The Buckeyes get their March Madness on tonight, as a top seed in the Big dance might just “boil down” to tonight’s key match-up with Purdue at 9 PM ET on Big Ten Network. Paul Keels and Ron Stokes will have the call on the Ohio State Radio Network, as well as online.
What’s in store for tonight on the hardwood?
For the Buckeyes, it’s a tournament championship or bust. Just ask William Buford who has been to three straight championship games. His 14 points per game in Big Ten tournament games is a true testament of what he’s meant to the Buckeyes in post season play. Thad Matta’s club has six straight wins in the precursor to the pantheon of college basketball. Without a doubt, this team has been through it’s challenges past few years. Of course there is the overtime thriller last year against Northwestern in the tournament quarterfinals. How about the sword in the heart that Evan Turner turned in against the rival house, as the last breath of hope for a tournament championship waited in the wings.
For every success story though is a setback.
One miscue, and it’s over. You don’t have time to lose focus. All that matters is what’s ahead of you. March Madness and tournament play is like a pit fight to the death. It doesn’t matter if you’re more athletic, stronger, or have more speed. In a split second, anyone can take your legs from under you.
And follow it up with a dagger that takes your life.
From the moment the Buckeyes take the floor tonight, it will be a battle. Purdue senior forward Robbie Hummel will without a doubt lead the charge for the boilermakers.
Whether it be off the catch, high pick and roll, or in the post — he finds ways to score, rebound, and distribute. His 16.5 points per game by far lead his team. What’s most impressive is his ability to bring down 7 boards a game. We all know the danger he presents from long range. His 37% shooting percentage from beyond the arc is impressive.
Factor in that D.J. Byrd and Ryne Smith are both 43% from three point territory, and things get a little nerve racking. In the first match-up between these two teams, Purdue used the pick and roll to perfection to find the open shooter on the perimeter. Last night against Nebraska, the team dropped a season high 13 three pointers. Five players were in double figures.
With players such as Anthony Johnson and Byrd off the bench, this team has a multitude of weapons. And like Ohio State, they have become the team everyone expected them to be at the end of the season.
Top that off with the fact that Robbie Hummel is arguably playing the best basketball of his career heading into tournament play.
For the Buckeyes, everyone knows that the key to victory is in the hands of William Buford. Everyone has his move step to the left against Michigan State that ultimately led to a co-title in the conference. If he can keep scoring at the level he is capable of, that gives Thad Matta a lot more openings and options offensively.
Key Match-Up:
The one to watch will be the battle at the point between Lewis Jackson and Aaron Craft. Jackson is very good at taking care of the basketball, and averages just as many assists per game as Craft. The one difference though might be range. Lewis has really struggled with his shot. It took all the way to the end of February against Michigan for the talented combo guard to score his first three point bucket in conference. Though his game consists more penetrating to the bucket to either kick out and draw a foul, he has been known at times to settle for a jumper or two. If the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year can close down the passing lanes, that could force the shot even more. It’s going to be tough rattling Jackson, but either way this battle is going to be fun to watch on both sides of the court.
Keys From Lifers Bank Fieldhouse
WVaBuckeye and Gary Russell have the Keys to the Game for you this Afternoon from the scene as they take in all the madness first hand.
First and foremost the Buckeyes need to play a great perimeter game game against the Boilermakers. They have to limit the touches by Hummel and Smith on the edge and do a better job of not allowing Johnson to do his thing. Purdue doesn’t possess an inside presence that gave Nebraska any fits as the three was the theme of the day on Thursday. Day 2 will be more about the lower seeds slowing it down and getting high percentage looks. The Buckeyes have to continue to do what they did against MSU and ride that momentum into the semi’s. Look for a steady dose of Jared Sullinger inside and William Buford needs to do his thing and go out with a big B1G tourney.
Quick Bits:
- Thad Matta is 14-4 in B1G Tourney games in his time at Ohio State. He has made it to the championship game in 5 of the last 6 years.
- This is the first time in the Big Ten Tournament history that Ohio State enters play as a #3 seed. Since the Tourney started in 1998, the Buckeyes have been the #1 seed 13 times (11-2) and the #6 seed 4 times (3-1).
- Aaron Craft went 11-19 from the floor last year in the tournament. Think he’ll shoot the ball just a bit more this weekend? Jared Sullinger had a monstrous tournament with some of his best rebounding performances of his career. He averaged 16 points and 14 boards per game.
- As much as Deshaun Thomas disturbs some fans with his decisions to shoot the ball, his field goal percentage for the season is above 50%. Maybe that’s because 47% of his rebounds this year have been on the offensive side.
- Never has an Ohio State team had three players score 500 points in a season. It could very well happen by the time this thing is said and done. Sullinger is at 490, Thomas and Buford are both tied at 468.
- Thad Matta has had one hell of a run at Ohio State in the month of March. His 39-10 (.796) record is the best of any other month on the calendar besides November, where he is 39-5.
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