Men's Basketball
The Buckeye Watch
By Tony Gerdeman

I don’t think it’s healthy to take joy in others’ losses, but when it’s the Hoosiers, it’s pert near impossible.

And when it’s the Buckeyes who are doing the pummeling, there’s just no way to dampen and dull the perma-grin that naturally takes over.

I’m trying to decide which is more disheartening for Hoosier fans. Is it worse when you’re in a game the entire time and think you have a shot to win, and you lose? Or is it worse to never even be in the game?

I think it’s gotta be worse for the fans when the game is close throughout because now they’re invested in the game. And then, eventually, their investment is gone and their balance is zero.

I guess you have to give them props for caring in the face of destruction at least.

But then if they didn’t care, they’d just be Michigan fans.

4:00 The Buckeyes cannot come into this game thinking the game is already over, because no matter how true that may be, the bus driver that got them from Columbus to Bloomington deserves the respect of a high-effort game. It’s no joy driving west on I-70 for three hours before you even get to make a turn. If the bus driver can do their best while taking the easiest road around, then surely the Buckeyes can do the same with a similarly easy road.

4:04 Although eventually Indiana is going to get somebody in Bloomington. Let’s just hope it’s still sometime down the road. Like in 2012.

4:05 The game is on and there’s already been two screens from Dallas Lauderdale--and he looked to be concentrating very hard to remain still. Perhaps all of those hours of freeze tag during the week are helping.

4:06 Devan Dumes nails a three from the baseline. And Jon Diebler answers him. Anything Dumes can do, Diebler can do better. Diebler can do anything better than Du.

4:07 The Buckeyes got a loose ball! And it led to a lay up! Is there nothing this team can’t do?!?

4:09 William Buford drops in the baseline floater. He went nearly four minutes without taking a shot. I hope he’s feeling okay. Somebody check his forehead.

4:10 And we’ve reached the first television timeout already with the game tied at 7-7. Indiana has started okay today and that may be a good thing for the Buckeyes. It lets them know that they can’t just come into Assembly Hall and expect a win. They now realize that they’ll sort of have to try a little.

4:15 Somebody with the last name of Williams just hit a 15-footer for the Whoosiers.

4:16 Buford traveled on the last possession and just carried it on this one. Maybe next time try the Bob Cousy dribble. I guarantee you won’t travel or carry it. (You will, however, get it stolen immediately.)

4:17 Jeremie Simmons gets to the basket again and drops in his second lay up of the game. I like it.

4:18 Oy. The Buckeyes run the fastbreak about as well as old dudes in rec specs and wristbands.

4:19 Indiana gets called for a five-second violation on the inbounds play. Counting is so hard for Hoosiers!

4:20 Whoa! Tom Pritchard just tried to dunk it! He got fouled though. I’m not sure if B.J. Mullens should have tried to block that one. I think he should have just let the rim stop the dunk. Pritchard has to leave because he’s bleeding, so Tom Crean gets to pick his free throw shooter. He sends somebody in. Probably that Williams kid again.

4:23 Mullens dribbles the ball out of bounds off of his foot. That’s the fifth turnover for the Buckeyes so far. The freshmen that they were hyping before the game aren’t quite living up to the attention yet today.

4:27 The Hoosiers hit a baseline three. I think they said the kid’s name was Matt Roth? Whoever that is. Anyway, Indiana now leads 18-12. The offense isn’t there for the Buckeyes, so you’d like to see them step it up on defense. They are pressuring, but the Hoosiers are breaking it. Although now with Dumes picking up his second foul, perhaps the traps will start becoming effective.

4:28 The Hoosiers hit another three. They lead 21-12. I’d tell you who hit it, but you wouldn’t know his name anyway. Thad Matta calls a timeout to try and halt the 10-0 run. Indiana did this same thing to Michigan earlier in the season, but they couldn’t hold on for all forty minutes. And there’s still 30 minutes left in this game.

4:30 Roth hits another three from the baseline. Where is the defense?

4:31 Evan Turner drives, spins, gets bumped (no call) and drops it in. It’s time to start getting after it, Buckeyes, because I am tired of this crap! (Do you think that will work?)

4:32 Buford drives the baseline and sinks another floater and gets fouled! And the free throw is good. Here comes the pressure.

4:34 Evan Turner just shot a three! He missed it, but it was still nice to see that he knows those count for more than two points.

4:35 The Buckeyes got on a run out and again they couldn’t convert on the fastbreak. As I said during the last game, why not just pull it back? We can’t convert a three-on-two anyway, so why even try?

4:37 The Hoosiers are shooting 50% from the field. And they’ve gone cold over the last few possessions.

4:39 Wow. A terrible post pass by Evan Turner. His defender didn’t even have to jump for the steal. What’s the deal?

4:41 William Buford for three! That was deep from the wing and never hit the rim. And he had a hand in his face. Actually, he probably shouldn’t have shot that.

4:42 The Buckeyes finally convert a fastbreak, but boy was it ugly. But the two points sure look nice. The Hoosier lead is cut to 27-25 with 4:53 to play.

4:43 The Williams kid’s first name is Nick. And his last name is indeed Williams, in case you were wondering.

4:44 Evan Turner just passed up a wide open three-pointer, but after a few passes Jeremie Simmons gets it and hits his own three to tie the game at 28-28! What a mess.

4:45 Turner now takes a 20-footer and nails it. He had his foot on the line, but it gives the Buckeyes the lead for the first time in about a half-hour. And there’s the final television timeout of the half. The Buckeyes lead 30-28 with 3:20 to play.

4:46 In case you were wondering, since I told the Buckeyes that I was tired of their crap at the 4:31 mark, the Buckeyes have outscored the Hoosiers 16-4. I’m not going to say I’m responsible for the rally, but you have to kind of admit that I had more than a little bit to do with it.

4:49 Tom Pritchard stops the bleeding (literally) and has scored four straight to regain the lead 32-30. And the Buckeyes turn it over twice in a row to give the Hoosiers even more hope. Cruel.

4:50 Simmons drives again, but gets called for charging. I’m okay with that. Just keep attacking.

4:51 Matt Roth just hit his third three for the Hoosiers--and he was wide open again. Indiana now leads 36-30 with 1:39 to play.

4:52 Roth again! This time it was a bailout three from NBA range. He was almost defended that time.

4:53 Evan Turner answers! He took it to the baseline, made a reverse lay up and got fouled. The crowd calms down a bit. The free throw is good. Indiana leads 39-35 with 40 seconds remaining. There’s an eight-second difference between the shot clock and game clock.

4:54 Indiana travels on their final possession. The Buckeyes get the ball with 24.3 to play. Let’s see if we can get a shot off. Wow! Great pass by Diebler down to a wide open Turner and he lays it in. Indiana’s desperation shot falls shot and the Hoosiers go to the half with a 39-37 lead.

4:55 Well, considering the Buckeyes were down by double digits earlier in the game, I can’t feel too bad about our position here. Especially with the Buckeyes getting nothing from the post. And I have to assume there will be a bit of an emphasis on the defensive intensity in the second half because allowing 39 points in a half to the Hoosiers is unacceptable.

5:15 Game on. And Dumes gets an open look at a baseline three and drops it in. So much for the defensive intensity.

5:16 Diebler answers with his own! All together now, anything Dumes can do, Diebler can do better. Diebler can do anything better than Du.

5:17 And somebody named Jones just hit a three at the top of the key. What is going on here? Who are these people on my television?

5:18 Evan Turner turns it over again. That’s got to be four or five already today. Why can’t we just play perfectly like everybody else does?

5:19 Diebler goes off the dribble and makes a little one-handed floater. Looks like they want to get Diebler involved this half and I don’t much blame them.

5:20 Diebler comes around a screen and nails another three! And gets fouled!! The three tied the game at 47-47 and the free throw gives the Buckeyes the 48-47 lead! Now let’s finish them.

5:21 Evan Turner with another turn over. He got into the lane and just had the ball taken away from him. He’s done much better with his turnovers this season, but he’s back to his freshman form today.

5:22 Pritchard gets it wide open down low and gets his shot blocked twice! And it leads to a run out and Buford drops in the jumper. If the Buckeyes keep shooting like this, it’s only a matter of time until Indiana fades like Mike Hart in the fourth quarter.

5:26 There’s a steal by Buford, who gets it over to Simmons and he gets fouled by Pritchard! That’s Pritchard’s fourth. He’ll be sitting for a while. There is 15:23 left to play in this game. Simmons makes both. Buckeyes lead 52-49.

5:28 Jones gets an open look for three and buries it. Not sure why somebody would get that open at the top of the key against the zone, but he did. And it tied the game at 52-52. Seriously, there is nobody worth doubling on this team, so why do it?

5:29 Malik Story takes it to the rim and scores. The Hoosiers aren’t quitting and I have no idea why!

5:31 Jeremie Simmons with the baseline three! And he gets fouled too!! I love four-point plays. They’re probably my favorite of all point possibilities. Simmons makes the free throw. The Buckeyes lead 56-54 with 12:31 to play.

5:33 Here comes a run out…Evan Turner kicks it over to an open Diebler who buries the three! See, bring those out. Let the secondary break get you the points. Indiana calls a timeout with the Buckeyes leading 59-54.

5:35 Roth gets the play drawn up for him and he buries the baseline three-pointer. That’s his fifth three and he now has 15 points, which is a career-high. As if you didn’t know. The Buckeyes make more careers than Monster.com.

5:37 Dumes buries a three from the wing. I think that’s seven straight makes from behind the arc for the Hoosiers. And now an offensive foul on an illegal screen on P.J. Hill. The Buckeyes lead 61-60 with 11:00 to play. This is getting woefully interesting.

5:39 Diebler gets fouled while shooting a three, but he misses it. Dang. But we’ll take the free throws. The crowd isn’t happy, but then what would you expect--they’re stuck in Indiana. Diebler makes all three and the Buckeyes lead 64-60 with 10:22 to play.

5:41 Dumes slices through the defense and lays it in. Where’s the low post presence? Oh, that’s right, it’s guarding the baseline three. Sometimes.

5:42 Buford with another of his soon-to-be patented baseline floaters. I haven’t seen this many floaters since I sat through that American Justice marathon on A&E a couple of months ago.

5:43 Buford for three! That shot was 20 feet out and 30 feet up. And nothing but net. The Buckeyes lead 69-62 with 7:56 to play.

5:44 I love to hear Hoosier fans complain about the refs at home. It’s such a beautiful sound. Like 1,000 children singing “We Are The World” in perfect harmony.

5:48 Lauderdale blocks another Pritchard shot! I don’t think that’s very fair. We’re all just out here trying to have a good time. There’s no reason to be such a bully! There are going to be some angry parents after this game. Hopefully Tom Crean will take his team out for pizza afterwards.

5:49 Evan Turner fights his way into the lane and lays it in. The Buckeyes lead 73-62 with 6:28 to play. It was fun for the Hoosiers while it lasted.

5:49:13 Dang it. Roth just hit a 25-footer from the top of the key. I hate it when people prove me wrong less than ten freaking seconds after I make a declaration!

5:51 Simmons hits another three! That’s three or four for him today, isn’t it? Man, that’s good to see. I just hope he’s not using them all up.

5:52 Roth from way deep again! That’s his seventh three. I almost didn’t hate Damon Bailey this much.

5:53 Turner gets the steal and then throws it away. Sportsmanship at its worst.

5:54 Ballgame! Diebler ran around another screen and buried yet another sweet three-pointer from the wing. The Buckeyes lead 81-69 with 3:43. I’m not a basketball professor, but I think Tom Crean might want to mention to his team that number 33 is going to run around screens and catch the ball and shoot it. Unless he just likes watching his team fail, that is.

5:56 Ha. Of course. Roth sinks his eighth three, and this one may have been the deepest yet. I’m guessing from every game here on out, Roth is going to try and do exactly what he did today. He’ll try to follow the same pregame routine. The same meal. The same socks. The same Indiana haircut. And he’ll read the same book that Crean has assigned to everybody, “Basketball for Dummies”.

5:57 Finally! Lauderdale blocks the Roth three-pointer and then Roth gets called for the foul for taking Lauderdale down. And it was a terrible call. Dallas was falling down and the refs thought that Roth brought him down. But it works out because Lauderdale missed the front end of the one-and-one.

6:01 Buford knocks down his baseline floater again! And he gets undercut and will go to the line. Tom Crean is angry. The fans are angry as well--and why shouldn’t they be, they actually pay money to watch this team! Buford makes the free throw and the Buckeyes lead 88-74 with 1:50 to play. Buford has a career-high 22 points. It’s nice to see that well-known players can also have career games in Buckeye games.

6:03 The best thing about this game is that the Buckeyes are getting every single call. The Indiana fans haven’t been this mad since Kelvin Sampson reversed the charges.

6:06 The Hoosiers are fouling now. The Buckeyes have three players with career highs in scoring. Buford has 24, Simmons has 16 and Turner has 29. Take that Hoosiers! Take it and like it. In my opinion, if Buckeye domination is inevitable, just sit back and enjoy it.

6:07 Roth just made his ninth three-pointer. In terms of the greatest players I have ever seen, the first is Michael Jordan; the second is probably Kobe Bryant; and the third is Matt Roth. And Roth might be moving up.

6:08 And the Hoosiers have called off the fouling dogs and they finally let the clock run out. The Buckeyes win 93-81. I can’t believe we scored 93 points. But even more unbelievable is that we gave up 81 to the stinking Hoosiers. Oh well, you can’t expect to shut down Matt Roth every time out.

6:03 The Buckeyes now have two road wins and they don’t necessarily need anymore--provided they don’t lose any games at home.

6:04 But a couple of insurance wins wouldn’t be a bad idea either.

6:05 It’s just too bad we can’t play Indiana more often.

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