Our Honor Defend

Apologies to one of my favorite recording artists for paraphrasing a song for a post title, but the feeling is definitely jubilant on my end.  Today, the Buckeyes added some confirmation to the truism/cliche that it’s no small feat to beat a team three times in a season when they thumped Michigan State out of the Big Ten tournament and out of any conversation for a no. 1 seed in the tournament.  After dropping previous decisions in East Lansing (67-58), and later in Columbus (78-67), the Buckeyes delivered a second-half thrashing en route to a 82-70 victory.

The Buckeyes found their stroke in a big way, which played a big role in propelling the Buckeyes to the victory.  Jon Diebler led the way here, going 5-11 from the field.  More specifically, he was 5/10 from beyond the arc, finishing with 17 points.  Jeremie Simmons was also 2-2 from deep; PJ Hill and William Buford chipped in with a three pointer each as well.  As a team, the Buckeyes finished 9/16 from three point territory.  Elsewhere, the Buckeyes shot 53 percent from the field for the game.

Michigan State shooting? Not so much.  They finished a patry 3-21 from the perimeter.  They only shot 38 percent from the field for the game.  While I don’t want to oversell the Buckeyes’ defensive effort this game, much of this can be attributed to a disciplined, focused effort on D by the Buckeyes.  They gave few lanes, few easy shots, and avoided biting on pump fakes.  Of course, it’s not like Michigan State weren’t getting any easy looks.  They got more than a few, but only a couple fell for the Spartans.

While making jumpshots (and Sparty not making theirs) was likely the proximate cause for victory, a comparably as impressive factor was the team effort displayed the Buckeyes.  We’ve seen Ohio State’s offense degenerate into 4 guys standing around watching Evan Turner try to make something out of nothing.  However, Evan Turner was scoreless after the first half, but finished with 18 points (most of them coming from the charity stripe).  Buford more than compensated in the first half with 12 points (I think), but was two intentional foul free throws away from being scoreless for the second stanza.  He finished 6/8 from the field for the game.  The big men in particular helped lead the way.  Dallas Lauderdale got his offense on, finishing with 7 points (3/3 from the field).  BJ Mullens contributed 12 points, including 6 made free throws in 8 attempts.  Very impressive.

The Buckeyes await the winner of Purdue and Illinois in the championship game.  They’ll be vying for their third Big Ten tournament championship.  Screw you NCAA; who are you to determine what historical events happened and didn’t happen.  Since when are you the final arbiter of history. second Big Ten tournament championship, their first since 2007.

Miscellaneous Observations

• I know it makes perfect basketball sense but really, Sparty, going full court press and fouling early into sets when the lead swelled to 17 was a bit of a dick move.  That second half wouldn’t end.
• On that same note, Michigan State revealed their preferences in a big way when Suton wouldn’t foul Lauderdale when that happened.  I thought Matta was a little too reluctant to swap in Mullens.  That said, it eventually happened, coinciding with offensive sets for Mullens and defensive sets for Lauderdale.
• While I just praised the defensive effort earlier, it wasn’t lost on me that Mullens was a little soft on the defensive side of the floor.  That, and Diebler was a straight-up liability.  I don’t think any Spartan respected his ability to block someone out on the rebound.  He hit the deck most times anyways.
• Buckeye band chanting MVP when Evan Turner was setting up for free throws late in the second half… nice… very nice.
• Buford having to sit the final minutes was cause for concern, but I think that was just a cramp.
• I think I want Illinois in the final game.  We’ve already beaten Purdue once, so…
• I’m a bit of a fundamental-ist (bad choice of words, I know) when it comes to sports, so part of me dies a little inside when offensive lines block like schoolgirls or people don’t box out.  Rebounding and defense were all I did when I played in high school, so it pains me to see the Buckeyes fork over 17 offensive rebounds to the Spartans.  Efficient rebounding helped them in the first half.  I think they had a first half advantage there, but still: 17 offensive rebounds for the Spartans.  Yuck.