Men's Basketball
The Buckeye Watch
By Tony GerdemanWell, the Buckeyes were able to take complete control of sixth place in the conference with their 60-58 win at Iowa, which virtually guarantees that they’ll be in the NCAA Tournament--as long as they don’t lose their next two games of course…
But let’s not worry about that horrific scenario right now. Instead, let’s focus on the win and the amazing way the Buckeyes managed to withstand the Devan Bawinkle Experience.
It sure didn’t look it, but prior to tonight, Bawinkle was averaging about four points per game. After his performance tonight, he’s gotta be up around five!
The Buckeyes are like the Salvation Army for lowly guards.
The 2-3 zone stands outside of K-Mart and rings its bell all season long.
But the Buckeyes bring smiles to so many nondescript opponents that you can’t help but smile yourself.
At least for the first six threes anyway. Any more than that and I start to get pretty ticked off. You’re not supposed to live off of charity, you jerks! Why don’t you go get a job!
Didn’t I already have this rant recently?
9:00 Well, it’s do or die time. Or at least, “Do, but if you don’t, then you better really make up for it in the Big Ten Tournament”.
9:03 The Hoosiers are down by two points at home to the Spartans. Ouch. Raymar Morgan just threw down a monster putback dunk. Tom Izzo is going to make this last 30 seconds last forever. It’s a good thing the Buckeyes aren’t playing on ESPN tonight or else we’d miss the first half and most of halftime.
9:05 I’ve actually got the Buckeye game paused right now because I just can’t take my eyes off of another Hoosier heartbreak. I wonder if the fans are going to storm the court if they manage to only lose by a couple of points.
9:09 And that’s gonna be the ball game for Indiana. They’re down by four with 3.8 seconds to play and they just fouled again. They may lose by ten yet tonight. Time to get to the Buckeyes.
9:13 Yes, Ohio State “loves the speed game”, but it’s just not possible to play in the Big Ten.
9:13 Hey, all right! The first offensive foul of the game for Dallas Lauderdale and it only took about twelve seconds. Sadly, that’s not his record.
9:14 Ed Hightower again?!? Is he our own personal ref? If so, I think we better start looking at resumes.
9:16 Man-to-man defense by the Buckeyes. Thad Matta obviously hasn’t forgotten Gatens going Crispin last time.
9:20 Iowa has scored seven straight, and there’s really been nothing to type about. I guess that’s pretty much Iowa in a nutshell.
9:21 P.J. Hill drains a three. No hesitation from him anymore. I’m actually surprised when he misses now. “P.J.” stands for “Pure Jumpshot”.
9:22 And P.J. gets a rest for his contribution. For some reason.
9:24 Jon Diebler sinks a baseline three! Better sit him!
9:27 Evan Turner has the jumper working tonight. If his jumper is falling, he’s pert near unstoppable because Iowa doesn’t have anybody that can keep him from getting to the rim.
9:28 Diebler hits another baseline three. The Buckeyes lead 15-11 and Iowa calls a timeout. Lickliter is probably drawing up the play where some white dude throws up a three and it goes in--it’s an Iowa staple.
9:29 There it is. Bawinkle just hit his second three-pointer of the game. That’s such an ugly shot, but it still counts as much as my sweet-looking jumper.
9:34 Since I said Turner’s jumper was falling, he’s missed a couple in a row. Obviously, his jumper is not falling and never was!
9:37 Gatens and Bawinkle have hit back-to-back threes to take the lead 22-19 with 5:05 to play in the first half. And Iowa’s defense is bordering on impossible. Like Wonder Woman deflecting bullets with her bracelets--which is just not realistic. And even if she could, is she so talented that she can deflect the bullets in a manner so that they land safely? If she’s deflecting bullets in a crowd of people, how many people get hit on the rebounds? They never tell you about the collateral damage that is involved in Wonder Woman’s showing off, but I bet the casualties would always be in the dozens.
9:39 Bawinkle again. Iowa leads it 27-19. I’m about to throw in the towel.
9:42 Back to the zone defense and it leads to a steal. And a three-pointer by Buford! I saw his jersey out there, but didn’t realize somebody was in it.
9:42 Jeremie Simmons takes a terrible three…and makes it! Buckeyes trail 27-25.
9:43 Uh oh. Evan Turner twisted his ankle and he is down and hurting. Hopefully it’s one of those that you just walk off. If not, then too bad. Deal with it. You’ve got two ankles. You only need one to live.
9:46 Another sweet jumper by Buford. The shot looks like it’s back. And he’s not forcing it. He’s coming around screens and getting open looks.
9:48 The Buckeyes get two offensive rebounds on the same possession and turn it into a Buford floater for the lead! I’m not sure what was more exciting--the first offensive rebound or the second!
9:51 Iowa is going to get the last shot of the half. And Jake Kelly throws up a prayer at the top of the key and he nails it for three. Iowa leads 32-30.
9:58 I like the changeup in defenses for no other reason than it makes Todd Lickliter’s job a little bit tougher at halftime. He can’t just focus on attacking the zone, which is nice.
10:07 And Jake Kelly opens the half with a drive and a crazy finish. How did that even go in? Oh, that’s right, he’s Jake Freaking Kelly.
10:08 Gatens hits another three. Iowa leads by seven and we’re not even one minute into the second half yet.
10:09 Bawinkle makes another three. Surprise, surprise, that’s a career-high five threes for Bawinkle.
10:09 Diebler answers with a three of his own, as he usually does, and Thad calls a timeout.
10:15 Diebler! He gets an offensive rebound, then gets the ball back and nails a three-pointer from the baseline to tie the game at 40-40! It’s so nice to see the Buckeyes getting second-chance points for a change.
10:20 Man, there is some hustling going on out here right now. It’s as if the Buckeyes are starting to realize the importance of this game, and Iowa just doesn’t know any other way to play.
10:21 Turner gets to the basket and banks it in! The Buckeyes lead 42-41 with 13:45 to play.
10:22 P.J. Hill runs the secondary break and Turner finds him for the layup. Iowa calls timeout to regroup and dial up some more open threes. If I were Lickliter, I wouldn’t stop calling those plays. It’s foolish to rely on two-pointers all night.
10:23 Bawinkle. Threewinkle. Tiewinkle.
10:28 Evan Turner has eight assists tonight. If he’d start hitting the glass, he could have a triple-double tonight. Lazy.
10:30 Bawinkle againwinkle. His seventh three gives Iowa the 47-46 lead with 9:50 to play.
10:30 Turner drives the baseline and drops it off to Lauderdale who gets fouled and lays it in! Buckeyes regain the lead and fortunately, Dallas only has to take one free throw. It’s short and P.J. almost got the offensive rebound. Gotta love that kid.
10:32 Evan Turner drives the lane and throws it down with two hands!! Let’s see Bawinkle do THAT!
10:33 Jake Kelly takes a three from the wing and gets fouled by Dallas Lauderdale. Should our center really be 22 feet from the basket on defense? Kelly makes all three free throws to tie the game at 50-50 with 8:03 remaining.
10:35 Mullens gets the ball in good position down low and gets the ball knocked out of bounds. When that dude gets his hands strong enough to hold on to the ball in traffic…well, it won’t do us any good because he’ll be long gone at that point.
10:38 Kelly goes around a screen and drains the 17-footer. Now he’s hot because he made some free throws. Iowa leads by two with 7:20 to play.
10:40 Whoa. Jake Kelly misses the front end of the one-and-one and now the Buckeyes need to go down and capitalize. And Mullens gets fouled down low. Fortunately, we’re not shooting yet.
10:42 Effwinkle. He was open on the baseline and was found. Iowa leads 55-54 with 4:30 to play.
10:43 Offutt!! He took it strong to the basket, as is his specialty, and powered it in! He’s played some very good minutes tonight.
10:43 Yeahwinkle! He finally missed! Buckeyes get it back.
10:43 Wow! Evan Turner was dribbling and crossing over and finally got to the basket and somehow laid it up and in before traveling. That was pretty nifty. I love it when he’s in a dribbling zone.
10:46 Jake Kelly drains a deep three to tie the game with 2:15 remaining. And Evan Turner takes it right down into the paint and hits a jumper of his own to regain the lead 60-58 with 2:00 to play. It’s on now, baby.
10:46 P.J. Hill draws an offensive foul on Gatens! The Buckeyes will have the two-point lead and the ball back after the timeout with 1:41 remaining.
10:50 They go right down to Mullens and he misses a little jumper. Iowa has it now with 1:05 to play.
10:50 Kelly misses a three. The Buckeyes have the ball with 44.2 seconds remaining. Thad calls a timeout. They’re talking about a two-for-one on the TV, but there’s no way you try to force a shot early unless it is absolutely there. You don’t throw up a quick shot just to get another one later on. You take the best shot you got, because it’s going to be the most important one of the season.
10:52 Turner drives, trips and loses the ball out of bounds with 27.7 seconds to play. Eh, it wasn’t that important anyway.
10:53 Oh my!! Jermain Davis drove to the basket and Dallas Lauderdale came from behind and blocked the layup attempt, and then came up with the ball and had the wherewithal to get the ball to Diebler so that he wouldn’t have to shoot free throws! What a tremendous play! Definitely the play of the game to this point. There are 6.7 seconds to play and the Buckeyes will be trying to bring the ball in.
10:55 Turner gets the ball and gets fouled. He’s shooting one-and-one and has a chance to seal this one. The Buckeyes lead 60-58. The first is long. Here comes Iowa…Davis barely misses the game-winning three and the Buckeyes hold on! Wow, what a finish…what a game. And Dallas had a hand in Davis’ face again--but made sure not to foul the shooter this time.
10:56 These Buckeyes are making me thirsty!
10:57 I’ve never been opposed to having to play on the first day of the Big Ten Tournament. After all, it gives you pretty much a guaranteed win, which you may not get on a Friday. That being said, I’ll definitely take a win at Iowa even if it means we don’t play until Friday…which it may not yet.
10:59 I don’t care how terrible Iowa is--this was a good win tonight. Looking at how the Spartans struggled with the Hoosiers, anything can happen in the Big Ten, and when the Buckeyes are on the court, even crazier things seem to happen.
11:04 So we leave Iowa much like everybody else does when they leave the state--happy to be heading home and tired of big hair.
11:05 Okay, it’s 11 o’clock. It’s time for bed. If I have trouble sleeping tonight, I think I’ll just count Bawinkle threes.
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