#7 Georgetown 70, #2 Ohio State 52 - NCAA Tournament (Final)

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

yahoo.com

3/19/06

(7) Georgetown (22-9) vs. (2) Ohio St. (26-5)Preview - Box Score - Recap

Game Info: 4:50 pm EST Sun Mar 19, 2006
Minneapolis Region 2nd Round - UD Arena (Dayton, OH)
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Buy Tickets [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaab/teams/gae"][/URL]Georgetown Ohio St.[URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaab/teams/oad"][/URL]Big East, 4th placeConferenceBig Ten, 1st place4-7Record vs. Tourney Teams6-50-1Record vs. Common Opp.1-066.3 | 59.2PPG | OPPG74.5 | 63.4Jeff Green (11.6)Scoring LeaderTerence Dials (15.1)Roy Hibbert (6.6)Rebound LeaderTerence Dials (8.2)Jonathan Wallace (3.2)Assists LeaderJamar Butler (4.6)By DAN BURCH, STATS Writer


An NCAA rules infraction eliminated any records of Ohio State's last trip to the regional semifinals.

The second-seeded Buckeyes (26-5) hope to add a new chapter when they face seventh-seeded Georgetown (22-9) on Sunday in the second round of the Minneapolis Regional.

Last week, the NCAA ruled all Ohio State records from the 1998-99 season through the 2001-02 season must be erased for using an ineligible player while Jim O'Brien was Buckeyes coach.
That wiped out four trips to the NCAA tournament and a Final Four appearance in 1999, meaning Ohio State's last official trip past the second round came in 1992, when it advanced to the regional finals before losing to Michigan's "Fab Five" team.

The Buckeyes took one step toward this year's regional semifinals by outlasting a pesky, 15th-seeded Davidson team 70-62 in the first round Friday before a partisan crowd in Dayton, Ohio.


"I told these guys after the game that the greatest words you can hear in college basketball are 'Ohio State advances,' and that's what we've done," coach Thad Matta said.

Ohio State trailed 29-25 at halftime before a lecture by Matta refocused the Buckeyes.

Big Ten player of the year Terence Dials had 13 of his 19 points in the second half and added 12 rebounds. Ron Lewis came off the bench to score 16 of his 19 points in the final 20 minutes while J.J. Sullinger finished with 13 points and 13 rebounds.

"Probably a 13," Sullinger said when asked on a scale of 10 how loud Matta was at halftime. "No, he just told us what needed to be said. We didn't come all this way to play the way we did in the first half."

Shooting from behind the arc, one of Ohio State's strengths during the regular season, was a major weakness in the first half with a 1-of-14 performance. The Buckeyes bounced back in the second half to hit 4-of-8 from 3-point range.

In their last seven games, the Buckeyes have made only 23.1 percent (40-for-173) of their 3-point attempts.

"I'm concerned," Matta said. "They asked me right after the game, 'Do you have a potion to help the outside shooting?' If I did, I would have used it a couple of weeks ago. Everybody knows that when you get in here, you've got to get on a roll and make some shots."

Georgetown used a formula from years past -- relying on a talented center and tough defense -- to beat Northern Iowa 54-49 in the first round Friday for its first NCAA tournament victory since 2001.

Remembering the glory days of star centers Patrick Ewing, Dikembe Mutombo and Alonzo Mourning, the Hoyas turned to 7-foot-2 sophomore Roy Hibbert, who responded with 17 points on 8-for-10 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds while playing solid interior defense.

"We wanted to make sure we showed them a picture -- no easy lanes to the basket, so if one guy looks at the basket, he sees four guys in the middle," Hibbert said.

Hibbert's play and the team's defense, which allowed a Big East-low 59.5 points per game, helped Georgetown to its best season since 2001, also its last trip to the regional semifinals.

That year, the Hoyas beat 15th-seeded Hampton in the second round. Ohio State, the Big Ten regular season champion, figures to be a tougher opponent, especially playing 70 minutes from home.

"Obviously, they're a very good team, playing in this building," Georgetown coach John Thompson III said. "Sitting in the locker room changing up, it was very loud out there (during the Ohio State game)."

Georgetown beat Ohio State 82-79 in the second round of the 1987 tournament, the only postseason matchup between the schools. The Buckeyes won the only other two meetings, in 1981 and 1990. The winner faces Florida or Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the regional semifinals.

 

[aurorabuckeye13]

I think we will beat George Washington convincingly. According to Ken Pomeroy's rankings, they are ranked #130 in their last five games. I think we will get good match-ups in the paint and that our guards will do a bit better in their shooting today.

Further progress, however, is questionable unless we shoot better. Florida is ranked #1 for the last five games and we have been languishing around #42. We rely on the 3 pointer and we need to sink them; failing to do so will sink us.

I am wondering how much of this shooting problem is due to the entire NCAA controversy. Has this team got it into its head that its somehow guilty of something or that they are not "the good guys" anymore? If it isn't that, then what is in their heads? Is it fatigue?

Whatever it is, no more home court or near home court advantage after this game and the Buckeyes need to sink their threes to advance.

Personally, I think everything relies on their heads and not on their shot mechanics. I am praying that they have a good opening against GW and get some confidence back. Foster especially must return to form if we are to have a chance at the final four.

Sure I think we would beat George Washington too... only problem is, we're playing Georgetown and GW already lost to duke...

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

3/19/06

Posted on Sun, Mar. 19, 2006
BUCKEYES SCOUTING REPORT

Ohio State vs. Georgetown

What: NCAA Tournament second round (Minneapolis Region)

Time: About 4:50 p.m. today, University of Dayton Arena

Records: Ohio State is 26-5; Georgetown is 22-9.

Coaches: Thad Matta (46-17) is in his second season at Ohio State; John Thompson III (41-22) is in his second year at Georgetown.

Notebook: Georgetown, which has won five of its past seven, is in the midst of its first 20-win season since 2000-01. In the regular season, it led the Big East in field-goal percentage and is shooting 47.1 percent. It has hit at least 50 percent in 11 games and set a team mark with 212 3-pointers. The Hoyas have beaten two ranked teams, then-No. 1 Duke 87-84 and then-No. 9 Pittsburgh 61-58. The 87 points against Duke were the most under Thompson. Georgetown's starting front line stands 6-foot-9, 6-9 and 7-2. Sophomore forward Jeff Green, second-team All-Big East, leads the Hoyas in scoring (11.6 ppg) and is second in rebounding (6.5), assists (3.2) and blocked shots (1.0). Senior forward Brandon Bowman is tied for second in scoring (11.4 ppg) and third in rebounding (5.1). With 1,538 career points, he's one shy of Allen Iverson for 12th place. Senior guard Ashanti Cook, who scored 11 of the final 14 points Friday against Northern Iowa, carries a 9.9 average. OSU leads the series 2-1, but Georgetown won the only meeting in the tournament, 82-79 in 1987.

MARLA RIDENOUR​

​

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

3/19/06

Posted on Sun, Mar. 19, 2006
OSU's big man must be dialed in

Dials not changing despite facing huge task in 7-foot-2 Georgetown counterpart

By Marla Ridenour

Beacon Journal sportswriter

DAYTON - Perhaps it was the inference that he's overmatched that didn't set well with Terence Dials.

After being peppered with questions concerning his showdown today with Georgetown's 7-foot-2 sophomore center, Roy Hibbert, the Big Ten player of the year seemed a little testy.

``I've played 31 games, and I've played the same way all season long,'' Dials said. ``I'm not going to change my game because he's 7-2. I'm going to continue to play the way I know how. That's the only way I know how to be successful.''

Ohio State's senior center from Youngstown left the interview room muttering under his breath.

Dials will need that fire as the second-seeded Buckeyes (26-5) take on seventh-seeded Georgetown (22-9) about 4:50 p.m. in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at the University of Dayton Arena.

He will give up five inches to Hibbert. At 6-9, Dials is the tallest player on an OSU roster facing a front line that goes 6-9, 6-9, 7-2.

Dials' backup, 6-8 Matt Terwilliger, was cleared Saturday to play after a March 8 appendectomy.

Georgetown 6-9 forward Brandon Bowman said when Hibbert gets his hands up he's ``8 feet or even taller.''

``We're going to try to play long, have our hands up all the time,'' Bowman said. ``That can pose a problem to anyone if we use it right.''

Hibbert is far from a finished product. Georgetown coach John Thompson III remembers his first impression of the recruit from Adelphi, Md.

``My first thought was, `He's awful,' '' Thompson said. ``He could barely walk. In the fall, our trainer had him in the gym working on running. `This is how you run.'

``His development has been tremendous. It's a tribute to his work ethic and his caring. God blessed him with that body. But he has the desire and a willingness to be taught. It's just the tip of the iceberg.''

Thompson said Hibbert hasn't been pressured to follow in the footsteps of great Georgetown big men -- Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning and Dikembe Mutombo.

``Roy knew walking in the door what he heard from us was he was not close to where they were. One day he will be,'' Thompson said.

``I hear about the former players all the time,'' Hibbert said. ``They've done a lot of stuff I probably can't even do. I have to work to obtain that status.''

Former Georgetown coach John Thompson, the coach's father, said Hibbert surprised him. ``He's improved probably as rapidly as any kid his size that I've seen around here.''

Hibbert leads the team in rebounds with 6.6 per game, is tied for second in scoring with an 11.4 average and has 48 blocked shots. That's up from 5.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 40 blocked shots as a freshman.

By comparison, Dials leads OSU with 15.1 points, 8.2 rebounds and 34 blocked shots.

OSU 6-7 senior forward Matt Sylvester sees Hibbert's ball handling as a weakness.

``He likes to put (the basketball) on the floor when he makes his move, so we have to get in there and get some swipes and try to tip some away from him,'' Sylvester said.

With the Buckeyes mired in a 10-game 3-point shooting slump, OSU coach Thad Matta might be more concerned about Dials' offense than his defense.

``Hopefully he can get some angles to score and go after it,'' Matta said.

 

[daddyphatsacs]

I love the fact that we are the underdog today. I think it will give the guys a chip on their shoulder. We play much better when people expect us to lose. I think this will be our advantage for the rest of the tournament.......we'll be predicted to lose the rest of them by all the "experts".

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

3/19/06

Dials will bear the brunt of Georgetown’s front line

Sunday, March 19, 2006


[FONT=Verdana, Times New Roman, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]By RUSTY MILLER AP Sports Writer[/FONT]

AP Tom Uhlman At 7-foot-2, Georgetown center Roy Hibbert will tower over most Ohio State players in today’s game at University of Dayton Arena.
​

DAYTON - Ohio State’s Terence Dials didn’t do a very good job of hiding how tired he was of answering questions about Georgetown center Roy Hibbert.

“I’ve played 31 games this season. I’ve played the same way all season long. I’m not going to change my game because he’s 7-2,” Dials said.

Dials then left the podium. He was not angry, but he’d heard enough about the tall challenge he’ll face when the second-seeded Buckeyes (26-5) take on the No. 7-seeded Hoyas (22-9) today in the second round of the Minneapolis regional.

Much has been made of the Hoyas’ upper hand in height — they start three players 6-9 or taller. At 6-9, Dials is the Buckeyes’ tallest player, and he’ll be largely alone against all those big guys inside.

Georgetown Head Coach John Thompson III doesn’t believe Ohio State will alter its approach because of a height disadvantage.

“Whatever your strengths are, that’s what you’re going to do,” Thompson said. “Ohio State is going to do what they’ve had success with all year. They’re not going to reinvent the wheel.”

The Hoyas, in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2001, go with the 7-2 Hibbert and 6-9 forwards Brandon Bowman and Jeff Green.

Hibbert had 17 points and nine rebounds in a 54-49 victory over Northern Iowa on Friday. Bowman and Green combined for 8 points and 14 rebounds.

“It will be a little bit more of a challenge with that size and length around the basket,” Buckeyes Head Coach Thad Matta said. “Hopefully, (Dials) can get some angles to score. He’s just got to go at (Hibbert).”

Ohio State is more concerned with correcting its shooting flaws. The Buckeyes shot 23 percent on 3-pointers during the last seven games.

Je’Kel Foster, their top outside threat, hit 2-of-24 3-pointers during three Big Ten tournament games last week, then went 1-for-4 in the Buckeyes’ 70-62 victory over Davidson.


today’s game

Ohio State (26-5)
vs. Georgetown (22-9). 4:40 p.m
at University of Dayton Arena TV WOIO RADIO WHBC-AM 1480, WQKT-FM 104.5, WKNR-AM 850, WJER-AM 1450

 

[OSUsushichic]

I can't wait to watch this game!

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

.........

 

[tibor75]

So it'll be like every other week?

Bummer.

well, this time it (Big 10 bashing) would be well deserved.

 

[coastalbuck]

I can't wait to watch this game!

Me too, just that I hope to watch it on CBS sportsline on the internet.

 

[daddyphatsacs]

well, this time it (Big 10 bashing) would be well deserved.

Very true............I think we all understand that the Big Ten hasn't done well, but now that you've pointed it out........it's in stone.

 

[Steve19]

Sure I think we would beat George Washington too... only problem is, we're playing Georgetown and GW already lost to duke...

Thanks. Typing while watching rugby can be hazardous to your concentration!

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

DDN

3/19/06

Georgetown has Matta's full attention

By Doug Harris
Dayton Daily News

DAYTON | College basketball hasn't seen a full-fledged outbreak of Hoya Paranoia in at least a decade, but Ohio State basketball coach Thad Matta will go into today's game against resurgent Georgetown with at least a little trepidation.

Matta found reasons to fret over the prospect of facing 15th-seeded Davidson in an NCAA tournament opener, and his angst only grew while seated at UD Arena scouting his second-round foe.

"Georgetown is another team I don't want to play — just like Davidson," Matta said.

The seventh-seeded Hoyas (22-9) beat No. 1 Duke this season and will start a front line that stands 7-foot-2, 6-9 and 6-9 against the second-seeded Buckeyes (26-5). The tip-off will be at about 4:45 p.m., and the winner will advance to the Sweet 16 in Minneapolis to play Florida.

Towering sophomore center Roy Hibbert will dwarf OSU's Terence Dials by five inches.

"We have to be creative to get to the basket and score over him or around him — however we're going to do it," Matta said.

"I tell our guys, 'When a shot gets blocked, 80 percent of the time it comes back to you.' We'll just keep going."

The Buckeyes also are a matchup migraine because of their ability to complement Dials with perimeter depth.

"What they can do is surround a very good interior presence with four very good shooters — and do that with a good job of spacing (their players)," Hoyas coach John Thompson III said. "Other teams will keep their shooters tight, and you can help out. But they don't.

"They also do a good job of sharing the ball."

Contact Doug Harris at 225-2125.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

3/19/06

OSU MEN’S BASKETBALL

Georgetown poses double trouble for Ohio State

Sunday, March 19, 2006

Bob Baptist
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH




DAYTON — Louisiana State had the Ohio State men’s basketball team down by 15 points with less than six minutes to play before falling victim to a turnover-fueled rally by the Buckeyes. OSU coach Thad Matta still says LSU might be the best team his team has played this season.

Northwestern played the Buckeyes two close games in the final weeks of the Big Ten race, taking them almost to the wire before succumbing in Columbus, then taking them all the way to it in Evanston before Ron Lewis’ basket and interception sealed a threepoint win and a share of the conference championship.

Georgetown — tall, long-limbed, athletic and patient — is a combination of the two. Ohio State will have to solve it today to advance past the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The second-seeded Buckeyes (26-5) and seventh-seeded Hoyas (22-9) meet in University of Dayton Arena for a bid to the Sweet 16 in Minneapolis on Friday.

"It’s going to be tough," OSU senior J.J. Sullinger said. "They play the Princeton-style offense but at the same time they’ve got guys who can make plays on their own. We’re going to have to guard both. And they’ve got the big man in the middle who creates a lot of havoc in the post. We’re definitely going to have to be on top of our game."

This is not your daddy’s Georgetown, but it is daddy’s boy’s Georgetown.

Coach John Thompson III, son of the hulking coach who led the Hoyas to the Final Four three times and one NCAA title in the mid-1980s, brought the Princeton offense with him to the program two years ago. Georgetown now has a big man in the mold of Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning and Dikembe Mutombo, who played for the elder Thompson. Roy Hibbert is a 7-foot-2 sophomore who is flanked by 6-9 forwards Brandon Bowman and Jeff Green.

Bowman said the Hoyas can use that size to their advantage against the smaller Buckeyes.

"We’ve got some pretty big guys on the front line. Jeff and I are athletic and Roy, when he gets his hands up, he’s about 8 feet or even taller. That can pose some problems for anyone if we use it right during the game," Bowman said.

"We plan on playing long. By that I mean having our hands up all the time, being active on defense. That can disturb a lot of their passes."

Ohio State will counter by spreading the floor with four players on the perimeter and trying to exploit seams in the Hoyas’ coverage.

"We have to be creative," Matta said.

The Buckeyes also have to remain aggressive. That was a difference for them in the second half of their first-round win over Davidson on Friday.

Instead of settling for as many three-point shots as they did in falling behind by four points at halftime, they attacked the basket for closer looks and turned the game in their favor.

"As I told the guys, we have more blocked shots on the year than they do," Matta said. "I think the size is something that’s evident, but we’re not going to back down just because they’re 7-2, 6-9, 6-9."

Point guard Jamar Butler said Hibbert’s presence in the paint won’t dissuade him from attacking the lane.

"I’m going to go at him just like I do everyone else," Butler said.

Rebounding and transition baskets also could be factors that turn the game.

Matta said it is important that the Buckeyes not forget that a Princeton offense doesn’t exclude fastbreak opportunities.

"When we went (to Northwestern) the first time we played them last year, I had never coached against them, and they had 23 points at halftime and 15 of them were in transition," Matta said.

"So you’ve got to be careful (not to tell) your guys, ‘Hey, they’re going to walk it up.’ No. Georgetown will get out and use their athleticism and run. If it’s there, they will take it."

[email protected]

Sunday, March 19, 2006

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

3/19/06

COMMENTARY

Hoyas center a tall order, but Dials up for challenge

Sunday, March 19, 2006

BOB HUNTER

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DAYTON — Judging from the previews, today’s Georgetown-Ohio State game would make a great movie.

Terence Dials meets King Kong. Or maybe Terence Dials meets The Jolly Green Giant. Terence Dials vs. Goliath?

Ohio State’s amiable 6-foot-9 senior normally is good enough with inquisitive reporters to deserve a fat paycheck from the university’s public relations department. But after he fielded question after question after question about the NCAA second-round matchup with 7-2 Georgetown center Roy Hibbert, the Buckeyes’ mild-mannered center started to get just a teensy-bit irritated.

"He’s definitely going to pose some problems for us, being 7-2 and pretty skilled," Dials said, in answer to the first query. "We’re just going to try to keep the ball out of his hands and try to play as aggressively as possible, nothing more than we’ve done all season with other great big guys that we’ve played."

But how do you defend him?

"That’s just the feel of the game," he said. "I find out once the game starts. We haven’t gone head to head, so I really don’t know what to expect."

Will Dials be more aggressive facing a player that size?

"I’m just going to play my game," he said. "I’ve gone against good big guys all season long in the Big Ten. Tomorrow’s matchup won’t be any different. He’s just taller."

By this time, it would seem that Dials has addressed the issue fully, so it’s hard to imagine why those annoying reporters would keep hammering away.

And then again, this Dials-Godzilla, er, Dials-Hibbert matchup might well determine whether the second-seeded Buckeyes will get by the seventh-seeded Hoyas and make it to the Sweet 16, so perhaps that’s why these media leeches wanted a little more.

Does he have a plan of how to play against someone with that much of a height advantage?

"I’ve played 31 games this season," Dials said. "I’ve played the same way all season long. I’m not going to change my game because he’s 7-2."

OK, it’s apparent why Dials might start to get a little annoyed. Truthfully, the fifth-year senior is a much more complete and mature player than the Georgetown sophomore is at this point. Dials has the advantage in scoring average (15.1 to 11.4) and rebounding (8.2 to 6.6), and he may be able to use his quickness — a relative term — to make Hibbert pay.

It is a bit of an insult, perhaps, for the Big Ten player of the year to be asked how he’s going to be able to handle an underclassman whom Georgetown coach John Thompson III described as having "a long way to go."

If Dials really deserved conference player of the year honors, and it says here he did, then he ought to be able to win head to head against a younger — albeit taller — player in a game as important as this one.

The one thing that could drastically alter that equation is foul trouble, which explains why OSU coach Thad Matta said his team would have to guard Goliath "by committee."

How well that works for the smaller Buckeyes — and how well Dials performs on the offensive end — likely will determine whether OSU advances. But it is worth remembering that Dials isn’t facing one of those famous Georgetown big men — at least not yet.

"Roy is comfortable with who he is," Thompson said. "When you talk about Georgetown big men, most people are talking about Patrick (Ewing), Alonzo (Mourning) and Dikembe (Mutombo), and Roy knew walking in the door what he heard from us was he was not close to where they were. One day he will be."

No one was about to ask Dials whether he thought that day might be today.

Bob Hunter is a sports columnist for The Dispatch.

[email protected]