The 5-Hole – Blue Jackets News and Notes: 3/3/09 – NHL Trade Rumors Edition
March 3, 2009While We’re Waiting… Wally’s Role, NBA Power Rankings and a Destination for Manny
March 4, 2009If you’re a reader of this here blog, you know that it isn’t easy being a fan of our covered teams. Things never seem to come pain free with our rooting interests, whether it be on or off of the field. And do not expect that to change much as the Ohio State Buckeyes (18-9, 8-8) square off in a must-win game on the hardwood. After a sub par stretch of basketball that saw them lose four of their last five, the Iowa Hawkeyes (14-15, 4-12) stand in their way as the Big Ten tournament awaits.
Anything can happen on the road, so the Buckeyes must not take this one lightly. Wins tonight and this Sunday (against Northwestern) would give Ohio State the coveted 20 wins to gain consideration for the NCAA tournament. Of course, playing well in to the B10 tourney would help things a bit.
Can Evan Turner keep the turnovers to a low? Can the entire team bounce back after getting absolutely worked by the Boilermakers this past weekend? Can Thad Matta finally win one in the state of Iowa?
All of these questions will be answered tonight as the Scarlet and Gray look to stay alive in the eyes of the Bracketologists. This is one of those games that can hurt you a lot more than it can help you. The Buckeyes pulled out their last meeting by three points. Here’s hoping that this one has a cushion that is considerably larger.
8 Comments
Must win? nah, I think we’ve got our NIT bid locked up.
I love my bucks but I don’t see the big dance in their future this year, whenever we’re ‘on the bubble’ as the phrase goes we generally don’t get in.
Hoy-
The Buckeyes bubble resume is actually one of the more impressive in the bunch. The Big 10 has gained a lot of cred this year with its solid play and improvements of teams like Michigan (whom the Buckeyes swept), Illinois (swept the Buckeyes), Penn State (swept), and Northwestern. Not to mention, with every win Butler notches, the Buckeyes resume improves. If the Buckeyes win tonight and Sunday, they are 90% in. One win in the Big Ten tourney would lock that bid. Now its just a matter of the Buckeyes exectuing the game plan…
Can someone please update me on David Lighty? I’m searching for news on his status, and coming up empty. If he comes back healthy, this team improves immensly on defense and allows them to play a more traditional lineup instead of trying to outquick with lineups that involve putting Turner at the point forward (yuck…)
If Lighty doesn’t come back, that hurts their resume because their best nonconference wins, Miami ND and Butler, were with Lighty. Usually, the tournament committee evaluates the team that is going into the tournament, which means wins with key guys who are now injured hold less weight. ND and Miami aren’t that great of wins anymore anyways, and getting blown out at home by WVU certainly hurts. Losing any of the next two games for the Bucks and a first round exit from the conference tournament and they are likely out of the tournament. They should beat Iowa though, they are so terrible they lost to Indiana
JJ –
The last I heard about Lighty was that he wasn’t healing as fast and not on the timeline they laid out – or assumed. I don’t remember where I read it, or if I heard it, but they were talking about just red-shirting him and I’m assuming they’re waiting to see how this plays out.
So, here’s to hoping that we don’t make it and it forces Mullens and Buford to come back because we’ll be a force next year. We’re not going anywhere this year anyway, so we might as well look forward (this state is best at that). This team is the most inconsistent team I’ve seen in a long time. Not to mention we’re like 150th in rebounding…something sick like that.
Heard the same on Lighty. They’re probably going to just redshirt him, which would be great if we can get some consitentcy on the roster for once (not holding my breath on that).
At this point there’s no reason to bring Lighty back. We all agree this team’s ceiling is probably 2nd round of the NCAA tourney, so why waste a whole season of eligibility for that? If they sit him out for the rest of the year, he gets another year of eligibility and then next year they can be solid.
Also, I wouldn’t expect them to lose anyone this time. Mullens may eventually be ready for the pros, but its not now. He would be a fool to enter the draft this year, especially with very solid big men in front of him (Griffin, Thabeet). He’d be lucky to be a lottery pick, and might end up like Koufus who is rocking the D-League these days.
Turner and Buford would be lucky to be first rounders, so I’d expect them to stay at least one more year (probably two in Turner’s case). Plus, I read that Buford’s dad said he’d be coming back next season. Of course I remember Coneley’s dad saying something very similar.
I understand we actually have a decent resume this year. However it seems when bubble teams are evaluated they traditionally go to the big basketball conferences, or small schools that have historically fielded good squads.
Yes the big 10 has played very well this year, whether the selection committee recognizes that will have alot to do with our situation I think. Also I could be mistaken but we’re pretty low on strength of schedule this year aren’t we?
I wanna say the RPI and SOS are both top 50. The Big 10 is predicted to have as low as 5 teams in to as many as 7. Right now Joe Lunardi has 6 Big 10 teams in with Ohio State as a 10 seed against Utah in the bracket with Oklahoma (every bracket i see them in, Buckeyes 2nd round opposition is a 1 or 2 seed.
When it comes to Buckeyes going pro. Turner will flirt with the idea, as will Mullens and Buford. As far as anyone cashing in on those flirtations. I predict Turner goes. Just because we know they won’t be picked that high in the draft, doesn’t mean they have big mouths chirping in their ear inflating their egos telling them what to do.