Men's Basketball
Buckeyes Look Promising in Season's First Appearance
By John PorentasMaybe it was just an exhibition game, and maybe it didn't count, but it was fun, and it was encouraging.
Ohio State downed Walsh by a final of 90-63 in the first public outing of the season for the Buckeyes, and for those of you who are thinking that a win in an exhibition game is not important, I will refer you to the results of the OSU vs. Findlay game last season. That was just an exhibition game too, and it didn't count either, but it presaged a season that wasn't much fun and that was a struggle from start to finish. The difference a year later is almost tangible.
A year ago the Buckeyes got outrebounded 34-27, managed just 11 assists and had just two players in double figures. A year later, the Buckeyes won the battle of the boards 37-25, amassed 21 assists and had five players in double figures.
There were individual performances that were impressive on the OSU side of the ledger, and we'll get to those, but probably the most impressive aspect of the game was the way the Buckeyes played together. This clearly looked like a group that will share the basketball and do the dirty work when it is their turn to do it.
"The one thing I really liked was that they played as a team," said OSU Head Coach Thad Matta. "Everybody seemed to be on the same page. That's been one of the big things that stressed. Twenty-one assists, I loved that," said Matta.
Evan Turner
Photo by Jim DavidsonThe Buckeyes led by 13 at 45-32 at the half and stretched that lead to as many as 29 in the second half. They were in control all the way, but despite their overall youth they never got sloppy the way teams with a lead sometimes do. 6-7 Sophomore guard Evan Turner led the Buckeyes in the first half. Turner had 13 points and eight rebounds at the intermission as well as three steals. He ended the game with a game-high 17 points and a game-high nine rebounds. After struggling with turnovers last season, Turner had just one on a carry call and handed out four assists.
"Evan was active, he was smelling the ball out," said Matta.
"He did a good job rebounding the ball. We thought going into the game that we could get some offensive put backs. To his credit he found the area and did a very good job. Four assists and one turnover on a palming, he's been pretty high in practice with assists and that's good for us to get from that position. Same thing from Jon Diebler, five to zero tonight. I thought he did a good job passing the ball," said Matta.
Freshman William Buford played just five minutes in the first half and had just two points to show for his effort. Buford exploded for 15 points after the intermission to finish with 17 and tie Turner for scoring honors. Buford scored inside and out and showed the ability to get to the glass for second-chance opportunities. Perhaps most impressive however was his ability and willingness to move and cut without the ball.
"We have been trying to get him to move because he's explosive," said Matta.
"We're trying to get Will to understand that there's so much more he can do without the basketball. A lot of times a hard cut leads to a post feed. Those are the things we're trying to get him to understand because it's pretty new to him. He played the last eight years of his life where he could catch it whenever he wanted to wherever he wanted to and do whatever he wanted to do, and now it's a little different for him."
Point guard has been a huge question mark this season. Anthony Crater and Jeremie Simmons both showed they can play the point. Both are athletic but their games differ. Simmons is definitely a scorer while Crater can score but also can defend. The two combined for 10 assists and one turnover.
"He's got to be the person out there that drives people crazy. He's got to be two Anthony Craters out there on the floor with great activity," said Matta of Crater's defense.
"Jeremie has probably been the most consistent in practice and we knew we wanted to get Anthony some minutes.
"Anthony has some athleticism to him. We've been trying to get him to understand how he needs to use that. I thought he turned it up a little bit on the defense and that enabled him to get out and go," said Matta.
The Buckeyes ran effectively against Walsh, perhaps more than any of Matta's teams have done at OSU. That brought a smile to Matta's face who likes the fast break game.
"When you get the rebounds you can get out and go. They did a good job of spacing the floor in transition and our big guys did a good job of running," said Matta.
B. J. Mullens
Photo by Jim DavidsonBoth B. J. Mullens and Kyle Madsen showed the ability to run the floor. Mullens finished with 12 points but appeared to tire in the second half. Madsen was a very pleasant surprise. He not only ran the floor well but also had two blocked shots, a steal and an assist. At 6-9, he brings added size to the roster and shows promise of being a valuable addition to the team.
This and That:
* The Buckeyes played with a small lineup most the game, but did play with both Madsen and Mullens on the floor for about six minutes late in the game. Matta would like to see more of that look, particularly when Dallas Lauderdale returns to the lineup. Matta was cautiously optimistic that Lauderdale would be available for OSU's official season opener next Thursday.
"Getting Dallas back will give us that element of playing two post guys. I loved what I saw from those two guys tonight and knowing that next Thursday night we can bring Dallas back in," Matta said.
* David Lighty had a solid game, going five for 10 from the field and scoring 12 points.
* The Buckeyes shot 55.7 percent from the field. Matta attributed shot selection and easy shots in transition for that number.
"I told our guys I thought our shot selection was pretty good. For the most part I thought we did a pretty good job with shot selection," Matta said.
* The Cavaliers kept the game somewhat close in the first half with the help of six-of-12 shooting from three point range. The Buckeyes tightened up their perimeter defense in the second half however, and limited them to just two threes on six attempts.
* The Buckeyes played the zone defense they played last season for the entire game, though they did extend their defense to pressure the basketball.
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