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Men's Basketball
Lauderdale, Freshmen Lead Buckeyes to Season-Opening Win
By Brandon CastelCOLUMBUS, Ohio — Dallas Lauderdale was feeling it Friday night as Ohio State opened the 2010-11 season with a 102-61 win over North Carolina A&T.
Dallas Lauderdale collects one of his eight blocked shots against the Aggies.
Photo by Jim DavidsonRecently named one of the most intimidating players on college basketball, Lauderdale imposed his will on the Bulldogs in the opening minutes as the 4th-ranked Buckeyes built a 22-6 lead in the first eight minutes.
“Lauderdale was such a presence blocking shots,” North Carolina A&T coach Jerry Eaves said after the game.
“I truly just wanted to score 70 point. That was my team’s goal. We wanted to come in, play up-tempo and score 70 points but Lauderdale was such a presence blocking shots that it really made us very difficult for us attacking the basket.”
Making it even more difficult was the fact the Bulldogs were without leading rebounder Thomas Coleman, who missed the game with a hamstring injury. Their lack or a presence inside showed right from the onset as the Buckeyes feasted on their inexperienced frontcourt with a 60-22 advantage on the glass.
“They had more offensive rebounds than I did total,” Eaves said after the Buckeyes grabbed 30 offensive rebounds.
“It’s really funny that we didn’t get beat (by) 100 when you get outrebounded 60-22. It really, really could have gotten ugly.”
The starting frontcourt of Lauderdale and freshman Jared Sullinger alone combined for 27 rebounds, while Deshaun Thomas and David Lighty totaled 15 more boards.
Lauderdale sparked the Buckeyes early with eight points and eight rebounds in the first half, as he finished two blocks shy of his first career triple-double. The senior center did finish with 12 points, 13 rebounds (eight offensive) and eight blocks in one of the most dominating performances of his career.
“He really changed the game,” Eaves said.
“If you had to put your finger on one player, his defensive presence in the paint changed the game.”
On the offensive end it was a trio of freshmen who sparked the Buckeyes, who didn’t shoot the ball as well as head coach Thad Matta would have liked.
“Hopefully we put the ball in the basket more in the future. We didn’t shoot particularly well tonight,” Matta said after watching his team shoot 43 percent from the field in the second half and 23 percent from behind the arc for the game.
“I always say we want to average a lot of points and play fast. I tell the guys we want a lot of possessions in a game. I don’t know if we can maintain that average, it’ll be challenging.”
Deshaun Thomas The returning trio of David Lighty, William Buford and Jon Diebler shot just 11-of-31 from the floor, but Matta got big nights from Sullinger, Thomas and fellow freshman Aaron Craft.
Deshaun Thomas emotes after a dunk.
Photo by Jim DavidsonWith the North Carolina A&T defense focused on Sullinger in the first half (3 points, 2 rebounds, 2 fouls), it was Thomas who came out firing from every angle. The former Indiana Mr. Basketball knocked down a three in the corner for his first basket at Ohio State and didn’t stop until he had 15 points at the half on 6-of-9 shooting.
“God, did he shot the lights out. He played tremendous, and that’s the depth. They’ve got great depth,” Eaves said.
“He shot the lights out of the ball and he’s got a very nice shot. He’s got a very nice stroke. Coach Matta’s got a lot of weapons.”
Thomas finished with a game-high 24 points to accompany eight rebounds, but it was Sullinger’s turn to take over the game in the second half. After playing only nine minutes because of foul trouble in the first half, Sullinger exploded for 16 points and 12 rebounds in the second half.
“What I focus my game on is how many rebounds I get,” said Sullinger, who finished with 19 points and 14 rebounds in 21 minutes.
“If I don’t get a lot of rebounds, I’m not really playing hard. That’s something that was established by my brothers and my father. He told me if I don’t have a lot of rebounds, I’m not playing hard.”
Maybe the most impressive stat-line, however, belonged to Craft. The freshman point guard came off the bench to score eight points and dish out nine assists in 22 minutes. Just like the exhibition game, Craft did not have a single turnover, although he did foul out at the 4:30 mark of the second half.
“Craft is the glue guy. He keeps everybody together,” Sullinger said.
“Whatever it takes he’ll do. He’s a great defender and he knows his role. A lot of people take him lightly. They see a little kid out there and think they can pressure him. The next thing he makes a little move and drops off to Dallas for a dunk. Everybody’s surprised how good he can be.”
Few people are surprised with how good the Buckeyes have been, but they will be tested for real Tuesday when they travel to Gainesville for a big showdown with Florida.
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