Ohio State 55, North Carolina 66 (Final)

[fourteenandoh]

Just watched on my DVR. Why hasn't anyone mentioned Hunter's defense. He was superb! What did he have, 5 blocks? Completely got Hansboro on his heels (no pun intended). Second, was it just me or did all of buckeye nation go completely ape [censored] when Diebler hit his second three from the horse shoe? That thing looked like one of the shots on his youtube video. Third, Kufos' offense didn't bother me so much as all of his turnovers in the second half. He definitely got out of his game and lost his composure. Butler was Butler. This is his team and so far he is doing a great job with it.

It has been beaten to death so far, but the two cold streaks the last two games are very disconcerting. Does anyone have any theories? I guess I would like to see us slow down a bit when it starts getting tough. Go into the half court and really try to get a good look down low. Once we get down by 7 then 9 then 11 the urgency just picks up and the shots keep getting worse and worse. Thad just needs to remind them that you can't get it all back at once and they've got to keep their composure.

The fun thing about college basketball is that you can't blow your season with one or two early losses like in football (scUM anyone?). Also, a team like this has the potential to grow a ton before late February. I will not be surprised at all if we are in the hunt with a great shot to win the B10 regular season championship come mid-February.

[Bestbuck36]

Ok, only the 3rd game I've got to watch fully so far this season but there is one apparent glaring weakness that cant be taught and this team has not shown yet......an emotional charge. Diebler tonight started to get it when his shot started going. No one on this team wants to get [censored]ed off that his shot isnt falling and just rip toward the basket come hell or high water dragging defensive players with them to the hoop! Everythings finesse. Hunter has aggression on the defensive end. Lighty and Butler play aggressive around the ball, but no one wants to just raise up on the offensive end and go throught the body checks and arms slaps to the rim. Koufos got hit square in the face within 5 feet during the first half by Hansbrough, of course, no call. Instead of a little emotion and calling for it the next time down, he faded. You could almost see it in their eyes out there that they were hoping to win or shoot well but werent ready to just take it from UNC.

Now I know we're very young and UNC is an excellent basketball team, but....

Against more aggressive teams we will definitely struggle until someone comes out with the mentality that they wont be stopped regardless. Put Dallas in the middle and tell him "If you let them get one rebound regardless of the end of the floor, you wont play another minute today." Thats not exactly realistic but somebody's got to want to dominate in the middle of the paint for this team to be successful. Everyone on the team cant be a 3 point shooter, maybe they should practice more 15' jumpers.

[osugrad21]

DDN

OSU battles but falls to No. 1 UNC


By Rusty Miller
Associated Press

Thursday, November 29, 2007

COLUMBUS ? Wayne Ellington and Deon Thompson led a second-half surge, and No. 1 North Carolina held Ohio State without a field goal for almost 11 minutes in a 66-55 victory Wednesday night.
Ellington, who is averaging 17 points per game, scored 23 and Thompson had 14, most at critical times for the Tar Heels (6-0). Tyler Hansbrough was just 6-of-19 from the field and had 13 points and 11 rebounds in one of the premier matchups of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.



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[osugrad21]

CPD

OHIO STATE MEN



Ohio State loses to No. 1 North Carolina in men's college basketball



Thursday, November 29, 2007 Doug Lesmerises

Plain Dealer Reporter
Columbus -- Ohio State freshman Jon Diebler banks in a 3-pointer at the horn to give the Buckeyes a halftime lead against No. 1 North Carolina? What's a Tar Heel to do?
Remember that you're better.
Playing without starting point guard Ty Lawson, who sat out with a sprained ankle, North Carolina (6-0) put together a 16-3 run in the middle of the second half on the way to a 66-55 victory over Ohio State in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge on Wednesday night.
As the Tar Heels pulled away, the Buckeyes pressed, missing 21 of their first 24 shots in the second half. With Diebler finally finding his range, the freshman cold streak passed to 7-footer Kosta Koufos. Missing whether he was off-balance or in-balance while trying to post up, Koufos shot 1-of-10 and finished with four points.
Down, 57-43, with 6 minutes to play, Ohio State made a run on 3-pointers by Diebler and David Lighty and a steal and left-handed, fast-break Diebler dunk that sliced the lead to 6. OSU got no closer.




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[osugrad21]

Canton

Buckeyes go cold in 66-55 loss to No. 1 Tar Heels
UPDATE: 12:32 AM, Thursday, November 29, 2007
BY Mike Popovich
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

COLUMBUS The offensive execution came in spurts. It is not the pace that leads to success when you are facing the nation?s top-ranked team.

A blistering stretch of long-range shooting had Ohio State thinking Wednesday upset in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge against North Carolina. When the Buckeyes cooled off from the outside, they were in trouble because not much else was working.

The Tar Heels pulled away in the final four minutes and beat Ohio State, 66-55, at Value City Arena. The Buckeyes shot just 27 percent (19-of-70) from the field, struggles reminiscent of the NIT season tip-off final loss to Texas A&M.


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