What's new, Buckeye fans? We're a week into March, and living up to its reputation, it has been in like a lion.
While here in the Midwest we've had to deal with snow, ice, storms, and tornados in the early part of this month, I personally had to battle the flu and power outages1. With the NCAA Tournament and my birthday both coming a little later, March has the potential to get a lot better or a lot worse. TBD.
Although March Madness doesn't technically start until the Tourney tips off, the unpredictable and thrilling nature of it is already in full effect, whether with conference titles2 or tournaments on the line.
If that doesn't get your sports juices flowing, then, well, I don't know what to tell you. This time of year is unparalleled and should be basked in like the sun melting the last remnants of snow.
But hey, spring practices are almost here!
HE WAS AN ALL-AMERICAN BOY. Sporting News released its All-American teams, and repeat first teamer Jared Sullinger was joined by Player of the Year Anthony Davis (Kentucky), Draymond Green (Michigan State), Isaiah Canaan (Murray State), and Thomas Robinson (Kansas).
Despite some accusing the sophomore of being "soft", both physically and mentally, Mike DeCourcy describes Sullinger's play as, "The best low-post game in college basketball, a dangerous 3-point shot that confused defenses and the toughness to endure an unreasonably high degree of punishment from defenders when setting up on the block. No college player commanded more attention from opponents, and some of it was genuinely brutal."
As evidence, he points out how Sullinger has gone to the free throw line fewer times this season than last, and since he's attempting nearly the same amount of shots, the refs simply aren't blowing the whistle as often. Defenses have to account for him, so the contact is there. The calls, however, are not.
Sometimes, it seems like fans take him for granted. Maybe his sophomore campaign wasn't the complete domination many were expecting, but the atypical boost the Buckeyes received when he headed to the bench against Michigan State notwithstanding, he's irreplaceable to this team.
TROPHY LIFE. In other award news, Sullinger was named one of 15 finalists for the Wooden Award. Even though most predict it will either be given to Davis or Robinson, Sully received a special mention for being the only repeat finalist from a year ago. With 12 double-double this season, he almost averages as much (16.9 points, 9.3 rebounds).
The U.S. Basketball Writers Association selected both Sullinger and William Buford to their District V Team3. Green was chosen as the district's tribute POY, and other Big Ten players on the list include Trey Burke, Robbie Hummel, John Shurna, Jordan Taylor, and Cody Zeller.
Meanwhile, ESPN's Jason King bestowed Deshaun Thomas with his Rodney Dangerfield Award, explaining he deserves more respect because "Jared Sullinger, Aaron Craft and William Buford command most of the headlines, but the fearless, versatile Thomas is one of the main reasons Ohio State is hailed as a Final Four contender."
A force at times this season, Tank has also been plagued with similar inconsistency issues as his teammates. Still, in the past five games, he has come on strong and carried the Buckeyes during stretches. In that span, he's been averaging 19.6 points and 7.8 boards. Some have speculated that his elevated play signals that he plans to leave early for the NBA. Whatever the case, Ohio State needs this Deshaun Thomas for the duration of the season.
Deshaun's Triple Lindy
THE ROAD TO NEW ORLEANS. Individual honors are not the only ones on the menu this week. After two late-game wins on the road to snag a third straight Big Ten Title, College Hoop Net's Greg Mengeit picked Ohio State as his Team of the Week.
Jeff Borzello of CBS Sports believes that, warts and all, the Buckeyes have a good chance at the Final Four. The pieces are all there: Sullinger is still one of the best players in the country, Good Buford's shot is deadly, Craft is a defensive pest, and as mentioned above, Thomas has been a force recently.
There is one measure that can be overlooked come tourney time, but Borzello has it covered:
Of course, there is also that Ohio State defense. The Buckeyes are extremely efficient at that end of the floor, dominating the defensive glass and forcing turnovers at a high rate. They also limit fouls, which is why Thad Matta isn’t forced to go to his bench very often.
They're a solid #2 seed in everyone's brackets, though there are differing opinions about which region they will be in. Jerry Palm has them listed in the Midwest region with Kansas (1), Marquette (3), and Murray State (4). On the other hand, Joe Lunardi predicts they'll head south with Kentucky (1), Baylor (3), and Florida State (4)4.
GOOD GRIEF. As Charlie Brown-with-the-football as Northwestern is every season when it comes to the Big Dance, this may be, possibly could be their year. Right now, Lundardi includes the Wildcats as one of his last four teams to make it.
However, as Jerry Palm told Teddy Greenstein, they need to do a little work first. Their first matchup in the Big Ten Tournament is against Minnesota on Thursday. If they prevail, they will then meet #2 seed Michigan, who they lost to twice in OT this season.
Those two potential wins might just be good enough for the committee, especially since Northwestern plays in the toughest conference, one with a sexy RPI. The Wildcats should also cheer for Seton Hall, who won last night and who NU beat back in November. If Seton Hall can sneak back into the top 50 in RPI, it will help Northwestern because currently, they are only 1-10 against the top 50. That win was versus Michigan State in January.
So far, 12 conference tournament champions have received automatic bids: Belmont (Atlantic Sun), UNC-Asheville (Big South), Murray State (Ohio Valley), Creighton (Missouri Valley), VCU (CAA), Saint Mary's (WCC), Loyola (MAAC), Davidson (Southern), Western Kentucky (Sun Belt), Harvard (Ivy), South Dakota State (Summit), and Detroit (Horizon).
ICEBOX IS A GIRL? This spring, female soccer player Mo Isom is trying out as a placekicker for the LSU football team. As a senior who has exhausted her eligibility on the soccer field, she would be allowed to play football for one year if she makes the squad. If she succeeds, Isom will become the second female college football player ever in FBS history and the first in SEC history.
It takes lady balls to face the amount of scrutiny and the comments lobbed at her. Whether it's fictional characters like Peggy Olsen or female politicians that we won't discuss here or Holly Mangold, some people5 tend to focus on how a woman looks rather than her performance in her given field.
Isom can kick, as proven by this 90-yard goal her freshman year. And she's a talented enough athlete to host "Meaux Vs!" where she has taken on LSU football players.
Part of the reason she wanted to try out in the first place is to honor her late father, who committed suicide three years ago. She also battled bulimia in high school and overcame injuries from a serious car crash in college. Hers is an interesting story, one that shouldn't be ignored or belittled because she's an attractive woman in a sport generally played by men.
SOMETHING TO LINK ABOUT. The Hurricane Invitational title belongs to the OSU women's golf team... Another OT conference final last night courtesy of the Jackrabbits and Leathernecks... How WKU is dancing after starting 5-14... Community's return a la Prometheus... Classic films subtitled for bros... A guide dog meets Pluto... First world dog problems... Dog and owner reunited... Ronald McDonald's revenge.
- 1 Also, my internet went down when I was writing this at 2am. Troll me away, universe.
- 2 We've linked to that video a lot on this site. It doesn't get old.
- 3 That reminds me of the Hunger Games and seems appropriate for Big Ten country to represent a district whose industry in the books is power.
- 4 What, is Gene Smith in charge again? No Hamsterdam region, please. I prefer the first one, thank you very much.
- 5 There are women who fall into this camp and plenty of gentlemen who don't, so I'm not calling out one gender here.
