Why don’t you peel it and eat it? #3 Give-a-crap level

In this first quote, I realize this isn’t a basketball reference but it sure meets the standard for the level of energy teams sometimes have on court.

John Anderson, coach of the NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers – Whether a team wants to compete or not…”Our give-a-crap level was, like, at zero.”

Anonymous, maybe A. J. Carr from the Charlotte Observer – High # of turnovers for both teams…”The game didn’t offer a clinic on ballhandling. There were 44 turnovers – 22 by each team – or enough to open a bakery, according to one observer.”

Jimmy Dykes/ESPN’s SEC game announcer – On importance of making that 1st shot for a young shooter…”For a young shooter it’s very important for that 1st shot to go down. He can go 1-10 or 5-10 depending on that 1st shot.”

Jimmy Dykes – As an offensive player. what constant movement does for a player…”He seldoms guards himself. He’s in constant motion.”

Inside. Outside. Same difference. OSU women defeat Illinois.

In a game that seems to be an inside/out version of the last one these two programs played against each other, Jantel Lavender scored 30 points and snared 12 rebounds to lead the Buckeyes past Illinois 68-51 in Columbus Thursday night.

In Champaign, Illinois attempted to take Lavender away from Ohio State and the Buckeyes ran all over the Illini by a 30 + point margin. Last night Illinois switched manuevers and decided to cover the three point shooter who helped destroy them last game, instead.

From news reports, it’s stated Illinois had the margin between the two teams down to eight at some point in the second half but then had a number of empty possessions after that which led to their 17 point final margin of losery. [Yes, a new word. Instead of "Victory". "Losery". ]

The difference in strategy did contain Samantha Prahalis to a large degree. She had a “wunderkind” type of game in Champaign, but this time, as I didn’t see the game, she settled for a low amount of assists and points and it seems was probably content to direct the offense and watch it go. Star Allen added a 13 point/10 rebound effort to the Buckeye win.

With the victory Ohio State moves to 6-1 and 2nd place in conference behind Indiana.

Next game for the Buckeyes will be televised at 5pm on ESPN2 Sunday versus Purdue.

Buckeyes better be ready Saturday/MSU loses at home to Northwestern

Continuing the theme there are no cupcakes (outside of IU) in conference this season, MSU lost at home to Northwestern last night. That adds one more aspect to what the Spartans will bring into Columbus Saturday. The formula to become the conference champion, that teams usually have to try to meet or be better than, is that a Big 10 team must win all their games at home and split, 50/50, games on the road. So, the Spartans now have to make up a loss at home versus the Buckeyes. It’s going to be a very hard fought game, I believe, given that Ohio State was blown out at Illinois Tuesday and will not be in a very good mood themselves that day.

Also, the Iowa Hawkeyes defeated the Wisconsin Badgers last night in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Things are really starting to heat up in the Big Ten as it is becoming apparent conference teams are as evenly matched as any in recent memory. No one is invincible.

This year’s freshman crop doesn’t compare to recent classes/BJ Mullens focus

On a recent college gameday telecast, ESPN’s Hubert Davis and Digger Phelps participated in a segment comparing the 2008 freshmen class to recent classes including players like Greg Oden and Derrick Rose.

Phelps took the time to describe why it’s difficult for any freshman to play well, no matter how skilled/gifted, right away at the Division 1 level versus experienced players. Phelps used Ohio State’s BJ Mullens as a focal poinbt upon which to make his point.

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Phelps – “Look at BJ Mullens at Ohio State. It’s much different than in high school because you get experience coming at you in the paint. You got to learn new defensive moves. You got to learn how to stay out of foul trouble and obviously you got to learn how to get 2nd chance points from offensive rebounds. Plus, how do you score? And I think BJ Mullens hasn’t learned that yet at Ohio State.’

Those words were stated two weeks ago. Since then we’ve seen Mullens begin to show some life as far as putting some of those aspects together positively. But BJ has so far to go yet to really be a good player. I see BJ still riding a roller coaster as far as consistency goes for a large part of the rest of this season. And like Kosta Koufos last season, I think if the Buckeyes can get into the post season we may see his best games played there in a row.

I guess the only question is whether the Buckeyes and Mullens will be playing for an NIT title again or trying to win a game in the NCAA tournament in March?

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To end the segment, Hubert Davis mentioned Memphis’s Tyreke Evans and Greg Monroe being rated highly this season but it’s just not the same as compared to Greg Oden and Derrick Rose (who were dominant players right away at the collegiate level, with both competitors taking their teams to the NCAA championship game)

Buckeye basketball add ons

Some of this goes back a week or two but I think if you are a Buckeye fan you will appreciate the content nevertheless.

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1. Ohio State’s Tracey Hall, the Big Ten’s first 2-time Kodak All-American, will have her #44 jersey retired at halftime of the February 15th Northwestern game. Tracey played for Ohio State from 1985-1988. During the ceremony, she will have her jersey hung beside the only other Ohio State woman’s player to be so honored before her, Katie Smith.

I’ve heard nothing but great things about Tracey Hall for the quality of her basketball skills and the competitive nature she exhibited on court. It’s always great to hear the stories about players of her ilk when they are honored in this way. I can hardly wait for that day to arrive.

2. Jon Diebler and Evan Turner are together averaging 34 minutes apiece. Only two other Big Ten players average more.

This data was mined a few weeks back but it still seem like they are both on court for a million minutes each game. Here’s to hoping coach Matta finds a way to keep them fresh throughout the season.

3. In a pre-season poll among Big Ten players present at media day Emily Fox of Minnesota and Ohio State’s Jantel Lavender both garnered 4 votes (tied for the lead in that category) for being the player other conference competitors players were looking forward to competing against because they were respected and admired. Fox was voted pre-season MVP among the players with 5 and 2/3 votes and Lavender came in second with 5 and 1/12 votes.

It was interesting to watch Fox compete last week as the Gophers picked up their first win ever in Columbus against Ohio State. She’s a very good player and deserving of any awards or appreciation she recieves from her fellow competitors. But I also know just how good Jantel Lavender is. Buckeye fans are lucky to have her wearing the Scarlet and Grey for two more seasons past this one.

4. At one point Dallas Lauderdale had been credited with 28 blocked shots in 6 games but only blocked 6 in the next seven games.

Consequently, along with the loss of David Lighty, that change in the pace of blocked shot totals DL earned for Ohio State coincided with the difficulties the Buckeyes had in closing out games versus Minnesota and MSU.

5. Jon Gasaway, formerly known as the creator of the much read site Big Ten Wonk, who now works for the much respected Basketball and Baseball Prospectus site, rates former Buckeye commit, Nevada Wolfpack power forward, Luke Babbit as the 5th best freshman in the country.

I would have loved to have had Babbit play for Ohio State but I’m really happy with how William Buford and BJ Mullens have progressed this season for the Buckeyes. Neither of those two were rated by Gasaway but the list was a short one, I think ending at 15 total. By year’s end I feel certain one and probably both of Ohio State’s twosome will be ranked near the top of any list about the best 1st year players in the 08/09 class.

Greg Monroe of Georgetown was ranked number 1.

Reflections upon last night’s loss to the Illini

Having done a little research on Illinois yesterday…having watched them play impressively in entire games vs (at) Vanderbilt and then against Missouri this season…knowing they played well versus Clemson, despite the loss there, and really have yet to be out of any game they have lost this season…It is not surprising to me Illinois whupped Ohio State’s tail last night in Champaign. (I don’t often record final scores, even when the Buckeyes win, but wasn’t the final score by 18 points in favor of Illinois?)
This is a very good Illinois team. Minus the star power, it reminds me a whole lot of the two loss Illinois team of a few years back that was such a pleasure to watch. It’s tough defensively and the ball moves on offense. Everything works the same way.
On the other hand, Ohio State showed it’s youth & inexperience last night in following up a solid performance at Michigan Saturday night (Doesn’t it feel even better to have won that game now?) with an effort that was not good at all. Too many turnovers. No ability to get a stop against a team that came right out and established itself on both ends versus the Buckeyes. No energy. Period.
It’s the kind of night that can be expected in general more often than not on the road in any conference when you don’t have a single senior on the floor, when two of your main scoring threats are freshmen, when the other two point producers are sophs playing big, big minutes night after night, when you don’t have an experienced point guard, when, when, when, when…in the end, all those “whens” end up being excuses.
The best thing about that situation is those same players have some pretty good ability and can and will eventually get it done. But, it’s part of the maturation process to get nailed every once in awhile like Ohio State did last evening. Unless you are rolling freshmen like Greg Oden and Mike Conley, when you are forced to play 1st year players, onto the floor then you are going to have your games you’d like to forget.
Saturday finds MSU coming into Columbus to play a contest I really don’t think Ohio State has much of a chance to win. I haven’t looked to see how the conference schedule lines up after that game but it can’t be any more difficult than it has been already. So, you get in there and dig and claw and scrap for every win you can get. That’s the fun of conference schedules. Hopefully, your team ends up in a favorable spot when the dust clears.
I’m ready to see how this Buckeye team reacts Saturday. I, myself, would like nothing better than to see MSU’s Ohio kids, Raymar Morgan and Delvon Roe, go home with a loss. I really don’t hold their choosing MSU against either one of them, I know it’s just not possible for every Ohio kid to play for Ohio State, but it sure does make it that much sweeter to beat a team where native Ohioans are a big part of it. Whether Ohio State wins or loses that game I want to see the Buckeyes show the rest of the conference it’s home floor isn’t going to be fun and games for any visiting team to compete on. And West Virginina already blasted Ohio State in Columbus once this season, directly after the loss of David Lighty to injury. So, that kind of destruction in front of the home crowd just doesn’t need to happen again to this team.
So, I’m not looking back at last night’s game after today and will focus on the Spartans.

Get with it, Buckeyes!

David Lighty miked for the IU game , plus his in game interview with Erin Andrews

ESPN recently placed a mike on David Lighty during the IU game. There isn’t a single thing earth shattering said by David but it’s a glimpse into what is said on the bench by David as he tries to, despite his injury, help lead Ohio State through encouragement and humor.

After those words are recorded here be sure to read the interview Lighty gave to ESPN court side reporter Erin Andrews concerning his injury and when he might be able to start playing again this season:

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In game segments…

1st segment

What? Good pass, boy. Good pass, boy. – Feeling good today…that’s what we need, baby – Yeah, Kyle! Is that his 1st career dunk? – Jonny D hitting 3s…I ain’t ___ hitting so many threes in my life
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2nd segment

DL’s doing good today. That’s what we need! – Talk on D – It’s a new rule this year? What rule is that? He can’t touch the ball? – Everybody get an offensive Re – Okay, Jonny D – Hey, we feeling good lately

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DL’s in game interview w/Erin Andrews:

EA – “Where are you at right now in your healing process?”

DL – “Pretty much started my rehab. You know, pool workouts. Things like that you know. We got a indoor treadmill in our underwater pool that we have so that’s kind of hard right now. Doing a lot of sprinting and, uh, a lot of lifting and things like that right now.

EA – “Timetable for your return?”

DL – “Well, uh, I think, we’ll find out some more probably in about two weeks when I get my boot off and I, you know, start running on the court and things like that. And then it just depends on how much pain I have. Then Probably about 2 or 3 weeks.”

EA – “Do you think you have a coaching future after this, after all the coaching advice you’re giving out?”

DL – “They call me coach Lighty right now. I guess I’m learning right now.”

EA – “Alright coach. We appreciate your time. Let’s send it back to Brent!”

DL – “Okay, back to Brent!”

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I’m not extremely hopeful concerning David being able to return too quickly from his injury. But we’ll see. Young people can heal a lot faster sometimes than is thought possible. There’s no doubt Ohio State could use an extra body at this point. The question is if David Lighty would be anymore than that if he did return sooner rather than later. What he does on court is so married to energy, strength and power. I just don’t feel real good about his being healthy enough to recapture those things for his team this season if he rejoins the team early in February. I would be leery of his reinjuring his foot. But, it’s all guesswork at this point. I want him back but not at his health’s expense, especially if he can lead as a senior (I have no idea about a possible redshirt for him this season) next season. I don’t want him to be at anything less than 100% for that.

It tickles me – Dallas Lauderdale introduces Ohio State’s starting 5 versus IU

It tickles me to listen to the pre-game introductions of a team’s starting five by one of the members of the team. Whoever is announcing is attempting to give their spin on how they view each player. Sometimes they get serious and that’s when it’s the funniest most of the time. Sometimes the announcer tries to be humorous to begin with and then it gets silly. But it’s always entertaining to listen to.

Here’s how Dallas Lauderdale introduced the Buckeyes versus Indiana two games back. Dallas tried going the classy route, I think:

1 guard, A-O Automatic Offense #2 Jeremie Simmons
2 guard, Jonny D – Jon Diebler
3 guard, WB – William Buford
4 man, The Kid – Evan Turner
5 spot, Me – the mama’s boy

Big Ten Network comments on Ohio State’s womens team

After the game versus Illinois in Champaign The Big 10 Network’s analyst Stephanie White had some interesting things to say about the Ohio State team and two of it’s players. Here are those comments.

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On Star Allen:

Star Allen is one of those players who is so versatile and she means so much to this Ohio State team. Such a complimentary player to Jantel Lavender. She gets it done in so many ways. Blue collar – 7 offensive rebounds (versus Illinois). You see her strength. Star Allen is so underrated in what she means to this Ohio State team. (Star was part of a Ohio State rebounding result which saw the Buckeyes go +19 against Illinois in that category)

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Difference Samantha Prahalis makes to Ohio State this year as it’s point guard:

Samantha Prahalis assist to Brianna Johnson – three defenders put their eyes on her at the same time & Prahalis threaded the needle to get the ball to Johnson for a fastbreak layup. She’s so flashy in the open court. Can you say Joe Montana to Jerry Rice? Put air underneath it. Those are passes you just cannot teach. There is an element to her game that is just so instinctual and her great offensive and defensive instincts. More importantly she knows how to get the ball to her teammates in position to make them successful. That’s the difference. They have a point guard finally in Samantha Prahalis at Ohio State. Freshman of the Year, hands down. Brittany Rayburn at Purdue is having a tremendous year but Samantha Prahalis is exceeding expectations.

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Jim Foster is Coach of the Year (at this point).

Coach Foster interview

This interview was conducted after the game and includes some great quotes about a number of items which reflect what is going on with the Buckeyes right now. Mary Murphy is asking the questions:

Talk about Star Allen and the difference she makes?…

Foster – Star’s a very versatile player. She’s a player that can score on the block. She’s a player that rebounds. She’s a player that can pass. She’s very good at dribble handoffs. She’s very good at anticipating people who are going to backdoor. She’s a good solid player.

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How does the uptempo game fit into your scheme?

Foster – We are going to run. it’s a constant. It’s something we want to do all the time abd when you have the opportunity to get out in the open floor we’ve got some players that can run, shoot the three, and spot up wide. So it makes for posion if we’re in transition.

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Talk about Brittany Johnson?

Foster – I’m pleased anytime a kid comes into the gym 45 minutes before and is in a deep sweat when practice starts. You know, I think that’s how you get better in this game and she’s committed to that.

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Talk about your team overall and where it’s going?

Foster – I think our players are starting to understand who they ae in the framework of what we do and we can be very effective when we do that. I think we guard people. A lot of people talk about offense but I think we are a pretty good defensive basketball team. We got some length. We can get after the ball a little bit. We got some people who can close off possessions w/rebounds. It’s nice mix.

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Going forward, what can you improve upon as a team?

Foster – I don’t comment on that but I watch film. You get a lot smarter when you watch film. I can say something that I’m sorry I said. You know it’s the beginning of January. There’s a lot of things we can get better at. I’ll watch film on the flight home. I’ll have, by the time we land, I’ll have the answers.

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