Ohio State vs. Tennessee

Sweet 16 Preview

The Ohio State Buckeyes shook off a slow start and took care of Georgia Tech to advance to the Sweet Sixteen.  Ohio State’s defense was the key as they limited Tech big men Gani Lawal and Derrick Flavors to eleven and ten points respectively.  On offense, Jon Diebler caught fire in the 2^nd half ending the contest with 20 points.  Evan Turner bounced back from a disappointing first game with 24 points, 9 boards and 9 helpers.  Versatile forward David Lighty chipped 18 points and was key to the victory  with his post defense.

Next up for the Buckeyes on Friday night is a familiar tournament foe in the Tennessee Volunteers.  The Buckeyes defeated Tennessee in the 2007 NCAA Sweet Sixteen 85-84 after trailing by 20 points in the 1^st half.  This game could potentially be a thriller as well with intriguing individual match-ups.   

 The Vols narrowly escaped San Diego State in the 1^st round and dominated Cinderella Ohio with their length and athleticism.  In the 83-68 victory over the Bobcats the Vols were led by the versatile duo of JP Prince and Scotty Hopson (son of former Buckeye great Dennis Hopson).  Prince scored 18 points and Hopson chipped in 17pts.  During the regular season UT was led by Hopson at 12.5 PPG followed by Wayne Chisum who scored 12.3 PPG and 7.2 RPG. 

Prediction:

Despite the departure of stud forward Tyler Smith, the Vols have managed to play very well as JP Prince has become an intricate part of the team’s success.  Tennessee offers athleticism and unlike most teams will be willing to get out and run with the wings of the Buckeyes.  Scotty Hopson is a smooth scorer while Wayne Chisum can play on the perimeter and underneath the basket.  The key for Ohio State will be to limit easy baskets and force the Vols into a slower pace.  Behind Evan Turner, Ohio State is much more efficient in half courts sets than the helter skelter style of Tennessee. 

Match-ups:

Brian Williams vs. Dallas Lauderdale- Advantage Ohio State: Lauderdale will limit Williams with his long arms and will control the glass.  Dallas knows his role and is very good at it.  The key will be him staying out of foul trouble.

Wayne Chisum vs. David Lighty- Advantage Ohio State: On paper the advantage goes to Chisum with his length and ability to score in a variety of manners.  However, the ultra tough Lighty is used to giving up height but is a great athlete who is incredibly strong.  Lighty will limit Chisum on the offensive end and attack him with his penetration.

Bobby Maze vs. Jon Diebler- Advantage Ohio State: Diebler is simply a much better player than Maze.  Given the athleticism and size of Ohio State, the Vols will be forced to place Maze on Diebler.  Diebler will give space to the penetration game of Turner and if Tennessee collapses he will rain a barrage of 3’s.

Scotty Hopson vs. William Buford- Advantage Tennessee: Hopson is a tremendous scorer who will have his hands full with the mid range game of Buford.  Hopson will get his points and get the better of Buford who struggled in the 2^nd round.

JP Prince vs. Evan Turner- Advantage Ohio State: Bruce Pearl will likely put Prince on Turner in an attempt to slow down the best player in the nation.  Prince is long and athletic but will not be able to prevent Turner from getting to the rim and setting up his teammates.   Look for Turner to have a tremendous game and get Prince in foul trouble.

Bench: Tennessee has a better bench but does it matter?  The bench is one of the most overrated facets of the game.  If Ohio State used their bench extensively with little results then UT would have an advantage.  The fact is four of the five Buckeye starters will likely play close to forty minutes. 

Score: It may not be pretty but the Buckeyes will advance to the Regional Final with a 77-66 victory.

Stemavo Rheulus, Senior Writer

The 2010 NCAA Tournament

A User’s Guide to the Midwest Region.
Predicting the NCAA Tournament is the most difficult sport to prognosticate.  The upsets are there but it’s almost impossible to select the correct games.  The 2010 tourney may be even more difficult as parity has infiltrated college basketball.  However, in the Midwest Region the higher seeds should dominate.  Get ready to view the greatest spectacle in sports.  The following is a guide for your office pools:

Favorites: There are three teams that could win the Midwest region- Kansas, Ohio State, Georgetown.  Kansas leads the Midwest region and are the likely favorites to cut the nets down in St. Louis on their way to Indy.  Despite being slated as the #1 overall seed Kansas is in the toughest region.  The Jayhawks will have their hands full in the 2nd round against the winner of UNLV/Northern Iowa.  The Panthers of Northern Iowa are 28-4 in the tough Missouri Valley Conference.  The #2 seed Ohio State Buckeyes are on a roll and are led by the best player in the nation in Evan Turner.  # 3 Georgetown is extremely talented with versatile big man Greg Monroe.  If they come to play they could make a trip to the Final Four.

Possible Upsets: The UNLV/Northern Iowa is an 8 vs. 9 toss up but not a real upset either way.  #10 Georgia Tech behind Derrick Favors will give # 7 Oklahoma State fits.  This should be a back and forth tilt with the Pokes getting the victory behind stud SG James Anderson.  For the Midwest bracket go with the chalk in the 1st round except for #11 San Diego State over #6 Tennessee.  The Aztecs are very talented with four scorers in double figures including fabulous freshmen Kawhi Leonard.
Prediction: The Jayhawks will be challenged in the Sweet 16 by Maryland but will survive.  Ohio State will go down to the wire in the 2nd round against Oklahoma State and prevail with Evan Turner making plays down the stretch.  In the Sweet 16 OSU will get past a tough G-Town team and face Kansas in the regional finals.  In what will be a very entertaining game, Kansas’ size and the point guard play of Sherron Collins will be the difference sending Kansas to the Final Four.

For many people across the nation, this is the most thrilling couple of weeks in sports. The 2010 NCAA Tournament will tip-off tonight with the play-in game between Arkansas Pin Bluff and Winthrop, and on Thursday the Tournament will come to the forefront of American sports coverage with the 1st round games beginning at noon Eastern Time. The state of Ohio is well-represented once again this year with the Big Ten Champion Ohio State Buckeyes, the Mid-American Conference Champion Ohio Bobcats and the Xavier Musketeers all participating in the Big Dance in 2010. DFN Sports is once again on top of the NCAA Tournament with coverage of each game and all 65 teams including Ohio State, Ohio and Xavier. Check out the links to all 3 of these schools’ NCAA Tournament preview capsule below for more.

> 2010 Ohio Bobcats NCAA Tournament preview

> 2010 Ohio State Buckeyes NCAA Tournament preview

> 2010 Xavier Musketeers NCAA Tournament preview

Ohio State Basketball Season Review and Big Ten Tournament Preview

 The Ohio State Buckeyes ended the season as the #1 seed in the 2010 Big Ten Tournament.  The #5 Buckeyes stumbled early in the Big Ten season but when All-American Evan Turner was back at full strength, the team flourished.  Ohio State stood at 14-6 after blowing a big lead at West Virginia.  They rebounded and finished the season 10-1 with their only loss coming to Purdue 60-57.

The Buckeyes head into the post season led by Evan Turner who should sweep all major Player of the Year awards including the Naismith and Wooden trophies.  Turner finished the regular season averaging 19.5 PPG, 9.4 RPG and 5.8 APG.  He is a phenomenal player who can win games for the Buckeyes down the stretch.  Sophomore William Buford, 14.3 PPG, drastically improved as the season progressed.  His silky smooth mid range jumpers are a thing of beauty and he is also a very good athlete in the open court.  The glue of the team is RS junior David Lighty.  Lighty, who played in the 2007 National Championship game, is a defensive stopper who can guard four positions and can score in the open court as he averaged 12.4 PPG.  Sharpshooter Jon Diebler had a very good season averaging 12.6 PPG which included 41.9% from beyond the arc.  The team lacks an inside presence on offense but junior center Dallas Lauderdale patrols the paint on the defense end.  His long arms and good timing make it difficult for opposing centers.  The bench is shallow with only Kyle Madsen, PJ Hill and Jeremie Simmons seeing any real playing time.

The team’s biggest weakness could show up in the Big Ten tournament and certainly in a week on the big stage of the NCAA tournament.  Head Coach Thad Matta’s critics point out that he rarely develops a strong bench as was evident in several blow out wins when the starters remained in the game.  If the team can stay out of foul trouble and avoid fatigue they can cut down the nets in Indianapolis, twice.

Big Ten Tournament:

Opening Round: The tournament tips off on March 11th with Iowa facing Michigan.  The winner will move on to face Ohio State on March 12th at noon.  The second game will tip 30 minutes later as Northwestern faces undermanned Indiana.  The night cap features Tubby Smith’s Golden Gophers of Minnesota against Penn State.    Michigan, Northwestern and Minnesota will advance to the quarterfinals.

Quarterfinals (March 12th): Ohio State will face an athletic and dangerous Michigan team that gave them problems in both contests this season including a 73-64 loss in Ann Arbor.  In what will be a close game, the Buckeyes will prevail and advance to the semifinals.  Wisconsin and Illinois will tip off 30 minutes after in what will be the best game of the quarterfinals.  The Illini could need a win to enter the NCAA tournament.  The teams split the two games in the regular season with each winning on the road.  In what will be a very physical game, the Badgers will advance to face Ohio State on Saturday.  Purdue will battle Northwestern in what will also be a very heated contest.  The Boilermakers are still adjusting to life without Robbie Hummel.  Even without Hummel they will advance to the semifinals.  The Spartans of Michigan State will battle Minnesota in what should be a close game.  The Golden Gophers still believe they should be in the NCAA tournament and a win over Michigan State could propel them into the dance.  The last time they met was a thriller in Minnesota as the Spartans escaped with a 65-64 victory.  It’s difficult to pick against Tom Izzo in the tournament but Minnesota is very hungry.  In what will be a classic, Sparty escapes with a narrow victory.

Semifinals (March 13th): Ohio State will battle a tough Wisconsin team at 1:40 on Saturday.  The Badgers and Buckeyes split the regular season with each team winning on their home court.  This will be a grueling contest but the athleticism of Ohio State will be the difference.  The Big Ten’s best player, Evan Turner, will have a monster game as the Buckeyes advance to the title game on Sunday.  Michigan State vs. Purdue will follow in an evenly matched contest.  Even without Hummel Purdue is still a very good team and will give Michigan State all they want.  Michigan State defeated Purdue on February 28th in the Boilermakers first game after Hummel’s injury.  Purdue will be inspired in front of the home state faithful but the absence of Hummel will be the deciding factor down the stretch.  Michigan State advances to face Ohio State for the title.

Big Ten Championship (3:30 ET March 14th): The Buckeyes defeated the Spartans in East Lansing 74-67 on February 21st.  In that game four Ohio State starters played all 40 minutes with each scoring in double figures.  Turner and Buford recorded double-doubles in the contest.  Michigan State star guard Kalin Lucas was held in check with only 9 points but he did record 8 assists.  The title game will be back and forth and very close.  Turner will once again be the difference as Ohio State wins the title 77-73.

Projected NCAA Seeding for the NCAA Tournament:
Ohio State:         2
Michigan State:  3
Purdue:              4
Wisconsin:         5
Illinois:               9

Stemavo Rheulus, Senior Writer

The Madness of Spring

It’s more than just brackets, office pools and pairings-the NCAA Tournament is best described with emotional echoes and long standing memories.  March Madness brings families, friends and possibly even strangers together in a bond that few other events can create.  Quite simply, the spectacle that is the NCAA Tournament is much more than just basketball.

I don’t need a calendar to know when the madness is about to begin.  The smell of the air, along with the distinguishable sound of birds chirping,  sends my senses scrambling and my mind into nostalgic overdrive.  Nature delivers my internal clock notice that, yes, the greatest reality show ever created is about to reappear for yet another dramatic-emotional season.

My heart beats purer as exaltations of announcers past ring in my head.  The sound of the CBS intro music creates an anticipation  that can only be described as a child on Christmas Eve.  And of course there is One Shining Moment.  As I progress into my mid 30’s,  I make a point to listen to the immensely popular song (the  anthem of the tournament) prior to the madness beginning.  Yes, the tears bubble as soon as the music starts and the lyrics “the ball is tipped” is sang.  My friends, there isn’t a reality show on the planet that can invoke so many emotions and more importantly, memories.

My first real memories of the tournament go back to when I was in the 2nd grade when the North Carolina Tar Heels knocked off John Thompson’s Georgetown Hoyas.  The game was entertaining to me but I was far too young to understand what I just witnessed.  In 1983 I watched one of the biggest miracles in the history of sport as the NC State Wolf Pack shocked Phi Slama Jama (Houston Cougars).  I was upset by the defeat as I became enthralled by the up and down game of the Cougars but I still didn’t comprehend the magnitude of the event, even while watching the exaltations of Jimmy Valvano.  The 1985 Villanova Wildcats captured my imagination and in fact my heart as they trumped anything before them by stunning the Georgetown Hoyas (a team I vehemently hated) in what is an all-time classic.  From that day forward I became completely engrossed and consumed by the madness.

There are many things to thank my dad for, and for that matter both of my parents, for but I’m extremely grateful he introduced me to something that will remain with me as long as I live.  Not only has the introduction created strong bonds and incredible memories, the tournament also helps me feel like a kid again, at least for three weeks a year.  There are few things in life that can be said of.

As my love grew I was fortunate enough to come down with a rare sickness every March-tourney fever.  Since the 5th grade I have taken at least one day off every year to witness the 1st round of the tournament.  Wow, what a rush!  Not only did I get out of school, and later work, I got to experience a feeling like no other.  Watching the games at noon and flipping through all of the games (on satellite) is a love I have never taken for granted.  Can you think of anything in life you love that much and have never taken for granted?  On the day I went to school my dad would always make sure the bracket was filled out so I knew what happened.  If he was working while I was watching, I would return the favor.  Those my friends are priceless memories.

For the game itself, the memories and emotions are numerous to name, however there are a few that stand out.  Seeing Jimmy Valvano run on the court in glee, hugging everyone in sight is something I will never forget.  Sadly, Valvano passed away years later due to cancer; however, the same passion we saw on the court in 1983 carried him through the toughest moments in his life as he penned the deeply emotional speech, Don’t Ever Give Up.  Another fond memory is seeing Thomas Hill stand with his hands on his head crying as Christian Laettner had just hit the greatest shot in what could be the greatest game in the history of the tournament.  A picture truly is worth a thousand words as the emotion and joy were on full display in Thomas’ tears.  Keith Smart hitting the baseline jumper in 1987 is certainly one of the greatest moments in all of sports for me.  The shot captured the title for the Indiana Hoosiers who were led by legendary Head Coach Bob Knight.  I absolutely worshipped Knight who in my opinion is the greatest coach in the history of the sport.  Valporaiso’s Bryce Drew hitting the game winner against Missouri was incredible and witnessing the pure joy of his teammates was incredible.  In 2006 I observed Cinderella in person as George Mason knocked off North Carolina.  The electricity in Dayton is hard to put into words.  The pressure grew with each passing second as the crowd’s roar grew in anticipation of the possible upset.  When George Mason pulled out the victory, the chaos that defines the tournament ensued.  The 2007 second round clash between Ohio State and Xavier was one for the ages.  Not only was the game between in-state foes but it included an incredible shot by Buckeye Ron Lewis which sent the game to overtime.  I was on hand to witness the miracle as Ohio State escaped with a stunning victory.

There are countless other great memories of buzzer beaters and Cinderella stories that still live through tourney highlights each season which are far too many to name.   Although I’m not a big fan of any of the three I would be remised not mentioning Al Macguire, Billy Packer and Dick Vitale.  Their love and passion of the game has been sewn into the fabric of the sport.

I hope my brief expose into the great event has exhumed emotions and memories for you as it did for me.  Friends and fans, please remember the game is much more than just office pools and cutting down the nets; it’s about young men exceeding their own reality, grown men crying and fans jumping in jubilation.  March Madness itself is about enthusiasm, memories and passion and should be shared with all.  With tears in my eye and a lump in my throat, in the style that North Carolina Head Coach Roy Williams can appreciate, ready yourself for the greatest event in all of sports.  The Madness of Spring is about to begin.

Scott Dryden, Senior Writer

The Cross Town Shootout

Cincinnati (6-1) at Xavier (5-3)

December 13^th 7:00 ET

The 2009 version of the Cincinnati Bearcats will remind fans of a Bob Huggins coached team.  They are not pretty to watch but are very athletic and rugged.  They struggle mightily on the offense end but bring it defensively.  They are led in scoring by wide body Yancey Gates.  The 260lb sophomore center is averaging 11.6 PPG and 7.7 boards.  Ballyhooed freshmen Lance Stephenson is living up to the billing.  He is very athletic with an explosive first step.  He is averaging 11.6 PPG and 6 boards on the young season.  Senior guard Deonta Vaughn has been very unselfish taking less shots and getting the youngsters involved.  The Bearcats were looking forward to the addition of guard Cashmere Wright last season but an injury forced him out for the season.  Wright still is shaking off the rust but will be very good in the near future.

The Xavier Musketeers do not look like the same team without former Head Coach Sean Miller.  Much was expected from the 09-10 Muskies but they have started slowly going 5-3 in their first eight games.  The addition of Jordan Crawford, a transfer from Indiana, was thought to be the piece that made Xavier a national power this season.  Crawford is having a good start to the season averaging 18.5 PPG and 5 RPG.  He is very athletic but his shot selection can often be questioned.  In Xavier’s three losses Crawford didn’t have off nights he was absolutely atrocious.  He was a combined 15 of 52 against Marquette, Baylor and Kansas State.  Xavier big man Jason Love is averaging a double-double with 10 PPG and 10 RPG.  Guards Terrell Holloway and Mark Lyons have been solid.  Athletic junior forward Jamel McLean is a tease.  He possesses a tremendous talent but rarely puts it all together.

Prediction: This is a rivalry game so anything can happen.  In addition Xavier’s home crowd will no doubt be a factor.  For Xavier to have any chance they will have to keep one of the best rebounding teams in the nation off of the glass.  Jason Love will need to have a big game against Yancey Gates and force him away from the basket.  Jordan Crawford and Dante Jackson will be matched up against the athletic guards of UC which is an intriguing match-up.  If Crawford lets the game come to him he will find success.  The Bearcats struggles on the offensive end will keep the game close but their power and defense will be the difference.  Behind a very good performance by Yancey Gates and senior Deonta Vaughn the Bearcats escape the Cintas Center with a big win.  Cincinnati 67 Xavier 63.

Scott Dryden

2009 NCAA Tournament - Midwest Region - Miami, FL
No. 12 Arizona (21-13) 71, No. 13 Cleveland State (26-11) 57
Key Moment: Arizona point guard Nic Wise scored seven points midway through the second half to help the Wildcats maintain control.
High Point Scorers: Arizona — Wise 21  Cleveland State — Norris Cole 17
Analysis: The last will be first? Well, if it’s true the Wildcats were the last team in the tournament, the committee certainly looks smart. But consider the ballclub is really good and plays very good defense. The Vikings made only three of 23 3-point attempts. Again, the big three of Wise, Chase Budinger and Jordan Hill were key as they combined for 52 of the the Wildcats’ 71 points. As they go, so goes Arizona.
What’s Next: Arizona makes its 12th appearance in the Sweet 16 since 1988 and will meet No. 1 Louisville, which held off No. 9 Siena, 79-72. If you had looked at the brackets, Arizona would have likely appeared to reach this round. But now that the Wildcats are here, they are playing with house money. Should be a fun matchup in the low post between Louisville’s Earl Clark and Hill.

By Kevin Lonnquist

2009 NCAA Tournament - Midwest Region - Minneapolis, MN
No. 3 Kansas (27-7) 60, No. 11 Dayton (27-8) 43
Key Moment: Dayton’s shooting throughout the day — 22 percent
High Point Scorer: Kansas — Sherron Collins 25  Dayton — Chris Wright 10
Analysis: While Dayton absolutely deserved to be in the tournament, the Flyers absolutely had no idea how to handle KU center Cole Aldrich who registered the third triple-double in tournament history. He had 13 points, 20 rebounds and 10 blocked shots. The Jayhawks have found motivation from the early exit in the Big 12 tournament. And credit Collins who has played like a senior. He has scored 57 points in the first two tournament games.
What’s Next: The Jayhawks advance to the Sweet 16 in Indianapolis where they will meet No. 2 seed Michigan State which held off No. 10 USC, 74-69. This is a rematch of the Jan. 10 meeting East Lansing that Michigan State won, 75-62. But the Jayhawks are a much different team now than they were then. Expect a great matchup at the guard position between Michigan State’s Kalin Lucas and KU’s Sherron Collins. The game will decided on the backboards.

By Kevin Lonnquist

With more teams than any other state in the 2009 NCAA Tournament, you would think the state of Ohio would get a little respect. Apparently now. By some odd bit of bad luck (or an Ohio State grad working in programming for CBS) the Xavier vs. Wisconsin game starts at 2:20 pm, the Dayton vs. Kansas game starts at 2:30 pm and the Cleveland State vs. Arizona game starts at 2:40 pm today. As a result, for the 99.9% of us who do not have DirecTV’s special NCAA Tournament package, we will only see one of these three games featuring Ohio teams.

Meanwhile, in the 2009 women’s NCAA Tournament, #3 seed Ohio State defeated #14 Sacred Heart 77-63 on Saturday. The Buckeye women will now face #11 Mississippi State in the 2nd round.

2009 NCAA Tournament - Midwest Region - Miami
No. 13 Cleveland State (26-10) 84 No. 4 Wake Forest (26-7) 69
Key Moment: The first three minutes of the game set the tone when Vikings jumped out to a 9-0 lead and never looked back.
High Scorers: Cleveland State — Norris Cole 22  Wake Forest — James Johnson 22
Analysis: Wake Forest’s talent is young and impressive and some out there thought it was good enough to get to the Final Four. But it’s also experienced a lot of upheaval after beginning 16-0. Things just haven’t gone well for the Demon Deacons. Their suspect defense bit them again as Cleveland State shot 48 percent from the floor. Although Wake Forest shot 52 percent, the Demon Deacons squeezed off only 50 shots to Cleveland State’s 65
What’s Next: The Vikings advance to the Sunday’s second round and will play No. 12 Arizona, which knocked off No. 5 Utah, 84-71. The Vikings got great cames from Cole, J’Nathan Bullock (21) and Cedric Jackson (19). If they play like that against the Wildcats, you have to give them their due. Remember, this program played giant killer in 1986 when as a 14 seed it knocked off 3 seed Indiana in the first round.

By Kevin Lonnquist
DFN Sports Staff Write