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Men's Basketball Buckeye Tidbits 2007-08 Season

DDN

Buckeyes could meet Gators in final

By Dave Skretta
Associated Press

Tuesday, April 01, 2008
NEW YORK ? Ohio State had just lost three straight games in mid-January when Thad Matta got on the phone with Florida coach Billy Donovan, looking for some insight into how to handle a young team or some encouraging words from a close colleague.
"He started laughing and said, 'You think you've got problems?' " Matta recalled Monday, March 31.


If the two-time defending national champion Gators can beat Massachusetts and the Buckeyes get past Mississippi in the NIT semifinals tonight, they'll play a rematch of last year's title game Thursday at Madison Square Garden.



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Men's basketball: Buckeyes' run through NIT good for all concerned

Tuesday, April 1, 2008 3:21 AM
By Bob Baptist


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH



Two weeks ago, the disappointment of not making the NCAA Tournament still fresh, Ohio State coach Thad Matta was asked whether he would rather lose the first weekend of the NCAA than win the National Invitation Tournament in New York. Matta, who has been in the NCAA Tournament 11 times as an assistant or head coach, did not hesitate. The former, he said.
Reminded of that last week, he smiled.
"Now I'm glad (we're going to) New York," Matta said.
It's not lip service.
Matta and his players say they have enjoyed extending their season longer than they probably would have in the NCAA Tournament, which plays its Final Four this weekend in San Antonio.
The NIT's final foursome squares off tonight in Madison Square Garden. Florida and Massachusetts meet in the first semifinal, Ohio State and Mississippi in the second. The winners play for the championship Thursday night.
"Hopefully, we've got 80 minutes of basketball left," guard Jamar Butler said. "Like coach always says, there's an award at the end."



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Men's basketball: OSU Insider

Saturday, April 5, 2008 3:16 AM
By Bob Baptist


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
The week that was

A team that was beaten down by close losses in January and February and appeared down for the count after a March 1 loss at Minnesota somehow picked itself off the canvas after the disappointment of not making the NCAA Tournament and bought into a new goal. The Buckeyes realized it with victories over Mississippi and Massachusetts to win the National Invitation Tournament. Besides sending off seniors Jamar Butler, Othello Hunter and Matt Terwilliger with fond memories, the five-win NIT run gave the returning underclassmen invaluable experience for next season. Dallas Lauderdale's excellent New York adventure -- 11 rebounds and three blocked shots in 19 minutes -- is Exhibit A.

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