Ohio State 87, Presbyterian 43 (Final)

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Box score

[Taosman]

We need to ratchet our expectations down.
We have been spoiled and are due with this young team for a learning curve year. We will take our lumps this year, but by seasons end we should be showing signs of a very good team.

Will we make the Big Show?
It may be just out of reach with the losses we will take.

[MaxBuck]

1. Hard to tell much about the Buckeyes when they play such a terrible opponent, but at least we saw more things that could be positives - points off the press, better ball movement, didn't get killed on the boards (! - just kidding; we finally demolished a smaller team in rebounding).

2. Diebler hit a couple of shots, but he was still one of only two (!) Buckeyes who were less than 50% from the field, the other being Twig.

3. Anyone who expects Koufos to be anything other than a 7-foot small forward who does not want to rebound is going to be disappointed. He'll continue to feast on weak opposition from a scoring perspective; I hope he can begin to find his scoring touch against the better teams. If so, he could be a real force on the offensive end. And his D is pretty darn good; he has quicks and knows how to move his feet.

4. Lighty showed once again that his contributions are more likely to be the ones that don't show up on the box score. Great hustle, shutdown D, good positioning to help Butler and the other guards beat the press. Fine player.

5. Even with his 7 TOs, I like Turner's game a lot. When the kid learns not to telegraph his passes and treats the possession of the ball with more respect, he will be terrific. But the TOs need to drop in a hurry.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

DDN

Practice makes perfect for OSU

Buckeyes shoot 71 percent from the floor in an 87-43 rout of Presbyterian.


By Rusty Miller
Associated Press

Sunday, December 16, 2007

COLUMBUS ? Coach Thad Matta says his team plays exceedingly well in practice, but it doesn't show in games.
So when a snowstorm hit an hour before the tip-off of Saturday's game against Presbyterian, he almost relished the fact there wouldn't be many observers for what turned out to be an 87-43 rout before a sparse crowd at Value City Arena.
"I told them right before we went out today I said, 'Look, they said it's a blizzard. I'm almost excited because maybe nobody'll be able to make it to the game. You guys play your tails off in practice. So we're going to just take this as a glorified practice with uniforms today,' " Matta said.
That pressure-free approach seemed to work as Kosta Koufos scored 21 points, including nine in a 16-0 first-half run, to lead the way.

Continued.......

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

Koufos' shooting spurs on Buckeyes

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Associated Press
Columbus- Kosta Koufos scored 21 points, including nine in a 16-0 first-half run, to lead Ohio State's men's basketball team past Presbyterian, 87-43, on Saturday.
Jamar Butler had 16 points and eight assists, and Othello Hunter added 13 points for Ohio State (6-3), which shot 71 percent from the field after making just 36 percent of its shots over its previous three games.
"We got a lot of shots up and we shot well in practice all week," Butler said. "I guess practice pays off."

Continued......

[LitlBuck]

I don't think this game was much of an indicator of anything. It was almost like playing a very physically mature high school team with a good outside shooter.

Kosta continues to disappoint me when it comes to rebounding especially on the defensive boards. I cannot argue with his offensive capabilities for a 7' player but he really lacks intensity on the court. Hopefully, it will come.

I think for now bringing Diebler is best for him. He seemed to be more relaxed when he shot the ball but sometimes he almost seemed reluctant to let it fly.

Very happy with Butler. I think he is trying to get everyone involved.

I think we will see how improved this team really has become next Tuesday because Cleveland State is fairly athletic and should give us a test as to where we stand now.