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

[NFBuck]

We have a Big Ten POY candidate in Terrence Dials, who should be getting the ball more often then he does.

He already took that honor.

 

[osustamm]

Todays game was a killer... I think thats probley good though b/c they will have some real tough games comming up. Hopefully tomorrow we win by >10 points.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

I honestly couldnt be more happy with the way these past few games have panned out. Not just b/c we won, but b/c of how tough they were. They will go a long way in helping us in the tourney.

 

[jwinslow]

I honestly couldnt be more happy with the way these past few games have panned out. Not just b/c we won, but b/c of how tough they were. They will go a long way in helping us in the tourney.

agreed, we found ways to win lately without much success at all on the perimeter. It may not look pretty, but I'd rather endure some hard times rather than roll into the tourney with big heads and overconfidence in our perimiter game. We do still need to become more creative in our offense when the three isn't falling, but Indiana is no slouch.

Twigs is a big loss, IMO. He brings a lot of versatility, and on many occasions has done more than just buy time for Dials.

 

[Catfish Biff's]

Play Big Ten Championship Basketball!

Coach Tressel should be texting Coach Matta a special message in a couple hours.

Here's a game preview for the OSU / Iowa matchup:

(20) Iowa (24-8) vs. (7) Ohio St. (25-4) Preview - Box Score - Recap

Game Info: 3:30 pm EST Sun Mar 12, 2006

Iowa Add to Calendar
Buy Tickets

Ohio State hopes to prove to the NCAA tournament selection committee it is worthy of a No. 1 seed Sunday when it faces Iowa in the Big Ten tournament championship.

Already the outright regular-season winners and boasting both the Big Ten coach of the year and Big Ten player of the year, the seventh-ranked Buckeyes (25-4) try to become the fourth Big Ten school to win the regular-season title and the conference tournament in the same season.

Ohio State is the tournament's top seed, but the second-seeded Hawkeyes (24-8) defeated the Buckeyes 67-62 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Jan. 28 as the Big Ten's top defensive team overpowered the Big Ten's highest-scoring team.

While the Buckeyes average 76.0 points and 47.6 percent shooting, the Hawkeyes held the Buckeyes to just 35.1 percent shooting.

​

Ohio State, coached by Thad Matta, has since won 11 of its last 12 games. The Buckeyes won their only Big Ten tournament title in 2002, defeating Iowa 81-64.

Ohio State defeated Indiana 52-51 on Saturday to reach the championship game for the first time since 2003. J.J. Sullinger scored 19 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, including the final board off an Indiana miss shot in the final seconds.

"It came down to the last play of the game and you can't really say that's how you want it to go down," Sullinger said. "But to win this game was huge for us and it makes us feel good about ourselves."

The Big Ten player of the year Terence Dials finished with 13 points, five rebounds and three blocks against Indiana, and had 16 points and eight boards in the loss to the Hawkeyes.

Ohio State has won seven straight games, but has lost two straight to Iowa.

The Hawkeyes advanced to the championship game with a 53-48 win Saturday over Michigan State, and Iowa's defense has tightened of late.
The Hawkeyes shot only 36.6 percent from the field, but they made 9 of 10 free throws in the final two minutes. Iowa also limited Michigan State to 28.3 percent from the field and forced 18 turnovers.

"We took care of the ball and we made free throws," Hawkeyes coach Steve Alford said. "When you struggle offensively like we did, you can't let it effect you on the other end of the floor and it didn't. We played great, great defense."

Iowa's last four opponents are averaging 46.8 points and shooting a combined 30.1 percent from the field.

Jeff Horner led the Hawkeyes with 14 points and has 40 points in two tournament games. Horner had his worst shooting performance of the season against the Buckeyes, though, finishing with two points on 0 for 8 shooting.

Greg Brunner added 12 points Saturday, and had 17 points and nine rebounds against Ohio State earlier this season.

The Hawkeyes won the 2001 Big Ten tournament by winning four games in four days and are making their first championship game appearance since losing to the Buckeyes in 2002.

The 2006 tournament champion will join Illinois and Michigan State as the only two-time winners.

"I'm very proud of this group," Alford said. "They led or were among the league leaders for much of the season and, now, they've put themselves in position to win a championship."

 

[Steve19]

This game is a job interview for Steve Alford. Iowa won't need any additional incentive and neither does he, but he will be aware its a job interview. He's a good coach, but Coach Matta is a better coach. Our team is tired but I still look for a win and I think a lot of it will be due to exceptional coaching.

This game is this team's chance to leave its second of three legacies. I think they will do it.

 

[HabaneroBuck]

I have no problem with this team chucking 30 threes a game. They are good at it. And even when the shots aren't dropping, they've won close many times this year.That being said, some of these threes are simply not good shots. You need to take good threes. Je'Kel is open, yes, but he's pulling the trigger consistently from 22 feet or so. That is acceptable occasionally, but come on. If you are open from 20, yes, if you are 22+ out, it's okay to keep passing the ball. My only quibble with Matta's coaching this year. It's obvious he's given some guys unequivocal green lights, but let's be smart about it.

 

[CleveBucks]

We're going to catch fire from three sooner or later, and now that other facets of our offense have also developed, we're going to ride the hot streak to the Final Four and beyond.

Just a little optimism for a Sunday morning.

 

[DallasBuckeye]

no need to be worried. this game means very little (if anything) though we'd all love to win it. and the games next weekend won't be against tough opponents.

the great thing about this team is its courage, and resilience. someone steps up each time - and J'Kel could be the man today or Thursday or on Monday night in four weeks. that is the kind of team that can go a long way because when the other team shuts down "the main threat" other threats emerge.

:osu:

 

[Yertle]

Come on JeKel!!! Get that touch back!

I love that this team can win games with defense and pure hustle when their shots aren't falling, and I love that this team has enough support players (syl, jj, lewis) that can step up when the stars are struggling (td, butler, foster). However, I'd feel a lot better about playing the top teams in the country when Foster regains his old form. One 3-pointer in 3 games can't continue.

Keep feeding him the ball, and he'll break out of it.

 

[BB73]

If you're open, just keep chucking that rock!

:osu4:

 

[OHSportsFan]

JJ is a mismatch inside against most every team we play and has been all year. I don't think he gets enough touches, though he performed greatly yesterday. I want to see him get the ball down low a lot more. He can muscle anyone in the post and rise over them with the hops.

GO Bucks!

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

3/12/06

OSU MEN’S NOTEBOOK

Ohio State has opportunity to run table in Big Ten

Sunday, March 12, 2006

Bob Baptist
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

NEAL C . LAURON | DISPATCH J.J. Sullinger of Ohio State is checked on the bench after receiving a cut on his left eyelid that required stitches.


Nine down, one to go.

Even though the Big Ten men’s basketball tournament looked like a nothing-to-lose, nothing-to-gain proposition for regular-season champion Ohio State, the Buckeyes found something besides pride to play for.

When the bracket came out, they saw the potential to meet Indiana in a semifinal and Iowa in the final. They were the only conference teams the Buckeyes did not beat during their 12-4 regular season, losing 81-79 at Indiana on Jan. 5 and 67-62 at Iowa on Jan. 28.

"We were definitely aware of that," J.J. Sullinger said. "We didn’t know how it was going to play out, but we knew if it played out the way it has, the last two games would be against teams we hadn’t beaten this year yet."

Ohio State defeated Indiana 52-51 yesterday in Conseco Fieldhouse. It will play Iowa in the championship game today.
"We’re taking it as a challenge. We’re excited about the situation," Sullinger said. "We want to be able to say that we beat everybody in the Big Ten."

Sunday, March 12, 2006

 

[Jeffcat]

my take is that they need to take the higher percentage shot when need be. i realize we are a live and die by the 3 point team but with dials/twigs/jj we are not limited to a 3 point only team. if we have a 6-8 point lead we should go to the inside guys much more often when 3s are not falling. its the much higher percentage shot. this the sole reason we let people back into games when we have a lead. we have a lead and launch 3s and miss while the other team takes their higher percentage 2pt shots and gets back in the game.

 

[cincibuck]

Anyone else think the Bucks looked tired yesterday? That's what has me scared. this team has got to be able to play quick and they looked like they were running out of gas in the last seven minutes of the game, Dials especially.

I hate these damn conference tournaments. Can't say it often enough.