Eleven Warriors - A Buckeye Sports Blog

Life’s hard in Santa Barbara.

With the NCAA’s version of the kids’ table (the 16a v. 16b play-in game) roughly 12 hours from first servings, it’s time to look ahead to Friday night’s main offerings as the Buckeyes travel to Milwaukee to take on the #15 seeded University of California-Santa Barbara Gauchos (a Gaucho is some kind of mustache clad man of mystery with an unabashed love for loud clothing; I checked).

UCSB recorded a 20-9 overall mark on the 2009/10 campaign, going 12-4 in pulling a double of their own in claiming both the Big West regular season and conference championships. To clinch the one-bid league’s lone NCAA berth, the Gauchos upended 3rd seed Long Beach State, a team they were on the wrong side of a 5-point defeat back in January, 69-64 in Anaheim. This marks UCSB’s first trip dancing since 2002 when as a 14 seed they lost to 3rd seeded Arizona 86-81.

Before drawing any conclusions based on prior performance (nearly a decade ago mind you), head coach Bob Williams aside, there are few similairites between the two units. This incarnation of tourney-bound Gauchos has little on their body of work to suggest any kind of upset in the making is in the works (as one shameless alum is professing). UCSB only faced two BCS schools (Cal and NIT bound Arizona State at that) all season and a third non-BCS but tournament headed team (San Diego State) losing by an average of 19 points in the three games. Unlike Siena a year prior, this club is severely lacking in the recent tournament successes or playing BCS schools tight to fall back on departments.

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Lauderdale: Not a good time for a Spring Break

One of the weak spots that many pundits have identified for Ohio State going into the NCAA tournament is the lack of size on the front line. Furthermore, they typically point out the lack of production from the post, which reflects Thad Matta’s guard-oriented offense. During the heady days of the 2007 NCAA tournament run, this was not a concern because of the presence of Greg Oden at the center position. Even the year prior to that, Terence Dials prospered greatly in Matta’s offense, winning Big Ten Player of the Year honors. But the man who currently occupies the “5″ for OSU is in a bit of a late-season slump.

Back on Feb. 27, Dallas Lauderdale matched his career high in points with 14 as the Buckeyes downed Michigan. But since then, his offensive production has dried up almost completely. In the season finale against Illinois, he had only 2, and he matched that total in each of the 3 Big Ten Tournament games. And his shot-blocking prowess, which had formerly struck fear into the hearts of B10 opponents, has gone the way of his scoring, as he has blocked only one shot in the last 4 games. Lauderdale has seen his minutes decline during that span as well, but his regular back-up Kyle Madsen hasn’t exactly exploded in points either. Madsen played 25 minutes in OSU’s 90-point effort yesterday but failed to score.

It is well known that Lauderdale is a horrendous free throw shooter, and this might be one reason why Coach Matta is reluctant to make him a big part of the offense. If he starts to make a move toward the basket, many teams might elect to just give the foul knowing that it probably will not cost them much. As a result, it would not be wise to use possessions trying to run post plays when there are so many other weapons on the floor. But is it possible that the lack of a post threat causes problems for our perimeter players?

On Saturday, ESPN’s Hubert Davis said that although he considered OSU a solid 2-seed, he did not think they could stay with the top teams due to the lack of size. Digger Phelps argued that Ohio State would present problems because most teams do not face that kind of a 4-out-1-in offense on a regular basis. The win at Michigan State would seem to bear out Phelps’ point. On the other hand, we saw last year how the Siena front-line had their way on the offensive boards. I still have nightmares about that game.

The question remains: does OSU suffer for the lack of any type of inside threat? Is this the weakness that could take the team down against a top-level team in the NCAA tournament? What do you think?

Turns out we were being a bit delusional thinking the Buckeyes were staring down a high two seed or even had an outside shot of snagging a one seed. Instead, the NCAA selection committee made the road back to Indy a little more difficult for Ohio State when they were awarded the last two seed in the Midwest Regional meaning any paths to a Final Four will have to go through Kansas, the tournament’s top seed.

But that’s not all. This Regional of Death also includes potential Sweet Sixteen opponent Georgetown¹ as the three, Maryland at four, Sparty at five, Tennessee at six, a dangerous Oklahoma State team as the 7th seed and Georgia Tech as a 10. If you’re keeping up, those teams represent the Big 12 regular season and tournament champs, the Big Ten regular season and tournament champs, the ACC co-champs, an ACC tournament finalist and a Big East tournament finalist. Day-umn.

Meanwhile, Duke is in a regional with Villanova, Baylor, Purdue and Texas A&M. Didn’t the Big Ten defeat the ACC in the Conference Challenge for the first time this season? Shouldn’t the Big Ten’s regular season and tournament champion get a little bit more love than the ACC’s regular season and tournament champion? (See also: The ACC’s six selections compared to the five awarded to the Big Ten.)

You have to wonder if the low two seed was because of the team’s terrible RPI or whether geography got the nod. The Selection Committee is supposed to seed in an “S” pattern, but it’s much easier for the traveling mass of Buckeye fans to get to a game in Milwaukee than it is, say, Oklahoma City or Providence. Is this a case where our reputation for traveling came back to bite us?

Finally, why does the Big Ten have such a difficult time with scheduling? In the fall, there’s the 50+ day void when teams fall off the national radar, much to Joe Paterno’s chagrin. In the spring, it’s the timing of the Big Ten tournament championship — ending just a half hour before selections are revealed — that seems to hurt the conference.

The Other Four

If you’re a fan of Big Ten basketball, Friday is going to be a special day. While none of the five Big Ten selections will be in action on Thursday, all five will play Friday, kicking things off at 11:25AM when #11 Minnesota squares off with #6 Xavier in Milwaukee.

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We learned it would be against the UC Santa Barbara Guachos on Friday about five minutes into the selection telecast. Now, we have an approximate tipoff time: 9:45ish.

Technically, the game is scheduled to start “30 min fol.” the conclusion of the 6:15 Oklahoma State/Georgia Tech tilt.

Also, in terms of festive mascots the Buckeyes have faced, I think this is the guy I want to party with most.

Kige thinks your team has no chance.

The mission, of course, becomes Getting Back to Indy, but there are some things to settle. Among them:

Which one seed will the Buckeyes draw? With Duke and West Virginia winning their conference tourneys, you have to think the Buckeyes’ odds of getting a one seed is around 2% (despite the insane finish and the team’s sterling record with a healthy ET in the lineup). Assuming they get a two, who will they get paired up with? Syracuse looks vulnerable and the chance to beat down Duke is appetizing.

How many Big Ten teams will make the field? Four are definitely in: Ohio State, Purdue, Michigan State and Wisconsin. But what about Minnesota and Illinois? Is there room for one? Both?

Do you have what it takes to emerge on top? Don’t forget to fill out your bracket in the 11W Tournament Challenge. Bragging rights and an awesome 1960s Championship Box Set from Homage are on the line.

Evan Turner crossed out the competition with back to back 31 point outbursts. (J. Daniel / Getty)

Get your brooms out.

Ohio State clinched a sweep of the regular and postseason conference championships with a 90-61 soul stealing against the overmatched Minnesota Golden Gophers this afternoon in Indianapolis. The win still probably doesn’t land the Buckeyes a #1 seed in the Dance but it assures a #2.

Evan Turner wrapped up MVP honors with a 31 point, 12 rebound, six assist performance giving him back to back 31 point games. Turner had plenty of help as David Lighty played a fantastic game finishing with 20 points, eight boards and fve dimes and Jon Diebler stood out recording 19 points and playing some excellent defense on Minnesota’s three point bomber, Blake Hoffarber (0/3, 0 pts).

Leading just 42-40 at the 13:42 mark, Ohio State unleashed one of their patented runs, this time a 20-5 blitz, pushing the Buckeyes to a 65-45 lead with 7:12 remaining. The run was the ET, D-Light and Diebs show. Turner scored the first five points with a baseline j and a triple from the top of the circle then Lighty took a turn scoring six straight on an array of determined drives to the rack. Diebler then hit a trey and Lighty added one of his own before Diebs drained another to complete the onslaught.

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Obligatory

It’s been a hell of a weekend and it’s going to take some kind of awesome to top the first two games. The bad blood between the two teams adds some spice, as does the opportunity to complete the Big Ten’s first full house, so we certainly have a chance.

Any and all references to Luke Witte and 1972 are welcome in the comments below.