The Drought Is Over! Pacers vs Cavaliers: Behind the Box Score
March 21, 2015Russell, Bucks bow out to Arizona
March 22, 2015In an era of 72-inch TVs, couches that will rub your feet, and Roombas that bring you the remote control, it’s easy to watch NCAA Tournament games from afar. Despite all of the modern-day amenities in the world, there is still nothing like watching your team in person. On Thursday, I was lucky enough to see my Ohio State University Buckeyes play the VCU Rams in Portland, OR in the first (or second?) round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament. Since I’m guessing you know the final score by now, you can imagine it was worth the trip.
The Moda Center (née Rose Garden) is a magnificent facility. Home to the Portland Trailblazers, it and the University of Oregon hosted the slate of games on Thursday. Outside the arena sits a very open and active bar where we made our pre-game stop. The great thing about being an out of town fan is that when you see other supporters you can approach without fear. We recognize each other as members of the same tribe and the conversation flows freely. Most Buckeyes I met shared the same opinion of this year’s basketball team: We can beat VCU, but not Arizona. One fan predicted a national championship, but that may have been his fifth beer at 10:30 a.m. talking. Their opinion of VCU: “Cinderella…Shaka Smart… A long flight home.”
I was lucky enough to speak to a couple VCU fans as well. When asked, “What do you think of when I say ‘Ohio State Basketball?’” they responded “Football.” So OSU athletics’ brand is secure in Virginia at least.
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“What do you think of when I say ‘Ohio State Basketball?’” they responded “Football.”
In between games we snuck down to the lower bowl (don’t tell the ushers). In the intervening half hour, the bands took their position and VCU’s pep band quickly made their presence felt. The body language was confident; the musicians screamed into their trumpets seemingly ready to check in if need be. Ohio State’s band appeared more reserved with a “we’ve been here before” air. The Buckeyes took the court to partisan applause. When the Rams jogged out it was clear VCU was the people’s champion. Even though Virginia Commonwealth was seeded higher than Ohio State (7 vs. 10), a crowd can distinguish David from Goliath. The Scarlet and Gray would play the latter.
A slow start loomed large over the Buckeyes. Ohio State failed to convert a series of easy buckets and suffered a long stretch without scoring. The crowd distinctly favored VCU; I commented to my girlfriend that “No one likes Ohio State.” A stranger next to me overheard and said “That’s right.” Of course he was wearing an Oregon jacket so it’s not clear how objective he truly was. After falling behind by as many as 12, Ohio State—and specifically D’Angelo Russell—began to heat up before halftime. He drew the club to a 30-29 deficit at intermission.
Part of the beauty of the NCAA Tournament is its simplicity. The games are the purist basketball a fan could request. Curtains cover all in-house advertisements. There are no logos on the court, no commercial breaks during timeouts, and no t-shirt cannons. During each media or team timeout the respective bands and cheerleaders alternate performances and at halftime each takes a turn at center court. The students were the focus and no one tried to sell me a beverage or car insurance for two hours. It was nice.
The students were the focus and no one tried to sell me a beverage or car insurance for two hours. It was nice.
With 2:46 remaining, the Buckeyes led 62-60. Amir Williams pulled down a huge offensive rebound and was fouled. It may have been the biggest rebound of his career. I have long maligned the senior from Birmingham, MI. At worst he looked like Frankenstein’s monster actively learning how to play the game while on the court. At best he looked like a slow-footed almost 7-footer who could pull down a couple rebounds. Even Thursday he regularly allowed his man past for easy dunks and somehow defied physics to plant the ball in the base of the rim on a dunk attempt and create a held ball. Still he played critical minutes down the stretch and finished with 13 points, two rebounds, and two blocks. Most importantly he hit five of his six free throws.
With less than a minute to go we entered buzzer beater country. VCU’s JaQuan Lewis pulled down a board with the scored tied at 66 and 25 seconds left on the clock. The whole arena came to its feet at once. Without any discussion everyone knew that a clip from “One Shining Moment” could have been unfolding in real time. It’s an exciting moment but scary to face such infamy in the face. I muttered, “not again, not again, not again” as the ghost of last year’s Dayton game played in my head. Most neutral fans seemed excited at the chance to see history, but luckily Lewis’ layup went wanting and so did Treveon Graham’s put back. We would play five more minutes.
The overtime continued the second half’s seesaw pace. Tensions rose on the court and Jae’Sean Tate fouled out with 3:01 remaining and a 68-68 score. Keita Bates-Diop, the freshman from Normal, Illinois, checked in and fired a clutch three that gave the Buckeyes a lead they would not relinquish. As Russell recorded his 27th and 28th points on the icing free throws disgruntled VCU fans left seemingly wondering, “How lucky can one school get?” Final score: Ohio State 75 – VCU 72.
As the ushers hustled us out of the gym—they had to prepare for the day’s second doubleheader—strangers high fived and O-H’s were I-O’ed. A sunny Portland day greeted us and the crowd dispersed. Ohio State won a tournament game for the first time since beating Arizona in the 2013 Sweet 16 and will play the same Arizona Wildcats on Saturday. Las Vegas will doubtless make ‘Zona the favorites and they do look better on paper. But none of that matters as we walk toward Voodoo Donuts. The beauty of the tournament in person is that it brings people together far from home.
For two hours on Thursday Section 114 at the Moda Center was a slice of Ohio. Strangers from Chillicothe, Newark, Youngstown, and Strongsville sang the same songs and enjoyed one of the day’s best basketball games together. Plus we joyfully saw the Buckeyes earn the right to dance on. That’s a feeling you can’t get from a TV.