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Basketball Buckeyes: Numbers Tell The Story

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OSUBasketballJunkie

OSUBasketballJunkie

Never Forget 31-0
7-0

Thats the key number. Not since 1990 has an Ohio State team started 7-0. I think we all remember that team, Jim Jackson, Mark Baker, Chris Jent, Perry Carter, Treg Lee etc. Legends in Buckeye lore, will the 2005-06 Buckeyes acheive what that team did? Only time will tell, but if history is any indication, then its going to be a very successful season in Columbus.

When the schedule was released in the fall, many fans wondered about the strength of schedule and why were we playing some of these teams like Butler, Belmont and Gardner Webb? I think most of us have been suprised by the level of competition we have faced so far this season and the quality wins we have at this point.

Coming off a tough win at Iowa State and with off the court issues swirling around the program, this is a tremendous start to the season. While most fans are looking forward to next year, this team is getting it done. With 20 games left, lets take a look at where Ohio State stands statistically:

Scoring

Ohio State is averaging 79.6 points per game and are 4th in the conference in scoring. Je'Kel Foster is leading the Bucks in scoring at 17.1 which ranks him 6th in the Big Ten. Ron Lewis is averaging 12.7 ppg, next is JJ Sullinger coming in at 12.1 ppg and Terence Dials is averaging 11.6 ppg. We are 3rd in the league in scoring margin, standing at +15.0.

GRADE: A

Shooting

Ohio State is shooting 50% from the field which stands at 3rd in the conference. Once again, Foster is leading the way at an unbelievable 68% from the field. Terence Dials is shooting just 50% from the field and Sullinger checks in at 48.3% Obviously, one of the strengths of this team is their ability to shoot the ball from downtown and we lead the Big Ten in 3-point shooting at 45.8%. Foster is ripping the net from long range at 60.5% (23 of 38). Jamar Butler is hitting 47.6% from behind the line (10-21) and JJ Sulinger is currently at 41.2% (7-17).

GRADE: A

Rebounding

Standing at just 6-5, JJ Sullinger has suprised just about everyone with his ability to rebound the ball at the #4 position. JJ is averaging 9.3 rebounds a game which is leading the Buckeyes and ranks 4th in the conference. Terence Dials is second on the team at 6.9, 10th in the league and Ron Lewis is pulling down 4.6 rebounds per game. The Buckeyes rank 5th in the conference with a rebounding margin of +6.0. Coming into the season this was one area of concern, thru 7 games we are holding are own on the boards.

GRADE: B+

Free Throws

This is an area that gave us problems last year and has been a huge advantage for Ohio State in the early part of the season. Ohio State is 3rd in the Big Ten in free throw shooting, 72.5%. Je'Kel Foster is leading the team at 84.2% (16-19), which ranks 4th in the conference. Jamar Butler is shooting at a 80.0% clip (20-25), which stands at 10th in the conference. Ron Lewis comes in at 78.6% (33-42), which is 12th in the league. The addition of Ron Lewis and the development of Foster has led to many more opportunities from the charity stripe.

GRADE: B+

Assists

During the early part of this season, the Buckeyes have shown the ability and desire to make that extra pass and they have been very unselfish with the ball which has led to numerous open shots and easy baskets. Ohio State comes in ranked, 4th in the Big Ten in assists at 15.86 a game. Butler leads the team in assits at 4.3, which ranks him 9th in the league. Matt Sylvester is second on the team at 2.9 apg, followed by Sylvester Mayes, 2.7 apg. These numbers could be better, we have missed a ton of easy baskets through the first 7 games. It takes two to tango and it takes two for an assist. :biggrin:

GRADE: B-

Steals

This area is a product of Coach Matta's aggresive style of defense, we are currently ranked 2nd in the Big Ten at 8.14 steals per game. Je'Kel Foster is leading the team at 2.0 steal per game and tied for 2nd in the conference. Sylvester Mayes is second on the team and 9th in the Big Ten at 1.57 per contest.

GRADE: B+

Defense

Ohio State is currently ranked 5th in the conference in scoring defense at 64.6 per game. We are holding opponents to 41.6% from the field per game which ranks us 5th in the conference. Opponents are currently hitting 34.4% of their three point attempts, which is 8th in the league. Ohio State ranks 7th in blocked shots at 2.86 per game. This will improve dramatically next year. :biggrin:

Grade: B-

Turnovers

So far this season, this area has been our weakness. We have shown the inability to handle pressure at times and other times we have simply made unforced turnovers. We are 10th in the league in turnover margin, -1.71. Only Purdue is worse, standing at -3.75. The Buckeyes assist/turnover ratio is not much better, coming in at 1.02, 7th in the Big Ten. Jamar Butler is the lone bright spot, ranking 4th in the Big Ten in assist/turnover margin (2.60). On the other side of this, Ron Lewis is leading the team in turnovers.

Grade: D

Major area of concern

There are two at this point. The first one being the inability of our guards to eliminate the costly turnovers which have made a few games closer than they should have been. Secondly, the lack of production from Terence Dials. There are varying opinions on why Dials seems to be struggling at times to not only score but to even get touches down low. This needs to improve for Ohio State to continue winning games, especially when we get into the conference.

Conclusion

7 games....7 wins. Thats the bottom line. Does Ohio State have some areas to improve in? Absolutely, first and foremost being ball security and cutting down on unforced turnovers. The lack of touches for Dials is a concern but he has been very consistent in the conference so lets see how it plays out. Our shooting and overall team defense has been above average, this will need to continue. Our rebounding has been a little suprising considering that Dials is are lone low post player for the majority of the games. The Buckeyes are on track to be a player in the conference and reach 20 wins and a tournament berth. Right where we want to be.
 
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Shooting

Ohio State is shooting 50% from the field which stands at 3rd in the conference. Once again, Foster is leading the way at an unbelievable 68% from the field. Terence Dials is shooting just 50% from the field and Sullinger checks in at 48.3% Obviously, one of the strengths of this team is their ability to shoot the ball from downtown and we lead the Big Ten in 3-point shooting at 45.8%. Foster is ripping the net from long range at 60.5% (23 of 38). Jamar Butler is hitting 47.6% from behind the line (10-21) and JJ Sulinger is currently at 41.2% (7-17).

GRADE: A
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personally id go with A+++
 
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How is 3rd or 4th in the conference an A?
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In what area are you refering to? If you tell me that I can possibly explain.:paranoid:

On second thought, I see the areas you are questioning.

Everyone has their own opinion, but I gave them grades not based on their conference rank but more along the lines of how the team is performing in that area vs their potential. Its merely my opinion.
 
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great writeup 44. I would rate the rebounding lower, with sylvester averaging 2.7 per game. still, we have done better than expected overall.

bn27, one of your objections is to shooting, which includes 3 pt %, which OSU is near the top of the nation.
 
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Nice analysis.

I would offer that dribble penetration is also an area where the Buckeyes need to improve. For a team that plays so many guards at one time, it seems like too often they are content to sit around the arc and see who gets open for the 3. That isn't bad for a lot of situations, but it is bad when we could be driving and making layups, or dishing off to Dials for the dunk, which hasn't happened enough this year.
 
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I would rate the rebounding lower, with sylvester averaging 2.7 per game. still, we have done better than expected overall.
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winslow, you make a good point. My thoughts were that prior to the season this was the one major concern with this squad and the fact we are on average winning the battle on the boards, I thought they were performing beyond expectations in this area.



I would offer that dribble penetration is also an area where the Buckeyes need to improve. For a team that plays so many guards at one time, it seems like too often they are content to sit around the arc and see who gets open for the 3. That isn't bad for a lot of situations, but it is bad when we could be driving and making layups, or dishing off to Dials for the dunk, which hasn't happened enough this year.
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Johnny....great point about the dribble penetration. I have stated on several occasions that Butler is a capable point guard but has a game more suited for the 2 guard position. I believe that with a pure point guard, are dribble penetration would be improved. Lewis does a good job of getting in the lane and Sullinger has done a good job but Butler and Foster rarely penetrate, that is something we need to have. Granted a few of the teams we have faced have been packing in the paint to take away Dials, so that makes it difficult.
 
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For whatever reason, opposing teams still fear Terence Dials more than Je'Kel Foster, and so are packing the D in the lane. Open outside shots have been the rule, as a consequence. It baffles me how so many fans can criticise this, given the almost unreal success we are having from downtown.
 
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MaxBuck said:
For whatever reason, opposing teams still fear Terence Dials more than Je'Kel Foster, and so are packing the D in the lane. Open outside shots have been the rule, as a consequence. It baffles me how so many fans can criticise this, given the almost unreal success we are having from downtown.
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i still maintain dials is the best player on the team.

shooting will be a different story once we are playing good teams in the b10. and everyone has heard the cliche, you live by the three and you die by the three.
 
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