Tennessee - Thursday Night, 9:40 PM

[swerb]

Big, big test Thurs night for the Buckeye perimeter defenders.

Tennessee starts four guards, launches 26 three pointers a game, and they run, run, run every chance they get.

They're playing well right now too. Won 9 of 11 ... and if you look at their schedule this year, they had one really bad stretch in January where they lost 6 of 8. And SEC Player of the Year Chris Lofton was injured through a good chunk of that bender. Rest of the season? This team has gone 18-4, with impressive wins over Texas, Memphis, Florida, Kentucky and others.

Didn't see any of their track meet against Long Beach. Watched just about all of their win over Virginia, who they just wore down. They were just too much for the Cavs after falling behind early, going on a sick early second half run, then fending em off late.

Lofton didn't shoot the ball well, but nailed some huge free throws late. He's clearly a very, very talented player. They also got two guards named Smith. JaJuan had a big game vs Virginia, is more of a true 2. Ramar is a freshman, more of a PG type. Talented, erratic. Horrid assist-turnover ratio this year. The other guard is their only senior, Dane Bradshaw, a white kid that does a little bit of everything including playing alot of PG for them. Their only big man starter is Wayne Chism, a talented 6'8 frosh.

These guys are going to press all game, run at all costs, and prolly hoist 30+ threes. They are one of the worst rebounding and free throw shooting teams in the tournament.

This one should be fun. And scary.

[furls]

Biggest concern about this game is them just out running the Buckeyes (ala UNC). If the bucks can limit it to a halfcourt game I like their chances. OSU's guards play pretty good defense.

[HoodooMan]

9:40?

Fuck you, West Coast.

[consigliere]

Man, from here on out ALL the potential matchups scare the shit out of me. One at a time though.....should be a great game Thurs night.

[FUDU]

IIRC didn't the Buckeyes get out to a 17 pt lead on Tenn. the last time they played? Then Tenn overachieved to make a failed comeback?

[swerb]

Jamar gearing up to run with Lofton tonight. Can't wait for this game.

http://www.cleveland.com/osubasketball/ ... xml&coll=2

Butler serves defensive stops
Ohio State guard draws Tennessee's Lofton for second time
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Doug Lesmerises
Plain Dealer Reporter

San Antonio- Jamar Butler's first attempt to impress his Ohio State coaches while wearing a Buckeye uniform ended with a disastrous phone call to head coach Thad Matta, who was on the road recruiting.

"Jamar Butler can't play at Ohio State," assistant coach John Groce told Matta.

In his first skill instruction under Groce and assistant Dan Peters in 2004, Butler shocked his new coaches with his lack of effort and intensity. Three years later, the junior, as usual, will be locked on an opponent's best scoring guard, charged with bottling up Tennessee's Chris Lofton when the Buckeyes and Volunteers meet in one of the NCAA Tournament's South Regional semifinals tonight at the Alamodome.

"I've been doing this for 11 years, and I can count on one hand, maybe, guys that are as tough as he plays on the defensive end," Groce said. "He's a monster on defense. Ask his teammates to name the toughest [guy] on our team, they'll tell you it's Jamar Butler."

He's not the leading scorer (his 8.7 average ranks fifth), the point guard (he ceded that duty to Mike Conley Jr. this year), or Mr. Big Shot (Butler missed his 3-pointer for the lead against Xavier 14 seconds before Ron Lewis made his). Tough guy is a mantle he'll carry, in part because he's freed up from having to do those other things. Today against Lofton, who scored 21 in Ohio State's 68-66 win over Tennessee on Jan. 13, averaged 20.7 points on the season and was named the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year ahead of anyone on Florida's crew, Butler expects to expend 80 percent of his energy on defense.

"You're not going to hold a player like that scoreless," Butler said, "but you just try to contain him."

Butler's plan is to make Lofton shoot as much as possible - he was 9-of-20 in their first meeting, one of two times in 30 games this year that he took 20 or more shots.

"You know they're going to shoot till they get their average," Butler said of the scorers he's assigned. "So the more shots they take, the better."

Ohio State freshman David Lighty, at 6-6, brings a unique defensive ability to guard anyone from point guards through power forwards, and he may get a couple minutes on Lofton as well. Butler, at 6-2, is limited by his size, but he's the ideal thorn for the Buckeyes to stick on the 6-2 Lofton.

"He forced me to take some tough shots and some questionable shots," Lofton said. "He had me a little frustrated because I couldn't really shoot like I wanted to."

A 41.7 percent 3-point shooter, Lofton's not afraid to launch an NBA-length 3-pointer with a hand in his face, but he burned the Buckeyes the first time with a better ability to drive than they thought, and Butler actually considers the Tennessee game one of his worst of the season.

"We didn't know he could do all that," Conley said. "We just thought he was a shooter, but he can do it all."

In their sometimes ferocious practice scrimmages, Butler and Conley are always on opposite teams, so Conley knows what Butler will be facing. Butler isn't a gambler who leaps into passing lanes like Conley. He's a pretty quick nose-on-the-ball pest who learned at the knee of Je'Kel Foster, the leader of last year's Buckeyes who Matta can't stop talking about.

"Je'Kel taught him how to compete," Matta said. "That's one of the best things that ever happened to Jamar."

The fate of the Buckeyes relies in part on how well Butler learned. Averaging 79.7 points per game, Tennessee is the 11th-highest scoring team in the country and second among teams still in the tournament, trailing only North Carolina. In its opener against Long Beach State, Tennessee scored 121 points, tying the tournament record for most points in an opening round game, and Lofton led the way with 25.

The Buckeyes, with players always eager to fast break, should be willing to run with the Volunteers. Butler is willing to stop them.

"I used to never play defense," Butler said, "but I knew I had it in me."

[Wolfy]

Their only big man starter is Wayne Chism, a talented 6'8 frosh.

Hahahaha...he said CHISM...Hahahahahaha

[swerb]

Their only big man starter is Wayne Chism, a talented 6'8 frosh.

Hahahaha...he said CHISM...Hahahahahaha

Oden had 24 and 15 against these guys the 1st game, and he was still very limited.

On you tonight big Greg.

Checklist for tonight ...

1. Order food
2. Frost mugs
3. Get kid in bed by 8 PM
4. Go mano y mano with six pack of Dortmunder
5. Watch Buckeyes win and cover

Lather, rinse, repeat for Saturday vs A&M.

[Wolfy]

Ummmmmm...Let me see...Hmmmm...I'll have an order of what he is haveing please!

[Wolfy]

Sorry...drop the e in haveing please...I am such a horrible speller'er...I hate myself... i'm such a looser

[lynch011]

Come on Wolf, don't start bringing you're gramar and speling erorrs to this message bored!!

[Wolfy]

I didnt think they let Michigan suck ass on this site. And notice no PUNKtuation on didnt and the starting of a sentance with and you Buckeye hater! Blow me...LOL

[Wolfy]

Oh, and there is only suppose to be one exclamation point at the end of a sentence you jerk off. It is always funny to me when you start your mess cuz you do the same shit. Aint you suppose to be shipping a box or something? Swerb…I cant believe you let Michigan in here…very disappointed! GO BOX'S...OPPS I MEAN BUCK'S

[pup]

Sleeper big game guy tonight....Ivan Harris.

[swerb]

I was thinking Lighty. He's gonna get some minutes tonight chasing around those Volunteer talented wings.

http://www.osu.edu/download/battle_cry.mp3

[consigliere]

Let me be the last to say before tipoff....I have a bad feeling about tonight's game.

[pup]

I have a bad feeling about tonight's game

And you wonder why nobody likes ya T?

[swerb]

Im expecting a semi-comfortable Buckeye win, Tennessee doesn't hit 70 points, and Oden unleashes his frustration from the Xavier game and subsequent Mutombo comparions from the Consigliere.

74-63 Buckeyes

Oden - 25 and 18, makes Chism his beeyotch all night

Lighty scores 10 points and helps chase JaJuan and Lofton around.

Jamar holds Lofton to under 40% shooting and under 20 points

[consigliere]

Ah, 10:19 tip. Can't wait for this game tonight.

OSU loses 76-68 tonight.

[mswerb]

ESPN has the Buckeyes as the first #1 seed to go down. They are lucky to be in this game at all, Xavier choked.

[FUDU]

I got the Buckeyes winning tonight, in a 2-3 possession game with under a minute remaining.

Oden dominated the Vols first time out and he wasn't in game shape nor sharp. Plus I truly feel Matta had to learn something from that final 7 minutes of the RD 2 game.

I would be shocked to see him ignore Oden as he did against Xavier.

[swerb]

Is it just me or does Bruce Pearl look eerily like Lou Ferrigno?

[FUDU]

I have counted 4 missed looks at an OSU big man in the paint between his defender and the basket, not even half way through the first half.

[consigliere]

I hear you. Hunter went flashing through the paint with no one within 5 feet and Cook or whoever it was completely avoided him.

Tennessee raining 3s is the worst thing that can happen, not just because they are making them, but because our guys start jacking them up.

[FUDU]

Man did you call that right.

Is that more Thad or the players?

This game is about 2 minutes from being over.

Is it January 9th by chance?

[consigliere]

They look like shit tonight.

LONG WAY TO GO....but this is looking like another embarassment in the making.

[consigliere]

For the love of all that is holy....STOP HOISTING THREES!

Work it inside to Oden for crying out loud. Long way to go!

Whelp, as I type this, 3 fouls on Oden. We are in trouble.

[consigliere]

Is Thad Matta borrowing Mike Brown's offensive playbook?

Good Lord.

[FUDU]

Are they even looking to get deeper than the foul line?


The Buckeyes don't even look like they want to be there.

[consigliere]

Halftime can't come soon enough.

I feel exactly like I did in the NC game against Florida where I saw it slipping fast and wished for halftime to come right away. They have to find a way to keep the deficit at 12-15 tops and come out like gangbusters in the 2nd.

[consigliere]

Alright, now let's start playing our game. And D up.

[FUDU]

JFC!!!

I almost want them to lose now (down 20).

Fuck these idiots tonight.

We'll lose by 25+, game is over.

[consigliere]

Tennessee is running us out of the building. Yes, they have hit a ridiculous percentage from 3...but they also are getting look after look from 2 feet away. They must have had 10-12 shots from 2 feet and in so far.

Meanwhile, the Buckeyes on offense can't find a way go get within 12 feet of the rim. Amazing. You'd think the Cavaliers were playing with the stand around offense and total lack of ball movement.

Oden is completely neutralized. We are going to need a heck of a 2nd half to come back.

[furls]

The perfect storm:

Tennessee starts the game on fire, Buckeyes start playing sloppy, Oden is in foul trouble.

[consigliere]

Bucks first four 2nd half offensive possessions: 4 layup attempts

Where the fuck was this the first half?

[consigliere]

15-2 run to cut it to 7.....they now have a chance.

BTW, what was that Larry Hughes-esque brick Conley just threw up? Yowsers.

[consigliere]

I always hate people by the name of Bradshaw.

[swerb]

57-53

Back to Buckeye basketball here in the second half, and the Vols have come back to earth from outside.

First half was a disaster. Team was lethargic, getting beat to loose balls, not boxing out, Oden a non factor, and there was a god damn lid on the rim we were shooting at.

They've gotta avoid Oden & Conley getting their 4th fouls. Lewis is heating up. Lets keep this rollin ...

[sandlot33]

weak foul

[swerb]

That was a horse shit 4th foul call on Oden, my lord. They're hanging in there with he and Othella pined with 4 apiece.

Jamal ... hit one jumper tonight?

[consigliere]

Amazing how they erased a 20 point deficit in just over 10 minutes.

THis is gonna be a dogfight from here on out.

Props to the Bucks for coming out strong and not lying down with their rears in the air and taking it up the ass.

[furls]

that 4th they put on oden was fucking ridiculous

I guess opposing players should just start running into him as he stands still as a way to draw fouls. HORRIBLE HORRIBLE HORRIBLE CALL.

[swerb]

Buckeyes 17/24 FT, Tennessee 6/13 ... been a big difference in the comeback. Vols have been in the penalty since the 12 minute mark.

Gotta keep hitting these FTs down the stretch here.

[swerb]

Butler! Finally! 72-68 good guys ...

[consigliere]

Terwiliger coming up huge.

[consigliere]

Man, Tennessee is annoying as hell. 3 straight threes.

[swerb]

Thats two big three point plays by Lighty. The one at the end of the 1H, and that three ball right there to tie it at 79.

What a game.

No shortage of drama for the Bucks in the Dance this year ...

[consigliere]

Bucks are well-tested in tight games....played in lots all year. Let's see how they close this one out with 2:30 left and tied 79-79.

[furls]

It is clear to me now that Ohio State is a MUCH better team. Had they come out of this game firing, and Tennessee had not come out on fire, this game would not be close.

[furls]

God damn it, i can't take this shit. I feel like it is the 02 football bucks now.