Want to hear a crazy stat?
Before this season, Bo Ryan had lost just 11 games at the Kohl Center while head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers. His record in Big Ten play? 78-6. In ten years.
This season has been a completely different story, however. Thanks to Ohio State's 58-52 win on Saturday afternoon, the Badgers have now lost four times at the Kohl Center, with three of them coming during Big Ten play. Think about that. We're not even two-thirds of the way through the conference season and the Badgers have already lost half as many conference home games as they did in the last decade.
Continue reading...
Showing posts with label Ohio State. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ohio State. Show all posts
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Ohio State’s two-man show leads them to a win at Wisconsin |
Sunday, January 1, 2012
POSTERIZED: Indiana did not gameplan for Sam Thompson |
Freshman Sam Thompson only averages 10mpg for Ohio State, but it's becoming very clear that he knows how to execute the Buckeye's out-of-bounds play.
During tOSUs drubbing of Jackson State back in November, Thompson finished a nice out-of-bound alley-oop that got him his first #POSTERIZED feature.
Against Indiana on Saturday, Thompson did the exact same thing.
And it was glorious.
Future-tOSU opponents would be foolish not to gameplan for this, and it's kinda simple: Don't lose sight of Sam Thompson on an out-of-bounds play.
But was it as good as these?
DeShon Minnis, Texas Tech vs. Southeastern Louisiana, 12/30
Keith Gabriel, VMI vs. Old Dominion, 12/22
Chris Evans, Kent State vs. Texas-Arlington, 12/21
P.J. Hairston, North Carolina vs. Texas, 12/21
Robbie Hummel, Purdue vs. IPFW, 12/20
Robert Brown, Virginia Tech vs. North Florida, 12/19
Tony Mitchell, Alabama vs. Kansas State, 12/17
Torye Pelham, Southern Mississippi vs. Ole Miss, 12/17
Quincy Diggs, Akron vs. Florida A&M, 12/17
Anthony Davis, Kentucky vs. Chattanooga, 12/17
Langston Galloway/C.J. Aiken/Ronald Roberts, St. Joseph's vs. Villanova, 12/17
Terrence Ross, Washington vs. UC-Santa Barbara, 12/16
Jared Cunningham, Oregon State vs. Howard, 12/15
Raheem Appleby, Louisiana Tech vs. McNeese State, 12/14
Tony Mitchell, Alabama vs. Detroit, 12/12
Vander Blue, Marquette vs. UW-Green Bay, 12/11
Ronald Roberts, St. Joseph's vs. Creighton, 12/10
Dion Waiters, Syracuse vs. George Washington, 12/10 (DotY Candidate)
Victor Oladipo, Indiana vs. Kentucky, 12/10
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Georgia vs. Georgia Tech, 12/10
Vander Blue, Marquette vs. Washington, 12/6
Terrence Ross, Washington vs. Marquette, 12/6
Deville Smith, Mississippi State vs. West Virginia, 12/3
Terrence Jones, Kentucky vs. North Carolina, 12/3
Tony Mitchell, Alabama vs. Georgetown, 12/1
Anthony Marshall, UNLV vs. UNC, 11/26
Michael Kidd-Glichrist, Kentucky vs. Portland, 11/26/11 (DotY Candidate)
Markel Brown, Oklahoma State vs. Virginia Tech, 11/25
Rodney Williams, Minnesota vs. DePaul, 11/24
Thomas Robinson, Kansas vs. Duke, 11/23
Stan Okoye, VMI vs. Ohio State, 11/23
Kyisean Reed, Utah State vs. Southern Utah, 11/19
Ra'Shad James, Iona vs. Western Michigan, 11/18
Alandise Harris, Houston vs. Arkansas, 11/18
Sam Thompson, Ohio State vs. Jackson State, 11/18
Tony Mitchell, Alabama vs. Wichita State, 11/18
Eric Griffin, Campbell vs. North Carolina A&T, 11/18 (DotY Candidate)
Olek Czyz, Nevada vs. Pacific, 11/17
Chris Watson, Pikeville vs. Mountain State, 11/16
Ray Willis, North Carolina Central vs. Wagner, 11/16
Mike James, Lamar vs. Ohio, 11/15 (DotY Candidate)
Quincy Acy, Baylor vs. San Diego State, 11/15
Deniz Kilicli, West Virginia vs. Kent State, 11/15
Chris Evans, Kent State vs. West Virginia, 11/15
Tony Mitchell, Alabama vs. Oakland, 11/14
Isaiah Brown, East Tennessee State vs. Virginia Tech, 11/12
Michael Lyons, Air Force vs. Army, 11/11
Dezmine Wells, Xavier vs. Morgan State, 11/11
Jeremy Lamb, UConn vs. Columbia, 11/11 (DotY Candidate)
Andre Drummond, UConn vs. CW Post, 11/4
Moe Harkless, St. John's vs. CW Post, 10/26
Continue reading...
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Ohio State better hope Jared Sullinger's back injury isn't serious |
Jared Sullinger's back failed us all.
This was supposed to be one of the most interesting matchups of the young season, and not solely because of the names on the front of the jerseys. While having two programs with as much prestige as No. 2 Ohio State and No. 14 Kansas share the court for 40 minutes in a storied Phog Allen Fieldhouse is terrific television viewing in and or itself, the fact that it featured two of the most intriguing big man prospects in the country only increased the intrigue.
But Sullinger couldn't get his back loosened up, and as a result, Ohio State had to take the floor without their star center and a first-team all-american. 
The Jayhawks took advantage. Thomas Robinson finished with 21 points and seven boards while Kevin Young had his best game in a Kansas uniform, scoring 14 points off the bench, as the Jayhawks rolled to a 78-67 win.
The question is how we judge this win. How do we look at it when the rankings are released on Monday? How do we interpret it come Selection Sunday? How can we, with any realistic accuracy, determine what would have happened in this game had Jared Sullinger played?
Because right now this win has an asterisk, and it goes beyond the fact that Kansas was playing the game at home. Ohio State is a different team without Sullinger in the lineup. Losing a guy that averages 19.1 ppg and 10.3 rpg is a massive blow no matter how you look at it. When Evan Ravenel and Amir Williams are the players that see time as replacements, the impact of that loss gets maginifed.
But there is more to it than that.
Sullinger forces a defense to do so many things differently when he is on the floor. He's such a threat on the block when he catches the ball that defensive game-plans have to be built completely around how to help down on or double the post and rotate to shooters if the ball gets kicked out. Even when Sullinger doesn't touch the ball, his presence in the paint and his ability to seal his defender forces the opponent's defense to loosen up and slough to the paint a little bit more.
With Ohio State's ability to swing the ball around the perimeter, those couple of extra steps makes a world of difference in getting open looks for shooters and creating 1-on-1 isolation opportunities on the perimeter. Given the fact that this season, Thad Matta has guys like Lenzelle Smith and Jordan Sibert as secondary offensive options instead of David Lighty and Jon Diebler, and creating those open looks through ball movement becomes all-the-more important; the Buckeyes simply don't have the same kind of talent and shot creation on the perimeter.
This is still a fairly impressive win for Kansas as Ohio State never really threatened the lead despite the fact that both DeShaun Thomas and William Buford managed to get into a pretty good rhythm for a half. The Jayhawks, frankly, didn't play their best game, either. Robinson's 21 points and seven boards were quiet, meaning he did a lot of his damage late in the game -- with about 10 minutes left, he had just 11 points and two boards. Even without Sullinger on the court, Robinson did not dominate the Buckeye front line.
Tyshawn Taylor wasn't particularly great either. He did dish out 13 assists, which is a very impressive total for anyone, but he turned the ball over seven times in the process and shot just 3-9 from the floor.
Sullinger's injury -- which, hopefully, is not something that will plague him all season long; they said on the broadcasy that his back is so inflamed that it is difficult for him to bend down and touch his toes -- took away from a matchup that a lot of people were looking forward to.
But it also made it very difficult to get any kind of read on what this performance means for both teams.
What We Learned
Kansas:
- The Jayhakws are not going to be at their best until they can learn to protect the ball better. They had 18 assists but also 18 turnovers against Ohio State. Tyshawn Taylor is the biggest culprit. He has 32 turnovers in his last five games and has an assist-to-turnover ratio that was below one heading into today. You cannot have your primary ball-handler be that careless.
- Kevin Young is going to be an important piece for the Jayhawks if he can develop into an inside-outside threat. Young had 14 points, grabbed a couple of offensive boards and knocked down a pair of threes. If Young can provide Self with a steady face-up option to play alongside Robinson, it gives Kansas that much more versatility.
- It was nice to see Elijah Johnson bust out of his shooting slump with a 5-7 day from beyond the arc.
Ohio State:
- The Buckeyes better hope that Sullinger's injury isn't very serious. Without him in the lineup, they are a very different team.
- The biggest issue offensively for Ohio State is that they just don't have the kind of weapons on their perimeter that are going to consistently be able to create points and shots. William Buford is not exactly a go-to scorer; he's more of a complimentary player. DeShaun Thomas can get buckets, but I am concerned that telling him he has free reign to shoot whenever he pleases can be like opening up Pandora's Box. Aaron Craft is more of a steadying influence and a facilitator at the point than he is a dynamic creator. Sullinger's presence nullifies that.
- I think that the offensive end is where Ohio State will be hurt the most without Sullinger, but defensively they should still be fine. Sullinger takes up a lot of space, but he's not a shot-blocker and he's not a guy that is going to go out of his area to grab rebounds. Ravenel and Williams aren't quite as strong and don't hold position as well, but they really aren't that big of a drop-off.
Continue reading...
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Don't jump to conclusions after Ohio State's beatdown of Duke |
This post can also be found at Beyond the Arc.
Aaron Craft hit a three. Then William Buford and Craft made layups on back-to-back possessions. Buford followed that up with another layup of his own, and after Duke used their second timeout of the half less than three minutes into the game, Jared Sullinger hit a short jumper.
It was only 3:38 into the much-hyped battle between two of the teams ranked in the top four, but with the score already 11-0, they may as well have called the game at that point.
Duke was able to get within a point on two separate occasions in the next five minutes of gametime, but the Blue Devils never tied the game and they never took the lead as they watched -- almost literally, based on the lack of effort Duke displayed on the defensive end -- Ohio State carve up their defense like a Thanksgiving turkey, taking a 47-28 lead into the break and cruising to an 85-63 win. 
The loss was equally embarrassing and impressive, depending on what colors your favorite team wears. Ohio State looked every bit as good as last year's team. They played like a team that deserves to have their name mentioned with North Carolina and Kentucky when talking about this year's national title contenders. Blowing out a team ranked in the top four will have that effect on people.
And Duke? Well, all of the flaws that this team possesses were exposed on a national stage. They lack playmakers. Their bigs aren't physical enough. Their defense would struggle to stop good high school teams.
But how much perspective does the 40 minutes that the Blue Devils and the Buckeyes shared a court give on the season as a whole?
How much weight can we put into a win like this?
Frankly, not a ton.
Look, games like this happen. Don't believe me? Last year, Duke went into Garden and got pasted by St. John's 93-78, a game where the final score didn't indicate just how badly they had been beaten down. That Duke team lost the ACC regular season title on the last day of the regular season, but got their revenge on North Carolina by winning the ACC Tournament. The year before, Duke went into the Verizon Center and got worked by Georgetown, trailing by as much as 21 in the second half, just 10 days after losing to NC State by 14. That Duke team won the national title.
Still need more evidence? Last season, Ohio State, who went into the NCAA Tournament as the favorite to win the national title, beat Wisconsin and Purdue in Columbus by a combined 51 points. The Buckeyes lost to Purdue by 14 at Mackey Arena and blew a 15 point second half lead to Wisconsin at the Kohl Center. The year before, Ohio State lost by 22 at Wisconsin before avenging that loss at home and going on to win a share of the Big Ten regular season title and the Big Ten Tournament title.
Like I said, games like this happen.
The same way that players can be on fire or ice cold, teams have off nights and teams have great nights. And when the visiting team is having an off night while the home team, especially a home team as talented as Ohio State, is having a great night, blowouts happen.
So take this result with a grain of salt.
Ohio State is not as good as they looked on Tuesday. And Duke is not as bad as they played.
But that doesn't mean we can't learn from this game:
Ohio State:
- On nights when the Buckeyes have their Big Four going, they are going to be extremely difficult to beat. Jared Sullinger had 21 points and eight boards. Aaron Craft went for 17 points, eight assists and five rebounds. DeShaun Thomas had 18 points -- including a stretch where he scored 12 straight. And William Buford went for 20 points, five boards and four assists.
- William Buford is as good as any shooting guard in the country. And he's an NBA player. He comes off of screens so well and he has become a lethal three-point shooter. He's also a much better passer than anyone gives him credit for.
- While we're on the subject of passing, what makes Ohio State so dangerous is how well they move the ball offensively. They space the floor and swing the ball incredibly well for a team that has so many quality offensive weapons. They give up good shots to get a great shot as well as any team in the country because they know that on the next possession, their teammate will make the extra pass to get them a wide-open look.
Duke:
- The Blue Devils are going to go as far as Austin Rivers takes them. He's the only player on the roster than is capable of creating his own shot, and he's as good as any player in the country -- regardless of age -- at using his dribble to create space for himself. He still has plenty to learn, however, and he has to get better at finishing the looks that he creates. That will come with time. But for Duke to be a top ten team, Rivers has to have the kind of impact that Nolan Smith had last season. Rivers finished with 22 points, but he needed 18 shots to do so and finished with just three assists.
- Seth Curry and Andre Dawkins cannot disappear like they did tonight. There's nothing else to add here. Those two have to be offensive weapons, because they bring very little to the table on the other end of the floor.
- Mason Plumlee continued his excellent play from Maui and looks like he may be the first Plumlee to come close to living up to his potential. But Duke is in trouble is Ryan Kelly is their best option at the four. He's not physical enough to battle in the paint and he hasn't shot the ball well enough to be effective as a face-up four.
- The biggest issue with Duke, however, is on the defensive end of the floor. I don't think its unfair to say that the only starter they have that can even be discussed an above-average defender is Mason Plumlee. If they are going to win, they are going to have to beat teams with a powerful offense based on their three-point shooting. They won't be doing much of that if Kelly, Curry and Dawkins play the way they did tonight.
- Duke is ranked way to high as the No. 4 team in the country. But don't ignore who they have already beaten this season -- Belmont, Kansas and Michigan. This is still one of the 10 or 15 best teams in the country, and when their threes are falling and Austin Rivers is playing like the all-american he was in high school, they are going to be a tough team to beat.
Continue reading...
Sunday, November 20, 2011
POSTERIZED: Sam Thompson knows how to execute an out-of-bounds play |
Buried somewhere in Ohio State's 44-point seal-clubbing of Jackson State yesterday was thins well-executed out-of-bounds play.
Deep into mop-up duty, Shannon Scott found Sam Thompson off the in-bounds for a natsy flush.
And that boys and girls, is how you execute.
(H/T You Got Dunked On)
But was it as good as these?
Tony Mitchell, Alabama vs. Wichita State, 11/18
Eric Griffin, Campbell vs. North Carolina A&T, 11/18(DotY Candidate)
Chris Watson, Pikeville vs. Mountain State, 11/16
Mike James, Lamar vs. Ohio, 11/15 (DotY Candidate)
Quincy Acy, Baylor vs. San Diego State, 11/15
Deniz Kilicli, West Virginia vs. Kent State, 11/15
Chris Evans, Kent State vs. West Virginia, 11/15
Tony Mitchell, Alabama vs. Oakland, 11/14
Isaiah Brown, East Tennessee State vs. Virginia Tech, 11/12
Michael Lyons, Air Force vs. Army, 11/11
Dezmine Wells, Xavier vs. Morgan State, 11/11
Jeremy Lamb, UConn vs. Columbia, 11/11 (DotY Candidate)
Andre Drummond, UConn vs. CW Post, 11/4
Moe Harkless, St. John's vs. CW Post, 10/26
Continue reading...
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
2011-2012 Top 50 Countdown: No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes |
Over the coming weeks, we will be counting down our Top 50 teams in the country. Teams 26-50 will be posted in groups of five, while we will count backwards from No. 25 to the No. 1 team in the country. You can find a complete schedule of our 2011-2012 Season Preview coverage here. To browse through the rest of the Top 50, click here.
Last Season: 34-3, 16-2 (1st Big Ten), lost in the Sweet 16 to Kentucky
Head Coach: Thad Matta
Key Losses: David Lighty, Jon Diebler, Dallas Lauderdale
Newcomers: Shannon Scott, Amir Williams, Sam Thompson, Trey McDonald
Projected Lineup:
- G: Aaron Craft, So.
- G: William Buford, Sr.
- F: DeShaun Thomas, So.
- F: Jared Sullinger, So.
- F: Amir Williams, Fr.
- Bench: Jordan Sibery, So.; Lenzelle Smith, So.; JD Weatherspoon, So.; Shannon Scott, Fr.; Sam Thompson, Fr.; Trey McDonald, Fr.
Outlook: Last season didn't end the way that Buckeye fans had hoped. It was almost a consensus that, heading into the NCAA Tournament, the Buckeyes were the best team in the country. They had just two losses on the season, and those came at Wisconsin and at Purdue. Losing on the home court of a talented conference rival is nothing to be ashamed of. After rolling through the Big Ten Tournament and the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament, the Buckeyes were shocked by Kentucky. William Buford couldn't hit a shot to save his life, Jared Sullinger was outplayed by Josh Harrellson and the Buckeyes were sent home early.
The good news heading into this season is that Ohio State not only gets Sullinger back for his sophomore season, they are likely getting an even more dominant version of the all-american. Sully has dropped a good 15-20 pounds heading into the year, streamlining his body and giving himself more endurance and explosiveness while maintaining the strength and the girth that allowed him to average 17.2 ppg and 10.2 rpg in his first year out of high school. Sullinger is the most dominating physical presence in the country. He's impossible to keep from gaining position on the block, he's an immovable object when he boxes out on a shot attempt and he's got a soft-touch and a solid array of post moves, which is why he shoots 55.0% from two-point range. Barring injury, Sullinger is going to be a monster.
How Thad Matta fills out his front court rotation will be an interesting saga to follow. Last year, he liked starting shot blocker and rebounder Dallas Lauderdale, bringing point guard Aaron Craft off the bench and playing the majority of the game with four perimeter players on the floor. It will be a bit different this year, as Lauderdale graduated along with David Lighty, who allowed Matta to play that style (more on that in a bit). The one certainty we have is that DeShaun Thomas is going to get a lot of minutes. Thomas is a 6'7", lefty combo-forward that can flat-out score. He played limited minutes as a freshman, but was able to post some impressive numbers. Amir Williams might end up being the guy that plays the Lauderdale role. He's not going to be as physical as Lauderdale, but he's got the length and the athleticism to be a shot-blocker. BC transfer Evan Ravenel should also see some minutes in the front court.
The perimeter attack for Ohio State is going to have some question marks, but it also has quite a few answers as Aaron Craft and William Buford are both back for another season. Buford really turned a corner as a junior. After thriving as a mid-range shooter that comes off of screens in his first two seasons in Columbus, Buford's all-around game really started to show last season. He knocked down 44.2% of his threes and he proved to be a capable creator off the bounce. Craft had a sensational freshman year. It was enough that putting listing Craft as the best point guard in the Big Ten, while incorrect, wouldn't be complete insanity. The beauty in his game is the simplicity -- he's a tenacious on-ball defender, he's a capable shooter when he's left open and he's a terrific creator off the dribble. He plays within himself and understands his role on this team is not to be a big-time scorer, but to be a facilitator offensively and a leader in the locker room. He plays that role to absolute perfection.
The rest of the OSU perimeter attack will take time to determine. A trio of sophomores -- Jordan Sibert, J.D. Weatherspoon and Lenzelle Smith Jr. -- and freshman Sam Thompson will be battling for minutes at the small forward spot.
The key to this season for Ohio State -- and something that is not nearly being discussed enough -- will be replacing Diebler and Lighty. Losing those two will hurt more than any Buckeye fan will care to admit. Those two were role players, but they were the absolute best in the country at playing their specific role. Diebler was one of the best shooters I've ever seen at the college level, so lethal that you couldn't leave him open. Ever. He also was a terrific passer into the post, which made it extremely difficult for opposing defenses to double Sullinger on the block. Lighty could do everything. He was a leader, he defended every position 1-5, he could shoot from three, he could rebound the ball in the paint, he could play the point and create off the dribble. That versatility, on both ends of the floor, was what allowed the Buckeyes to play the way they did. Lighty could defend power forwards on the block. They couldn't defend him on the perimeter.
Ohio State is going to be a very good team this year. When you have a player as good as Jared Sullinger, its difficult not to be very good. They will win the Big Ten and will have a real shot at making the Final Four. But until someone proves they can fill the void left by Diebler and Lighty, the Buckeyes are going to sit just below the elite teams this season.
Continue reading...
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Winning a title with predominantly freshmen is possible |
All week long, the folks over at Grantland are running a series featuring writers pen 4,000 word arguments as to why their favorite team will win the national title.
Matt Jones, the brains and the brawn behind Kentucky Sports Radio and the leader of the cult known as Big Blue Nation, was picked to provide a homer's view of why Kentucky hang their eighth banner this year. And while much of the article reads like the sermon given at a Big Blue pep rally, Jones does make a crucial and important point, one that he will -- and should -- make many times throughout the year: winning a national title with elite freshmen is not only possible, its been done before.
In the last two decades, there have been five years were one team was able to land a powerful recruiting class that included at least three of the top 15 high school players in the country -- Michigan in 1992 (the Fab Five), Ohio State in 2007, and Kentucky in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
- In 1991, Michigan started five freshmen -- Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson -- and while they struggled during the regular season, earning a six seed, the Wolverines clicked during the NCAA Tournament. The Fab Five made it all the way to the national title game, where they lost by 20 to Duke.
- In 2006, Thad Matta brought in Mike Conley, Greg Oden, Daequan Cook and David Lighty. Despite Oden battling injuries throughout the first half of the season, the Buckeyes were still able to earn a No. 1 seed in the tournament and a trip to the national title game.
- In 2009, Kentucky's recruiting class was so good that four players -- including one kid that couldn't get off the bench -- were picked in the first round of the 2010 NBA Draft. But as talented as John Wall, Eric Bledsoe and DeMarcus Cousins were, they couldn't get past West Virginia in the Elite 8.
- Last season, Kentucky played with blue-chip freshmen in Brandon Knight, Terrence Jones and Doron Lamb -- Enes Kanter was the best recruit of the group, but he never got cleared to play. Regardless, even without Kanter, Kentucky was able to play their way to the Final Four, upsetting Ohio State (who started a freshmen at point guard and center) and North Carolina (who started a freshman at point guard and small forward) along the way.
In the previous four instances where a team has relied heavily on a vaunted freshmen class, there have been two No. 1 seed, a trip to the Elite 8, a trip to the Final Four and two appearances in the National Title game. That's impressive. And that's successful. The worst case scenario in this (extremely) small sample is winning both SEC title, earning a No. 1 seed and making a trip to the Elite 8.
What coach in the country wouldn't take that?
But there's more.
In 2002, Syracuse brought in a well-regarded recruiting class that was headlined by one uber-recruit named Carmelo Anthony. Anthony went on to have one of the best freshman seasons in the history of the NCAA, averaging 22.1 ppg and 10.0 rpg while being named a second-team all-american and leading Syracuse to the national title. Joining him in the starting lineup that year? Freshmen Gerry McNamara and Billy Edelin. McNamara averaged 35.3 mpg, which was second only to Anthony's 36.4 mpg. That group of freshmen accounted for three of the Orange's top five scorers in 2002-2003. Of their top seven scorers, three more were sophomores, meaning that of Syracuse's seven-man, title-winning rotation, six were freshmen and sophomores.
There's an even more recent example. Last season, Kemba Walker took over March. He led UConn on a five-games-in-five-days run through the Big East Tournament and to six more wins and a national title. He was a junior, which means most people will ignore UConn on this list. But the Huskies deserve to be on this list. Last season, five different freshmen started a total of 104 games for the Huskies. The freshmen averaged an even 100 minutes out of a possible 200 hundred minutes per game. In the national title game against Butler, UConn got 111 minutes out of freshmen. Jeremy Lamb became the team's clear-cut No. 2 scoring option, becoming the biggest reason teams were unable to double team Kemba. Shabazz Napier matured enough to hold down the point guard position, allowing Kemba free-reign to be a scorer. Alex Oriakhi, UConn's enforcer inside and the guy that allowed a team that started Tyler Olander or Charles Okwandu to dominate the offensive glass, was only a sophomore. Almost three-quarters of the minutes played by UConn Huskies last season were provided by freshmen and sophomores.
The UConn example is all the more reassuring for Kentucky fans because there is a good chance the Wildcat's first two options offensively won't be freshmen. John Calipari is notorious for using his words in the media to manipulate, but he said over the summer that Doron Lamb would be the best player on this team. Terrence Jones was the best player on the team last year before he lost his confidence. There's a legitimate possibility that these hyped freshmen end up being the most highly-recruited role players in the country.
No one said that winning a national title with a roster chock full of talented underclassmen would be easy.
But winning a national title isn't easy, period.
The best way to win it is by putting as much talent as possible on the floor. If you can't compete with the blue bloods for top 20 recruits, than you have to build your program around development and upperclassmen. If you can compete for the best high school players in the country, then, by all means, recruit them and hope that things break your way during the season.
Because, eventually, Calipari is going to break through and win a national title. And when he does, this silly notion that experience is the only way to succeed in March will finally be thrown out the window.
Continue reading...
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
The recipient of Jared Sullinger's postseason rage: a friend's door? |
This post can also be found at Beyond the Arc.
Ohio State's season ended in disappointing fashion in 2011, as they watch Brandon Knight hit his second game-winner of the NCAA Tournament to send the Wildcats on to the Elite 8 and, eventually, the Final Four with a 62-60 win.
Sullinger -- who had 21 points and 16 boards but also committed four turnovers and allowed Josh Harrellson to go for 17 points and 10 boards, a performance that may have earned him a spot in the second round of the NBA Draft -- took the loss particularly hard. The story, as we had originally heard it, was that Sullinger's decision to immediately announce he was returning to school was a result of that loss. In order to avoid the potential to be labeled "out of condition" next season, Sullinger dedicated himself to losing some weight during the offseason.
He cut out fried foods and reduced his portion sizes. He spent time on the treadmill and doing conditioning workouts. He wanted to make sure that his conditioning could not be used as an excuse if his team fails to realize their goal of winning a national title this season.
And it worked. Sullinger cut the excess baby fat, streamlined his body and sent the blog world -- and The Lantern's personals section -- into a tizzy as he tweeted out pictures of his progress during the summer. Sullinger made himself a new body.
It wasn't the only new item that was required after the Buckeye's loss to Kentucky, however:
After the loss to Kentucky, Sullinger let loose. "A couple broken walls," he told the Columbus Dispatch the next month. "A couple broken doors. But it's all good. I put it all behind me."Can you imagine being the guy that had his door knocked down by Sullinger? One minute you're trying to procrastinate and put off writing a paper by reading Ballin' is a Habit and the next you have a slightly insane, 280 lb grizzly bear breaking down your door. That's the way I see it in my head, anyway.
He wasn't joking. He really broke a friend's door.
"I was just frustrated," he says. "That's how I handle my frustration, just by being really aggressive. It was great therapy because as soon as I did that, I kind of snapped back and forgot about it."
Regardless of how it actually played out, the bottom line is that Sullinger is in terrific shape. He still has that monstrous frame and enormous hindquarters, but without those 20 pounds of baby fat, Sullinger is going to be quicker up and down the court and more explosive finishing around the rim.
Good luck, B1G.
Continue reading...
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Don't understate what Ohio State lost in Jon Diebler and David Lighty |
Its amazing when you think about it.
Ohio State, the team that many believed to be the best in the country for much of last season, returns their slimmed-down all-american center in Jared Sullinger, an underrated sophomore point guard poised for a big season in Aaron Craft, and a senior in William Buford that is an 18 ppg season away from becoming the program's all-time leading scorer. Throw in productive sophomore DeShaun Thomas and a loaded recruiting class, and you would think this team had national title favorite written all over it.
But they don't.
In fact, they barely have hype heading into the season, but that's what will happen North Carolina returns their entire team, Kentucky once again reloads on the recruiting trail, and UConn restocks their shelves in late August with the best high school big man in the country. 
Its astonishing, really. Ohio State lost three games last season. One was on the road at Wisconsin, where no one wins. Another was on the road at Purdue, where, well, ditto. The third was in the Sweet 16, where Kentucky needed a horrific night from Buford and a last-second shot from Brandon Knight to advance. And no one is talking about them.
"We won 34 games, were the No. 1 overall seed, and we had the No. 51 player drafted in the NBA, and that was it," Ohio State coach Thad Matta told ESPN's Andy Katz in a column Katz posted on this subject yesterday.
Quantitatively, Matta is right. They bring back sophomores -- and rising stars, arguably two of the best at their position in the country -- at the two most important positions on the floor, point guard and center. They have a potent scorer on the wing and they have plenty of young talent to fill in the gaps and the minutes that are left over.
But by referring to the graduation of David Lighty and Jon Diebler as losing nothing more than "the No. 51 player drafted", Matta is doing an incredible disservice to what those two seniors provided the Buckeyes. Their value to that team goes well beyond the numbers that showed up next to their names in the box score. (Those numbers weren't insignificant, either -- 24.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 5.7 apg and 165 threes on 47.7% shooting from deep.)
"The intangibles will be missed, and those two were phenomenal practice players," Matta told Katz. "They brought energy every single day. They were upbeat and always smiling and always wanting to give more."
Leadership is immeasurable, and there's no doubt that the leadership those two provided the Buckeyes last season made a difference on their record. But both Diebler's and Lighty's contributions go beyond the intangibles.
Its hard to put into words just how good of a shooting performance Diebler had as a senior. He was the most efficient player in the country last season by a wide margin, which is a large reason he was tops amongst wing players in terms of value added despite using less than 1/7th of his team's possessions. He shot 50.2% from beyond the arc while taking more than six attempts per game. That's an unreal number.
What Thad Matta would do is use Diebler as Sullinger's primary post-feeder. This put defenses in the unenviable position of having to double off of Diebler on the wing, sending a double team from Craft/Buford/Lighty (37.7%/44.2%/42.9% from three, respectively) at the top of the key, or try to double team with the other big man, which leaves a wide open post player on the opposite block. Diebler's ability to feed the post and bury open threes made him the definition of a floor-spreader. He was a huge reason that Sullinger was able to get opportunities to operate one-on-one in the post. (See the image below, where Luke Winn broke down Ohio State's standard offensive set last season.)
Lighty's value was in his versatility. There wasn't anything on a basketball court that he couldn't do. For starters, he was a terrific defender, capable of guarding any position one through four, and a good enough rebounder that Ohio State could afford to play with four guards around Sullinger. Offensively, he was a good enough shooter that you couldn't leave him open, an explosive enough penetrator that you couldn't play up on him, and unselfish and skilled enough to make the right pass when he drew an extra defender.
You will find little argument that Lighty and Diebler were role players throughout their careers. But as seniors, both players were the best in the country at playing their role; Diebler the best spot-up shooter and Lighty the best glue-guy. Throw in the fact that both were perfectly happy to play within their role on the team, and Matta had the best of both worlds -- seniors that were talented enough to be stars at many other schools across the country, but that wanted to win badly enough that they would play a complimentary role to a freshman.
That is what made Ohio State such a good team in 2010-2011. Talented and experienced role plays that understood and perfected their role in maximizing the talents of an all-american center.
So while Diebler and Lighty will leave Ohio State as nothing more than "the No. 51 player drafted", the void they leave in the Ohio State lineup will be very, very difficult to fill.
I'm not saying the Buckeyes won't be the favorite in the Big Ten or a national title contender.
I'm just saying there is a valid reason why they aren't being talked about in the same sentence as Kentucky, North Carolina, and now UConn.
Continue reading...
Friday, July 8, 2011
Jared Sullinger's been hitting the gym |
The knock on Jared Sullinger -- if you can say he has a knock -- is that the big man listed at 6'9", 280 lb was, well, too big.
While his ample backside is a major reason what he is so effective at establishing position in the paint, and by all indications his footwork and quickness on the block haven't been hindered by his girth, the extra poundage that Sullinger carries around certainly affects his ability and potential. Put on a 20 pound weight vest and see if you can run as fast or jump as high.
But, you see, Sullinger is a smart kid that comes from a basketball family with a basketball coach of a dad. He knows that shedding some of that baby fat will make him a better player, and he's put in the work this summer to do so. From the Cleveland Plain-Dealer:
He has a waist now, and appears to have lost so much weight one has to wonder if the loss of his formally wide axis on the block will now make him a less lethal post player. The Buckeyes sophomore was listed at 6-10, 281 pounds, but he looked possibly 30 pounds lighter than that, and moved like it, too.
Sullinger is never going to play like a Dwight Howard or Amare Stoudamire. He isn't going to be effective because of his speed and athleticism and leaping ability. He's always going to be limited athletically.
Yet Sullinger said the moves were real, but the weight loss was only a mirage.
"I weigh 275," he said. "I've lost 10 to 15 pounds since the end of the season. I want to get down to 255-260 and stay there."
[...]
"I did the boxing spring quarter against the [heavy] bag. I did boxing, kicks, punches. I would do jabs with each arm, a minute straight; hooks each arm a minute straight, and body blows, left-right-left, a minute straight," he said. "With all the running we do, the strength and conditioning we do, all the open gyms we have, it's only a matter of time before the weight starts to fall off."
But that doesn't mean he can't be an effective NBA player and a future all-star. Look at Kevin Love and Paul Millsap. They've become above-average power forwards in the NBA by using their strength, smarts, and rear end to carve out space in the paint.
That doesn't mean that getting into shape is a bad thing. It means he'll be able to run up and down the court for 35 mpg instead of 32. It means he'll be able to get that much higher on his jump hook. It means his spin move on the block will be that much quicker.
Considering that Sullinger averaged 17.2 ppg and 10.2 rpg as a freshman, that's a scary thought for Big Ten opponents.
Continue reading...
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Jared Sullinger and why you should answer early entry questions with 'no comment' |
The news that made the rounds after Kentucky's enthralling, 62-60 win over Ohio State on Friday night was that Jared Sullinger, the Buckeye's talented freshman center, announced that he would be returning for his sophomore season.
From Matt Norlander over at CBS:
"I'm gonna be here, gonna be at Ohio State next year," Sullinger said when asked about his future. He further explained: "I don't like the look in peoples' eyes (right now) and I don't like the taste we have of losing. I don't appreciate losing. If I made a decision about (leaving) next year, it would be off a win, not a loss."
When asked if this was an emotional, in-the-moment decision, and if there were any possibility he would change his mind in the coming weeks, Sullinger said, "I'm a man of my word. That's period, point blank. I'm coming back."
Sullinger didn't tell his teammates about his choice prior to Friday's game against the Wildcats. According to the freshman, he mulled the scenario earlier in the day.
"I made this decision today, and I'm a man of my word," he said. "I don't go against my word. If I tell somebody I'm going to do something, I'm going to do it."
It bothers me that 18 year olds are asked these questions at such an emotional time, but I understand their need. The media has a job to do, and they are doing it.
But if I am a head coach, I train my players -- no, I require them -- to answer any and all early entry questions with "I haven't thought about it yet." I'm not saying that because I believe that the media or the general public should be misled.
I'm saying that because, far too often, they are misled.
What Jared Sullinger did by answering that line of questioning in such matter-of-fact manner is paint himself into a corner. If he eventually decides to leave, he looks like a hypocrite. He looks like a liar. He looks like someone who let the allure of money get the best of him.
If he decides to come back to school because he is a "man of his word", he, very likely, will be making that decision not because it is the best decision for him and for his future, but because it is what he said he would do.
And if a player ever said "I'm gone" after a season-ending NCAA Tournament loss, he'd get crushed by the fans.
No good can come out of answering the early entry question early.
That's why, if I was a coach, I would tell every single one of my players to answer the question with a simple "I haven't thought about it."
Sometimes, no comment is the best comment.
Continue reading...
Kentucky's upperclassmen have carried the Cats, but the freshmen make them dangerous |
Under the leadership of John Calipari, Kentucky has become known has one-and-done central.
Last season, they sent four players to the first round of the NBA Draft that had been on campus for just the one year. This season, two more (possibly three, if Doron Lamb decides to make the jump) will be headed out the door. And with a recruiting class featuring three of the top 10 recruits and four of the top 25, Coach Cal may end up playing babysitter for 10 one-and-done players in the span of three seasons, and that doesn't even count Enes Kanter.
But if Kentucky's run to the Elite 8, thanks to an exciting 62-60 win over Ohio State on Friday night, proved anything, its that freshmen alone cannot carry a team.
It was the play of the upperclassmen that allowed the Wildcats to advance.
Josh Harrellson was sensational against Jared Sullinger on the block. He finished with 17 points, 10 boards (five offensive), and three blocks, and while he certainly didn't outplay Sullinger (who had 21 points and 16 boards, eight offensive), he was able to make Ohio State's star freshman work. He forced him into tough shots down the stretch and used his size to prevent Sullinger from consistently getting position.
DeAndre Liggins, who is known as a defensive stopper, became a go-to player down the stretch, finishing with 15 points on 5-8 shooting to go with six boards, three assists, and three blocks. Darius Miller added seven points, four boards, four assists, two steals, and two blocks and, in combination with Liggins, shut down William Buford for the night.
Those three freshmen?
They finished with a combined 23 points on 8-25 shooting. Brandon Knight had six turnovers. Terrence Jones was just 1-7 from inside the arc, had no offensive rebounds, and didn't get to the free throws line. Lamb had six points on two threes in the span of about a minute, but beyond that, his only addition to the box score was a block and two fouls.
And Kentucky still beat the team that most believed to be the best in the country.
That's saying something.
Its saying that Kentucky is a very, very dangerous basketball team.
Not to beat a dead horse, but they just knocked off the best basketball team in the country when their two first-team all-conference players each shot 3-10 from the field. They've made it all the way to the Elite 8 with Jones struggling. In the three tournament games, Jones is averaging 10.0 ppg and 6.7 rpg. He's shooting 10-23 from the field, have just three offensive rebounds, and has gotten to the foul line all over 10 times. Lamb hasn't been much better, averaging 6.3 ppg and shooting just 7-17 from the floor.
What happens when they wake up?
Knight has been inconsistent -- he had two points against Princeton, 30 against West Virginia, and nine against Ohio State -- but he has been terrific in the clutch. He's hit game-winners to beat both Princeton and Ohio State (despite having off-nights) and made six free throws down the stretch to hold off a West Virginia comeback.
Kentucky matched up very well with Ohio State. They don't match up quite as well with North Carolina, whom they will face on Sunday in the East regional final.
But with the way that the upperclassmen have been playing over the past month, if Jones, Knight, and Lamb all show up, a bad matchup may not matter.
All of a sudden, Kentucky looks like they may actually be a title contender.
And if I were to tell you that it was due, in very large part, to the play of Harrellson, Liggins, and Miller, who would have believed me in February?
----------------------------------------
I've been saying all week that Ohio State, when they play their best basketball, was the best team in the country. That they could not be beaten when they were at their best. I still believe that.
But this Ohio State team was not invincible, and they showed it tonight.
The Buckeyes didn't play poorly, but this wasn't the same team that beat George Mason by 32 points.
They looked hurried. They looked flustered. They looked like a team that couldn't handle the first punch that Kentucky hit them with. Early in the game, Josh Harrellson drilled Jared Sullinger in the chest with the basketball as he was trying to save it, and it almost appeared as if that knocked Sullinger out of his rhythm.
Jorts got in his head.
Sullinger was emotional and demonstrative the rest of the game, reacting in a way that I seldom saw during the season. He made a number of poor passes and took a few poor shorts in the post. In other words, he played like a freshman, and still ended up with 21 points and 16 boards.
Sullinger shouldn't get the blame for the loss, however. And hopefully no one pins it all on William Buford, who finished the game 2-16 from the floor, including missing a buzzer-beating three that would have won the game.
We all knew Ohio State could lose.
I don't think anyone expected to see them lose in a game where Kentucky showed more poise.
Continue reading...
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Previewing the Madness: The Big Ten |
The Big Ten is arguably the most disappointing conference in the country.
Its not because of anything Ohio State, Purdue, or Wisconsin did this season. The Buckeyes were thought to be a top five team coming into the season, and they may actually be better than most thought they could be. Purdue's terrific season is only marred by the thought of just how good this team would be if they still had Robbie Hummel. Wisconsin, as they do every season, proved why you should never, ever count them out, not when Bo Ryan and his efficient style are at the helm.
The disappointment lies with Michigan State, who went from a national title favorite in the preseason to the No. 7 seed in the Big Ten Tournament. It lies with Illinois, a Final Four sleeper that couldn't find any toughness inside or consistency out of Demetri McCamey. It lies with Minnesota, whose problems at the point cost this team the chance at a storybook season.
If anything, the theme of this tournament is redemption. There are four legitimate bubble teams in the league. Will anyone get in?
Where: Indianapolis, IN
When: March 10th-13th
Final: March 13th,
Favorite: Ohio State Buckeyes
The Buckeyes are the best team in the country. Its as simple as that. By now, you all know why. Jared Sullinger is the most dominant force in college basketball on the block, not just because of how he scores or rebounds, but because of how the Ohio State offense works through him. Aaron Craft has silenced all doubters with his terrific floor game and lock down defensive ability. Jon Diebler, David Lighter, and William Buford all play their role to perfection, and are all capable of exploding for 25 points when the moment calls. DeShaun Thomas and Dallas Lauderdale both understand and embrace their roles. Well coached. Talented. Tough defensively. Efficient offensively. To quote Jay-Z, what more can I say?
Sleeper: Penn State Nittany Lions
Wisconsin has a much easier draw, playing Penn State or Indiana in their first game. I love the Badgers this season. They are the epitome of efficiency, led by Jordan Taylor, who is having arguably the most underrated season in the history of college basketball. They matchup well with Purdue, but as the 93-65 drubbing that Ohio State put on the Badgers in the season finale illustrates, Wisconsin does not have the same ceiling as the Buckeyes.
I refuse to refer to Illinois or Michigan State as sleepers out of principal, but even if I didn't, the Nittany Lions would be my pick in this conference. For starters, they have Talor Battle, who may be the best player in the country you have never seen play. They also have Jeff Brooks, who has developed into a solid secondary scoring option this season. Most importantly, however, PSU has won big games. They beat Michigan State, Illinois, Wisconsin, and swept Minnesota.
Players to Watch: The Big Ten isn't short on talent, especially at the top of the league. Since those guys are household names by now, we are going to focus of the bottom of the league.
Continue reading...
Monday, February 21, 2011
David Lighty's more valuable than you think |
On any list of college basketball's best glue guys, you're certain to find the name David Lighty.
And in last night's 89-70 over Illinois, the Ohio State senior guard proved why.
He finished with 21 points, six steals, four rebounds, and two assists. He scored 17 of his points in the second half, including a stretch early in the second half where he scored 13 straight points after Illinois had cut a 15 point lead down to seven.
"I've said since the beginning: I love him," Illinois head coach Bruce Weber told reporters after the game. "I think he's the MVP. He probably won't get it because people aren't smart enough. But he's their heart and soul."
"If you have a Lighty, a heart and soul who comes every day and does what you need. We just don’t have that toughness, that leadership — that difference-maker," Weber said.
And that, precisely, is why Lighty is such a perfect fit for this Ohio State team. Lighty isn't great at any one thing. He doesn't have one skill that is NBA ready. He's one of those guys that can do everything on a basketball, and can do it well. He rebounds the ball, he defends, he can hit a three, he can get to the rim and dunk on you, and he can even play a little bit of point guard or power forward if the situation calls for it.
What makes Lighty such an important piece to this Ohio State team is that they already have every piece you need to be a successful basketball team. Aaron Craft is the point guard. Jon Diebler is the shooter. William Buford is the slasher and the mid-range scorer. Jared Sullinger is the post presence. Dallas Lauderdale is the enforcer.
And Lighty?
Lighty is the guy that picks up the slack. He's the guy that does the dirty work. He's the guy that steps in and helps handle the ball if Craft is being pressured, or hits the defensive glass if an opponent is getting too many second chances, or switches onto an opponent that has the hot hand.
I've written a lot in this space about teams lacking the leadership needed to win big games.
Lighty is the perfect example of what a team leader should be.
Continue reading...
The Case for No. 1 |
The top four teams in the country all lost this week. All four of them received votes for No. 1 in last week's polls. The three teams behind them all have an argument to move up. There could very well be seven teams that draw first place votes in this week's poll. Here's how I would rank them, and why they have an argument to be No. 1.
1. Ohio State Buckeyes: Ohio State was the consensus No. 1 team in the country before last Saturday's loss to Jordan Taylor and Wisconsin. It wasn't just because they were the last undefeated team in the country, its because they were, in fact, the best team in the country. Just because they lost at Wisconsin and at Purdue doesn't change that fact. The Badgers and the Boilermakers are a combined 30-0 at home this season. No one wins at Mackey Arena or the Kohl Center, not even the best team in the country.
2. Kansas Jayhawks: There may not be a more talented team in the country that the Jayhawks. They are deep, they are balanced, and they have one of the most efficient star tandems in the country in The Morrii. Like OSU, Kansas has just two losses on the season -- to Texas on the day after the death of Thomas Robinson's mother, and at Kansas State on Monday in a game that the Wildcats just dominated the Jayhawks. The problem? This team keeps showing flashes of maturity issues (technical fouls, intentional elbows) and they have actually only beaten three teams that are NCAA Tournament locks -- Missouri, Arizona, and UCLA.
3. Pitt Panthers: I don't think people give the Panthers enough credit for what they proved without Ashton Gibbs two weeks ago, beating both West Virginia and Villanova on the road. How important is Gibbs? He had 26 of their 59 points in the loss at St. John's. Don't confuse that with a bad loss, either. The Johnnies have now dispensed of five top 15 teams at home, and three of the other four (Notre Dame, UConn, and Duke) were blowouts. Pitt lost on a ridiculous reverse layup by Dwight Hardy.
4. Texas Longhorns: Defensively, the Longhorns are scary. They've completely shut down some very good opponents for ridiculously long stretches this season. The issue I have with Texas is on the offensive end of the floor. Rick Barnes has always had the reputation of being a guy who rolled the ball out and let his kids play. That works when you have Kevin Durant and DJ Augustin. But, like against Nebraska, what happens when Texas runs into an opponent that makes it difficult for them to score?
5. Duke Blue Devils: I know the theory is supposed to be win and you drop, but I'm still not ready to say that Duke is a better team than Texas. Why? Because of the body of work. Duke has, for better or worse, one quality win this season -- unless you consider disappointments like Butler, Michigan State, and Kansas State quality wins -- in UNC. Texas can also claim a victory over UNC, and has many more impressive wins, including one at Kansas. Duke may go farther in the NCAA Tournament, but they cannot be ranked ahead of the 'Horns right now.
6. San Diego State Aztecs: The Aztecs have just one loss on the season which came to BYU at the Marriott Center when The Jimmer went for 43 points. Just like Ohio State losses at Purdue and Wisconsin, no one was beating BYU on that night. The problem is that the Aztecs just don't have enough depth on their resume. They've beaten all the good teams out west -- Gonzaga, St. Mary's, Long Beach State, Wichita State, Cal -- but none of those teams are a lock to go to the NCAA Tournament. That's what makes this Saturday's matchup with BYU so important.
7. BYU Cougars: BYU actually has a fairly solid resume. They beat teams like Arizona, Utah State, St. Mary's, and, of course, SDSU. The issue with BYU? Those pesky road losses to New Mexico and UCLA and the thought that this team is too reliant on Jimmer.
Continue reading...
Monday, February 14, 2011
2/14 - College Hoops Week in Review: I hope you didn't forget Valentine's Day |
Game of the Week: Wisconsin 71, Ohio State 67
Jordan Taylor provided us with the most exciting 13 minutes of basketball this season on Saturday. With Wisconsin down 47-32 after Ohio State went on a 21-6 run, the no-longer-underrated Taylor caught fire. He scored on a tough drive. Two possessions later, he knocked down a three to get the lead to ten. On Wisconsin’s next possession, he buried another three to cut Ohio State’s lead to seven. After two Mike Bruesewitz free throws and another jumper from Taylor, the Badger’s point guard found freshman John Gasser for a three that tied the game with 9:46 left.
All told, the nation's slowest team had erased a 15 point deficit on the nation's No. 1 team in 3:30. Aaron Craft did his best to keep Ohio State in the lead, scoring six of the Buckeye's next eight points as they opened up a four point lead, but Taylor had the answer. He hit a three, found Mike Bruesewitz for a three, and found Keaton Nankivil for a jumper to put Wisconsin ahead, then he capped the run with a three pointer of his own with 5:34 left in the game as the Badgers went up 60-55.
Taylor finished with 27 points and seven assists, accounting for all but six points and three assists in the final 13 minutes of the game. The court was stormed, Ohio State suffered their first loss of the season, and Taylor was Rudy'd.
Florida 61, Tennessee 60: It seems like every game played in the SEC East is a close game with an exciting finish. Florida, however, has proven to be the best in the conference at winning those close games, which is why they are currently sitting at 9-2 in the league with a two game lead. In this one, the Gators overcame a 35-29 half time deficit, winning on a tough, driving layup by Erving Walker with 14 seconds left.
Duke 79, UNC 73: Like the Wisconsin-Ohio State game, Duke-UNC didn't have a great finish, but it was quite entertaining nonetheless. The Tar Heels jumped out to a 43-27 lead in the first half, but Duke led an entertaining rally in the second half, as Seth Curry and Nolan Smith combined for 40 points after the break.
Wild finishes:
Players of the Week: I don't generally like giving out ties with the Weekly Awards, but four players this week gave such impressive performances, I really had no choice:
Norris Cole, Cleveland State: Cole had the line of the year so far this season, going for 41 points, 20 boards, nine assists, and three steal in a win over Youngstown State. The only other player in the last 15 years to have a 40-20 games was Blake Griffin, who had 40 points and 23 boards against Texas Tech. In a loss on Monday, Cole added 27 points, six assists, and seven boards.
John Jenkins, Vanderbilt: Jenkins was terrific in Vandy's two big wins over Alabama and Kentucky. On Tuesday against the Crimson Tide, he finished with 20 points on 5-11 shooting, but his better performance came on Saturday. With Jeff Taylor struggling, Jenkins picked up the slack, going for a career-high 32 points on 11-17 shooting while hitting six threes, many of them closely contested.
Nolan Smith, Duke: Smith has been a catalyst for the Blue Devils all season long, but never was that more evident than this week. He sparked Duke in the second half of their 81-71 road win over Miami on Sunday, finishing with 18 points and five assists despite sitting out a long stretch of the first half after being poked in the eye. On Wednesday, he scored 22 of his 34 points in the second half as Duke rallied from 16 down to knock off North Carolina.
Jordan Taylor, Wisconsin: We've already talked plenty about Taylor's play against Ohio State, both in this post and from the write-ups on Saturday. Taylor averaged 21.5 ppg and 7.5 apg in two wins this week, including 21 points and four assists during Wisconsin's comeback from 15 points down in the last 13 minutes against Ohio State.
The all-they-were-good-too team:
Team of the Week: Xavier Musketeers
The Muskies did a lot this week. They took over sole possession of first place in the Atlantic 10. They put themselves into prime position for an at-large berth. And they did it by winning on the road despite not getting great performances out of Tu Holloway.
On Tuesday, X went into Athens and knocked off Georgia 65-57. Holloway led four players in double figures with 18 points, but he didn't score until there were five minutes gone in the second half. Instead, it was the play of Mark Lyons and Dante Jackson that kept Xavier in it until Holloway was able to take the game over. On Sunday, Xavier got 20 from Holloway, 19 out of Dante Jackson, and 12 points and 12 boards from Kenny Frease as they went into Pittsburgh and knocked off Duquesne, who they were tied for first place in the conference with.
Xavier still has some work to do this season. A couple of ugly early losses on their resume hurt, and the Muskies have shown they are plenty capable of losing to a team like Charlotte in league play. But it seems as if Xavier is, once again, peaking at the right time. Give credit where credit is due -- this coaching job by Chris Mack, overcoming the injuries and ineligibilities that he has had to deal with, is as good as any in the country.
Also impressive this week:
Matchups of the Week:
Continue reading...
The Case for No. 1 |
Thanks to Jordan Taylor's incredible performance on Saturday, leading Wisconsin from 15 down in the second half to knock off Ohio State in Madison, Bob Knight's 1976 Indiana team will remain the last undefeated team in college hoops for another year.
It also means that the debate over who should be the No. 1 team in the country will be a lively one. There should be a consensus to who the top four teams in the country are -- Pitt, Texas, Kansas, and the Buckeyes.
Who is the best? What order should they be ranked? We break it all down for you:
The case for Kansas:
- Rankings: No. 2/No. 2
- Kenpom/RPI/SOS: No. 2/No. 1/No. 12
- Record: 24-1, 9-1
The Jayhawks hit a rough patch in their season about three weeks ago.
Thomas Robinson's mother passed away on the heels of both of her parents dying in the span of a month, leaving a teammate without a family. It was devastating to hear and read about. I can't imagine what it was like to live through or to see a teammate deal with. Robinson's mom died the night before Texas came to visit, and most of the team spent the night sitting up with the young man.
Not exactly the ideal way to prepare for what is the biggest game of the regular season.
The Jayhawks came out torrid on that Saturday, jumping out to an 18-3 lead and holding onto that lead for much of the first 25-30 minutes. But, eventually, the adrenaline wore off and the effects of a sleepless night took over. Texas made a phenomenal comeback, and Kansas was handed their only loss of the season.
Robinson missed the road trip to Colorado, but since he has rejoined the team, the Jayhawks have been nothing short of a buzzsaw. They've won five straight, all by at least 17 points, while scoring an average of 91.2 ppg. Two of those wins were against Missouri and Kansas State at home. Two were at Nebraska and Texas Tech. One was a 23 point win over an Iowa State team that made 14 three pointers.
No one in the country is playing better basketball than the Jayhawks are right now. And if it weren't for tragic circumstances, this team could very well be undefeated today.
The case for Ohio State:
- Rankings: No. 1/No. 1
- Kenpom/RPI/SOS: No. 1/No. 3/No. 31
- Record: 24-1, 11-1
Maybe I'm old school, but I find it tough to fault the Buckeyes for losing to a top 15 team at one of the most difficult places in the country to win.
No one beats Wisconsin at the Kohl Center. Well, I take that back. 11 teams have beaten Wisconsin at the Kohl Center in 161 games under head coach Bo Ryan. And no one in the country was beating the Badgers on Saturday. Hell, the Minnesota Timberwolves might have left with a loss the way Jordan Taylor was playing.
My point is that this loss shouldn't effect the way you look at Ohio State. If you thought they were the No. 1 team in the country heading into Saturday -- as all 96 people that voted in either the AP or the Coaches Poll did -- you should still consider them the best team in the country after Saturday.
But that isn't how the rankings work. If you lose, even if the loss is just as "good" as the Kansas loss to Texas at home, you drop. Fair or not.
The case for Pitt:
- Rankings: No. 4/No. 4
- Kenpom/RPI/SOS: No. 5/No. 6/No. 17
- Record: 23-2, 11-1
Of the four teams that we look at in this post, Pitt is probably the least likely to earn the top spot in the polls.
They've lost twice, their computers numbers aren't as pretty, and they lack the kind of star power and NBA potential that litters the rosters of Kansas, Texas, and Ohio State.
But that is exactly what Pitt wants you to think of them.
There is not a tough, more physical team in the country than Pitt. They don't win because they have the most talented players. They win because they are the best team, in every sense of the word. Think about this -- the Panthers played without Ashton Gibbs this week, their leading scorer and a candidate for Big East player of the year. It didn't matter. The Panthers still went into West Virginia and into Villanova in prime time games (on Big Monday and on Gameday on Saturday) and came away with wins.
Could Texas win at Kansas and Texas A&M without Jordan Hamilton? Could Kansas win in Austin or at Missouri with Marcus Morris? Ohio State couldn't win at Wisconsin with Jared Sullinger.
The counter-argument is that Pitt at full strength couldn't beat any of those three teams at full strength, and if you believe that, its fine. I'm not sure I'd argue with you.
And neither would Pitt. Its exactly what they want you to think.
The case for Texas:
- Rankings: No. 3/No. 3
- Kenpom/RPI/SOS: No. 3/No. 7/No. 18
- Record: 22-3, 10-0
Texas has the worst record of these four candidates with three losses. They also have easily the worst loss, a 17 point whooping they took at the hands of USC back in December.
That said, they are the only one of the four that is still undefeated in conference play. They haven't been squeaking by their opponents, either. On Saturday, LaceDarius Dunn led a second half comeback that fell short, as Baylor lost to the Longhorns 69-60. It was the closest conference game Texas has played yet this season. Before that, they had beaten Kansas by 11 at the Phog and knocked off Missouri by 13 in a game in which they shot 12-26 from the free throw line.
Texas isn't just beating people right now.
They are choking the lifeblood out of them. The Longhorns don't just have a great defense, they don't just have the best defense in the country, through ten Big 12 games, they are playing defense at a historic level.
If you look at the entire resume of each of these four teams, the Longhorns clearly have the worst. But since early January there hasn't been a better team than Texas.
Continue reading...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
