tOSU vs Minnesota (game preview)

[Steve19]

Game previews will appear in the press in coming days for inclusion in this thread.

The power ratings and Vegas odds will probably have us as a 1-4 point underdog, but there is reason for optimism for the Buckeyes.

Minnesota will probably becoming off a loss to MSU tonight, having lost by 15 points at home earlier this year. If so, it will be their third in a row and their fourth loss in six games, and their sixth loss in the last ten games. Minny were drubbed by 15 at Indiana in their last game and lost a close one to Northwestern before that.

They will have one less day to rest and prepare than we will have. This may be important because they are 1-4 when they have two days of rest and opponents have three days rest.

Minnesota ends its season with three games that it should win, after the Buckeyes, but needs to beat the Buckeyes in order to get 20 wins prior to the Big Ten tourney.

I know its time to move on, but I always remember Luke Witte whenever we play at Minnesota. Witte was our leading scorer and had a promising pro career coming until the game at Minnesota in 1972.

In the closing seconds of the game, Witte was fouled hard going to the basket. Without any warning, Corky Taylor, a Minnesota player then punched the 7-foot Witte in the head and kneed him in the groin. While he lay on the floor, Ron Behagen, another Minnesota player, stomped on Witte's neck and head. Witte eventually was carried from the arena on a stretcher while hometown Gopher fans booed and threw rubbish onto the court at the Ohio State players.

Neither Minnesota player was ever disciplined and it so disgusted legendary coach Fred Taylor that he lost all enthusiasm for the game and retired early.
Witte was never the same and did not ever play to the same level again, at OSU or afterwards. He averaged less than five points a game for the Cavs before leaving the game after three years in the pros.

I know one should forgive and forget and get on with life, but this memory haunts me every time we play these guys in Minneapolis. I realise that a number of Buckeye standouts have played pro football in Minnesota and that relations are very different today. I'm not saying let's win one for Luke.

But I do remember and it does give me a little more reason for wanting to win.

Despite the home loss this year, I think we can win this one. We then have eight days to prepare before Wisconsin at home and another two to prepare for Iowa away. It is possible that this team could win these three games and be 21-8 and in third place in the Big Ten entering the Illinois game.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

In the closing seconds of the game, Witte was fouled hard going to the basket. Without any warning, Corky Taylor, a Minnesota player then punched the 7-foot Witte in the head and kneed him in the groin. While he lay on the floor, Ron Behagen, another Minnesota player, stomped on Witte's neck and head. Witte eventually was carried from the arena on a stretcher while hometown Gopher fans booed and threw rubbish onto the court at the Ohio State players

A terrible and dark moment in Big Ten basketball history. Alot of us have not forgotten that game and what happened.

Despite the home loss this year, I think we can win this one. We then have eight days to prepare before Wisconsin at home and another two to prepare for Iowa away. It is possible that this team could win these three games and be 21-8 and in third place in the Big Ten entering the Illinois game.

The first game against Minny, was by far our worst performance of the year. We were simply terrible the whole game. I think we have a very good shot at winning this game and I say we win a close one.

[coastalbuck]

I was actually watching that game on TV and couldn't believe what happened. I t comes back to mind whenever we play Minny. Wasn't Bill Musselman sp. the coach then?

[MaxBuck]

I get more joy out of victories against the Goophers than against any other team. The failure of the B11 to levy any penalties against Minnesota after that game was shameful. Musselman was the prime thug in that fiasco, and I have never had any respect for him or his family since that dark day.

[Misanthrope]

Originally Posted by Steve19

I know its time to move on, but I always remember Luke Witte whenever we play at Minnesota. Witte was our leading scorer and had a promising pro career coming until the game at Minnesota in 1972.

In the closing seconds of the game, Witte was fouled hard going to the basket. Without any warning, Corky Taylor, a Minnesota player then punched the 7-foot Witte in the head and kneed him in the groin. While he lay on the floor, Ron Behagen, another Minnesota player, stomped on Witte's neck and head. Witte eventually was carried from the arena on a stretcher while hometown Gopher fans booed and threw rubbish onto the court at the Ohio State players.

Neither Minnesota player was ever disciplined and it so disgusted legendary coach Fred Taylor that he lost all enthusiasm for the game and retired early.
Witte was never the same and did not ever play to the same level again, at OSU or afterwards. He averaged less than five points a game for the Cavs before leaving the game after three years in the pros.

I knew about this event (can't say I remember when it happened - I was 7) and the impact it had on Witte's career, but I did NOT know the Gopher players were never disciplined? How could that be?

How in the hell did they do such a thing without consequence?

I have my own motivations for Minny. My freshman roommate at OSU was a fat, disgusting pig who had no respect for anyone else in the room, nor their belongings. After he finally realized the entire floor couldn't stand him, he transferred to Minnesota. I can't help but think of that fat bastard - we were calling him that a decade before Austin Powers - every time we play them.

[Oh8ch]

so disgusted legendary coach Fred Taylor that he lost all enthusiasm for the game and retired early.

Taylor said one of his biggest regrets in coaching was not resigning after the Big Ten failed to take effective action following that game.

Wasn't Bill Musselman sp. the coach then?

Indeed he was and his players did a lot of dunking and slamming during pre-game warm ups that sort of set the emotional stage for what happened in that game. That game is also the reason players are no longer allowed to dunk during warm ups (at least while the officials are on the court).


Past history aside, our earlier loss to Minnesota sticks in my craw more than any other game this season. I can accept the others for one reason or another - but we simply should not have lost that game and it would make a big difference in the standings.

[Steve19]

Originally Posted by Oh8ch

Taylor said one of his biggest regrets in coaching was not resigning after the Big Ten failed to take effective action following that game.

I watched the game with total amazement, unbelieving that something like that could happen. My mother was one of the Buckeye's greatest basketball fans ever and was very knowledgeable about the game. She often spoke to Fred Taylor after games and I can remember very clearly walking in as she spoke to him after this game.

Taylor made the same statement to her a few times over the years. He said that he could not express his disappointment that the University and NCAA would not press Minnesota to do something or express what it had done to his enthusiasm for basketball. My mother said it was as if something in him died after that.

Still irks me that Ohio State has done so little to recognize this great coach.