Please patronize our advertisers to help
keep theOzone.net free for everyone.

The-Ozone.net Mall

Interesting, Fun companies with interesting, quality products - and the-Ozone gets a piece of the action!

Men's Basketball
Two-Minute Drill: Inside the Win over Florida
By Brandon Castel

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Thad Matta wasn’t sure how his team would handle the adversity of playing a top-10 team in the second game of the season.

Although they showed plenty of things to work on, Matta had to be pleasantly surprised with what he saw in Ohio State’s 81-74 win over No. 8-ranked Florida Tuesday night.

The Buckeyes got 21 points and six rebounds from senior William Buford. They also got 16 points and six rebounds from Jared Sullinger along with 13 points and seven assists from Aaron Craft.

Here is an inside look at what Matta, his players and Florida coach Billy Donovan had to say after the game.

Aaron Craft’s Toughness

• Donovan said they pressed Craft different this year in order to avoid giving up easy baskets like they did last year in Gainesville.

• Donovan said Craft dominated the game. “He was the whole story.” Said he “physically man-handled” their guards and did it within the rules.

• Donovan added that Craft is “as good as anybody out there.”

• Craft said they did a good job adjusting and he was just trying to by physical with their guards. Not let them get comfortable.

• Sullinger said he doesn’t see Aaron Craft wearing down. “You get what you get with Aaron.”

• Matta said he thought Aaron was terrific tonight, did a good job making plays.

• Craft said the alley-oop wasn't supposed to be to Ravenel. Supposed to go to Lenzelle Smith.

Sullinger Quietly Effective

• Donovan said Sullinger only had 8 shots, wouldn’t know if he had 28 shots or 2. He just plays the game.

• Donovan said they gave Sullinger too many trips to the free throw line, where he was a perfect 8-for-8.

• Sullinger said he is making about 42 of every 50 free throws in practice.

• Matta said he thought Sullinger played really hard and it was really physical down in the paint.

• Jared said the way Evan Ravenel played while he was on the bench was “the usual.” The way he plays in practice. 

• Sullinger said, "This basketball team didn't fold. We said enough is enough."

Other Game Notes

• Donovan: "Obviously I want to give them credit, they played well tonight. Also thought we shot ourselves in the foot tonight."

• Donovan said his team’s turnovers let Ohio State back in the game after the Gators got up 14-6.

• Buford said he wanted to stay aggressive. Teammates did a good job finding him off screens.

• Matta said Buford took some ill-advised shots they talked about in timeouts, but he hit some big shots.

• Matta said he went to Sam Thompson at the end because Buford was cramping.

• Matta said in 8 years at Ohio State he doesn’t think he’s seen a crowd like that at the Schott in November.

• Matta said just like last year down there, they stuck to their veterans tonight. Will be time to get the freshmen involved. Buford told them that in the locker room after the game.

Donate by Check :

Ozone Communications
1380 King Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43212

Help us bring you more Buckeye coverage. Donate to the-Ozone.

Click here to email this the-Ozone feature to a friend...or even a foe.

(c) 2010 The O-Zone, O-Zone Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, rebroadcast,rewritten, or redistributed.