Florida @ Ohio State

• Azubuike24

  

  centralbucksfan;967747 wrote:Disagree. I think OSU can play either way. They have the athletes and more bench. Although its young. But everyone is young in this day and age. But track meets don't happen as often as people think. Well coached defensive teams force teams to play half court most of the time. Last year, Donovan was stupid in trying to press OSU, and never backed off. Sullinger was doing nothing but a layup/dunk drill. I'd like to believe that Donovan learned his lesson last year. OSU ate up the Fla press. We'll see what he does in this game.

  I'm sure we will disagree many times this year CBF
  
  However, let me state a few things.
  
  A. Ohio State is a better team
  B. My assumption on style of play is dictated more by Florida because that is how they will have to play
  
  Ohio State has a much better chance of winning the game playing Florida's tempo than Florida does playing to their weaknesses. I believe OSU will win. I also believe it will be closer than last year's game in Gainesville, which Ohio State simply looked dominant in all facets.
  
  I do think this will be a game where both teams will score often, and it may end up in the 80's. I think Ohio State, at home, even though they are younger, will prevail. I'll say 86-81 Buckeyes. Regardless of tempo, Sullinger is going to have a monster game. He may not score 30+, but I'll predict that he grabs 20 rebounds. As many have stated, Patrick Young, Will Yguette and Erik Murphy are going to dictate how good Florida is this year. They don't have a lot of room for error upfront.
  
  Fascinated by the Beal vs Buford match-up though. One of the best of the early season IMO.
• Automatik

  

  centralbucksfan;967747 wrote:Disagree. I think OSU can play either way. They have the athletes and more bench. Although its young. But everyone is young in this day and age. But track meets don't happen as often as people think. Well coached defensive teams force teams to play half court most of the time. Last year, Donovan was stupid in trying to press OSU, and never backed off. Sullinger was doing nothing but a layup/dunk drill. I'd like to believe that Donovan learned his lesson last year. OSU ate up the Fla press. We'll see what he does in this game.

  I remember that well. Craft was dicing that press over and over and Donovan's stubborn ass wouldn't take it off.
• Midstate01

  

  Azubuike24;967606 wrote:Beal vs Buford. I can't wait. Will probably be the best defender Buford faces all year, but if he has a big game, OSU rolls. Sullinger vs Young, another fantastic match-up. Will be interesting to see who Aaron Craft guards. Boynton or Walker. Or Rosario. He's got an advantage over all, but I'm wondering if a quicker/faster lineup may give OSU fits. Unlike years past, and even last year, OSU won't want this game to be a track meet.

  
  Osu is planning to play a much more uptempo game this year. So I don't really agree with this too much.
• Wooball

  

  Midstate01;968277 wrote:Osu is planning to play a much more uptempo game this year. So I don't really agree with this too much.

  While I agree Matta has stated that with more depth, mainly at the PG position, they want to play more uptempo this year, I agree with what Azubuike is saying. That uptempo game is probably the only chance Florida has of beating OSU this year. I don't think OSU is going to bring the pace to a crawl, but OSU in the half court can feed the ball to the best post in college basketball, or let Buford go to work and get to 15' for one of the best mid range games in the country. UF in the half court is not very efficient. OSU has one of the best on ball defenders in Aaron Craft to disrupt a half court offense and will force the Gators mini-backcourt into chucking from deep which they seem to fall in love with, especially Boynton.
• Azubuike24

  

  OSU might want to play more uptempo, which is fine, but they were, IMO, the best offensive team in the country last year, both pace and efficiency. I might be wrong (hell the season hasn't even started yet), but I don't see them matching the overall quality of last year's team offensively. Again, just my opinion, but that is why I think Florida has a chance to win, and ONLY a chance, if the game is played as fast and loose as possible. If it's a grind-it-out game with a lot of fouls and the team with better defense, rebounding and inside scoring wins, OSU will win by double-figures.
  
  I guess bottom line is this...
  
  1. OSU is at home
  2. OSU (IMO) is a slightly better team
  3. OSU should win
  
  The rest is just speculation on my part.
• Midstate01

  

  Agree with you which is another reason I think they'll try to run more. They'll need more easy buckets then they did last year. Though I expect a huge huge year out of Bufford.
• reclegend22

  

  I had no idea Will Buford was so close to becoming the all-time scoring leader in Ohio State history. If I heard correctly the other night, ESPN stated that Buford is only about 650 points out from Buckeye career leader Dennis Hopson, who set his mark of 2,096 in 1987. If you conclude that OSU will play, at a bare minimum, 32 games, Buford would need to average roughly 18 per night. Doable, Buck fans?
  
  I regret that Ohio State even exists, but, since I was born in Toledo and followed the City League very closely during its final decade, I find the Buford dynamic interesting.
• dwccrew

  

  Heretic;968252 wrote:Practice makes perfect.

  [video=youtube_share;frsId3goYYE][/video]
• centralbucksfan

  Azubuike24;968268 wrote:I'm sure we will disagree many times this year CBF
  
  However, let me state a few things.
  
  A. Ohio State is a better team
  B. My assumption on style of play is dictated more by Florida because that is how they will have to play
  
  Ohio State has a much better chance of winning the game playing Florida's tempo than Florida does playing to their weaknesses. I believe OSU will win. I also believe it will be closer than last year's game in Gainesville, which Ohio State simply looked dominant in all facets.
  
  I do think this will be a game where both teams will score often, and it may end up in the 80's. I think Ohio State, at home, even though they are younger, will prevail. I'll say 86-81 Buckeyes. Regardless of tempo, Sullinger is going to have a monster game. He may not score 30+, but I'll predict that he grabs 20 rebounds. As many have stated, Patrick Young, Will Yguette and Erik Murphy are going to dictate how good Florida is this year. They don't have a lot of room for error upfront.
  
  Fascinated by the Beal vs Buford match-up though. One of the best of the early season IMO.

  And I actually agree with your above assessment of how the game could turn out.
• darbypitcher22

  

  Hopefully the Bucks can come away with a win. Definately going to be tested in the non-conference with these guys, the Dookies and Jayhawks on the schedule
• se-alum

  

  darbypitcher22;972381 wrote:Hopefully the Bucks can come away with a win. Definately going to be tested in the non-conference with these guys, the Dookies and Jayhawks on the schedule

  I love that OSU has finally started to build a strong OOC schedule, as it can only help in the long run.
• darbypitcher22

  

  se-alum;972388 wrote:I love that OSU has finally started to build a strong OOC schedule, as it can only help in the long run.

  
  At least you hope it does. I'm not sure with such a young team that you wnated those games, but it can only help you going into the Big Ten and then the NCAA tourney.
• SportsAndLady

  

  Shouldn't have a problem w/ KU..but it is at AFH, so who knows. But KU isn't very good this year.
• centralbucksfan

  SportsAndLady;972518 wrote:Shouldn't have a problem w/ KU..but it is at AFH, so who knows. But KU isn't very good this year.

  Maybe not very good compared to what they have been the past few years. But they are still going to be decent, at worst. And playing at home vs a young OSU team, playing their FIRST road game...it will be a good game.
• Laley23

  

  se-alum;972388 wrote:I love that OSU has finally started to build a strong OOC schedule, as it can only help in the long run.

  As a fan in general of basketball, I agree. I love to see Big Ten do well OOC, cause it makes the conference season more fun. Kind of sucks OSU is way better than Kansas this year, but it is @AFH. Should still be a 10 pt game. Florida I think will actually be easier for OSU, because it is at home even though the skill level is more level. Duke - OSU could be a classic.
• Laley23

  

  centralbucksfan;972547 wrote:Maybe not very good compared to what they have been the past few years. But they are still going to be decent, at worst. And playing at home vs a young OSU team, playing their FIRST road game...it will be a good game.

  This, I agree with 100%. I expect OSU to win, but despite the talent difference in favor of OSU, this will be a test down to the last 5 minutes of the game when OSU could pull away imo. Buford, as the lone upperclassman (essentially) will be a big factor early on when the crowd is typically the craziest.
• darbypitcher22

  

  If The Bucks can weather that first five minutes or so in Lawrence and establish themselves I think they'll be fin
• centralbucksfan

  I am not using youth as an excuse. In this day and age, many times are youthful. Its the way it is in college basketball. That being said, it is still there, still a factor. Having watched OSU in their exhibition and first game vs Wright St, some of these guys are still trying to figure how to play, to play hard consistantly, and how to fit in with some of the experience. I think Matta is still trying to figure out things. He want 10 deep in the first game. Yes, its good to have those options. But it also tells you that some having stepped up to gain control of their role. This team is a work in progress. They are going to have some bumps in the road IMO. I wouldn't be the least surprised if Kansas did beat them. But by Big Ten, mid season, I fully expect this team to be better, and continue to get better. The talent is there, no question. But they have a lot of work to do.
• SportsAndLady

  

  Ohio State young? THey're one of the most experienced premiere teams in the country LOL
• se-alum

  

  darbypitcher22;972433 wrote:At least you hope it does. I'm not sure with such a young team that you wnated those games, but it can only help you going into the Big Ten and then the NCAA tourney.

  I don't see a downside to it. I would rather the young guys get a feel for big time college basketball prior to the B1G season, even if it does mean a loss or 2.
• darbypitcher22

  

  I guess the only downside is if you lose all three of those games what kind of psyche does your club have when it has to play bigger games in the Big Ten? Sure you beat the Wright States, North Floridas, and Lamars of the world but how do you stack up against somebody who can actually play?
• se-alum

  

  If their psyche is that damaged, they weren't a team that was going to accomplish anything anyhow.
• Laley23

  

  SportsAndLady;972649 wrote:Ohio State young? THey're one of the most experienced premiere teams in the country LOL

  Who has said that? I havent been on here much, if at all, during the offseason.
• Heretic

  

  SportsAndLady;972649 wrote:Ohio State young? THey're one of the most experienced premiere teams in the country LOL

  Yeah, the only place "youth" enters the equation is the last starter spot (the one currently held by Smith, Jr., who mainly played garbage time minutes after getting healthy enough to play) and the bench, which currently is composed of freshmen, guys in their first year with the program (Ravenal) and guys who played reserve roles last year (Sibert). But they have Buford (four-year starter), Sully (second-year starter, national PoY candidate), Craft (second-year starter...well not technically a starter, but he was top 5 on the team in minutes/game, so he could essentially be considered one) and Thomas (key back-up last year).
  
  Age-wise, they might be young; experience-wise, they're not.
• Laley23

  

  Heretic;972727 wrote:Yeah, the only place "youth" enters the equation is the last starter spot (the one currently held by Smith, Jr., who mainly played garbage time minutes after getting healthy enough to play) and the bench, which currently is composed of freshmen, guys in their first year with the program (Ravenal) and guys who played reserve roles last year (Sibert). But they have Buford (four-year starter), Sully (second-year starter, national PoY candidate), Craft (second-year starter...well not technically a starter, but he was top 5 on the team in minutes/game, so he could essentially be considered one) and Thomas (key back-up last year).
  
  Age-wise, they might be young; experience-wise, they're not.

  Just because you are good and played a lot doesn make you older. This team has ONE upper-classman. I doubt it hinders them in the grande scheme of things, because they are very talented. But having a team with JR/SR is beneficial when you play road games like the one at Kansas.