Remember that stretch?

Here's when we lost. There was a stretch where they had about 6 straight dunks while we settled for 6 straight 25 footers. Dielber picked a fine time to re-enact his freshman year. It's okay, I don't think I could handle another 40 minutes of Evan Turner dribbling the ball up the court. I hope Sullinger is good next year.

Our emotionally abusive Buckeye relationship goes on. Meanwhile a gimped up MSU plays for a trip the Final Four. If Tennessee shits the bed on Sunday I'm going to be pissed. (Kentucky might win this tourny by 25 ever game)

OK that was better...

I think the team played better today (obviously in the 2nd half) than on Friday. Turner still had too many turnovers (was it nine?). I think there are still a lot of things offensively that need to be improved (like shot selection). Our guys almost always connect when they're open and on balance. Dielber is streaky but what I liked about his performance was that he was able to score on fast breaks. He isn't as scared with the ball though his left hand must be an insecurity as he made a routine layup way more difficult but hooking it around with his right.

Defensively we're good. No foul trouble. Free throws almost cost us in the end but overall not a bad percentage there either. Georgia Tech made its mistakes as a young team will but after their great start I'm proud of the way our guys came back and took over.

So Tennessee is the next opponent. They're another one of those teams that can beat anyone in the country, or lose badly as they showed against Kentucky (winning and losing). Unless we go stone cold from the perimeter I think we can handle them (as well as Michigan State or Iowa State!).

Hope?!

Georgetown lost to...TheOhio State University just minutes ago! I might be able to return to my on site ways as my friend has purchased a ticket for me and him to see the regional final in St. Louis on March 28. (Possibly us vs. Kansas if they can recover from an early deficit to Lehigh...they will)

Leave a comment (even a blank one) if anyone is still checking this blog.

Probably a 2 seed

It's midway through the first half of the Big Ten Championship a few hours before the selection show. Duke won so I can't imagine us beating them out for a 1 seed, but it puts as the number one 2 seed, meaning we'll get into Duke or West Virginia's bracket. It's not that I'm confident we can beat those teams, but I think they're more likely to be upset than Kentucky or Kansas obviously.

Clark Kellogg is doing his best to establish two things:
1. He's not going to be a homer announcer.
2. Making sense isn't very important.


...And holy shit Deebler just dunked one on a breakaway!

Now onto the negativity you've come to know and love from me.

1. Evan Turner can't have more than 3 turnovers per game. In other words, stop throwing it to Deebler on the fast break. Evan and others need to stop gambling on defense so much as well.

2. We only have 6 guys. PJ Hill has disappeared. Everyone is tired so it wouldn't surprise me to see us blow this game late in the 2nd half. The Gophers use 8-10 guys and had a blowout win yesterday.

3. We're still a little dum-bah...Note the end of the first half and the silly turnovers against Illinois. (not nearly as dumb as last year though)

4. We haven't won a NCAA tourny game since Greg Oden was playing (though we won the NIT that one year).

5. The committee usually screws us over with who we play, where we play, and when we play (first game of the tournament sometimes).


On a good note...

1. Deebler seems to be able to shoot this year and has the most 3's by any Buckeye in history (who had the record before him?).

2. Turner seems to try harder when we need it.

3. Florida should be out.

4. A lot of the other good teams have struggled. Syracuse, Kentucky, and even Duke aren't peaking right now.

5. There's a chance we could play Ohio U. That'd be fun, right?



UPDATE--After hitting 11 or so shots in a row this game has turned into a much needed blowout. They finally played a complete game without too many droughts. Lighty looks great so even though we only have 6 guys who can play, they're a really strong 6.

I'll try and give my bracket breakdown and perhaps we'll get a bracket going on espn.com. More updates later this week. What a strong decade (I'm counting this season as last decade) for Ohio State as far as the Big Ten is concerned. How many basketball and football titles did we win?

Good news, Bad News

Bad News first...Evan Turner is out for 8 weeks with a Jay Burson type neck injury.

Good news, Florida is going to lose...I hope they get paired up with TCU (is that possible?) and lose in front of the whole country.

Alabama must feel like we did after the '02 Michigan game.

World Series Game 6 (Forgive me, I'm a Yankees fan)

After 1 inning neither team has done much. Rudy Giuliani's woman is freezing which seems to match her frozen plastic surgery expression. I've started a drinking game involving taking a drink every time the Yankee fans start the Who's Your Daddy chant. This game can be repeated at some open mic comedy shows as that hacky line finds it way into a lot of acts.

In the bottom of the 2nd after an A-Rod walk Matsui has come close to hitting one out and hitting a double, both foul. This game will come close to 4 1/2 hours I have a feeling. Pedro had a meeting with his catcher after his first damn pitch.

Matsui hits a 2 run homer!!! Crowd erupts...no outs! Momentum! Glory!

After 2 innings, 2-0 Yankees.

Phillies score on a pinball triple and a sac fly. Good news is Pettitte isn't throwing many pitches, 37 through 3. Gardner, who is filling in for an injured Cabrera, seems to be a liability in the field and at bat. Jeter singles with 1 out.

Pedro seems to be throwing just as many change-ups tonight. If the Yankees stay patient with that they won't fall behind in the count. The goal is to be tied or ahead and have Pedro hit 100 pitches by the 6th inning. The Phillies have an HK and a coat hanging in the dugout to honor a fallen icon. So far this postseason the Yankees are 1-0 against teams who hang clothes in honor of a fallen friend in their dugout.

With one out in the bottom of 3, Damon walks on the 51st pitch by Pedro. Bullpen being called. Teixeira is hit and bases are loaded for A-Rod. Even a sac fly would be great here to regain the 2 run lead. A-Rod strikes out on a ball way outside. Matsui again with an RBI single!

Top of the 5th led off with a strikeout by Pettitte. Just counting down to the 8th.

We're counting down the outs until Rivera. Pettitte came off a couple outs too late but oh well. 7-3 after Matsui makes a case to be resigned instead of Damon...probably won't happen though. Joba to get it to Rivera.

Into the 7th, this would seem to be the best chance for the Phillies to come back with 2 guys on and Utley up to bat. Marte relieves Joba and it's 0-2. Strike 3 on a check swing! 3 pitch K!

Into the 8th, will Rivera pitch the 8th inning? Maybe not with a 4 run lead.

Worst Free Safety Ever

Does anyone know what the line is for the USC game? We have to be the underdog, right? For the first time is how many years we're picked to lose at home...tell me that's true. We're going to get shelled, agaaain.

Some Quick Game 1 Observations: Our running backs aren't fast. Tressell used a passing playbook smaller than Tecmo's. Far kicks: easy. Close kicks: Hard. Fans on opening day: Quiet and Lame.

Shaq in Cleveland?

I don't think it's the answer. He doesn't play enough games and I see that bothering LeBron...and the entire city of Cleveland. He can't make free throws, especially when they're important. How about instead, we go oafter Carlos Boozer who should have never left?

Cavs down 3-2, it's over

Just another disappointing Ohio team screwing it up for the state. I haven't been able to watch the entire games when the Cavs are playing Orlando but I usually tune in near the end of the first half with this as my thought process...

"Oh good, we're up 6."

Announcer: And the lead that was once 23 is down to six--make that 3 as Orlando hits another one from downtown!

Dammit! Then there are times in the 2nd half when I wonder if the Cavs will even score again. This team reminds me of my dorm team from my freshman year of college. We were so bad that I...ME! Rob Durham, had to do most of the scoring. When that's the case, you're not going to win.

The sad thing is they're a couple (more) buzzer beaters away from having this series clinched. I don't know when Orlando got so good but they remind me of old Spurs teams, even before Tony Parker.

4:00?

The draft starts at 4:00...ESPN's coverage starts at 11:00. Didn't it used to be a Saturday morning thing? Or at least at noon?
As a Bears fan it's not a huge day for the organization. Cutler, Cutler, Cutler!