Ohio State @ Wisconsin (2/12)

• se-alum

  

  Big Gain;670241 wrote:If they play zone for 1 minute it would be more than they have played zone in a game this year.

  OSU has played a good bit of match-up zone this year.
• Ankle Breaker

  

  Big Gain;670241 wrote:If they play zone for 1 minute it would be more than they have played zone in a game this year.

  I've seen some zone - granted, not a lot but am certain a few games. Just can't recall when.
• stlouiedipalma

  I think a big, big factor is whether the officials let Wisky get away with beating up Sullinger like Minnesota did. If they call it tight inside the Bucks will get a huge advantage at the charity stripe and those big white men will play with a lot of fouls. Even if they let them bang away Sullinger has become better at kicking it outside to the open shooter when double-teamed. That's what makes the Buckeyes so tough, the fact that you cannot double-team anyone without great risk. If the shooters get good looks we could win big.
• Tiger2003

  

  I'm taking the Buckeyes by 5-10. I think this team is on a mission this year and we finally get over the hump at the Kohl Center. The Buckeyes will really need to hit some shots from the outside to free up some space for Sully.
• Big Gain

  The Kohl Center is voodooville. How does Wisconsin do it? They're 160th in the country in PPG, 294th in rebounds/game, 116th in asists/game and 112th in Field Goal %.
• centralbucksfan

  se-alum;670257 wrote:OSU has played a good bit of match-up zone this year.

  
  OSU has rarely played any zone this year. A handful of possession maybe. OSU is much more athletic and is pretty darn good for the most part in their MM. They aren't going to let Wiskly spot up and shoot by playing zone. Only way this happens is if they are in big foul trouble. As Prescott mentioned....going to be some interesting matchups in this game for both teams. Should be a good one. I was honestly more worried about the Minny game than this game.
  Again, with a week to prepare, get healthy, and Wisky playing tonite and only two days to prepare...I have some good confidence going into this game.
• centralbucksfan

  Big Gain;671093 wrote:The Kohl Center is voodooville. How does Wisconsin do it? They're 160th in the country in PPG, 294th in rebounds/game, 116th in asists/game and 112th in Field Goal %.

  
  Well, its not as though they are some undefeated, unbeatable team. They do have 5 losses. PSU has beaten them as has MSU, Ill. Yes, on the road..but still. People are worried that OSU has to do this and that. Which they do. But fact of the matter is, Wisky will HAVE to play well to beat OSU.
• september63

  

  Big Gain;671093 wrote:The Kohl Center is voodooville. How does Wisconsin do it? They're 160th in the country in PPG, 294th in rebounds/game, 116th in asists/game and 112th in Field Goal %.

  
  Here is how they do it: #1 FT shooting team in the Country @ 82.1%. #1 in Assist to TO ratio @ 1.78 and #2 in scoring defense @ 56.1.
  
  Those numbers are all for the entire NCAA, not just the Big 10.
• Laley23

  

  centralbucksfan;671229 wrote:I was honestly more worried about the Minny game than this game. Again, with a week to prepare, get healthy, and Wisky playing tonite and only two days to prepare...I have some good confidence going into this game.

  
  Really? Have you seen Minny without Nolen, with Hoffarber running the point? They are close to bad. Barely mediocre.
• ytownfootball

  

  Laley23;671548 wrote:Really? Have you seen Minny without Nolen, with Hoffarber running the point? They are close to bad. Barely mediocre.

  
  I actually didn't anticipate such a huge drop-off from them with Hoffarber at point, thought there might be a lag in adjustment but that doesn't appear to be the case. Thought Mbakwe and Sampson III would still carry them.
• centralbucksfan

  Laley23;671548 wrote:Really? Have you seen Minny without Nolen, with Hoffarber running the point? They are close to bad. Barely mediocre.

  
  In this game, they actually moved Hoffarber back off the ball, and put in a frosh to play pg. On top of that, the perimeter guys played pretty well, it was the experienced post players who stunk it up.
  And my insecurity going into this game, was more about IF they lost this game, then having to go to Wisky.
• ytownfootball

  

  I'm concerned about this game, just being in their backyard more than anything else where they've more than proven their ability. What is Bo going to do? I don't know if they can run our game and keep it close. I don't expect them to come out and run the Princeton like PSU but I wouldn't be surprised to see them try to slow the game down a lot. Their best hope I think would be to frustrate the Bucks, put them on the foul stripe late where they've been inconsistent.
• se-alum

  

  centralbucksfan;671229 wrote:OSU has rarely played any zone this year. A handful of possession maybe. OSU is much more athletic and is pretty darn good for the most part in their MM. They aren't going to let Wiskly spot up and shoot by playing zone. Only way this happens is if they are in big foul trouble. As Prescott mentioned....going to be some interesting matchups in this game for both teams. Should be a good one. I was honestly more worried about the Minny game than this game.
  Again, with a week to prepare, get healthy, and Wisky playing tonite and only two days to prepare...I have some good confidence going into this game.

  
  We haven't seen traditional 2-3, 1-3-1, or 3-2 zones out of them. We have seen some match-up zone, which, when ran correctly looks like a switching man-to-man defense. Mainly they run this when there isn't anyone on the other team that Craft needs to guard straight up.
• Writerbuckeye

  

  If you noticed, most of the Buckeyes missing foul shots the last couple games were doing so by hitting the front of the rim. That's fatigue, as in their legs are getting tired. Tired legs lead to poor form when shooting free throws. This was particularly true of Sullinger the last game.
  
  Hopefully, this will be corrected just because they'll get some rest this week and can recharge their batteries a bit.
• centralbucksfan

  Writerbuckeye;671628 wrote:If you noticed, most of the Buckeyes missing foul shots the last couple games were doing so by hitting the front of the rim. That's fatigue, as in their legs are getting tired. Tired legs lead to poor form when shooting free throws. This was particularly true of Sullinger the last game.
  
  Hopefully, this will be corrected just because they'll get some rest this week and can recharge their batteries a bit.

  
  Don't totally disagree with this. But I am also not buying totally into it. Even when your tired, and you know...you can compensate for that as a shooter. Sully never did this as he kept shooting short...something you should never do two times in a row as he did. He just didn't make the adjustment. Although a 70% FT for the year, Sully has a tendency to be inconsistant, often making a handful in a row, then doing what he has done recently. The other poor shooter is Lighty...who just hasn't been that good all year, or even that good over his career. Our two worst FT's shooters are also the two who draw the most FT's. Sully has attempted 177, Lighty as attempted 97...after that, nobody has shot half that amount. So its really two guys who are the big concern. Of course, those two are going to continue to shoot the most, as thats their game.
  But as you and I have mentioned, they have this week to get legs back, and work on this. I don't suspect we will see much difference from Lighty. He is what he is....but I do expect Sullinger to be a bit better.
• centralbucksfan

  se-alum;671627 wrote:We haven't seen traditional 2-3, 1-3-1, or 3-2 zones out of them. We have seen some match-up zone, which, when ran correctly looks like a switching man-to-man defense. Mainly they run this when there isn't anyone on the other team that Craft needs to guard straight up.

  
  Sorry, but no..OSU hasn't even played matchup zone. Its what you just mentioned that makes it look like a matchup, they switch on almost everything unless its a big coming out on a pick and roll. Other than that, the 3/4 wing players will just switch on most screens on the perimeter.
• se-alum

  

  centralbucksfan;671862 wrote:Sorry, but no..OSU hasn't even played matchup zone. Its what you just mentioned that makes it look like a matchup, they switch on almost everything unless its a big coming out on a pick and roll. Other than that, the 3/4 wing players will just switch on most screens on the perimeter.

  
  lol...ok
  
  From the Minnesota game:
  

  But that didn't matter, the way the Buckeyes dominated the pace and flustered the Gophers with their zone defense.

• Thunder70

  

  Writerbuckeye;671628 wrote:If you noticed, most of the Buckeyes missing foul shots the last couple games were doing so by hitting the front of the rim. That's fatigue, as in their legs are getting tired. Tired legs lead to poor form when shooting free throws. This was particularly true of Sullinger the last game.
  
  Hopefully, this will be corrected just because they'll get some rest this week and can recharge their batteries a bit.

  
  I totally agree Writer...
  
  They looked tired shooting free throws. Most of their misses were short and if you watched their legs, there was hardly any bend prior to release...
• Laley23

  

  centralbucksfan;671590 wrote:In this game, they actually moved Hoffarber back off the ball, and put in a frosh to play pg. On top of that, the perimeter guys played pretty well, it was the experienced post players who stunk it up.
  And my insecurity going into this game, was more about IF they lost this game, then having to go to Wisky.

  
  That makes sense. And with Nolen running the point, I wouldve been worried. But I felt good about IU going into their game versus Minny after watching Minny play without a PG. I didnt see the OSU/Minny game, but a frosh at PG who hasnt played much is probably only slightly better than Hoff handling it. I feel bad for Minny, as they had a possible Sweet 16 team, but they just look lost out there right now.
  
  And their bigs are way to soft, and will stink it up without some penetration...which is lacking without Nolen. They are more effective receiving the ball off penetration than they are receiving the ball in the post. Just my thoughts on there team.
• Big Gain

  ytownfootball;671618 wrote:I'm concerned about this game, just being in their backyard more than anything else where they've more than proven their ability. What is Bo going to do? I don't know if they can run our game and keep it close. I don't expect them to come out and run the Princeton like PSU but I wouldn't be surprised to see them try to slow the game down a lot. Their best hope I think would be to frustrate the Bucks, put them on the foul stripe late where they've been inconsistent.

  
  Wisconsin ALWAYS slows the game down, why do you supposed they're 2nd in scoring defense and 166th in PPG?
• Big Gain

  september63;671250 wrote:Here is how they do it: #1 FT shooting team in the Country @ 82.1%. #1 in Assist to TO ratio @ 1.78 and #2 in scoring defense @ 56.1.
  
  Those numbers are all for the entire NCAA, not just the Big 10.

  I knew they were a great foul shooting team, but they shouldn't get to the line much, because Matta, more than any other coach in the country, stressing NOT to foul. They work on it A LOT in practice. And Ohio State has better athletes, they won't be out quicked. The other stats ALL have to do with them milking the shot clock. In this game the 1st team to 60 wins. Wisconsin doesn't want to score 60, let alone have their opponents score 60.
• ytownfootball

  

  Big Gain;672489 wrote:Wisconsin ALWAYS slows the game down, why do you supposed they're 2nd in scoring defense and 166th in PPG?

  
  Yeah, they do. Just wondering if they're going to be as successful as Michigan to a lesser extent and PSU to a greater extent in getting them frustrated. Hoping to jump out a little early, might not be realistic with a week off and a little rusty but that's what I hope.
• se-alum

  

  Sully getting some pub for not only being a great athlete, but also a good person. Also a nice gesture by the Minny student.
  
  http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/blog/the_dagger/post/A-sign-mocking-Jared-Sullinger-will-soon-hang-at?urn=ncaab-319144#mwpphu-container
• wildcats20

  

  Sully getting some pub for not only being a great athlete, but also a good person. Also a nice gesture by the Minny student.
  
  http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/blog/the_dagger/post/A-sign-mocking-Jared-Sullinger-will-soon-hang-at?urn=ncaab-319144#mwpphu-container

  Saw that too, gave me a good laugh.
• hoops23

  

  Honestly cannot wait for this game.. Should be a great one.