tOSU @ Michigan State, Tues 1/7 @ 9p ET, ESPN

[lvbuckeye]

That and the upcoming football divisions make it seem like bucky has a lot of friends in the league office

Hear me out. I'm all for it. The B1G needs to emulate the SEC when it comes to scheduling. If that means giving Wisky a creampuff schedule in order to get two top ten teams in the CCG every year, then it needs to happen.

Half (notice I only said half) of the reason that the SEC won 7 titles in a row was that they get a team in the game EVERY YEAR.

The B1G needs to do everything in its power to A) increase competition. If that means unequal share for the teams not pulling their weight, then so be it. B) stack the deck with scheduling.

 

[Saw31]

Hear me out. I'm all for it. The B1G needs to emulate the SEC when it comes to scheduling. If that means giving Wisky a creampuff schedule in order to get two top ten teams in the CCG every year, then it needs to happen.

Half (notice I only said half) of the reason that the SEC won 7 titles in a row was that they get a team in the game EVERY YEAR.

The B1G needs to do everything in its power to A) increase competition. If that means unequal share for the teams not pulling their weight, then so be it. B) stack the deck with scheduling.

Not going to happen in regards to unequal shares. But the B1G can sure as fuck say, "We're all big ass schools, time to take this shit seriously...each and every one of you"...

 

[TDunk]

If you travel to East Lansing to play the #5 team coached by Tom Izzo and get down 17 points with less than 8 minutes on the clock your chances of coming back are precisely zero.

I question where the effort was for much of the game - but I will take that loss.


Now if someone can explain why a match between the #3 and #5 rated teams gets the #257 rated officiating crew I will be all set.

So that's why this game was called by a bunch of pussies. My credit card would have been called for more swipe fouls than this game in the lane. Dakich mentioned the level of play and it now makes sense.

 

[mendensa]

Ross didn't look too thrilled on the sideline

Then maybe he'll put forth some effort on the boards and on defensive end next game. It's too easy to take him out of his game. Teams who play good defense will get right in his face after he comes off screens and take his spot-up jumper away. Ross thrived in the tourney b/c it is typically a more wide-open game, he has space to work and doesn't have to be so tight w/his dribble. His handles are too lose when in traffic and he still needs to improve both his upper and lower extremity strength to do battle w/ the muscle he's going to face in conference this year.

 

[OhioState001]

Just saw OT but why wasn't Ross in at all in OT?

Had no business being there. The five that Matta played brought them all the way back. Ross was a liability tonight.

 

[mendensa]

I personally loved the effort the last 7-8 mins they showed just to get back into it. Craft would not let them quit and the diving plays he made, getting on the floor like that down the stretch is infectious and will carry this team throughout conference play and into March. Not the end of the world. Use it as another learning experience to get better. Yes, a tough loss to swallow (especially on the heels of the football CCG) but they were a layup away from pulling off an improbable comeback.

I hate how their half court offense is so stagnant. Even if they go to the dribble weave handoff @ the top of the key, then they at least get people moving. Too much standing around until the last 10 mins of the game and guys started to take it to the rack, getting fouled, getting easy put backs or finding guys for good, open shots on the perimeter after breaking down the defense. Great effort tonight Bucks!!!!! We'll return the favor in Columbus.

 

[RB07OSU]

This post is going to be overwhelmingly positive, but I'm going to get the ugly out of the way right from the start. Really disappointed we lost from the standpoint that there hasn't been much on the field success to glom onto lately (particularly for me since I am a Bengals fan)...really could've used a win for my sports psyche.

Now for the rest. This team showed INCREDIBLE heart tonight and I haven't seen effort like that on the hardwood, perhaps ever. To go into East Lansing and almost pull off that upset this early in the season is just plain incredible. Aaron Craft finds new ways to amaze me and completely took over at the end of regulation. I am going to freaking cry when he leaves. Where we might have lost is Scott not making that lay up, but hard to blame him when he created the play in the first place and negated the last shot for MSU. Amir played a HELL of a game, incredible defense on Payne and really worked hard all night...I love his improvement and he is the key to this team making a run. Thompson played his heart out and made some clutch shots. McDonald played some great D and put some great effort into cleaning the glass. Aside from Q, whom I was pretty disappointed in tonight, I really think this team pulled together and put a tremendous effort forth. I keep thinking I will never see greater effort from (insert any Matta team here) every year, but Matta teams are just always going to give this type of effort, win or lose.

As for Sparty, they hit 3s in the clutch like they were taking a practice shot. They deserve a ton of credit for hitting the big shots when they needed them. I feel like they won this game, not that we lost it. However, good luck hitting those shots and/or being in that position when they come to Columbus.

Overall, a fantastic ball game and I am very encouraged with where this team is at right now.

 

[Systems_id]

Ironically this game sold me on the Buckeyes at least being a Top 5 team, hell they may be the #3 team. To be a missed Shannon Scott layup away from stealing one at MSU after being down 17? Of course I would have loved the win but, quite frankly, I was praying we didn't get blown out. Bucks showed me far more in defeat today than they've shown me all season.

 

[Saw31]

Coming back from 17 in the college game? With 7 minutes left? At MSU? Holy shit. Can play with, and beat anyone in my imo...

 

[Mike80]

Coming back from 17 in the college game? With 7 minutes left? At MSU? Holy [Mark May]. Can play with, and beat anyone in my imo...

Need to do better than 4 for 18 from 3 before you can say that. Either make the shots or stop taking them. the lack of outside shooting coupled with how perimeter oriented this team can be at times is what is stopping them from being truly elite.

They are elite defensively, they are elite in transition and everywhere in the half court except from beyond the 3 point line. That is their fatal flaw.

 

[OhioState001]

Need to do better than 4 for 18 from 3 before you can say that. Either make the shots or stop taking them. the lack of outside shooting coupled with how perimeter oriented this team can be at times is what is stopping them from being truly elite.

They are elite defensively, they are elite in transition and everywhere in the half court except from beyond the 3 point line. That is their fatal flaw.

And it doesn't help when the two guys you expect to make those shots have bad games on the same day. We have players that are capable they are just wildly inconsistent.

 

[Mike80]

And it doesn't help when the two guys you expect to make those shots have bad games on the same day. We have players that are capable they are just wildly inconsistent.

At some point the red light needs to come on though. There isn't a John Diebler on this team.

 

[Saw31]

Need to do better than 4 for 18 from 3 before you can say that. Either make the shots or stop taking them. the lack of outside shooting coupled with how perimeter oriented this team can be at times is what is stopping them from being truly elite.

They are elite defensively, they are elite in transition and everywhere in the half court except from beyond the 3 point line. That is their fatal flaw.

I agree totally. My assumption is that more often than not we will shoot a better percentage than that. The defense will always be there with this seemingly routine excellent effort these guys give. Have to admit I haven't seen a shitload of Bball yet, but they were driving the basketball tonight. Not settling for jumpers.

 

[Mike80]

I agree totally. My assumption is that more often than not we will shoot a better percentage than that. The defense will always be there with this seemingly routine excellent effort these guys give. Have to admit I haven't seen a [Mark May]load of Bball yet, but they were driving the basketball tonight. Not settling for jumpers.

Will they shoot better than the 22% they shot tonight? Maybe. Although in looking at the stats (I'll upload the spreadsheet later), the best defensive teams they've faced so far (Ntre Ame/Marquette/MSU/Purdue), they've shot a combined 14 for 76 for 18.4%. That's not a fluke, that's just what this team is.

When they go to the rack, like they did in the last 8 minutes against Sparty, they can beat anyone. The problem is, they average nearly 20 (19.75) 3s per night and haven't shot less than 16 in any game yet this year (3 for 16 vs. American).

Their best games were against North Florida (14/23), Nebraska (9 for 19) and ND State (10 for 20). The only one in that group that might make the tournament is ND State if they win their conference.

The stats more than show this team needs to throw up the red light on the 3 pointers for a bit, especially against better competition. Ohio State's 4 for 18 cost them this game ultimately - Sparty's 11 for 19 saved it for them. The 21 point different in makes is HUGE in a 4 point game especially when coupled with the 21 turnovers they had.

 

[Mike80]

Also - if they shoot their season average (34.2%) they would have likely won this game in regulation since that could have been 6 or 7 for 18. Sure it's a razor thin margin, but it matters in the "B1G" games.

And, of course, the 21 turnovers. That matters as much if not more. One is getting a shot and missing it, the other is not even getting a shot in most cases. You can improve the turnovers, I don't think the 3 point shooting is going to improve drastically from what we've seen.