NCAA Sweet 16: (2) Ohio State vs. (6) Tennessee

• SQ_Crazies

  

  Good season for OSU.
  
  I had a strong feeling before the tournament started that they would have a hard time with this game--wish I wouldn't have went with the odds and picked it on my bracket.
• Manhattan Buckeye

  "Madsen didn't do crap this game! Actually, he killed us with the lazy pass back out to Turner when he got the O-rebound and a tennessee player stole it. "
  
  I'll give a kid a pass, but for a smart guy it was a pretty panicked play, if you are in doubt always call TO in that situation. He just wasn't confortable with the ball, especially in that situation.
• mallymal614

  Anyone think Simmons should have got more time in the second half. He was 3-3 from the 3-point line in the first.
• Non

  

  Prince stepped up with the game on the line, especially defensively.
  
  Hey give the other guy credit sometimes.
  
  Hard fought game came down to the last minute, OSU did not make the winning plays this time.
• centralbucksfan

  big_hits24 wrote: It came down to getting some KEY stops on defense and KEY rebounds and OSU could not come up with them. Madsen didn't do crap this game! Actually, he killed us with the lazy pass back out to Turner when he got the O-rebound and a tennessee player stole it. Bad performance tonight by OSU but TENN earned it by playing like they wanted it more!

  Madsen was better the Lauderdale tonite and did what he could with the ability he has. Thats why Matta went with him instead of Lauderdale at the end. Lauderdale pisses me off. That big and athletic and was an absolutely non factor rebounding and defensively.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  Azubuike24 wrote: Those complaining about the officiating, I don't know what to say. It wasn't that bad. I thought UT got homered a bit early, got away with a few late, and the call at the end was right. That was all ball. Turner tried to act and flail his off-arm to get the call, but he got stuffed by Prince.

  The officials have been good in every game all tournament. They were in this game as well.
  
  I don't think Turner tried to flail, he tried to commit a foul and push Prince's arm away. He missed and that was without a doubt a clean block. Any OSU fan that claims otherwise is going to look mighty stupid--the slow motion replay showed it perfectly.
• big_hits24

  I agree that Lauderdale did terrible...but at the same time Madsen didn't really do much at all either. Maybe had a couple rebounds but he couldn't make any plays on D or anything either
• centralbucksfan

  Azubuike24 wrote: Those complaining about the officiating, I don't know what to say. It wasn't that bad. I thought UT got homered a bit early, got away with a few late, and the call at the end was right. That was all ball. Turner tried to act and flail his off-arm to get the call, but he got stuffed by Prince.

  DOn't make it out that Prince made some great play. Turner was double clutching anyways, the ball would have never made it to the basket. Prince was LUCKY a foul wasn't called by those yo yo's in stripes who were very inconsistant both ways.
• Hb31187

  

  This is why you guys have Thomas, Weatherspoon and Sully comin in next year for
• Mulva

  

  centralbucksfan wrote: Madsen was better the Lauderdale tonite and did what he could with the ability he has. Thats why Matta went with him instead of Lauderdale at the end. Lauderdale pisses me off. That big and athletic and was an absolutely non factor rebounding and defensively.

  That's what happens when you put float him from the foul line to the 3 point line in a 1-3-1. He wasn't in a position to get any rebounds.
  
  Madsen only got 1 defensive rebound. He was awful tonight. Neither of them had any impact on the game at all in a positive way.
• mhs95_06

  mallymal614 wrote: Rebounding was the key factor. Tennessee killed us on the boards.

  Yes, that and Diebler going 1/7 on treys, his last was an airball by a long way I believe, and the 3 turnovers in the last two minutes, just after they scored 7 straight to turn a 5 point deficit into a two point lead with about 2 minutes left, then Tenn scored to tie and OSU had the ball to take the lead and TO, then TO next possession, then the TO with a few seconds left.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  I said before the tournament that OSU goes as Deibler goes. When he's on they don't lose, period. When he's not they do. He was terrible today.
• Cleveland Buck

  

  Cleveland Buck wrote: This games scares me, but hell, they all do. I don't like playing athletic teams that can pressure Mr. Turnover, I mean Turner. I don't like athletic teams that can recover to open shooters, because as well as Diebler has shot the ball so far, they were wide open shots. If someone gets a hand anywhere near him he puts up bricks. Lighty can get to the rim when other players are threats, but I don't trust him to create anything if Turner and Diebler are struggling and the defense doesn't have to fear them. Hopefully they can prove my fears unfounded. If they play good interior defense, attack the paint, and make UT take the ball out of the basket, they have a chance.

  Well, Turner was careless with the ball, Diebler couldn't even hit rim, Lighty created absolutely nothing, the Buckeyes played zero interior defense, and didn't even know where the paint was on offense. I am shocked they only lost by 3.
• Eric Taylor

  Diebler is just not good at all.
• From the Hills

  

  ccrunner609 wrote: Where was Simmons in the 2nd half? Had 9 in the first half. Diebler should of sat his ass on the bench and Simmons should of played

  Completely agree, Matta is so stuck on that damn 6 man rotation he doesn't realize when to sub when someone is struggling(Diebler). Doesn't make a damn bit of sense to keep Diebler in and Simmons on the bench after he had a productive first half.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  Cleveland Buck wrote:

  Cleveland Buck wrote: This games scares me, but hell, they all do. I don't like playing athletic teams that can pressure Mr. Turnover, I mean Turner. I don't like athletic teams that can recover to open shooters, because as well as Diebler has shot the ball so far, they were wide open shots. If someone gets a hand anywhere near him he puts up bricks. Lighty can get to the rim when other players are threats, but I don't trust him to create anything if Turner and Diebler are struggling and the defense doesn't have to fear them. Hopefully they can prove my fears unfounded. If they play good interior defense, attack the paint, and make UT take the ball out of the basket, they have a chance.

  Well, Turner was careless with the ball, Diebler couldn't even hit rim, Lighty created absolutely nothing, the Buckeyes played zero interior defense, and didn't even know where the paint was on offense. I am shocked they only lost by 3.

  I had a feeling that UT had the game from about 5 minutes on for some reason, Turner did turn the ball over but that's normal--he played pretty well and did all he could to keep them in the game. No one else stepped up outside of Buford but he disappeared in the 2nd half. I was shocked they were able to stay in it too--not sure why but it seemed like the game was never in doubt for UT. I think it was just their ability to get stops whenever they needed to, they played great perimeter defense.
• Hb31187

  

  Matta should of had Simmons in the gmae, theres no excuse for that
• SQ_Crazies

  

  Early in the season after they put up like 140 or whatever it was, I said that I thought UT was the best team in the country--then we all know what happened after that. If this team had Smith and the guys that are suspended, they'd be national champs IMO.
• Azubuike24

  

  Off-balance or not, it was a stuff non-the-less. The way dramatic shots have fallen in the past 12 days, you can't not contest the shot. Prince has been around the block for 5 years now, the guy has taken on the best challenges on the defensive end. I like his chances to not commit a foul there, but also contest, and even block the shot.
• big_hits24

  I wouldn't be surprised if Simmons transfers haha. But Diebler was worthless tonight...1/7 shooting, played absolutely no defense, and just couldn't come up with anything to help this team out tonight!
• centralbucksfan

  From the Hills wrote:

  ccrunner609 wrote: Where was Simmons in the 2nd half? Had 9 in the first half. Diebler should of sat his ass on the bench and Simmons should of played

  Completely agree, Matta is so stuck on that damn 6 man rotation he doesn't realize when to sub when someone is struggling(Diebler). Doesn't make a damn bit of sense to keep Diebler in and Simmons on the bench after he had a productive first half.

  OH please! You don't go 35+ games, then all of a sudden change things!! Its easy to say that now after the game. Matta went with what GO OSU THERE in the first place. You do NOT change at this point!
  I figured it was only a matter of time before the Diebler bashing started. IF your going to bash him, bash Buford, Lighty and Lauderdale as well. Buford after a great start, disappeared and was aweful on defense. Light non factor for the most part as well.
  Turner was left with the complete load and one player can't get it done.
• Upper90

  centralbucksfan wrote:

  Azubuike24 wrote: Those complaining about the officiating, I don't know what to say. It wasn't that bad. I thought UT got homered a bit early, got away with a few late, and the call at the end was right. That was all ball. Turner tried to act and flail his off-arm to get the call, but he got stuffed by Prince.

  DOn't make it out that Prince made some great play. Turner was double clutching anyways, the ball would have never made it to the basket. Prince was LUCKY a foul wasn't called by those yo yo's in stripes who were very inconsistant both ways.

  I thought the play by Prince was a very good play. He got a clean block as time expired, securing a win. Who's to say what would have happened had he not made that play.
• TheMightyGators

  centralbucksfan wrote: How is Tenn a nightmare matchup for OSU? Seriously, please explain? Last I heard...GT was a nightmare matchup because of their size and athleticism. Seems that every team OSU plays, is a bad matchup for OSU. Florida State was huge, athletic..OSU spanked them....MSU was going to kill OSU on the boards....OSU outrebounded them. Seriously, I think its comical. If you know basketball, its OSU who is one of the toughest matchups for ANYONE in the country. A 6'7" PG , who just happens to be the best player in the country...rarely does anyone have anyone to matchup with Turner. Then you have 3 other long, athletic perimeter players capable of shootings outside, and getting to the rim. OSU is the matchup nightmare for other teams fellas.
  On top of that, Tenn struggles offensively. They play pressure defense...which quite honestly, doesn't worry me as OSU will drive it down their throats to the rim. Once they loosen them up, it will open up the outside.
  OSU has faced about every kind of lineup, every defense you can imagine to this point. Some of you make it sound like they are playing some undefeated team in Tenn. Tenn is a quality team. But if OSU plays their game, do what they have been doing...they are the better team and will come away with a win. Quite honestly, I was more worried about GT then this game.
  
  As for MSU...I think they have enough to worry about before even thinking of a matchup with OSU or Tenn.

  Tennessee is a nightmare matchup for OSU, and you should have been a little bit more worried about the VOLS than GT!
• wildcats20

  

  SQ_Crazies wrote: Early in the season after they put up like 140 or whatever it was, I said that I thought UT was the best team in the country--then we all know what happened after that. If this team had Smith and the guys that are suspended, they'd be national champs IMO.

  I actually I agree with that. This Vols team is very, very good, but with Smith they could have been a great team.
• Non

  

  It felt like Tennessee had the game where they wanted it about midway through the first half.
  
  Turner had too much heavy lifting to do to create opportunities for himself and others and then defend on the other end.
  
  OSU had to be very efficient and keep up scoring wise, which they were able to do surprisingly well.
  
  It turned out to be a game that the Buckeyes just had to try and survive somehow. They had a chance if they had made a few of those shots in the final minute.