I brought up last year, it's worth pointing out Turner lit up the 'Cats in '08 hitting 10/15 shots in two games with 10 points, eight boards and seven assists in the second game while Diebler connected on 7/15 triple tries and 24 total points. Considering Northwestern's overall lack of athleticism, this could be a game in which Deebs actually gets off a shot without the aid of five screens. I expect he'll get loose for about four triples in this one.

Considering Northwestern's troubles on the glass, we could also see bounce back performances from either Dallas Invisidale or B.J. Mullens. Excepting the five turnovers, Mullens has been decent averaging 11.3 points and seven boards in his last three outings but Invisidale has stunk it up averaging a feminine 2.0 points and 2.2 rebounds in his last six games. If Dallas doesn't pick it up soon, one has to wonder if Mullens could supplant him as the starter.

Speaking of who should start, P.J. Hill is getting some run in the comments though he's got more turnovers than assists (14 to 12) in his last eight games. His numbers are slightly favorable to that ratio in the last three games (9 Asst, 7 TO). Over the same stretches, Jeremie Simmons has 20 dimes and 15 turnovers in his last eight games but in his last three he's reversed course with exactly zero assists against five turnovers.

So, as I said in slightly less pretty words via the comments Monday, Hill might have the edge lately but comparing the two is a painful exercise in futility. I'd almost rather play with four. If either of these two can simply not hurt the cause tonight that would go a long way in aiding a victory because you can bet Northwestern will force OSU to execute in the half court.

When it's all said and done, I expect Ohio State to come away with a 68-62 victory.

Etc

• I'm still baffled as to why folks jump on Turner. Sure his untimely turnovers - or high amount of turnovers in general - are as irritating as your DVR cutting off the last minute of The Office but keep in mind he's one of only nine D-1 players in the country leading his team in points, rebounds, assists and steals per game. Just for kicks, he's also leading the team in minutes played, field goals and free throws made, as well as total offensive and defensive rebounds. That, my friends, is good enough for a free pass on turnovers if you ask me. It should also be good enough for Big Ten POY honors but I have a feeling Kalin Lucas might swoop in as the best player on the best team.
• In conference play, Wil Buford leads all freshman with a 14.5 points per game average.
• Also in conference play, B.J. Mullens leads in field goal percentage at 70.9%.
• Your ears will get a welcome break tonight as Jim Jackson will not be the color commentator. Instead, Steve Smith will rock the mic along with Tom Hamilton.

Jamie Wood's long wait is finally over. After receiving his Buckeye offer nearly a year ago and then committing five days later, he waited 12 months to make it official. As he prepares to enter the program, we caught up with him to talk about where he might play, his gaming habits and who we shall now and forever refer to as "All Flannel Tops".

Now that it's finally official, how does it feel to be a Buckeye?
It feels great. I've been committed so long that, I don't want to say not as special, but just not as big as the other guys who have just made decisions. But don't get me wrong I'm so excited about it all.

During the recruiting process, which coach had the greatest influence on your decision to come to OSU?
It honestly was a 'no-brainer' but if I had to say one, I would say Coach Tressel. Just how he runs the whole system is what I liked. He hits all aspects of life when dealing with a young athlete not just football and that's what I loved.

What do you plan to study at Ohio State?
Its still up in the air. I had originally planned on communications, but I'm not totally sold. I wanna use all my resources (tutors and all) to the fullest so I may try to challenge myself with some help to get me started.

Do you have a preference as to which position you will play?
I am going in as a safety and I'm totally fine with that. But I've told the coaches that I will play wherever the team needs me and I meant that.

What do you expect to be the biggest difference between the High School and College game?
The biggest difference I think will be the whole speed of the game. I know coming from junior high ball to varsity as a freshman was a big change as well and I'm expecting the same on the next level.

What current or former Buckeye would you say your skill set and style compares to?
I really don't know who I'd compare it to. I want to go out there and make a name for myself though, not in a selfish way but in a productive way that can help the team as well!

What is one thing you want Buckeye fans to know about you that we already don't know?
I love to play video games. Whether it be on PS3 or 360 I am always playing the game. Since I've been out of school I've been up till 4 in the morning some nights playing NCAA 09 online.

Who is the best dressed in this recruiting class? Who needs some style tips the most?
Best dressed, uh, I don't know... I like to look nice, but all of us do, so thats a tough one! I'm gonna give my boy Johnny Simon some style tips! He's all flannel tops and jeans or sweats now, but I know he'll get the hang once I get a hold of him.

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Thanks to Jamie for sitting down and doing this interview with us. Best of luck to you as you start your Buckeye career in March!