11/19: Ohio State vs. North Carolina at MSG

• Leonardo

  

  Both teams breezed through their opening two games in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic.
  
  Now they meet at Madison Square Garden Thursday at 9:30 PM on ESPN2.
  
  Can Evan Turner keep up the unbelieveable start? Can Jon Diebler continue what he did in the opening game?
  
  Will the relatively young Tar Heels make an early-season statement?
• centralbucksfan

  Should be a great game, high scoring as both teams like the up tempo this year. I have no question that Turner will show and have a good game. But OSU will need Buford and Diebler to play and shoot well. On top of that, "someone" else will have to show up.
  Rebounding will be HUGE in this game. OSU needs to hold their own and not give UNC many second chance points. This will be a great game to see exactly where this OSU team is. Not sure if they can win it, but I do believe it will be a close game.
• ironman02

  I think OSU should be favored in this game. Carolina may have top 5 talent, but they're not a top 5 team at this time. Still very inexperienced with a lot of question marks. We'll see how they develop with OOC games against OSU, Syracuse/Cal, Kentucky, MSU, and Texas.
• bulldog8

  ^^Don't forget Lighty's experience thrown in the mix of things. I consider him the old man on this team considering that he was the young buck playing with Oden and Conley a couple years ago. Funny that he's still only a junior. The injury redshirt last year sure helped. I think Lighty's experience in big games will help against UNC. His presence on the court will elevate the play of the young guys around him and the Buckeyes may have a shot of knocking off the defending champs. Like mentioned before, their shooting will have to be on to pull out the victory though. GO BUCKS!
• osu45804

  

  Ohio State - 81 .... UNC - 74
• gabuckeye

  I just talked some trash to a UNC fan here in the rec center. He thinks Carolina will win by 20, and I obviously think otherwise.
• thedynasty1998

  

  Diebler will have to play big if OSU wants to beat UNC. UNC will dominate OSU in the paint and in rebounding, so OSU will have to neutralize that by making some 3's and getting some easy baskets in transition.
  
  It will be an interesting game. It's hard to tell how good OSU is after two blowouts.
• centralbucksfan

  gabuckeye wrote: I just talked some trash to a UNC fan here in the rec center. He thinks Carolina will win by 20, and I obviously think otherwise.

  He is dreaming if he thinks UNC this year, will win by 20. They are talented, but young. OSU will compete in this game. I have no question it will be a close game. Obviously, in basketball, anything can happen. But if OSU plays anywhere near their potential, they are right there in the end.
• thedynasty1998

  

  I actually don't think a 20 point win is that outrageous. I don't think it will happen, but if UNC can somehow hold Turner to a modest game of 8-10 points, it is possible.
• bo shemmy3337

  UNC is a lot better than what you think. They are young but so was OSU when they went to the tittle game. Youth means nothing at these programs. A lot of these kids would be in the NBA if they never had to go to college. It will be a good game IMO but UNC will win by 5.
• OneBuckeye

  

  If OSU keeps their TOs down they can win. I think it will be close. UNC had 26 turnovers against FIU and forced 20.
• swamisez

  

  It pains me to say,
  defending champs are loaded yet again.
  
  OSU will need to play out of their minds to win this one. Size advantage is too much for OSU to overcome.
  Davis, Thompson, Zeller, Henson, Ware, Ware.......it is quite impressive. They are all skilled.
• wildcats20

  

  It's going to be a really good game, no doubt. But the size and athleticism of those bigs of Carolina will be WAY too much for the guard heavy Bucks.
• Prescott

  If OSU can pressure the perimeter they can neutralize some of the size advantage that UNC enjoys. The Bucks need to hit some three's, Mr. Diebler, because points in the paint will be few and far between.
• hoops23

  

  I'm hoping for a great game. I'm a huge UNC fan for basketball, have been since I was 10 and my sister was in the hospital at UNC Chapel Hill for a liver transplant (she was transfered there from Rainbow Babies in Cleveland) and I met Dean Smith, Bill Guthridge and some of the players.
  
  We received free tickets to attend the Duke-UNC game at Chapel Hill and I was hooked ever since.
  
  However, if there is one team I wouldn't mind the Heels losing to, it would definitely be the Buckeyes.
• wildcats20

  

  LTrain23 wrote: We received free tickets to attend the Duke-UNC game at Chapel Hill and was hooked ever since.

  I hate you
• hoops23

  

  lmao! sorry
• wildcats20

  

  Don't talk to me you damn CC
• hoops23

  

  wildcats20 wrote: Don't talk to me you damn CC

  [size=xx-small]ok[/size]
• wildcats20

  

  Just giving you shit bro. That's awesome about that those tickets and the whole story. Been down to a few games there, never any BIG games but I love everything about Chapel Hill.
  
  Buddy played for Cleveland State, this was the first Natty yea for Roy. I had terrible seats...lol
  
• hoops23

  

  lol, yea I know... My friend was buddies with Jawad Williams and we talked to him before the game when UNC played Cleveland St here @ Cleveland St when UNC won 82-76 I think...
• Phog Allen

  LTrain23 wrote: lol, yea I know... My friend was buddies with Jawad Williams and we talked to him before the game when UNC played Cleveland St here @ Cleveland St when UNC won 82-76 I think...

  I'm taking OSU in this one.
  
  It is OSU's perimeter strength against UNC's frontcourt dominance.
  
  I'll take OSU because of UNC's suspect guard play. UNC's frontcourt won't be able to dominate like they should because they won't be able to get the ball inside against OSU.
  
  I like Diebler and Buford to light it up as Turner has a field day playing UNC's track meet style of play (which plays right into the strenght of OSU's perimeter players).
  
  This will be an outstanding early season game with the Bucks announcing they will contend for the Big 10 title and UNC showing they have a lot of room to improve with all they lost.
• darbypitcher22

  

  hopefully the Bucks find a way to pull it out. If not, let's hope we keep it close
• hoops23

  

  Evan Turner is a stud. He's going to help OSU keep it close as long as he's able to be effective.
  
  UNC is DEEP. No matter what they lost last season, this is a team that reloads, not rebuilds. It's going to be tough for OSU to keep up unless they are able to slow UNC down on offense.
  
  I've liked what I've seen defensively from OSU, albeit against some scrubs, it's still a good defensive performance.
  
  I'm hoping for a good game and like I said, if there is one team I don't mind UNC losing to, it's OSU.
  
  With that said however, I'll take UNC 79-74
• Puddle Jumper

  

  Carolina will roll OSU by 10-15 pts.