#20 Iowa 67, #7 Ohio State 60 (Final)

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

A couple of thoughts after this loss....

1. This is the worst loss of the season, point wise.....just 7 points.
2. The difference between winning and losing this game came down to Dials being in foul trouble and our inability to consistently get the ball to Dials in the low block.
3. I am extremely proud of this team and how hard they played yesterday, with Dials on the bench for most of the first half, we showed we could maintain and add to a lead.
4. Officiating may have played a role, but that wasn't the reason we came up a little short yesterday.
5. Congratulations to Butler and Sullinger being named to the All-Tournament team.

And lastly, its the start of a new season on Friday, bring on Davidson!

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

3/13/06

IOWA 67 | OHIO STATE 60

Buckeyes hit wall in loss to Iowa

Hawkeyes close game with 17-4 run to win Big Ten tournament

Monday, March 13, 2006

Bob Baptist
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

J.J. Sullinger and Je’Kel Foster can sense the Buckeyes are in trouble after failing to save a loose ball in the final minutes.

NEAL C . LAURON | DISPATCH PHOTOS Terence Dials hits the floor in an effort to save a loose ball during Iowa’s closing 17-4 run.

NEAL C . LAURON | DISPATCH Ohio State’s Terence Dials is greeted by Iowa’s Adam Haluska (1) and Erek Hansen while taking a shot.


INDIANAPOLIS — After grinding for nine weeks to win the Big Ten men’s basketball championship, the challenge for Ohio State entering the conference tournament was to find enough fuel to run another 120 minutes.

The Buckeyes ran out eight minutes from their destination.

Iowa outscored Ohio State 17-4 in the last eight minutes yesterday to win the tournament championship 67-60 in Conseco Fieldhouse and gain a measure of satisfaction after finishing second to the Buckeyes by one game during the regular season. The Hawkeyes also won their only regular-season matchup against the Buckeyes.

"I’m proud of our guys," OSU coach Thad Matta said. "It’s pretty obvious we ran out of gas there down the stretch. We just didn’t have enough to finish it off with nine scholarship players here. I couldn’t be prouder of the effort the guys brought and the intensity they played with."

Ohio State (25-5), trying to win its second Big Ten tournament title four years after winning its first in Conseco, used only seven players in the game and played the last 11:21 of the first half without center Terence Dials and forward Matt Sylvester, each on the bench with foul trouble.

Three of the other five players, Jamar Butler, Je’Kel Foster and J.J. Sullinger, played 37 minutes or more, Butler and Foster for the third straight day and Sullinger for the second as Matta was forced to play a lineup lacking a post presence for the second consecutive game. Backup center Matt Terwilliger is out indefinitely after having an appendectomy last week.

The guards’ fatigue, and especially Butler’s, was a factor down the stretch as Iowa point guard Jeff Horner, the tournament’s outstanding player, scored nine of his team-high 16 points in the final eight minutes. He also tied a tournament championship game record with 10 assists.

"He is the catalyst, the spirit of the team, and the guys feed off his energy," Iowa coach Steve Alford said of Horner, whom Alford said suffered a rib injury in the first half. "We were concerned about (him) because when he hurts, the whole team hurts.

"We told him, ‘You have to find a way to fight through this because your teammates are really looking at you.’ His demeanor in the second half changed. Jeff just said there are no more excuses. He ended phenomenal."

Butler led Ohio State with 19 points and six assists and was the best player on the floor early in the second half. Four times he scored after Iowa (25-8) had closed to a point or two of the lead.

Matta gave him a well-earned breather with 12:04 left, but Butler wasn’t the same after returning two minutes later. He committed his only two turnovers of the game and scored his final points on a running, shot clock-beating bank shot with 9:01 left.

"He was going as hard as he could," Matta said of Butler. "I was watching him breathe and he was struggling to get his breath."

A free throw by Ron Lewis at 7:29 and Dials’ three-point play at 1:40 were the Buckeyes’ only points after that.

Sullinger added 15 points and Dials 10 for Ohio State, which shot 50 percent from the field in the first half and 30.4 in the second.

"Shots weren’t falling for us," Sullinger said. "You’ve got to give Iowa credit, they played some good defense. But we feel like we had good looks. The shots just didn’t fall."

The Buckeyes spent almost no time lamenting the loss. An hour later, they celebrated a bid to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in four years.

"We shift into another gear now," Dials said. "If you lose, you go home.

That’s the last game for the seniors. We’re going to play every game like it’s our last."

[email protected]

Monday, March 13, 2006

 

[coastalbuck]

Butler led Ohio State with 19 points and six assists and was the best player on the floor early in the second half. Four times he scored after Iowa (25-8) had closed to a point or two of the lead.

Matta gave him a well-earned breather with 12:04 left, but Butler wasn’t the same after returning two minutes later. He committed his only two turnovers of the game and scored his final points on a running, shot clock-beating bank shot with 9:01 left.

"He was going as hard as he could," Matta said of Butler. "I was watching him breathe and he was struggling to get his breath."

This was, IMHO, the turning point in the game!

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Here are some pics from the game......

Iowa guard Jeff Horner goes up for a basket against Ohio State forward Matt Sylvester (40) which gave a lead to Iowa in the second half of the Big Ten men's basketball championship game Sunday, March 12, 2006 in Indianapolis. Horner was awarded the MVP in the game.
(AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Iowa forward Alex Thompson (5) throws a three-pointer which led Iowa five points less than three minutes left in the Big Ten men's basketball championship game against Ohio State Sunday, March 12, 2006 in Indianapolis.
(AP Photo/Tom Strattman)

Ohio State forward Matt Sylvester (40) walks off the court after Iowa beat Ohio State, 67-60, in the Big Ten men's basketball championship game Sunday, March 12, 2006 in Indianapolis.
(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Ohio State head coach Thad Matta looks down near the end of the the Big Ten men's basketball championship game against Iowa Sunday, March 12, 2006 in Indianapolis. Iowa beat Ohio State, 67-60.
(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

INDIANAPOLIS - MARCH 12: Ivan Harris #3 of the Ohio State Buckeyes puts his hands on his head in the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the Big 10 Tournament Championship game on March 12, 2006 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Hawkeyes defeated the Buckeyes 67-60 to win the championship. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

INDIANAPOLIS - MARCH 12: (R-L) Greg Brunner #44 of the Iowa Hawkeyes and Matt Sylvester #40 of the Ohio State Buckeyes scramble for the ball during the Big 10 Tournament Championship game on March 12, 2006 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Hawkeyes defeated the Buckeyes 67-60 to win the championship. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

INDIANAPOLIS - MARCH 12: Greg Brunner #44 of the Iowa Hawkeyes puts his arms around Matt Sylvester #40 of the Ohio State Buckeyes as Sylvester looks to call a timeout during the Big 10 Tournament Championship game on March 12, 2006 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Hawkeyes defeated the Buckeyes 67-60 to win the championship. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

INDIANAPOLIS - MARCH 12: Jeff Horner #2 of the Iowa Hawkeyes shoots a layup past Jamar Butler #14 of the Ohio State Buckeyes during the Big 10 Tournament Championship game on March 12, 2006 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

Ohio State cheerleaders perform their routines in the first half of the Big Ten men's basketball championship game against Iowa Sunday, March 12, 2006 in Indianapolis.
(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Ohio State guard Jamar Butler shoots from outside in the first half of the Big Ten men's basketball championship game against Iowa Sunday, March 12, 2006 in Indianapolis.
(AP Photo/Tom Strattman)

Ohio State guard guard Jamar Butler shoots from outside in the first half of the Big Ten men's basketball championship game against Iowa Sunday, March 12, 2006 in Indianapolis. At left is Iowa guard Tony Freeman (11)
(AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Iowa guard Mike Henderson (35), right, shoots against Ohio State guard J.J.Sullinger (0) in the first half of the Big Ten men's basketball championship game Sunday, March 12, 2006 in Indianapolis.
(AP Photo/Tom Strattman)

Iowa forward Greg Brunner (44), right, goes up for a basket against Ohio State guard Ron Lewis in the first half of the Big Ten men's basketball championship game Sunday, March 12, 2006 in Indianapolis.
(AP Photo/Tom Strattman)

Ohio State guard J.J. Sullinger (0) battles for a loose ball against Iowa guard Mike Henderson in the first half of the Big Ten men's basketball championship game Sunday, March 12, 2006 in Indianapolis.
(AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

INDIANAPOLIS - MARCH 12: Mike Henderson #35 of the Iowa Hawkeyes shoots in front of Terence Dials #34 of the Ohio State Buckeyes during the Big 10 Tournament Championship game on March 12, 2006 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

INDIANAPOLIS - MARCH 12: Jamar Butler #14 of the Ohio State Buckeyes shoots over Jeff Horner #2 of the Iowa Hawkeyes during the Big 10 Tournament Championship game on March 12, 2006 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

Iowa guard Adam Haluska (1) drives against Ohio State forward Terence Dials, left, in the first half of the Big Ten men's basketball championship game Sunday, March 12, 2006 in Indianapolis.
(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Ohio State forward Terence Dials (34) drives against Iowa center Erek Hansen in the first half of the Big Ten men's basketball championship game Sunday, March 12, 2006 in Indianapolis.
(AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

INDIANAPOLIS - MARCH 12: Erek Hansen #34 of the Iowa Hawkeyes dunks the ball as Terence Dials #34 of the Ohio State Buckeyes flies by during the Big 10 Tournament Championship game on March 12, 2006 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

Ohio State guard Je'Kel Foster (23) shoots against Iowa center Erek hansen (32) in the first half of the Big Ten men's basketball championship game Sunday, March 12, 2006, in Indianapolis.
(AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

INDIANAPOLIS - MARCH 12: J.J. Sullinger #0 of the Ohio State Buckeyes is fouled by Tony Freeman #11 of the Iowa Hawkeyes during the Big 10 Tournament Championship game on March 12, 2006 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

INDIANAPOLIS - MARCH 12: Head coach Thad Matta of the Ohio State Buckeyes reacts on the sideline against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the Big 10 Tournament Championship game on March 12, 2006 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

INDIANAPOLIS - MARCH 12: Ron Lewis #12 of the Ohio State Buckeyes goes up for a shot as he is fouled by Greg Brunner #44 of the Iowa Hawkeyes during the Big 10 Tournament Championship game on March 12, 2006 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

INDIANAPOLIS - MARCH 12: Je'Kel Foster #23 of the Ohio State Buckeyes shoots over Jeff Horner #2 of the Iowa Hawkeyes during the Big 10 Tournament Championship game on March 12, 2006 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

INDIANAPOLIS - MARCH 12: Je'Kel Foster #23 of the Ohio State Buckeyes goes up for a shot between Greg Brunner #44 and Erek Hansen #34 of the Iowa Hawkeyes during the Big 10 Tournament Championship game on March 12, 2006 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

 

[Hamstring]

Is there a rule that we must shoot 3 pointers from the NBA stripe? Just checking.

 

[BrutusMaximus]

BUT they aren't the freaking '96 Bulls for Pete's sake!

Easy there Keeler

Great, great season. I didnt expect this team to come CLOSE to what they have done this year. How bout this as food for thought. If Je'Kel is hitting yesterday, Iowa doesnt even come close. I really do think they ran out of gas. Very little depth, then we lose Twigs and have to play 3 TOUGH games without him......

I give a ton of credit to Matta, and to Dials, who really stepped up big time. Cant really say enough about a team that was completely looked over because of the recruiting class from a year later being talked about constantly. They only go 25-5, win the Big 10, come 7 points from winning the Conference Tourney. Yikes.

 

[jimotis4heisman]

as i stated in twigs thread. between tod (turnover difference for those of you who dont like my abrevs) and rbd (rebounding diff) we spotted iowa 10 possessions. you cant win many games giving up 10 trips down the floor.

an old old school coach i had explained basketball like this once:
you get x, where x stands for the number of possessions.
you subtract y, where y stands for offensive you guys give up
you subtract z, where z stands for defensive rebounds you give up
you add a, where a stands for offensive rebounds you get
you add e, where e stands for defensice rebounds you give up
you subtract p, where p stands for times you turn the ball over
you add h, where h stands for turnovers the other team committs
adjust for jump balls won/lost (at this time actual jump balls[these days you would adjust for a possibilty of 1 possession])

when you sum this if you end up with a postive number you win over 90% of the time if the difference is greater than 3 (the thinking being 3 possessions at 45%. thus the game is decided by greater than one basket)


granted we gave up a margin of 10...



all that being said
had someone told you in spetember the boys would be in the b10 final, youd be estatic
had someone told you they would have wont the regular season championshiop, you would have called an insane asylum

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Good post....

vBulletin Message

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to jimotis4heisman again.
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[jimotis4heisman]

Good post....

yeah but i forgot to mention he stole it from a guy named knight, who borrowed it from a guy named wooden...