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tOSU vs. Penn State, Wed 1/29 @ 7p ET, BTN

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Just like the Iowa game, this team had the game in a good position to put it away and just fell flat. Truly inexplicable for a team with the experience that exists on this team. The poor defense and clock management at the end of regulation and in OT was mind boggling. I have no idea what the plan was, if there was one, or what Craft was trying to do with the ball in both instances.
 
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Onebuckfan said:
The biggest concern is Craft and Matta are smart enough to know the problems..but we have no answers on our roster..makes for more of the same unless Scott,Smith, Williams and Ross flip the switch.
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I really don't see Matta making any changes in the way he has coached and managed the team in other years. It is one thing to know the problems, it is another to address them. You can continue to do the same thing and expect different results (definition of insanity) or you can make changes. At this point, why wouldn't Matta do something different.
 
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Lenzelle Smith Jr. after No. 24 Ohio State's loss to Penn State: "This is embarrassing. Every other team in our conference is laughing"

“This hurts the most out of every game since I have been at Ohio State,” said senior guard Lenzelle Smith Jr. as he fought back tears. “I don’t think we care enough. These losses don’t hurt enough. This is embarrassing. Every other team in our conference is laughing at us right now. … My senior year – this is not what I had in mind.”

Entire article: http://www.cleveland.com/osu/index.ssf/2014/01/lenzelle_smith_jr_after_no_24.html
 
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ScriptOhio said:
Lenzelle Smith Jr. after No. 24 Ohio State's loss to Penn State: "This is embarrassing. Every other team in our conference is laughing"

“This hurts the most out of every game since I have been at Ohio State,” said senior guard Lenzelle Smith Jr. as he fought back tears. “I don’t think we care enough. These losses don’t hurt enough. This is embarrassing. Every other team in our conference is laughing at us right now. … My senior year – this is not what I had in mind.”

Entire article: http://www.cleveland.com/osu/index.ssf/2014/01/lenzelle_smith_jr_after_no_24.html
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If that loss is what it takes for them to start playing with more heart as an entire team... then so be it. But after the last 6 games I'm skeptical until I see it.
 
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bkochmc said:
If that loss is what it takes for them to start playing with more heart as an entire team... then so be it. But after the last 6 games I'm skeptical until I see it.
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Maybe I am different, but I just don't see any sense of urgency from this team. I would like to see Williams, get a pissed off look on his face. At times you have to get mad at yourself and say "enough is enough" Aaron Craft is trying his ass off to be the leader and be an example, but none of his buddys want to follow his lead. An eleven point lead with eight minutes to go, and they gave you the appearance of a team, playing not to lose, rather than a team playing to put the hammer down on defense. To tell me that deshawn Thomas was the difference maker in this team from last year is still hard for me to believe. We have no aggressiveness or Physical demeanor. Other teams are picking up on this and if we don't turn this problem around, it could be a very long sad year for Buckeye Basketball.
 
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How to go from #3 to outa the top 25 in three easy weeks. One, have 60% of your team afraid to shoot (Craft, Scott and Amir). Have 20% not able to score (insert Smith or Q alternatively). Be a 'doughnut team' (nothing in the middle) on defense. Valle played well, but only because the 'book' on him was he'd spot up and shoot the 3, and so he drove and took them by surprise. OK. Amir loafs into position, instead of getting separation toward the ball. But apparently Trey is not a better option. This is NOT the same team that beat Notre Dame down 8 with 57 seconds to go. Craft has a great opportunity to help himself with the pros by scoring, Scott is the better shooter, but neither of them want to take the shot. tOSU are great passers, but to what point, running down the clock?

The biggest positive that I heard (or saw) last night, was the announcer saying that Penn St had over 10 blocks in the paint. That told me that tOSU was driving toward the basket a lot, which is always good. Some sort of mindset has changed within the starting five of the Buckeyes, and not for the better. I also thought that Matta had given Lenzelle a 'quota' to make. "Either you make 12 points or you're benched" type of thing. Just seemed like there was an urgency in his play that had been lacking. Even if the Buckeyes make it to the 'Dance', they'll get clobbered by Podunk U who can put a couple of taller guys out on the floor together that don't fall over their shoelaces. Anyone notice that Craft brings up the floor 95% of the time, versus last year when Scott brought it up about 40% of the time? Any type of friction there?

Bo Gucks
 
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I Don't see any friction there between Craft and Scott. I see teams forcing Ohio State out of shooting position as the 30 second clock is running down. Last year we played with confidence and taking the 3 point shot with a lot of time left the shot clock. And maybe that was the difference with Thomas being out there then. He seemed to be our force and now we are missing that part of the game.
 
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ZERO chemistry. Don't know what happened but there isnt any there now.

Craft has to go all Conley on peoples asses down the stretch or they'll miss the dance and 20 wins.

There should be no pride left in this team after that loss. No one should be "too proud" to change their role on this team anymore. With that I'd love to see Matta shake up the roster a bit. Craft-ADV-Thompson-Loving-McDonald to start the next game. Let's see how these guys really respong. Amir, Q and Smith coming off the bench and Scott only replacing Craft for a while - not both on the court at the same time if we can help it or only to full court press. Try something, hell ANYTHING. This loss is one of the worst I've ever seen from a Buckeye team.

I would also burn Kam's redshirt. I know that's not popular and he won't have many games this year but there aren't a ton of guys staying for 4 years anyway so now he'd at least get 3.5 if he got some experience now. He'll be needed from jump next year so put him in the fire. At least discuss it.

To be fair though, to Penn State, they've been battling the last month and been close to some wins. I wouldn't doubt it if they get a couple in the conference tourney. League is really becoming a dogfight every night.
 
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bkochmc said:
Right now I'm more concerned about this team getting to 20 wins to keep Matta's streak alive and squeaking its way into the NIT. The only way this team gets to the NCAA is if they win the rest of the regular season games or the Big Ten tournament... and both of those options have very low probablilites.
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This is not even close to true they do not have to win the rest of their games to make the NCAA tournament. They are going to lose more games and still have a decent shot to make the tourney they just need to get some wins vs quality teams which they lack right now. They are 16-5 and have 8 top 100 wins. 3-5 in the Big Ten hurts right now but they don't need to be 13-5 to make the tournament.

The big problem is losing this game and having to terribly tough games now coming up at Wisky and at Iowa means they are in real danger of being 3-7. After these next 2 games though every game the rest of the way is winnable of course also loseable the way they are playing right now too.

They probably need to go 9-9 though to get a bid.
 
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Bestbuck36 said:
ZERO chemistry. Don't know what happened but there isnt any there now.

To be fair though, to Penn State, they've been battling the last month and been close to some wins. I wouldn't doubt it if they get a couple in the conference tourney. League is really becoming a dogfight every night.
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Tough opponents in the league, parity, luck, and the other coaches have your number. This team lacks an outside shooter, at least one that is consistent. Ross and ADV should play and be encouraged to take those shots. Craft needs to shoot and not dish it out so much. Other teams play us to those weaknesses. I don't know - do anything and see what happens. Football was a letdown and I'm pissed now that basketball is going the same way. I need wins...
 
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HenryMuto said:
This is not even close to true they do not have to win the rest of their games to make the NCAA tournament. They are going to lose more games and still have a decent shot to make the tourney they just need to get some wins vs quality teams which they lack right now. They are 16-5 and have 8 top 100 wins. 3-5 in the Big Ten hurts right now but they don't need to be 13-5 to make the tournament.

The big problem is losing this game and having to terribly tough games now coming up at Wisky and at Iowa means they are in real danger of being 3-7. After these next 2 games though every game the rest of the way is winnable of course also loseable the way they are playing right now too.

They probably need to go 9-9 though to get a bid.
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Do you see 6 more wins on the schedule? I don't.
 
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