Ohio State Men's Basketball: Short-handed with a fresh starter
by Doug Lesmerises/Plain Dealer Reporter Friday March 13, 2009, 3:48 AM
Andy Manis/Associated PressIn his past nine games, Ohio State's P.J. Hill has averaged 22.9 minutes and had a total of 45 points and 22 assists.
COLUMBUS -- For the team with the shortest bench in the Big Ten, Ohio State's P.J. Hill feels like his season just started. It's amazing how fresh a starting point guard can be when he played 15 total minutes in the first 10 games of the season. "I'm the jump-start guy. I didn't play that much at the beginning of the season, so when I get my chance to go out there, I'm going to bring the energy, because I'm fresher," Hill said. "This is the halfway point for me, but it's the full point for everybody else. So that's an advantage for me."
Except when his energy gets out of control.
"He's always going to compete, he's always going to play," OSU coach Thad Matta said. "He's not going to play perfect. We're still working on some of the mistakes he's making. He's costing us some points on defense. It's never out of lack of effort. Honestly, he's trying to do too much on defense sometimes rather than sticking with the principles."
As the fifth-seeded Buckeyes open the Big Ten Tournament today, playing No. 4 seed Wisconsin, they'll need the extra bounce from Hill. Eyeing three games in three days if they want to reach the championship game, Ohio State is the only Big Ten team remaining that plays only seven players at least 10 minutes per game.
The Buckeyes' two most consistent players -- Jon Diebler and Evan Turner -- averaged 38.5 and 38.2 minutes per game in Big Ten play, ranking first and tied for second in the conference. Admitting to any fatigue is heresy in the Kingdom of Matta, but Diebler said if there are heavy legs, they come in practice. And then Hill is there, bouncing around like the court is a trampoline.
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