Ohio State 64 Illinois 58 (Final)

[Jaxbuck]

Thanks for all the insight guys, its nice to hear from those who know the real ins and outs of bball.

Also, when I said the zone is killing us I meant the lack of rebounding out of it, sorry I wasn't clearer. Other than that part I think we do play pretty solid D but thats kind of a "other than that how was the play Mrs Lincoln?" type statement.

As far as a game like this helping to keep them grounded and let them know they have a lot of work to do I'm starting to wonder how much reinforcement of that particular idea they freakin need. You'd think a 6 loss team wouldn't need any help staying humble or hungry.

The positive side of me sees a stretch of the schedule coming up to make a move, the other side seriously wonders if these guys are ever going to put it together.

 

[LitlBuck]

I don't think the answer to your question is just one guy.....I think as a team they are not at a point yet in Matta's mind where they can play great man to man team defense..

After further thought, Purdue has almost all freshmen and sophomores starting and they play man-to-man so that leads me to believe that there might be another reason why Thad might be playing zone. I wonder if he thinks KK might be a liability in a man-to-man defense. Really don't know, it's just a thought.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

As far as a game like this helping to keep them grounded and let them know they have a lot of work to do I'm starting to wonder how much reinforcement of that particular idea they freakin need. You'd think a 6 loss team wouldn't need any help staying humble or hungry.

The positive side of me sees a stretch of the schedule coming up to make a move, the other side seriously wonders if these guys are ever going to put it together.

It really doesn't have to be with these guys staying humble or hungry, but moreso that they seem to become complacent at times during games, when they think they have them won...

They need to learn to keep their foot on the throat and keep it there...I truly believe they are hungry and they seem to really try to do the things that Matta is wanting them do, and really get disgusted with not rebounding, and not getting lose balls, but they just need to not be complacent against teams that they are just more talented than, but they need to know that the more they continue to work to grow together on the floor the more it will help them when they play against teams that might be as talented or more talented...

 

[Ttown]

They just don't play consistant for 40 minutes. Getting better though.

 

[MaxBuck]

A few thoughts.

1. One reason the Bucks got no boards is that Illinois missed a lot of shots BADLY. When a brick goes bounding out beyond the foul line, a well-positioned defensive team is actually at a disadvantage. Not that this excuses the Buckeyes' horrible rebounding performance, just a contributing factor.

2. Evan Turner is quickly becoming my favorite Buckeye.

3. When Jamar Butler is out of the game, we can do essentially nothing on offense. Wow, will we miss Butler next season.

4. Mike Tisdale of the Illini may just be the world's ugliest human.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

A few thoughts.

1. One reason the Bucks got no boards is that Illinois missed a lot of shots BADLY. When a brick goes bounding out beyond the foul line, a well-positioned defensive team is actually at a disadvantage. Not that this excuses the Buckeyes' horrible rebounding performance, just a contributing factor.

While I can agree with this that is makes it easier for offensive rebounds, and harder to rebound, but we need to understand on the backside and on the wings that you don't just run to the paint and look to rebound, but you make sure you are between a man and the rim, so if the guy on the wing trys to crash the boards you get in front of him and try to box him out, and not come to far in and let the ball go over your head...Also too many times guys on the wings tried to run out and the ball came to the guy that he should of been in front of, and also when guys try to run at shooters they need to not just run by them, but stay in front of them as the shooter got a couple rebounds that way...

2. Evan Turner is quickly becoming my favorite Buckeye.

Yes he is growing up right in front of our eyes...Know when Diebler and KK take on the same type of growth we will be on our way...

3. When Jamar Butler is out of the game, we can do essentially nothing on offense. Wow, will we miss Butler next season.

I agree somewhat with this point, but Matta doesn't leave Butler out of the game long enough to get the other guys flow in the game...As for next season we will be ok, because we will adjust to what we got...But Butler will be missed...Crater and Hill will have plenty of talent around them to distribute the ball too...

4. Mike Tisdale of the Illini may just be the world's ugliest human.

How quickly you forgot about Jokim Noah...

 

[MrsB]

Turner and Lighty will make or break this team this year, they are so smooth I love to watch them.

 

[Muck]

How quickly you forgot about Jokim Noah...

Thank you!

It'll be a long time before my brain is washed of that monstrosity.

 

[MaxBuck]

Mike Tisdale makes Jo-Kim look like Michelle Malkin.:tongue2:

 

[BengalsAndBucks]

I really love the zone defense we play. Stretching the press and then dropping back into the 3-2, how many times a game do you see teams forcing the ball up with 2 seconds on the shot clock? A bunch. Sure, you see a few times when teams move the ball well and we struggle to rotate properly and they get an easy bucket, but that happens against every defense ever, and besides the handful of easy buckets, almost every shot is contested/forced.

Rebounding out of the zone will always hurt, but especially because we dont box out. The most effective we were rebounding in this game was when the two bigs boxed out and Butler came swooping in for an easy rebound.

I really didn't see the issues with Hill running the offense that others commented on, but then again with the offensive system we run it will always look like a train wreck out there, until someone suddenly pops open and hits a three.

Very winnable four game stretch coming up, and we need every one of them if we want to go dancing.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

One thing that has gotten lost is the fact we were up on Illinois in rebounds at the half......we have to play a 40 minute game.......first possesion of the second half for Illinois, they got 4 offensive rebounds....:(

Scout.com (Free)

Ohio State - Illinois Postgame Analysis...........by Kyle Lamb.

 

[LitlBuck]

While I can agree with this that is makes it easier for offensive rebounds, and harder to rebound, but we need to understand on the backside and on the wings that you don't just run to the paint and look to rebound, but you make sure you are between a man and the rim, so if the guy on the wing trys to crash the boards you get in front of him and try to box him out, and not come to far in and let the ball go over your head...Also too many times guys on the wings tried to run out and the ball came to the guy that he should of been in front of, and also when guys try to run at shooters they need to not just run by them, but stay in front of them as the shooter got a couple rebounds that way...

Not sure if I agree with everything you have stated regarding rebounding in a zone defense. The one guy who had the most rebounds Tuesday was Butler and that was because he anticipated where those missed shots were going. The other guys seem to be just standing around or taking off on a fast-break before we had the ball.

Yes he is growing up right in front of our eyes...Know when Diebler and KK take on the same type of growth we will be on our way...

As I have stated, Butler is my favorite for this year and J. D. is #2. Turner needs to slow down just a little like he did against Tennessee and not like he did in the second half against Illinois.

I agree somewhat with this point, but Matta doesn't leave Butler out of the game long enough to get the other guys flow in the game...As for next season we will be ok, because we will adjust to what we got...But Butler will be missed...Crater and Hill will have plenty of talent around them to distribute the ball too...

If Matta leaves Butler out of the game for more than a few minutes I get very nervous. At this time, we really do not have another point guard who is a scoring threat. We will have more talent next year but PJ is really going to have to improve his game in my opinion and Crater is going to have to grow up fast.

How quickly you forgot about Jokim Noah.

..
I am no one to talk about ugly.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

Not sure if I agree with everything you have stated regarding rebounding in a zone defense. The one guy who had the most rebounds Tuesday was Butler and that was because he anticipated where those missed shots were going. The other guys seem to be just standing around or taking off on a fast-break before we had the ball.

I think we are on the same page, I was just saying that if the wings would stay at home and stay between their guy and the rim or the guy in their area they would add to our ability to rebound...That is what Butler was doing and how he got the rebounds...That is why it is easier for the offensive guy to get the rebound out of a zone, but if our guys just stayed in front of that guy then they could read where the ball was going and get the rebounds...

If Matta leaves Butler out of the game for more than a few minutes I get very nervous. At this time, we really do not have another point guard who is a scoring threat. We will have more talent next year but PJ is really going to have to improve his game in my opinion and Crater is going to have to grow up fast.

I am not on the same page with a lot of people in terms of PJ making me nervous, yes our offense goes down a little because Butler brings a lot in terms of offense, but HIll has shown the ability to penetrate and kick, and get to the hole...It is just a matter of it being a different type of offensive scheme and really needing guys like Kk, Turner, Lighty, Diebler to take over the scoring...I believe that PJ has shown the ability to manage the offense and steal some minutes...

 

[MaxBuck]

Once again I take issue with all the boxout addicts. Great rebounders are not great because they block out; they are great because they quickly ascertain where the ball is going to go off the miss, get to that spot, and then go after the ball more aggressively than a starving Doberman goes after flank steak.

 

[jimotis4heisman]

Once again I take issue with all the boxout addicts. Great rebounders are not great because they block out; they are great because they quickly ascertain where the ball is going to go off the miss, get to that spot, and then go after the ball more aggressively than a starving Doberman goes after flank steak.

but what about great rebounding teams.

we all agree with you, though under your situation a void is left and easy buckets are on the table.

now the best is to have a team rebound and in doing so you can have guys attack and guys position, this is complicated to explain without a chalk board or something. basically the reality is not all 5 guys have to box out. solid poistional play and your mad dog result in a tom izzo style...