OHIO STATE 49, WISCONSIN 48 (Final)

[bkochmc]

Wisconsin big man Brian Butch's season is likely over.

That really puts a damper on Wisky's tournament hopes... his injury may even lose them a #1 seed... precedence has already been set in prior tournaments that if a higher profile player on a team gets injured at the end of the year that their team gets a lower seed. See: Kenyon Martin and Cincinnati in 2000. And no, I'm in no way comparing Butch to Martin, only that Butch means a lot to Wisky's team.

 

[redskinbucksfan]

That really puts a damper on Wisky's tournament hopes... his injury may even lose them a #1 seed... precedence has already been set in prior tournaments that if a higher profile player on a team gets injured at the end of the year that their team gets a lower seed. See: Kenyon Martin and Cincinnati in 2000. And no, I'm in no way comparing Butch to Martin, only that Butch means a lot to Wisky's team.

I think that the 2 losses this week already lost that #1 seed for them.

 

[Axlrose4eva]

Cook was projected #10 pick just 2/3 months ago...Get some early declarations from guys that might not be projected to go and Cook could fall from 20 where he is projected now to late first round/early second.



First off if you were a college coach with the record that Matta has what would you think of one of your players mom criticizing your coaching, not quite sure that would fly with me...



So you are telling me that 19000 fans got loud b/c Lewis decided not to take a shot or take the ball to the hole...No it was due to us getting the ball back, and they were all waiting to see what was going to happen and when Lewis pulled it back out they cheered...

Lewis also held the big ten POY to 12 pts in arguably the biggest game of the season...He was attacking the basket, and you could tell from Cook's shots that he was short arming his shots...

First of all yes, 19,000 fans got loud because Lewis held up. Several fans shouted "finally" right afterwards or were screaming "Pass the ball" right when he got the ball. Lewis had the ball for about 5 seconds before the crowd cheered when he passed it to Conley and held up. I dont know if you were at the game or not, but I was and I know my section was cheering because of that and I know many students up in the 300's who were cheering for the same reason, maybe people in the Huntington Club were watching on delay and were cheering for getting the ball back, but the cheer started when Lewis held up, not when OSU got the ball back.

Also, I said before I think Matta might play Cook based on what is said off the court. His minutes skyrocketed after the PSU game where he said he was definitely a year or two away from going pro. Then before the Wisconsin game he said he was going to consider going pro. A lot is riding on Cook's basketball game. If I was his parent I would be voicing my concern as well. Matta can be mad all he wants, but if one of his players is feeling like he is being punished then I think its a problem.

I never once saw Cook in the top 10 on the NBAdraft board. He has hovered around 15-20 all year. If he moves further down it will be because of foreign players. If he goes out next year he wont improve his stock much, just look at the talented guards that are coming out next year. Let alone if Oden and/or Durant stays. Cook will probably start at the 3 next year, but there are a lot of players capable of playing that position who can easily cut into his minutes. I think his game is much more pro-styled than the way Matta coaches and if his relationship with Matta is strained then I see no reason why he shouldnt go pro.

 

[bkochmc]

I think that the 2 losses this week already lost that #1 seed for them.

I can't say I totally disagree with you but they have as much of a claim as a few other teams. If I was handing out #1 seeds today Ohio State, UCLA, and Kansas would get the first three (in any order) but that fourth one would be up for grabs between 3-5 teams (including Wisky, UNC, Florida). Here's hoping Ohio State finishes strong and can gain the top #1 seed to avoid a very, very tough #2 seed (barring the brackets play out to the favorites, which we know they never do).

 

[buckeyeboy]

From the O-Zone. Can't say I disagree--Tucker's good at driving to the basket, but he's not a good shooter, so if you make him shoot over you and take away the drive, he's much, much less effective.

***********************************************

Big Ten Notes
Don't you think the Big Ten Player of the Year should show up in his team's two biggest games of the season? Me too. That is why there is no way Wisconsin's Alando Tucker should be voted the POY. In Tucker's last two games--road losses to Michigan State and Ohio State--Tucker averaged 14 points per game--six below his average of 19.9. He was 11-30 from the field. He took 13 three-pointers, making four. He only shot three free throws. Tucker is a guy whose game is based on contact and conflict, but now that his senior season is winding down, he's choosing to take the easy way out with jumpers. (Do you think he's doing it for NBA scouts who aren't too sure of his shooting?) Is he worn down? Or is it just better defense? In the Badgers' three games before these last two, Tucker averaged ten free throw attempts per game. He had none versus Michigan State and only three against the Buckeyes. Or is it just a matter of not getting calls on the road? I don't care. Players of the Year don't become a hindrance to their team down the stretch the way Tucker has. He'll probably still win it, but it will be a Poslusznian farce.

Continued...
http://www.theozone.net/hoops/06-07Mens/Hoopsweek/022607.htm

 

[Axlrose4eva]

They tend to go to players for the top teams, but I think Neitzel for POY is pretty hard to argue against, especially if he has another big game against Wisconsin. Other than that Purdue massacre he has had a great big ten season. He is averaging about 27.5 points per game against OSU and Wisconsin right now. He takes over games for his teams and is averaging almost 36 minutes a game. No player on OSU has stepped up this consistently and Tucker has fallen off a bit as of late.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

First of all yes, 19,000 fans got loud because Lewis held up. Several fans shouted "finally" right afterwards or were screaming "Pass the ball" right when he got the ball. Lewis had the ball for about 5 seconds before the crowd cheered when he passed it to Conley and held up. I dont know if you were at the game or not, but I was and I know my section was cheering because of that and I know many students up in the 300's who were cheering for the same reason, maybe people in the Huntington Club were watching on delay and were cheering for getting the ball back, but the cheer started when Lewis held up, not when OSU got the ball back.

Yes I was at the game and just rewatched the play...We had just taken the lead on the last possession, and we got a big rebound, Butler threw the outlet pass to Lewis and it was 1 on 3, so he pulled it out and the crowd cheered, not b/c they all think Lewis can't do anything right and a sorta mock cheer, but moreso b/c of the situation in the game.

Also, I said before I think Matta might play Cook based on what is said off the court. His minutes skyrocketed after the PSU game where he said he was definitely a year or two away from going pro. Then before the Wisconsin game he said he was going to consider going pro. A lot is riding on Cook's basketball game. If I was his parent I would be voicing my concern as well. Matta can be mad all he wants, but if one of his players is feeling like he is being punished then I think its a problem.

As I said b4 I rewatched the game and when Conley, Lewis, Harris went to the bench Wisky went on a 10-2 run. Not all b/c of Cook, but he was out there and he had 2 bad rotations one where Tucker got a wide open 3 that he missed and another where Taylor got an open look and he knocked down. I think the reason Matta stuck with the lineup that he did is b/c they were the experienced group and they were the ones that were playing the best and he thought they gave him the best chance to win and what do you know they won...Seems like maybe Matta knows a little bit about coaching, and I don't think it had anything to do with punishing Cook...As we have seen in some bigger games he has left guys like Lighty, Cook, and Hunter on the bench maybe a little too long at a fault at times, b/c he goes with the guys that he has witnessed get it done in the past...

I never once saw Cook in the top 10 on the NBAdraft board. He has hovered around 15-20 all year. If he moves further down it will be because of foreign players. If he goes out next year he wont improve his stock much, just look at the talented guards that are coming out next year. Let alone if Oden and/or Durant stays. Cook will probably start at the 3 next year, but there are a lot of players capable of playing that position who can easily cut into his minutes. I think his game is much more pro-styled than the way Matta coaches and if his relationship with Matta is strained then I see no reason why he shouldnt go pro.

First here is a thread where he was projected to go 10th...It is the same mock that has him going 20th now.

http://www.buckeyeplanet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=33117


Also I agree that Cook's game is more of an NBA game, but getting that experience at a high level college isnt going to hurt. It will be Cook, Conley and Butler looked at to carry this team next year...Especially if Oden leaves...And if he puts up numbers like he is capable of he will be right back in the mix for top 10 pick....