Ohio State vs #14 Wisconsin (official game thread)

[osugrad21]

Blade

Wisconsin defense shuts down OSU

ASSOCIATED PRESS

COLUMBUS - They will seldom win a slam-dunk contest or get featured on a SportsCenter highlight. Heck, most of them don't look like they could touch the rim. About all that's impressive about the Wisconsin Badgers is how hard they play, particularly on that unglamorous half of the game known as defense. Jason Bohannon came off the bench to score 16 points and the 11th-ranked Badgers relied on their gritty defense to hold off Ohio State 58-53 yesterday. "We played some great defense, especially down the stretch when they were trying to get the [tying] 3-pointer," Bohannon said. "They didn't really get a clean look at the hoop." The Buckeyes didn't score over the last 3:15 and had only one field goal in the final 8 1/2 minutes. For much of that time, they were within a shot of catching the Badgers. But the Badgers weren't having any of that.

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[osugrad21]

Dispatch

Familiar finish dooms Buckeyes

Monday, February 25, 2008 3:12 AM
By Bob Baptist


The Columbus Dispatch


Michael Flowers' shot rolled lazily around the rim, stopped for a seemingly endless second on the back brace and then fell in, tying the score and erasing what would be the last lead of the game for the Ohio State men's basketball team. A minute and a half later, with the Buckeyes now trailing Wisconsin by five points, Jamar Butler had an open look on a three-point shot and watched the ball dance in and out.
"The one Jamar shot rolls around and rims out. The guy from Wisconsin gets a layup that rolls around, gets stuck on the back of the rim and the wind blows it in," OSU senior Matt Terwilliger said. "We just can't catch a break."
Or make their own.
Whether jinxed or just not good enough, the Buckeyes again put themselves in position to post a breakthrough victory yesterday and squandered the opportunity. They scored four points in the final 8 1/2 minutes and lost 58-53 to the 11th-ranked Badgers in Value City Arena.



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[jwinslow]

Wisconsin Fan Gallery by OhioSte

 

[crazybuckfan40]

No the defensive issues were having someone named Jason Bohannon go 4 for 6 from 3 and total 16 total points.

That's a problem that hasn't been fixed all year long.

The kid was making some tough shots...Yeah some of them were a little uncontested, but the one he made over Twig I didn't think had any chance to go in...

 

[JCOSU86]

This team is just not good. I don't see them winning any of their final games

@Indiana with their turmoil may be the best shot
@Minny: They haven't shown they can win on the road against decent teams
vs Purdue: They haven't shown they can beat good to great teams anywhere
vs Michigan St: see above

 

[buckeyes_rock]

Video of Twigs who looks completely deflated by the loss and also a little footage of Pryor as he walks towards his seat.


ThePalestra.com College Network

Twigs looked unbelievably defeated in that video. You have to feel for him. You know these guys are giving it all they've got, but as Twigs said...Coach Matta said eventually things will start going their way (or something like that). Things just aren't going the Buckeye's way. These guys need some leadership in the locker room big time to pick up those hanging heads.

Come on guys...pick those heads up...season's not over yet!

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Looking back at most of our losses it has been a stretch where we lost intensity or struggled to score points and yesterday was more of the same.....youth and inexperience has been a major factor in our losses....not playing smart basketball at crucial times cost us a possible win yesterday...give Wisconsin credit....they get the job done.....they understand how to win and the Buckeyes are struggling with how to win.....the talent is there......the experience is not.....I felt we played hard just not very smart at times.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Scout.com (Free)

OSU-Wisconsin Men's Basketball Photo Gallery

 

[GrizzlyBuck]

I haven't read through the thread as I'm already disappointed by the outcome and reading it might make me downright depressed :(

I think one of the Bucks biggest problems is that their point guard is also their most confident and consistent scorer. It seemed to me that too many times late in that game, and other close losses, that Butler had a hard time getting the offense started, because he had more faith in his own abilities than in some of his teamates, unfortunately this has led to some empty, poor possessions in crucial situations.

It is nobody's fault this team just does not have that "it." It is not from a lack of talent or effort, but from a combination of things. It harkens me back to Eldon Millers team of Herb Williams, Carter Scott, Jim (the rim) Smith and Clark Kellogg that underachieved, the year after Kelvin Ransey led them to the regional finals against UCLA, that team had a ton of talent, but just could not put it together.

There is still enough talent on this team that if the lights do come on for them, they can still have a very successful end of the year, either way, there are better days on the horizon for next year.

 

[osugrad21]

OZone

Men's Basketball
Lack of Crunch-time Offense Does in Buckeyes Against Badgers
By John Porentas
A basketball game is 40 minutes long, and for 36 minutes and 34 seconds of the game Ohio State (17-10, 8-6 Big Ten) played well enough to win against No. 11/10 Wisconsin (23-4, 13-2 Big Ten). It wasn't quite good enough.
OSU led by two points at 49-47 with 8:33 left in the game, but over the next three minutes and 26 seconds the Badgers scored nine points, the Buckeyes none. The run staked Wisconsin to a 56-49 lead with 5:08 to play, and that turned out to be all the Badgers needed to claim the win over the fading Buckeyes.


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[osugrad21]

OZone Photos

 

[LitlBuck]

Given twice as much time as he usually has between games, Ohio State coach Thad Matta used the time last week to break down some of what might be causing his players to break down. He broke some practices into what he calls "four-minute wars" and pitted players against each other in games.
"Designed to create camaraderie among teammates, (trust among) teammates and (to) build up your competitive nature," freshman Kosta Koufos said.
Matta also gave the players four goals:
"Toughness, competitiveness, next-play mentality and just sticking together," sophomore David Lighty said. "Four different aspects we always have to have with us on the court."

The above quote came from a Dispatch article written by Bob Baptist in posted by Grad on page 3 of this thread.

Those quotes from those players are just unbelievable. These guys have been together since September and they are still working on "camaraderie" and "just sticking together". If this is indeed true and since these are direct quotes attributed to the players, there is something seriously wrong with this team. We are close to three months in playing games and these guys still do not know how to play together. I could attribute this to lack of senior leadership but I'm sorry this comes from the very top. Matta should have recognized this early in the season and done something about it. The team can play hard but if they are not playing as a team what good is it doing. I just find these quotes unbelievable coming from players this late in the season.

 

[LitlBuck]

The kid was making some tough shots...Yeah some of them were a little uncontested, but the one he made over Twig I didn't think had any chance to go in...

Sometimes I wonder if we are watching the same game:). While our defense did play pretty well, Wisconsin got some very open looks from three-point land and Bohannon was the beneficiary of some of those looks especially from the corner when guys were late coming out.

 

[Taosman]

We have been very, very spoiled the past 3 years!
There is nothing wrong with this team that more maturity won't make better.
Step down from the ledge and look at the youth of this team!

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

it's the fact that they have this tendency to shoot 68% from the field in the first half and 28% in the second half (seemingly every game) that has me worried..

WRONG! They shot 27% in the 2nd half. :p

Pitiful is a word that would be used if they were routinely getting stomped. They're not. These games are right there, this team just lacks leadership and an identity. Definately frustrating. Maybe they'll put something together in the NIT.

Agreed. They are just so close in each game. Just can't get that clutch basket. Or if they do get the clutch basket, they can't get the stop.

Looking back at most of our losses it has been a stretch where we lost intensity or struggled to score points and yesterday was more of the same

They were playing very well on defense in the first half, then hit about a 90 second stretch where they lost focus and gave up 3 consecutive wide-open three's. And a four point lead turns into a 2 point deficit. Another series in the 2nd half where they give up a wide open 14-footer and then a wide open three.


Looking back at the B10 losses this season, most have come down to one or two possession games. Thinking back to defensive lapses and careless turnovers, it's no wonder they aren't pulling out these games. They are so close to being a good team, just can't quite get it done at the end.