#8 tOSU 72, #9 Siena 74 (Final, 2OT)

[MajesticTurkey]

I just got back from the game.

I really hate doing this, and I'm NOT this kind of person, but it seemed that at the end of regulation and in the overtimes, we were getting slammed with a lot of really iffy foul calls that hadn't been called most of the game, and it really seemed a bit lopsided. A lot of the fans, not just tOSU fans but Louisville and Morehead fans agreed.

Was this evident from you guys? I mean, I'm going to say that it was NOT the reason we lost, we just did not play a good game plan, did not feed the post, did not dribble-drive enough, settled for playing hot-potato and shooting threes...I just want to know if my frustration is real or if it's just because I didn't have the benefit of the TV.

 

[scott91575]

You are not the only one. I also went over to a Spartan board and there was more than one post about how Siena/refs beat Ohio State. OSU also got screwed by saying Hill had possession, was out of bounds, etc. Heck, I never even thought that was reviewable.

 

[1926Buckeyes]

OSU's youth and lack of PG really showed in how they handled the ball and kept getting trapped in the press. THey kept picking up their dribble and trying to throw sideline to sideline lob passes.

Sure, Matta can take some blame, but he looked absolutely befuddled on the side line and i don't blame him. The OSU players were not even trying to penetrate and stood around for 20-30 seconds dribbling, and then would try for a contested 15 footer or 3 that wouldn't go in. For some reason they abandoned all ideas of driving or getting it inside.

Stuff like this happens though. It's a very young team wihtout a good point guard. I didn't really expect a ton. I'm just hoping that this game makes Turner and Bufford stay, because OSU could be very good next year if they stay and an inside presence develops. Turner, Lighty, Diebler, Bufford and and inside would look very good, although OSU would still have PG problems. Still, that could be a top 10-15 team and 3 or 4 seed.

If they go though...it could get a bit ugly.

 

[SienaHoop]

game

not the greatest played game on either side. Im sure you OSU fans feel that was Siena at their best and snuck a win. That was EASILY the worst played game by Siena of the year. I think perhaps the ten days off rusted up the shooting a little bit. Siena couldnt hit the broad side of a barn and thats not a typical shooting night for them. OSU did play solid D but Siena missed a crap load of open looks. I thought Siena's defense more than equalled OSU on the night with VERY few open looks from 3 especially and cutting off dribble penetration.

regarding officiating... i guess the offciating couldnt have been all that bad because there were some interesting calls to say the least that I felt slowed siena on a couple of runs they made among others. If neither team feels they got the calls i would have to say the officiating was a non-factor

Moore gets called for a palming violation and Hill was doing it all night. Ubiles and Hasbrouck were called for invisible travels. The foul when Hasbrouck and franklin tied up i think Turner. Turner shouldve been called for a technical when he interfered with the inbounding of the ball after a made OSU bucket late. Hasbrouck saved a ball that went off a OSU players shin and its called OSU ball. among others.

Siena's speed was a huge factor in this game. Is there any lingering doubt that Moore in particular can get up and down the floor as fast as anyone? The speed factor played a role as well because OSU abandoned the offensive boards it seemed at times just to get back on defense. They also tried moving the ball more on offense rather than dribble drive due to Sienas team speed. We as Siena fans were a bit upset that Fran didnt use more of the bench. I thought Jackson in particular couldve opened this game up a good amount for Siena.

all in all that OSU team is going to be TOUGH as they gain more experience.

 

[SienaHoop]

Well, there's that, and the fact that he looked like he weighed 180 pounds soaking wet. If he thinks he's going to stand under the bucket against Louisville he's going to get stomped. He was absolutely a flopper. I thought it was nice of Dallas to flip him over on his jaw and try to correct his overbite.

"Flop" Rossiter 47 mins 16 pts 15 rbs 2 asts 1 stl 3 blks

Lauderdale 34 mins 8 pts 4 rbs 1 stl 2 blks
Mullens 22 mins 10 pts 3 rbs 1 ast 1 blk

so your big 10 bigs combined for

18 pts 7 rbs 1 ast 1 stl 3 blks

throw in Franklins (our PF)
10 pts 13 rbs

sienas MAAC bigs

26 pts 28 rbs 2 asts 1 stl 3 blks

I think he more than held his own. You might to be a bit more respectful. You guys are probably some of the first fans ive seen claim a team sucks after losing to them. Do you also chant overrated?

whats up with Franklin 6'5" winning all three tips?

Mullens isnt ready for the NBA

 

[osugrad21]

regarding officiating... i guess the offciating couldnt have been all that bad because there were some interesting calls to say the least that I felt slowed siena on a couple of runs they made among others. If neither team feels they got the calls i would have to say the officiating was a non-factor

Agreed. It was a strange crew...from one end of the spectrum in letting the kids battle to the other end where the smallest contact was called. The play that sticks out most to me is Turner's drive off the spin at the buzzer...Rossiter was way late getting there and tried to flop. No call. Would have taken some serious nuts to make a call there, but the refs by that time had set the table for what they wanted to call. However, neither school has Criami fans...so the refs, while bad, did not lose this game for either team.

Siena's speed was a huge factor in this game. Is there any lingering doubt that Moore in particular can get up and down the floor as fast as anyone? The speed factor played a role as well because OSU abandoned the offensive boards it seemed at times just to get back on defense. They also tried moving the ball more on offense rather than dribble drive due to Sienas team speed.

I loved watching Moore. He is my kind of player...out of control at times, but he is a sparkplug. His icewater 3s were what make March Madness so great. However, besides Moore, I was not overly impressed with the rest of the names you gave us pre-game. However, again, I realize that 2 of your usual scorers had nights like tOSU's Diebler and Buford had. Nobody seemed to get in a groove for any consistent minutes.

 

[SienaHoop]

However, again, I realize that 2 of your usual scorers had nights like tOSU's Diebler and Buford had. Nobody seemed to get in a groove for any consistent minutes.

very true. I wasnt at all impressed with Buford but Edwin and Hasbrouck had Diebler Dd up all night long. On the other side i thought OSU was really throwing the kitchen sink at Hasbrouck to get the ball out of his hands. OSU is certainly a very good defensive team but Siena missed a TON of open looks both inside and out.

 

[BB73]

With about 47 seconds left in regulation, I would have preferred an in-bounds play that got the ball the somebody besides a 56% FT shooter, who then missed a pair.

As for the play by ET at the end of regulation, I'm not going to criticize a guy that's making a move trying to get past 3 defenders and get off a potential game-winner with about 2 seconds left on the clock. He tried to make a 6-footer instead of looking to pass the ball to somebody else, when there's the possibility that the pass could get deflected, it would be bobbled, or that the clock would run out even if the pass was executed cleanly. If you think he's able to look at the clock as he's getting past 3 guys you're kidding yourself.

I think calling a guy selfish in that situation is pure fucking bullshit. I hope that's clear enough.

I agree with SienaHoop that there were a lot of strange calls/no calls that went both ways, and that the refs didn't decide the game. Siena made a huge 3 when they were down 4 in the last minute of regulation, and Moore obviously made two gigantic ones after that. They deserve credit for making the plays that won the game.

 

[Dryden]

I think he more than held his own. You might to be a bit more respectful.

Rossiter absolutely held his own. He's a good player, and he seemed to be very thoughtful and articulate in the post game press conference, which I think is a big bonus in a college student athlete.

But he's still a flopper.

 

[BB73]

Rossiter absolutely held his own. He's a good player, and he seemed to be very thoughtful and articulate in the post game press conference, which I think is a big bonus in a college student athlete.

But he's still a flopper.

He's the kind of guy that is easy for the opposing fans to hate. He plays a smart game and maximizes his abilities. Somewhat like a smaller version of Bill Laimbeer, but without the outside shot.

 

[BrutusMaximus]

OSU's youth and lack of PG really showed in how they handled the ball and kept getting trapped in the press.

There is your whole ballgame. In fact pretty much that sums up every loss this year. We have nothing close to a PG. Think our best ball handler is 6'8

But hey, with as young as this team is, and that lack of a true PG, I sure cant say I am disapointed with this season. We made the dance, were very competitive in the Big 10, made the conference title game, etc.

 

[LitlBuck]

With about 47 seconds left in regulation, I would have preferred an in-bounds play that got the ball the somebody besides a 56% FT shooter, who then missed a pair..

I have no idea why Matta did not substitute Simmons for Mullens at that point in the game or maybe even have Mullens take the ball out of bounds. I know that he never does that but if he is going to leave him for defensive purposes, you do not inbounds a pass to a 55% FT shooter.

 

[sepia5]

With about 47 seconds left in regulation, I would have preferred an in-bounds play that got the ball the somebody besides a 56% FT shooter, who then missed a pair.

A lot of decisions made right out of time outs were mind boggling to me. There were good set plays as well, such as the ally-oop to Mullins from the baseline, but all too often I was left scratching my head. I think it was in the first or second OT that, out of a time out, we go down the court, make one pass to Buford, who immediately hoists a 3 over the defender, who's guarding him tight with a hand in his face. Huh? That's the kind of shot you can get anytime. Surely that wasn't what was discussed in the huddle. And I don't know how many times there was a break in the action, after which we lackadaisically brought the ball up the court and fell right into their trap. It got to the point that I felt like Matta had spent all week teaching them to deal with the trap by picking up the dribble at the mid-court corner, and then lobbing a lazy, high-arching pass cross court.

 

[LitlBuck]

I will say right now that I have not read this entire thread but I think I have read enough to know that this is not a football game thread because I am a little more upset about losing this game that most of what I have read. To put things in perspective for me, I would rather win a national championship in basketball than a national championship in football. That is how much I love Ohio State basketball. Saying that, I have a few thoughts on the game.

I will try and tread lightly so I will not have to take a vacation but what the hell happened to the team then I saw last weekend that the Big 10 tournament. I mean are you really going to tell me that Siena is better than MSU, Wisconsin, or Purdue. This team had all week to look at film of how Siena plays their trapping defense and we could not even get the ball past half-court quite a few of the times. Do we have any ball handlers at all or did I just answer my own question. I mean Coach Matta must have looked at film from Siena's opponents to see how they broke their press so I don't understand why we had so much of a problem. That was extremely frustrating.

I also don't know what type of instructions were given late in the game for us to leave a guy wide open for a three-point shot to either tie or win the game. I don't know if it was because we have played that zone defense all season and our guys still aren't used to covering their area.
I don't know how we could get out rebounded by almost 20 by a team that was so much smaller than us and I have no idea why we did not try to get the ball inside more instead of settling for so many three-point shots especially against a team who is not as big as we are. Plus, I don't think that we tried to drive on them even once during the game. If we did, I must have missed it. To say that Siena's players are as talented as Ohio State's is a miscalculation in my opinion. Maybe they played better as a team last night but I didn't even see that.

I never know when I have been so frustrated after an Ohio State basketball loss. I could go on but I would have to say some things about specific players and I do not want to do that because that would put me on an extended vacation. Maybe I will save that for football season.

Cleveland State wins, Xavier wins, Dayton wins, and Ohio State loses. I never thought that I would see the day that that would happen. Something really needs to change before next season or I don't see better days ahead. I guess that's it and excuse some of my rambling.

 

[ysubuck]

The only thing that really pissed me off about last night is the same thing that has pissed me off all season.

Rebounding.

Everything else I can live with but rebounding is such an important part of the game and it really has very little to do with athleticism. It has everything to do with WANT TO.

I'm not disappointed with the season, I'm disappointed with the lack of toughness that the team showed all season long.