Men's Basketball
Buckeyes Head To Chapel Hill for Showdown with Tar Heels
By John PorentasThe No. 1/3 Buckeyes (6-0) travel to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, to take on the No. 6/7 Tar Heels (4-1) in the Big Ten vs. ACC challenge Wednesday night at 9:00 PM.
OSU's ranking this season is largely the result of the strength of it's incoming freshman class. When they take the floor against the Tar Heels however, that class will be looking at a freshman class in North Carolina Blue that mirrors OSU's top-flight newcomers.
Most analysts ranked the OSU and North Carolina classes one-two after signing day. The advantage that the Tar Heels will have on Wednesday is that their entire class will be available for the game while OSU's marquee newcomer, center Greg Oden, will be sidelined while recovering from surgery to repair ligament damage in his right wrist. Additionally, the Tar Heels' class is the second-consecutive highly ranked class landed by Head Coach Roy Williams, and that means that the North Carolina will be not only talented, but deep.
Mike Conley Ty Lawson Daequan Cook Wayne Ellison David Lighty Brandon Wright Greg Oden Deon Thompson Othello Hunter Alex Stephenson The Tar Heels will add their new talent to a sophomore class which was just as spectacular and is headlined by 6-9 center Tyler Hansbrough. The combination of Hansbrough and Wright is simply overpowering in the paint. In their last outing, the Tar Heels dominated Tennessee in the paint and scored 40 of their 56 first half points down low. The Heels cruised to a 101-87 win in that game. The Tar Heels love to get the ball inside to Hansbrough and Wright, and without Oden, that could be trouble for the Buckeyes.
"We needed to go inside; we needed to get the ball inside where our big guys do have such an advantage," Roy Williams said. "If we keep going inside, hopefully we'll shoot more free throws than the other team."
Through five games, the Tar Heels have done just that, attempting 149 free throws to just 65 for the opposition. The Heels have made 98 of those free throw for a 68.5 per cent conversion rate. Just in case you are mathematically challenged, that means the Tar Heels have made 33 more free throws than the opposition has attempted. The inside presence has also given the Tar Heels a decided rebounding advantage in their first five games. The Heels are outrebounding the opposition 124-79 on the season.
For the season, Hansbrough leads the Tar Heels in scoring with 20.6 points per game. Wright is second on the squad at 16.6. Hansbrough also averages a team-high 8.8 rebounds per game, Wright is second on the team at 7.4
When the Tar Heels are not pounding the ball down low to Wright and Hansbrough they love to get out and run. The style of play is particularly suited to their long bench. North Carolina plays as many as 12 players routinely, and has nine players who average double-digit minutes per game.
"Their depth, their size, their speed, quickness defensively," said OSU Head Coach Thad Matta describing the problems the Tar Heels will pose for the Buckeyes.
"I think they're going to try and use all those things. Right now they're playing 12 guys and they just sort of keep coming at you in waves.
"I think where a team like North Carolina can get you is where we go eight deep, they go 12 deep and just the pace they try to play at. They get the ball out quick and they get it up the floor and they're trying to hammer it down low to Hansbrough and Wright, those are the kind of things that stick out. You have to take care of the ball. They love nothing more than turning you over and scoring off transition off turnovers," Matta said.
Though the Buckeyes will go just eight deep, they are looking forward to an up-and-down game with the Tar Heels.
"They like to run, we like to run," said OSU guard Jamar Butler.
"We play the same game, so it should be a fun game to watch and hopefully we come out on top."
Keys to Victory: If the Buckeyes are to win, they will have to figure out some way to slow Hansbrough and Wright down low where they figure to have a major advantage over Hunter and Matt Terwilliger. Both Terwilliger and Hunter will have to stay out of foul trouble and at least slow down the Tar Heel tandem. OSU will probably have to double down on the post with a second defender which should give North Carolina's perimeter players some opportunities from the three point line.
"Our defense tomorrow is going to be really packed in," said Butler.
"They have good shooters too. It's going to be tough on the perimeter players to help down that much on Hansbrough and go back out to the guards and defend them, so we have a challenge," Butler said.
The Tar Heels are capable from outside, but thus far this season have not exactly lit it up from long range. They are making a pretty ordinary 33.7 per cent of their three pointers, and if the Buckeyes are going to have a chance, they will have to hope the Tar Heels don't heat up from long range.
"They've got guys who aren't shooting a real high percentage today but did last year," said Matta.
"Even in high school guys were known as shooters, so we know that it's a matter of time. Hopefully not tomorrow night and we can at least challenge them a little bit. They've got capable shooters," Matta said.
Offensively, the Buckeyes will have to make some shots from the perimeter. They will also have to generate offense from their defense. Lawson, North Carolina's point guard, has been a bit turnover prone and has 15 turnovers against just 16 assists this season. If Conley can pressure him he could not only force turnovers, but could also limit the number of entry passes down low.
Without Oden, and on North Carolina's home floor, the Buckeyes figure to be at a decided disadvantage. Despite that fact, the Buckeyes are looking forward to the game.
"I had this game marked on my schedule last year when I found out we were going to play them. I just couldn't wait to get to this point, and now it's here," said Butler.
"Just a chance to play in the Dean Dome. It's going to be fun. A lot of players, it's their dream to play down there. It's a great environment for basketball and I can't wait to play.
"You try to prepare for it like it's any other game, but in the back of the player's minds it's special for us. Just to play against North Carolina on their home floor is a great opportunity," Butler said.
Matta also seems excited about the game despite the uphill climb for his young team.
"When we walk out of there tomorrow night we're going to be able to say number one, that environment we just left, it's not going to be any different than any Big Ten game that we play in," said Matta.
"I think the competition level, we're going to be able to say the same things. Who they (North Carolina) have and how many they have I think is a great test for us. I think that you can go back to a game like this and probably draw a lot of references throughout the course of the year, both good and bad," Matta said.
"As a coach I'm still at the stage with this team of looking forward to seeing how we handle adversity, how we handle situations, how we handle the other team going on a run and 22,000 people going crazy and do we have the poise and the composure to withstand it. Those will be the things that I'll be looking for. As a coach you see the journey and where we're going as opposed to where we are right now. I think that's what's unique about this opportunity.
"I could sit up here and talk about the concerns North Carolina poses forever, but I like our guys, I like their mindset. They know they have a great challenge in front of them. They know that this is a rare opportunity to go in in November and play a team as talented as North Carolina."
Oden Update: Greg Oden will not play against North Carolina, but according to Matta, he is progressing, and is anxious to get into action.
"We're still playing without Greg Oden, which is going to be a tremendous boost to our ball club when he gets back," said Matta.
Matta described what Oden is currently doing during OSU practice sessions.
"Run, jump, use his left hand, weight training," said Matta.
"I think his body looks great. I think his conditioning is pretty good. I was laughing at him yesterday, he doesn't understand how the air is going to disappear in the gym when he starts playing, just getting up and down.
"His right hand is getting more movement. They've got a different device on his hand right now. It allows him a little more flexion. The biggest thing right now is just not getting him bumped or undercut with the bone not being 100 per cent stable," Matta said.
Matta said that Oden is not happy about having to sit out games at this point of the season.
"He's down. When I say down, I don't mean down, I mean he's anxious, he's tired of watching his teammates play and not being able to contribute," said Matta.
"I think he's tired of running wind sprints up and down the court with nobody else on the court. I think he's tired of sitting in meetings and going through preparation knowing he can't play, so he's getting eager, but he knows, he's a very intelligent kid and he understands, but it doesn't justify it in his mind," Matta said.
Despite Oden's disappointment, Matta will not rush his return.
"The word was six months which is December 16," said Matta.
"He wanted to play November 10, that was his thing, so he's patient but he's young, he's 18-years old and everyday I tell Greg "Big Picture, keep seeing the big picture,'" said Matta.
"They X-rayed it last week. It's doing better, but it's still not exactly where they want it."
"I'm proud of the way our guys have adapted. I think it's making us better in the long run of having to go through games like this and Greg not playing."
"I know he is," added Butler agreeing that Oden is getting antsy.
"I know he wants to get out there and play. He's doing more and more each day in practice. If it was up to him I know he's be playing tomorrow but it's just up to the doctors."
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