Ohio State at Minnesota Jan 3 at 12 noon

[Napoleonbuck]

Great fight by the buckeyes. Hopefully this game teaches them how important it is to be consistent.

 

[buckeyemania11]

just another one of those games

giving up offensive boards

wide open 3s

Minnesota had about 5 unconstested dunks when they were running their set offense to to the backside D getting caught sleeping

I think Ohio State made 1 field goal the final 14 minutes of the first half, can not have major scoring droughts like that

 

[Napoleonbuck]

I do think we need to try something new with regards to PG. It's painfully obvious that neither Simmons nor Hill are viable options at this point in time. They just can't handle full time PG duty. They can't handle a press, they take bad shots, and neither has shown any ability to create for others.

 

[Best Buckeye]

We just watched the Bucks play like 5 young players .
I knew after David got hurt that it is going to take more time for this team to develop than with him.
Our team will learn and develop and grow in time and these "learning process" games will do just that.
We all have seen what they are weak in and they will progress.
Go Buckeyes!

 

[buckeyemania11]

2 weeks ago it was looking like they were going to be right up there in the big 10

now I wouldnt be shocked if they didnt even finish in the top 5 of the big 10

 

[bkochmc]

I do think we need to try something new with regards to PG. It's painfully obvious that neither Simmons nor Hill are viable options at this point in time. They just can't handle full time PG duty. They can't handle a press, they take bad shots, and neither has shown any ability to create for others.

Who are you going to have run the point? Turner? He has as much turnover "ability" as Hill and Simmons. I'd rather have Turner start off the ball anyway since he is the Bucks sole threat to score both inside and outside.

If anyone didn't see these kinds of games coming, especially when Lighty got hurt, then they were kidding themselves. This team can be good but they will lose some games like this because of their youth. I'm of the mindset that this team should be a 20-win team and on the bubble for the tournament. In order to get into the tournament they will need to find ways to win these kinds of games though.

 

[Napoleonbuck]

Lighty has nothing to do with the PG position.

Turner, even though he'll probably commit as many TOs as Hill or Simmons, at least brings playmaking ability to the table.

 

[bkochmc]

Lighty has nothing to do with the PG position.

Turner, even though he'll probably commit as many TOs as Hill or Simmons, at least brings playmaking ability to the table.

I understand Lighty has nothing to do with the PG position... that second paragraph was just a general observation, not directed at you.

I think Hill has better passing abilities than Turner... he had some nice passes today. I think PJ has to understand that he is not going to score 10 points a game... his role is to manage the game, keep his teammates on track, and bring intensity to the floor. There is a lot to be said about a player that can do that well. Is he there? No but I see drastic improvements from last year.

As for Simmons, he does have the ability to score a bit but also has to recognize what is a good shot and what is not. He took some good shots today that just did not fall but he also took some very bad ones. He also brings some speed especially in transition defense... he's already made some great plays getting back on defense.

Bottom line in my eyes: While not a best case scenario I think they are both serviceable as long as they play within themselves and try not to take over a game... because neither has the ability to do that.

 

[billmac91]

The point of Turner taking over PG duties, is to get the ball across mid-court.

PJ and Jeremie both got ripped several times today. Tubby Smith smelled blood in the water after Jeremie got ripped the first time and they were relentless the rest of the game on our PG's.

It was honestly like watching a good high-school team with athletic players, playing an inferior team knowing the main ball-handler would have an impossible time getting the ball acrross the court.

I don't say that, saying Minnesota is a superior team....just that they recognized Jeremie and PJ didn't have the ball handling skills to protect the basketball, and they did a great job causing turnovers.

Evan would at least get the respect from his defender to not overplay the dribble and get in his junk. It isn't ideal for the flow of the offense, but neither are turnovers in the backcourt.

 

[LitlBuck]

We have no other options besides Hill or Simmons when it comes to a PG now that Crater has left the team (thank you Anthony). To have Turner just bring the ball past half-court would be a waste of his energy and he does not dribble with the best of them. If he was pressured in the backcourt, his high dribble would get him into significant problems.

The problem with having Hill on the floor is that you cannot have him on the floor as the same time as Lauderdale because that significantly reduces our offense to 3/5 of an offense. Neither one of those guys are scorers. They play great defense and bring a great deal of energy but they do not bring any offense to the floor whatsoever.

I do not see how the absence of one player can mean so much to a team. Lighty was not meant to bring that many points to the table as it was but I will admit that he did help out on the boards and did do a little bit of creating.

I still do not understand why Matta sticks with the zone defense. If the opposing offense moves the ball fast enough, they are always going to get a wide-open look. Our big guys can not get to the corners fast enough and that really is not their fault. If they leave the key to fast for the corner, they leave the basket wide open for cuts or easy layups. I don't know our man-to-man defense could be any worse than this zone defense that we are playing or trying to play. Matta has always been a man-to-man guy and I just don't understand why he is now playing all zone defense.

I would also like to see BJ get some more playing time for no other reason to see what he can do when he is given extended minutes. At least he can bring some offense to the table.

 

[Jake]

I do think we need to try something new with regards to PG. It's painfully obvious that neither Simmons nor Hill are viable options at this point in time. They just can't handle full time PG duty. They can't handle a press, they take bad shots, and neither has shown any ability to create for others.

That is the position that is killing us. We have more turnovers than assists, and yet we're 10-2. The losses will begin to mount in conference if we don't improve our play at PG.

 

[buckeyes_rock]

I still do not understand why Matta sticks with the zone defense. If the opposing offense moves the ball fast enough, they are always going to get a wide-open look. Our big guys can not get to the corners fast enough and that really is not their fault. If they leave the key to fast for the corner, they leave the basket wide open for cuts or easy layups. I don't know our man-to-man defense could be any worse than this zone defense that we are playing or trying to play. Matta has always been a man-to-man guy and I just don't understand why he is now playing all zone defense.

Yeah, me too.

It's painfully obvious that good shooting teams will get open looks in our zone. And when we face a team with inside out capability, the looks are open all over the place. The further out the zone extends to cover a 3 point shooter, the more wide open the middle is. Today, not only did Minny find guys open at the the foul line, but they also had guys WIDE open cutting to the basket.

As you said, it doesn't make much sense to not at least give man a try...it can't be much worse right? Even if we just use it as a change of pace at least it would get a hot offense a little out of rhythm. I don't know. Just very frustrating to see this talented team give up so many easy shots.

As for the offense, boy do I miss Butler and Conley. What a luxury to have a PG who can really run a team.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

Not going to say that the PG position is an asset, but some are not seeing some of the real problems...

Too much one on one or catch and shoot...We are not working with each other, obviously it would help if PJ or Simmons could create better, but there is too much standing and not moving the ball...

Turner is struggling thinking that he has to be the star more so than what he can do...He forced so many shots today...He was 7 of 17...that is not a good day...Obviously we need him to be our top shot taker, and we need him to be our main creator, from the wing, off pick n rolls, or coming off screens or taking his man to the hole, but when he draws the second defender he has to look to to find the open man for an easier shot, than a pull up jumper over a taller man, or a shot where he throws his body into the defender and then forces a jumper...He held the turnovers down today, but he had so many passes tipped, or the ball knocked out of his hands...

Diebler while he is shooting great right now, he had 3 turnovers today...He isn't really creating for others so he shouldnt be turning the ball over like that...

Then we look at the big men...They are driving me nuts right now...They either have the weakest hands or they have butter fingers, because they are getting their hands on balls that they have to grab, they are getting pushed out of position, letting smaller guys score on them, and not holding position in the post...They had 6 turnovers between them, and they just don't understand postioning and holding their guys off...Mullens looked like an NBA All-star on the jump hook and the spin drop step reverse layup...But obviously they need the ball but they need to be more consistent...

Also I am starting to think we need some switch up to man...I don't give a shit if we want to keep the zone as the main defense, but at least mix it up a little bit, but really I think it is offense that is killing us right now...As well as defensive reboudning...



The talent is there, we played a very solid team today, but we are playing like a bunch of young guys that all think they need to step up and be the star since the loss of Lighty...

 

[billmac91]

I feel like Conley really hid some of our offensive defincincies with his ability to create and beat his man off of the dribble. It also helps when defenders can't live in your shorts because you are quick enough to create seperation off of the dribble. Jeremie and PJ can handle the ball, the problem is they lack explosion and quickness to back defenders off while trying to get the team into sets.

I agree PG isn't the only problem, but its difficult to watch our guys work so hard just to get it past half-court.

Once in a set, the offense seems anemic. Just lots of passing around the perimeter, poor entry passes, lots of fumbled passes, and if the ball is worked inside it seems every shot is contested by at least 2 defenders.

Lighty was clearly the glue to this team...not the best offensive player, but he did enough to keep the team together.

 

[MaxBuck]

I feel like Conley really hid some of our offensive defincincies with his ability to create and beat his man off of the dribble.

That's one way to look at it. Another way is to see that Matta's preferred offensive approach is to have a point guard who penetrates and kicks. Conley was one of the best at this. Right now we have no such player (and Noopy wasn't looking like one either).