Sparty +9.5 at tOSU (ov/un 127.5) Sat 6 ET, ESPN

[BuckTilIDie6]

I'm not sure I believe that. Yeah, I remember the Duke game, but that wasn't a normal game for our team, it was an exceptional one. It was [censored]ing fun, though.

I honestly believe we had a better team last year. We don't have the outside shooting we had last year which makes it harder on the inside game. We also don't have a guy like Dallas Lauderdale to bring the physical presence in the paint when necessary.

Time will tell if my assessment is accurate but one thing I do know is we damn sure need to play better than we did this week.

I don't think there is any question last years team was more complete, and I don't think there was any doubt we were the best team in America last year. But we didn't win the title. This team has work to do, but still can win it all.

 

[Bill Lucas]

I'm glad I can come here to learn about basketball.

Two kids who will be playing in the NBA next season each went 2 for 12 - but we lost because our bench players didn't get enough minutes.

Winning 39 in a row is not celebrated. It is used to support arguments that failure to win a 40th is due to coaching failures and the need for an overhaul.

MSU played a magnificent defensive game which was officiated in a fashion that supported the approach they took. (They also got 119 minutes of PT from upper classmen.)

Whether this team is as good as we think it is depends on how good you think it is. We certainly have some weaknesses. And our inexperience often shows. But the suggestion that we will be improved by seeing more of Ross or Scott or somebody else even less experienced than those currently on the court is pure conjecture.

I agree 100%.

The only thing I'll add is that if Big Ten officials continue to allow opposing guards to double down and rake across Sully's arms without calling fouls at least some of the time he's going to continue to have high turnover numbers.

 

[OHSportsFan]

I agree 100%.

The only thing I'll add is that if Big Ten officials continue to allow opposing guards to double down and rake across Sully's arms without calling fouls at least some of the time he's going to continue to have high turnover numbers.

Sullinger did a wonderful job of helping out by bringing the ball down to the guards' levels. Don't usually see that out of him, but he was absolutely careless with the ball.

I may or may not rewatch this game, but off the top of my head, 2 turnovers were terrible basketball plays that led to jumpballs- going up for a shot when he was under the hoop (not the first time he's done that), and the spin move at the top where he left his feet. A 3rd was a good travel call. And a 4th was late in the game (~2 minutes) where he just dropped the ball out-of-bounds. Then I believe there were a couple offensive fouls that came out of forced situations. The remaining turnovers were him bringing the ball down after a rebound and getting picked.

Personally, I saw nothing wrong with the refs. This team's recognition of when they are simply well-defended and need to reset is just poor, poor, poor. No patience yesterday. Just selfish all around, from the play to the actions and temperament of the team.

But March is what matters. Buckeyes get to go to E.L. and get this game back if they play with some passion and patience. I'll take the ass-kicking now and hope things get turned around.

 

[Systems_id]

I don't think there is any question last years team was more complete, and I don't think there was any doubt we were the best team in America last year. But we didn't win the title. This team has work to do, but still can win it all.

I agree with this 100% but I also think one thing people are overlooking is that, from top to bottom, the B1G is a much better conference than it was last year and is far and away the best conference this year. Plus don't forget that last year's squad had quite a bit of trouble with a far worse MSU squad last year at home.

It still puzzles me though why Amir isn't getting a little more playing time. I thought he looked pretty good the couple of times we've seen him and he played about as well as you could of expected at Kansas. I thought we would of seen him a little more on the floor with Sully but that hasn't happened.

 

[LitlBuck]

Sullinger did a wonderful job of helping out by bringing the ball down to the guards' levels. Don't usually see that out of him, but he was absolutely careless with the ball.

I may or may not rewatch this game, but off the top of my head, 2 turnovers were terrible basketball plays that led to jumpballs- going up for a shot when he was under the hoop (not the first time he's done that), and the spin move at the top where he left his feet. A 3rd was a good travel call. And a 4th was late in the game (~2 minutes) where he just dropped the ball out-of-bounds. Then I believe there were a couple offensive fouls that came out of forced situations. The remaining turnovers were him bringing the ball down after a rebound and getting picked.

Personally, I saw nothing wrong with the refs. This team's recognition of when they are simply well-defended and need to reset is just poor, poor, poor. No patience yesterday. Just selfish all around, from the play to the actions and temperament of the team.

But March is what matters. Buckeyes get to go to E.L. and get this game back if they play with some passion and patience. I'll take the ass-kicking now and hope things get turned around.

Well said. The only thing that I will disagree with is with regard to the officiating and it has been mentioned in this thread. The Big Ten office needs to tell Valentine that he is not the game and his theatrics are not needed.

Also, Diebler has graduated. He is no longer with the team and guys need to realize that. We have what we have and Jerry Lucas is also no longer available.

This was a physical game and we did not play with same physicality that Sparty brought and Payne played the best game of his career. We also did not do a very good of running our offense and a couple guys were just greedy.

 

[LitlBuck]

I agree with this 100% but I also think one thing people are overlooking is that, from top to bottom, the B1G is a much better conference than it was last year and is far and away the best conference this year. Plus don't forget that last year's squad had quite a bit of trouble with a far worse MSU squad last year at home.

It still puzzles me though why Amir isn't getting a little more playing time. I thought he looked pretty good the couple of times we've seen him and he played about as well as you could of expected at Kansas. I thought we would of seen him a little more on the floor with Sully but that hasn't happened.

I cannot believe that there are some people posting that we should have played some guys who have hardly played any meaningful minutes this year. They would have gotten eaten alive yesterday and it would have not done one thing for their confidence except destroy it.

 

[OHSportsFan]

Well said. The only thing that I will disagree with is with regard to the officiating and it has been mentioned in this thread. The Big Ten office needs to tell Valentine that he is not the game and his theatrics are not needed.

This I'll agree with 100% percent.

So glad to hear Dakich constantly call him out. "That was a call to let people know Ted Valentine's still reffing this game." And then later he really got after it saying the Big Ten office needs to step in. The Jim Burrs, Ed Hightowers, and Ted Valentines are the worst of what it means to be an official. People that follow the Big Ten (as Dakich and most of us do) know this. Time to get that crap out.

 

[Buckeye Nut]

He's money, IN PRACTICE. I'm sure Buford shoots 80% or better IN PRACTICE.

If it would translate to the game that would be one thing, but it hasn't. I don't think throwing an unproven freshman who hasn't been on the team actively as long as the others is fair to Ross OR the right thing to do.

It's time to face it - this team isn't "elite" yet. That happens. They really look like a team that is a year away to be honest.

The other thing with Ross is he's an awful defender. Having watched him on defense in garbage time against backups from bottom feeder teams in the Big Ten he can't even guard those guys. Can't imagine throwing him out there against Draymond Green, he'd get scored on every time down the floor and Thad would be forced to take him out.

 

[Systems_id]

I cannot believe that there are some people posting that we should have played some guys who have hardly played any meaningful minutes this year. They would have gotten eaten alive yesterday and it would have not done one thing for their confidence except destroy it.

I'm talking about throughout the entire year, not just this game.

 

[Bill Lucas]

Sullinger did a wonderful job of helping out by bringing the ball down to the guards' levels. Don't usually see that out of him, but he was absolutely careless with the ball.

Purdue and Michigan State did an excellent job not allowing Sullinger to get the ball deep on the block. When a team does that he has no choice other than dribbling the ball. That's what I am referring to when I mentioned the raking across his arms.

I agree that he was frustrated yesterday and made several plays out of character that led to turnovers. The fact that Michigan State had two bigs in the game also didn't help including Payne having the game of his life. They are also an excellent defensive team.

Now, he has to stop flopping every time he thinks he's been fouled. I counted four times that he fell down yesterday expecting a call which hurt Ohio State on the defensive end and he's lucky he didn't get a foul called on him when he tripped Payne.

 

[Bill Lucas]

I'm talking about throughout the entire year, not just this game.

Williams isn't ready. Michigan State would have eaten him alive. He will be a force in the next year or two.

 

[Jake]

This I'll agree with 100% percent.

So glad to hear Dakich constantly call him out. "That was a call to let people know Ted Valentine's still reffing this game." And then later he really got after it saying the Big Ten office needs to step in. The Jim Burrs, Ed Hightowers, and Ted Valentines are the worst of what it means to be an official. People that follow the Big Ten (as Dakich and most of us do) know this. Time to get that crap out.

The best officials are the ones you barely notice. The fact that some seek attention tells me they're in the wrong line of work no matter how long they've been in it.

 

[sepia5]

The best officials are the ones you barely notice. The fact that some seek attention tells me they're in the wrong line of work no matter how long they've been in it.

If I know a basketball ref's name, he's doing it wrong. Period.

 

[fanaticbuckeye]

If I know a basket-ball ref's name, he's doing it wrong. Period.

I was just talking with my dad earlier today about this. I only knew a couple of the refs/umps that did my basketball/baseball games in high school and they were the same ones virtually all the time, and some of them did both sports.

 

[Onebuckfan]

We need Buford not the one that's missing shots and tenative.We need 22 pts 5 rebounds, 5 assists and leadership. We need a Sr leader who leads by example and getting in peoples faces if they need it. When Buford decided to come back I wanted a Mike Doss like effort..I am not seeing it.