Men's Basketball
The Buckeye Watch
By Tony GerdemanWell that was pretty unexpected. But much appreciated.
Not that the outcome was the unexpected part, but rather the way the outcome came to be. The Buckeyes looked like they were completely prepared, and completely confident. And it showed on the court.
Syracuse's frustration showed on the court as well.
ESPN went into this game talking only about Syracuse. They come out of it talking about how the Buckeyes are the most underrated team in the country. I'm not sure if that's true. I'm guessing we'll move up into the charts barring a catastrophe against Texas A&M on Friday, so we can only stay underrated for so long.
And it's not like rankings matter in basketball in November or December...or January, or February, or March for that matter.
I don't mind being underrated, but with more performances like this one on the resume, everybody will be taking notice pretty quickly.
9:04 They just showed some Syracuse highlights. I'm getting bad flashbacks of playing Georgetown in the tournament back in '06.
9:11 This Washington - Texas A&M game is taking forever. I think they should probably foul more. Apparently, they don't want to leave the court. You have to appreciate watching kids who love playing basketball--even when they're down by ten with no hope to come back. Keep fouling, you strivers and strugglers. Idiots.
9:23 ESPN is talking like the Buckeyes are headed to the slaughter. This is essentially a showcase for Syracuse.
9:37 Jamar Butler and Johnny Flynn will decide this game. Whichever point guard comes out on top, you'll have your winner.
9:40 Hey, we won the tip. I think that's the first time all year. Even Findlay won the tip against us.
9:41 Donte' Green hits the three on the wing. That's bad news. He's like a taller, longer, more athletic Jeff Green.
9:41:21 But David Lighty matches him with a baseline three of his own. Lighty hitting his first three of course means that he won't hesitate to shoot again for the rest of the game. I like that attitude.
9:42 And before I can even finish jotting that note, Lighty throws up another baseline three, misses it, gets the rebound and is fouled. His confidence can make this team reach their potential.
9:42:17 Lighty kicks it out to Kosta Koufos for three...got it! When he's hitting that shot, there's nobody else like him playing college basketball today.
9:45 Donte' Green banks in a 27-footer. Of course he does. Game over. Those shots go in for a reason. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.
9:45:41 It would really be nice to see something from Jon Diebler other than the top of the key catch, dribble and pass. The more versatility he shows, the more offense will become available to him.
9:47 There's the first television timeout of the game. Syracuse leads 10-8 with 15:40 left in the first half. Jamar Butler isn't getting any good looks right now. Actually, there have only been three open shots and we've made all three. Maybe there's something to that.
9:51 Paul Harris is killing us with the high-post drive and dish. We need to flash like that.
9:52 David Lighty turns it over, steals it back, takes it the length of the court, bricks the monster dunk and gets a charge called on him. All in a day's work.
9:53 Lighty to the rim again, and this time he gets fouled. You have to love the aggression. He doesn't just get back on the horse after falling off, he gets back on the entire farm.
9:56 Thad Matta just got a warning for leaving the coach's box. Seriously? The dude can barely walk, and you're trying to limit him? He's finally getting some range back and you're going to try and stifle him? I bet that ref runs a puppy mill.
9:56:31 Dallas Lauderdale picks up a foul on an obviously clean block. It's good to see him in there so early. You wonder about rotations and who fits where. It's good when the younger guys are producing well enough to command playing time.
9:58 Jamar Butler just missed a very deep three. Apparently there are no regular threes available. Either that or everybody's already trying to get used to the new distance that goes in effect next year.
9:59 Paul Harris in the paint again. That dude is like power forward in a point guard's body. He's built like a power forward, has the touch and the range of a power forward, but has the quickness of a guard. But the long hair is dumb. And I'll say that to his face.
10:04 Traveling on Donte' Green! Hey, he's not perfect. Apparently he's not the rich man's Kevin Durant after all.
10:05 Jon Diebler misses the three but Koufos grabs the rebound and puts it up and in. Nice decision by Diebler to shoot the quick three. For one, it was open. For two, Koufos was the only player under the basket. Nice recognition by Diebler to weigh the risk and reward so quickly. Unless, of course, I'm overanalyzing it and it was just an open shot with no regard at all about who was in position to rebound.
10:07 Jamar Butler drives and drops it off to Othello Hunter, and Hunter throws it down. The Buckeyes lead 21-20, and I think that's their first lead of the game.
10:09 Eric Devendorf gets a technical foul for saying something--I have no idea what--to somebody--I have no idea who. We'll take those free points. Jon Diebler makes both. The Buckeyes now lead 25-22 with 8:08 to play.
10:11 The Buckeyes have gone on a 12-2 run and have done it with defense and aggression. No reason to stop now, we've seen its effectiveness.
10:12 I know it's probably a lot to ask, but maybe we could get the ball down low to the big Greek kid in the middle. Crazy, I know.
10:17 Or behind the three-point line! Koufos just hit another three on the baseline on a sweet pass from Butler. Wow! Buckeyes lead 28-24 with 6:00 to play.
10:18 Evan Turner alley-oop to Koufos, Koufos drops it in and gets fouled! Shooting for a three-point play here...got it! Buckeyes lead 31-24.
10:19 Seriously Syracuse, do something about all of the long hair. It's comical.
10:22 Evan Turner flashes at the top, breaks the zone down, spins into the lane and lays the ball in. Wow! That was an upper class move by a freshman.
10:23 Koufos pump-fakes, puts the ball on the floor and hits a floater. How many 7'1" guys can do that in college basketball? One.
10:25 These freshmen are putting it all together. You can see the gears working, but it's nice when there's no grinding involved. Turner seems like his skills are just a bit behind his smarts, and when the two meet, he's going to be a very good player.
10:29 Evan Turner with the last shot...oh, what a crossover! And then a 360 spin, lays it up and in! But they blow it off, calling him for traveling. Wow, what a move. That'll work in the NBA eventually, but for now, you have to watch your steps.
10:30 That's the end of the half. The Buckeyes lead 42-34. And the Buckeyes have essentially done this without much scoring from Jamar Butler and David Lighty. The freshmen are putting on a show for the Buckeyes right now. Syracuse came into this game with the heralded freshmen, but they are getting outshone by Thad Matta's class.
10:33 I'm liking the looks of Evan Turner. He seems to be ahead of where David Lighty was offensively last year. If Turner can improve like Lighty improved, the limits won't really apply to Evan Turner.
10:46 Koufos had 15 points in the first half. Just get him the ball, please.
10:51 The Buckeyes are getting killed on the offensive glass. Syracuse has trimmed the eight-point lead down to three. Easy fellas, don't let this lead get away from you.
10:52 Thad calls a timeout. Good idea. It's 46-43 Ohio State with 15:47 to play. We're getting out-hustled right now. I'm guessing Thad will put an end to that here shortly.
10:54 Geez, how much longer is George Mason going to continue milking their fifteen minutes of fame. Just go away already. They're to the point right now where they're just famous for being famous.
10:55 Othello Hunter gets it in the high post, fires it down to Koufos who throws it down for the dunk. I like this high post passing. Especially when we shoot an easy 100% out of it. Buckeyes lead 48-43.
11:02 Othello Hunter gets it in the high post, fires it down to Koufos who throws it down for the dunk. I like this high post passing. Especially when we shoot an easy 100% out of it. Buckeyes lead 52-44 with 13:50 to play.
11:03 Paul Harris misses a three. We will let him shoot that shot all night long. We'll even let him use the court at halftime in order to shoot around for practice. We just want him shooting, that's all.
11:04 Evan Turner grabs the rebound, heads up court, dumps it off for Butler, and Butler nails the three! Nice early dagger with 12:34 remaining. The Buckeyes lead 56-44.
11:07 Tonight's performance isn't too shabby. They withstood Syracuse's early second-half barrage and then responded with a run of their own. They actually had Syracuse looking desperate at times on offense during their run.
11:10 Matt Terwilliger for three from the baseline...got it! No hesitation at all, and no hesitation in the pass from Butler. This team is just so confident in their teammates right now. Buckeyes lead 59-48 with 10:45 to play.
11:12 Butler finds Diebler, and Diebler finally finds an open three and nails it! 62-50 Buckeyes with 9:20 remaining.
11:14 Butler for a three of his own...got it! That dude is cold-blooded right now. Syracuse gave him way too much space. They are a remarkably lazy defensive team at times. It seems like they've quit. Fine by me. 67-52 Buckeyes with 8:02 to play.
11:15 The Buckeyes' confidence is blatant right now.
11:15:22 The television just showed some Buckeye fan, he looked up at the scoreboard, saw himself and then booed. I'm guessing he lacks self-esteem. Sad.
11:16 Terwilliger with the big block on Donte' Green!! Do you even know who you're taking that ball to, Donte'? I don't think you do. That's Matt Freaking Terwilliger that you're attacking. You've got no hope in this battle.
11:21 Simply amazing ball movement all over the court leads to an open three by Jamar Butler. That was terrific and textbook. Buckeyes lead 70-55 with 6:30 to play.
11:22 David Lighty drives to the rim, dumps it off to Hunter and Hunter lays it in. The amazing thing is that these guys haven't had as much time together as a normal team would. Lighty and Koufos both spent much of their summers abroad. This team is only going to get more in-tuned.
11:23 Koufos for three...no, he fires it down into Hunter and Hunter dunks it and gets fouled! Wow! What an awesome play by Koufos. Everybody thought he was shooting--everybody but Hunter, that is. I can't get enough of this kid. Buckeyes lead 74-60 with 5:35 to play.
11:26 Johnny Flynn gets called for the charge as Diebler stood his ground. I mentioned early on that the winner of the Butler-Flynn battle would win this game. It's looking like both match-ups were routs. The Buckeyes look like they've been playing together for at least a year. The basketball intelligence is extremely apparent. Everybody looks so calm and completely confident and in control. That's 100% coaching.
11:34 Jamar Butler steals the in-bounds pass. He baited Syracuse on that one, then broke on the ball like he was Kurt Coleman. I'd say he broke on the ball like Anderson Russell, but Butler actually caught the ball.
11:37 That's the ball game. Buckeyes win 79-65. Amazing. And thoroughly impressive. Syracuse came into this game with all of the hype on their freshmen, but Jamar Butler showed the value of a senior point guard. And Kosta Koufos showed the value of a seven-footer who can do whatever he wants whenever he wants to do it. And Thad Matta showed the value of letting him. Smart.
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