The next test on the long and winding non-conference schedule for the Ohio State Buckeyes is the Pat Knight led Lamar University Cardinals. The son of Bobby boy has put together an 8-3 record this season after landing in the Southland Conference after being fired by Texas Tech at the end of the last season. Despite lobbying for plenty of other positions, getting into recruiting trouble in his first couple months in charge, and struggling to convince an undisciplined team the concept of defense — his squad has looked like one of the more competitive teams in the state of Texas.
And though I wouldn’t consider myself a fan of Pat, I do have to give him props. At least he realizes that Tuesday night is not a rematch of the 85-78 overtime loss the Cardinals suffered to Ohio early in the season (I love pot shots when there is no correlation).
Here is a look at tomorrow’s match-up between The Lamar Cardinals.
| School: | Lamar University |
| Location: | Beaumont, Texas |
| Founded: | 1923 |
| Student Population: | 14,522 |
| School Type: | Public |
| Division: | NCAA |
| Conference: | Southland |
| Stadium: | Montagne Center |
| Seating: | 10,080 |
| Built: | 1984 |
| Head Coach: | Pat Knight |
| Year: | 1st |
Opponent Overview:
After a disappointing 2010-11 season that saw the Cardinals finish 13-17 and 7-9 in the Southland Conference, the folks at Lamar decided to give Pat Knight his second chance at leading a division I program. Thankfully he heads to Beaumont with some of the best defensive pedigree in the country. The son of the great Bob Knight took over a team in the off-season that averaged giving up 76 points a game.
Despite early success, his team continues to struggle to that tune. The Cardinals have given up 66 points a game this season, and have played in a ton of high scoring affairs. Just last night against Rice, Lamar held a 16 point led but had to hold on during the last two minutes to secure the victory. Despite struggling on the defensive side, Pat Knight’s squad set season highs for three pointers made, and shot extremely well from the free throw line.
Something the Buckeyes have struggled with defensively.
Combine that with the fact that average 42.7 rebounds per game (2nd best in the nation), and you can start to feel the makings of a small conference school that has the personnel to upset an Ohio State team without Jared Sullinger.
Four starters return from a year ago and Pat Knight has only brought in three new recruits to start his tenure on the bench. What was once a bottom dweller in the Southland conference now looks like a favorite to make it to March Madness.
Player Preview:
The Cardinals are led in the backcourt by top guards Austin Miles and Mike James, who have had a spectacular start to the 2011 season. Both seniors have shot better than 40 percent from the field. Both seniors do a good job of handling the basketball. Not only that, they take their time to set up shots and look for the open man inside.
Miles has been absolutely out of his mind from three point land this season. Against Rice he went 5-5 on Sunday and is shooting a total of 54% from beyond the Arc. He also leads the team in assists with four assists per game.
The “big man” to watch is senior Devon Lamb who leads the teams in rebounds thus far and finished averaging 8.3 per game a year ago. At 6’2″ he is a true testament to grit and determination on the court. Already on the season he has three double doubles. Last season he ripped down 100 offensive boards. This season he is averaging 3.5 per game.
Donley Minor, Osas Ebomwonyi and Charlie Harper all contribute inside. Harper is the teams second leading rebounder. Ebomwonyi is averaging 2.5 blocks a game off the bench as well. He isn’t much of an offensive threat, but without Sullinger, he could create mismatch issues inside.
The Buckeye View:
[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/JeffBoals/status/148186034054766592″]The journey to Big Ten Play yet again continues without Jared Sullinger, who exited Saturday’s victory over South Carolina. Thad Matta joked after the game that he took him out of the game because he wasn’t playing good enough defense, there is nothing funny about missing Sully for a long period of time.
Thankfully Evan Ravenel and Amir Williams are stepping up at just the right time. Ravs looked good on the floor against South Carolina and brought the energy that Sullinger does when he is in the post. Now he just has to find better positioning out on the floor in scrambling situations and off the block with the box out.
That’s where Amir Williams could play a big role off the bench on Tuesday. Lamar will start one player at 6’7″ but will go small throughout the rest of the lineup.
That doesn’t mean Ohio State will have an easy time on the boards. This is a very aggressive backcourt that will get to the hoop and grab offensive rebounds. They’ll also make you work for your miss. It will be imperative for the Ohio State bigs to get to the basketball first on Tuesday, in order to slow down the up tempo philosophy of the Cardinals.
I don’t even need to mention that Deshaun Thomas is a man possessed and he needs to continue that play on Tuesday. The Big Ten Player of the week tied and set career highs last week. He’s made 17 consecutive two point field goals.
The one thing that will matter the most though is his aggressiveness on the offensive glass. If that continues, watch out Cardinals and Red Hawks of Miami. Your defense might be in for a very long week.
Tip-Off is set for 8:30 PM ET on The Big Ten Network.
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