#4 Ohio State 87, Walsh University 62 (Final)

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Early trend mars Buckeyes? win
Second small school gets upper hand in rebounding

Monday, November 06, 2006

Bob Baptist
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH


NEAL C . LAURON COLUMBUS DISPATCH David Lighty of Ohio State steals the ball from Adam Lesch of Walsh. Lighty led the Buckeyes with five steals.

NEAL C . LAURON DISPATCH Ohio State senior Ron Lewis goes up for a block attempt against Walsh?s Corey Jones.


There are a number of reasons the Ohio State men?s basketball team can?t continue to allow opponents the offensive rebounds it did in its two exhibition games. For one, the Buckeyes risk a greater chance of losing when the competition improves.
One more reason was obvious yesterday in an 87-62 win over Walsh University in Value City Arena. The Buckeyes? fast break can be a beautiful thing to watch with the athletes they have, but they have to rebound before they can run.
"That?s what coach (Thad Matta) wants us to do, get out in transition on the break a little more," freshman David Lighty said. "But usually we get everybody out in transition and we don?t have the ball yet. We?ve got to get the ball first."
They did it well enough during the last four minutes of the first half to pad a nine-point lead to 17 by halftime. Seven points in the 11-3 run came off fast breaks.
For the game, Ohio State outscored Walsh 24-2 off the break.
"It all does start with rebounding," Matta said. "We can?t run if we?re taking the ball out of the net."
Fortunately for the Buckeyes, Walsh helped their cause by committing 25 turnovers, because Ohio State was outrebounded by nine or more for the second consecutive game against an inferior opponent. Walsh, which plays in NAIA Division II, finished with a 39-29 edge on the boards and had 15 offensive rebounds. Findlay, an NCAA Division II team, had a 39-30 edge and 17 offensive boards Wednesday.
Lighty shook his head disgustedly when he saw the final numbers.
"That?s one of the things that?s going to be a big part of how we play," he said. "As we get later in the season, rebounding is going to be real important."
Ron Lewis led five OSU scorers in double figures with 21 points. Jamar Butler added 15 points and six assists, Lighty 13 points and five steals, Othello Hunter 12 points and eight rebounds and Mike Conley Jr. 11 points and nine assists without a turnover.
Eder Araujo, a 7-foot center, led Walsh with 19 points.
"We had some areas where we got better from Wednesday night," Matta said. "I thought offensively we did a better job of setting guys up and making extra passes. Defensively, I thought we were a little bit more active.
"(But) it?s like I told the guys, we?re getting three guys playing extremely hard (defensively), and if one guy lets up, it results in an easy basket. That?s probably the biggest challenge we have to overcome right now, getting all five guys to defend together. Too many easy baskets. We?re seeing (what?s happening), but we?re not reacting (quickly) enough.
"Those are areas a lot of times it takes time to develop. Unfortunately, we?re running out of time."
The Buckeyes open the regular season Friday night against Virginia Military Institute in the first round of the BCA Classic in Value City Arena. They also play Saturday and Sunday nights in the three-day, eight-team event.
Midway through the second half yesterday, Matta unveiled a surprise that could help his thin, eight-man lineup weather three games in three days this weekend, not to mention the ones beyond. The Buckeyes fell back into a zone defense, a strategy Matta is loath to employ unless his hand is forced.
"Probably the first five or six possessions, we were pretty active in it. Then we lost our intensity and didn?t get a couple rotations and they got a couple easy shots on us," he said.
"We?ll see how much we use it. I think we?ll need it at times. The big (concern) is rebounding out of it."
bbaptist@dispatch.com

[Bucky Katt]

I hadn't noticed the trend with Conley exclusively going left. In fact, I thought he was quite impressive with ball-handling using his off hand. When he took his first shot against Findlay, I had to do a double-take to check that he shot left-handed. I had just assumed he was right-handed. I'll definitely have to keep an eye out for that tendency.

Lighty has been the most impressive of te newcomers, at least in my opinion. He's playing good defense and taking (and making) good shots. Cook may have the higher ceiling, but Lighty seems to be adjusting to the system more quickly and perhaps is a bit more content to play within himself. It really feels like Cook is forcing things right now. I'm sure that will dissipate as he gets more comfortable. You don't want to restrain a player with Cook's talent, but he's no good to the team if he's sitting on the bench in foul trouble.

Hunter has been a pleasant surprise. I was expecting a player more like Terrence Dials, bt Hunter's athleticism is very impressive. Probably not strong enough to defend the big men in the Big 10, but he'll have to eat up some (a lot) of minutes until Oden is healthy.

Twigs is a real liability out there on defense. He just isn't big/strong enough to hold his own and not quick/athletic enough to make up for it. He's got some touch on hs outside shot, but that's not really what we need out of a big man right now.

Harris still looks like he hasn't "grown into" his body. Every movement looks awkward and forced. There's no smoothness there.

Lewis's hooting stroke seems to be improved. And his athleticism is unquestionable. That being said, he'll never be a defensive stopper and all he has really done so far is shoot 3's and dunk on fast breaks. I guess I'd like to see a little more penetration and maybe an occasional pull-up jumper.

Butler is shooting as a shotting guard, but the shots don't seem to be as smart as the shots he was taking last year. I'm sure part of that is being a veteran on the team, a lot of it is a result of playing the 2 across from Conley, and a bit of it is the less-intense style of exhibition games.

All in all, this team has a lot to improve on. But the players are young and they should only get better as the season goes. By March, I cannot imagine anyone wanting to play against OSU.

[Best Buckeye]

Ok let's see if I have this right. The BB team is young and needs to gel as expected. The older players will have to hold them together until such time as they do. Things look good with the new crop except that Conley doesn't go to the right well? We really need a rebounder(s) to emerge before Oden gets here or we could be in trouble with a team that has good inside players.
On the plus side these kids can shoot lights out. Matta will get the D going. We will win most games. It sounds like they are getting a lot of steals so that's good. What did I leave out or get wrong ?
How well can we do with 8 players? that's not good.

[Oh8ch]

How well can we do with 8 players? that's not good.

We could do better with 8 players if more of the talent and quickness was distributed to the big men. When we try to play D against big teams Twigs will either stand and watch or fould out quickly. Big teams are going to pound it inside and try to draw the fouls. I guy like Hansbrough will a have lot of fun. Our only option will be to press and try to keep them from setting up in the half court. Of course a pressing D does not protect you from fouls either.

And God forbid we should have even one additional injury.

Till Oden comes back we can be guaranteed of watching some exciting basketball. But the results could be very hit and miss.

[crazybuckfan40]

Originally Posted by Bucky Katt

I hadn't noticed the trend with Conley exclusively going left. In fact, I thought he was quite impressive with ball-handling using his off hand. When he took his first shot against Findlay, I had to do a double-take to check that he shot left-handed. I had just assumed he was right-handed. I'll definitely have to keep an eye out for that tendency.

I agree that I didnt notice it either a whole lot, but his ability to get to hole was obvious. I think it is more of a finishing with the off-hand than it is favoring that hand in driving, b/c if you can get there with that hand why not. If they start to play him that way that is where we might see a problem and what better than for him to develop both hands sooner rather than later, and if need be we have another capable pg right beside him. But his ability to distrubute the ball is uncanny.

Lighty has been the most impressive of te newcomers, at least in my opinion. He's playing good defense and taking (and making) good shots. Cook may have the higher ceiling, but Lighty seems to be adjusting to the system more quickly and perhaps is a bit more content to play within himself. It really feels like Cook is forcing things right now. I'm sure that will dissipate as he gets more comfortable. You don't want to restrain a player with Cook's talent, but he's no good to the team if he's sitting on the bench in foul trouble.

I think I am going to have to disagree about Lighty being the most impressive. Cook just looks so smooth out there and his ability to score is something that we need. He can create his own shot off the dribble or down in the post. Lighty relys more on other people getting him involved, and getting him the open look. Not saying he isnt capable, just that Cook can do it with ease. Also don't be suprised to see Lighty not shoot as well has he has in the first two games. If I needed one shot I know that I would want Cook with the ball. Not a knock on Lighty, just that is what I see with Cook. In terms of D I would say Lighty has been more impressive, but Cook had this last game that was very sloppy in terms of D. I don't think that the fouls are going to be a reoccuring problem. Also Cook was really swiping the boards in the first game with 8.

Hunter has been a pleasant surprise. I was expecting a player more like Terrence Dials, bt Hunter's athleticism is very impressive. Probably not strong enough to defend the big men in the Big 10, but he'll have to eat up some (a lot) of minutes until Oden is healthy.

I agree that I really like Hunter, but he is going to get banged around by some of the bigger guys. With Oden by his side he will be a dominant 4 and I think he can play a quicker guy on the perimeter. He reminds me a lot of That Green kid from GTown last year.

Twigs is a real liability out there on defense. He just isn't big/strong enough to hold his own and not quick/athletic enough to make up for it. He's got some touch on hs outside shot, but that's not really what we need out of a big man right now.

This is the one I just can't figure out. It isnt that he isnt trying out there, he just needs better positioning at times. I think he is out of positin at the 5 also and would make a much better 4.

Harris still looks like he hasn't "grown into" his body. Every movement looks awkward and forced. There's no smoothness there.

Agreed.

Lewis's hooting stroke seems to be improved. And his athleticism is unquestionable. That being said, he'll never be a defensive stopper and all he has really done so far is shoot 3's and dunk on fast breaks. I guess I'd like to see a little more penetration and maybe an occasional pull-up jumper.

I agree about his D, he always seems to let his guy cut and get away from him. I think this will become less of a liability with a guy like Oden back in the paint, but now we need him to move his feet and stay in front of his man.

Butler is shooting as a shotting guard, but the shots don't seem to be as smart as the shots he was taking last year. I'm sure part of that is being a veteran on the team, a lot of it is a result of playing the 2 across from Conley, and a bit of it is the less-intense style of exhibition games.

I think I chalk this up to the last statement. Butler will be fine, he is the last of my worries. He knows the difference between a good shot and a bad one and he has the ability to penetrate and pull up which he hasnt done at all yet.

All in all, this team has a lot to improve on. But the players are young and they should only get better as the season goes. By March, I cannot imagine anyone wanting to play against OSU.

The last statement is so true.