Tuesday, November 22 - 8 p.m.
BUTLER UNIVERSITY - Official Site of Butler Athletics - In what will probably be Ohio State's first reasonable test this year, the Butler Bulldogs come in off a disappointing 13-15 season. Remember now, just two seasons prior, this team was in the Sweet Sixteen and getting used to the idea of winning 20+ games every year. Matta's successor, Todd Lickliter, is a proven entity on the sidelines, going 82-41 in his four seasons as head coach, so we know this team can win. Combine that leadership with the fact that the 'dogs have all five end-of-the-year starters coming back, and that #245 RPI ranking may turn out to be a funny little joke. In the backcourt, we'll likely see the two Senior guards - #3 Bruce Horan, and #21 Avery Sheets. Horan is the resident long-ball specialist, though he's not the only one with a penchant for launching threes. To put it in perspective, Horan had more three point attempts last year than Tony Stockman. Yes, crazy, I know. But let's move on. The 6-3, 195 lb. guard played in all 28 games for Butler, starting 22, and put up solid numbers (9.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg, and a .410 3PT%). Avery Sheets (6-0, 175) started 27 games, and led the team in assists (4.0 apg). Moving to the frontcourt, we've got #20, Senior forward Brandon Polk (6-6, 205) and #33, Junior guard-forward Brandon Crone (6-6, 230). Both guys played in all 28 games, starting 17 and 22 respectively. Polk is the muscle on this roster, even at a trim 205 pounds. Along with leading the team in scoring (13.6 ppg), he led in rebounds (4.6 rpg) and posted 23 blocked shots (as many as the next three guys combined), and oh - he also shot 58.9% from the field. Crone is no slouch himself, having averaged 7.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg and even drilling 22 of his 57 3PT attempts. The Bulldogs had a seven foot white boy standing in the middle - Jamie "Not-so" Smalligan - but the big ox requested a release to transfer after last year, and got his wish. So, the five, as far as I know, is a bit of a question mark this year. It will likely be #24, Junior forward-center Brian Ligon (6-7, 245), who, if he can stay healthy, should be serviceable. If this team has an X-factor, it's #4, Sophomore guard A.J. Graves (6-1, 160). The reigning Horizon League Freshman of the Year (not that that's a title you can really defend) was second on the team in scoring (11.1 ppg) and is one hell of a free throw shooter (68-74, 91.9%). About half of the kid's shots were from behind the arc, so between him, Horan and Sheets, we're going to have to keep a sharp eye on the perimeter. Now, I've been talking them up pretty nice-like, but this team did have a losing record last year. My main concern is this Graves kid blowing up and dropping 30 on us, but I'm confident that we will have game-planned for that. If nothing else, we can cling to the 178 team gap between us and them in the RPI - put simply, it's a game we definitely should win.
My prediction: tOSU 77 - BU 68
Up next, Virginia Tech...
BUTLER UNIVERSITY - Official Site of Butler Athletics - In what will probably be Ohio State's first reasonable test this year, the Butler Bulldogs come in off a disappointing 13-15 season. Remember now, just two seasons prior, this team was in the Sweet Sixteen and getting used to the idea of winning 20+ games every year. Matta's successor, Todd Lickliter, is a proven entity on the sidelines, going 82-41 in his four seasons as head coach, so we know this team can win. Combine that leadership with the fact that the 'dogs have all five end-of-the-year starters coming back, and that #245 RPI ranking may turn out to be a funny little joke. In the backcourt, we'll likely see the two Senior guards - #3 Bruce Horan, and #21 Avery Sheets. Horan is the resident long-ball specialist, though he's not the only one with a penchant for launching threes. To put it in perspective, Horan had more three point attempts last year than Tony Stockman. Yes, crazy, I know. But let's move on. The 6-3, 195 lb. guard played in all 28 games for Butler, starting 22, and put up solid numbers (9.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg, and a .410 3PT%). Avery Sheets (6-0, 175) started 27 games, and led the team in assists (4.0 apg). Moving to the frontcourt, we've got #20, Senior forward Brandon Polk (6-6, 205) and #33, Junior guard-forward Brandon Crone (6-6, 230). Both guys played in all 28 games, starting 17 and 22 respectively. Polk is the muscle on this roster, even at a trim 205 pounds. Along with leading the team in scoring (13.6 ppg), he led in rebounds (4.6 rpg) and posted 23 blocked shots (as many as the next three guys combined), and oh - he also shot 58.9% from the field. Crone is no slouch himself, having averaged 7.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg and even drilling 22 of his 57 3PT attempts. The Bulldogs had a seven foot white boy standing in the middle - Jamie "Not-so" Smalligan - but the big ox requested a release to transfer after last year, and got his wish. So, the five, as far as I know, is a bit of a question mark this year. It will likely be #24, Junior forward-center Brian Ligon (6-7, 245), who, if he can stay healthy, should be serviceable. If this team has an X-factor, it's #4, Sophomore guard A.J. Graves (6-1, 160). The reigning Horizon League Freshman of the Year (not that that's a title you can really defend) was second on the team in scoring (11.1 ppg) and is one hell of a free throw shooter (68-74, 91.9%). About half of the kid's shots were from behind the arc, so between him, Horan and Sheets, we're going to have to keep a sharp eye on the perimeter. Now, I've been talking them up pretty nice-like, but this team did have a losing record last year. My main concern is this Graves kid blowing up and dropping 30 on us, but I'm confident that we will have game-planned for that. If nothing else, we can cling to the 178 team gap between us and them in the RPI - put simply, it's a game we definitely should win.
My prediction: tOSU 77 - BU 68
Up next, Virginia Tech...
