Ohio State 74, Illinois 58 (final)

[BuckeyeMike80]

Four points to ponder

1. While the offense from Jamar Butler was clearly the difference, some guys who should be producing had a very off night (Koufos and Diebler). Seeing as this was their first road Big Ten game (and since they have their next 2 at home), hopefully this will be temporary.

2. Twiggy hit a couple big shots, but I wonder if Matta might reign him in here soon on the 3s. Sure he hit 2 of them, but he started 0 for 4 or 5 and killed a few possessions with early shots from the perimeter.

3. The Rebounding was very good at times and extremely poor at others. There doesn't seem to be a happy medium at this point which is likely due to their youth.

4. They needed Butler on the floor tonight for long minutes as well as Othello Hunter. I'd like to see Butler get a break every now and again to keep his legs fresher as well as I think Dallas Lauderdale could be a force on the inside once his game comes to him. Certainly his physical presence will be needed before it's all said and done.

EXTRA POINT:

this is Jamar Butler's team, but David Lighty could be the leader of this team if he wants it. He didn't have it tonight for whatever reason at least on the offensive end. But you didn't see him stop or let up at all, he kept going at it. Sometimes the young guys on this team tend to get tentative even now if shots aren't dropping or if the opponents get a couple scores in a row. Lighty could really help the team (and Butler) pull them through it until they can do it on their own.

[Yertle]

Although I agree with all of the positve comments, I just want to add that Twigs took the second most 3's on the team - AND JUST 1 FEWER than Butler! That shouldn't be. I don't have a problem with 1 or 2 a game, but 6?!?!? Matta needs to get him in the 12 feet range. Let Butler, Diebs, and maybe Lighty shoot from out there.

[Dubl*Trubl]

Originally Posted by BuckeyeMike80

Four points to ponder

1. While the offense from Jamar Butler was clearly the difference, some guys who should be producing had a very off night (Koufos and Diebler). Seeing as this was their first road Big Ten game (and since they have their next 2 at home), hopefully this will be temporary.

2. Twiggy hit a couple big shots, but I wonder if Matta might reign him in here soon on the 3s. Sure he hit 2 of them, but he started 0 for 4 or 5 and killed a few possessions with early shots from the perimeter.

3. The Rebounding was very good at times and extremely poor at others. There doesn't seem to be a happy medium at this point which is likely due to their youth.

4. They needed Butler on the floor tonight for long minutes as well as Othello Hunter. I'd like to see Butler get a break every now and again to keep his legs fresher as well as I think Dallas Lauderdale could be a force on the inside once his game comes to him. Certainly his physical presence will be needed before it's all said and done.

EXTRA POINT:

this is Jamar Butler's team, but David Lighty could be the leader of this team if he wants it. He didn't have it tonight for whatever reason at least on the offensive end. But you didn't see him stop or let up at all, he kept going at it. Sometimes the young guys on this team tend to get tentative even now if shots aren't dropping or if the opponents get a couple scores in a row. Lighty could really help the team (and Butler) pull them through it until they can do it on their own.

Great point on David Lighty. David is a 4 year kid and he knew it when he signed on here. He's still young and will have "on-and-off" nights but no matter what he's a bitch on defense, like he showed in the Finals run last year. I'd love to see David grab the torch and run with it, but for now, it's Jamar's torch and he's handling it pretty well. Peace.

[osugrad21]

DDN

Butler scores 32 in 74-58 win over Illinois


Associated Press

Friday, January 04, 2008

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. ? Jamar Butler scored 32 points to lead the Ohio State basketball team to a 74-58 victory over Illinois on Thursday in the Big Ten opener for both teams.
Butler accounted for almost half of his team's offense in the first half, then scored 15 straight points early in the second, when the Buckeyes (10-3, 1-0 Big Ten) pulled away from the Illini. The senior guard, who averaged 14.2 points per game coming into the contest, was 4-for-7 from 3-point range.



Cont...

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Buckeyes win Big Ten opener Butler scores 32 points, Ohio State takes control in second half to top Illini
By Neil Milbert
Chicago Tribune

Published on Friday, Jan 04, 2008
CHAMPAIGN, Ill.: There was a Michael Jordan impersonator in Assembly Hall on Thursday night. Unfortunately for all those Illinois fans bedecked in orange and blue, he was wearing the scarlet and gray of Ohio State.
The impersonator was senior point guard Jamar Butler and he looked like the real deal when he led the 2007 conference champions and NCAA Tournament runner-up to a 74-58 victory in the Big Ten opener for both teams.


Cont...

[osugrad21]

Canton

OSU rolls in Big Ten opener
MEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL: OHIO STATE 74, ILLINOIS 58
Friday, January 4, 2008
By DAVID MERCER
Associated Press Writer

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. For 4 1/2 minutes Thursday night, Ohio State guard Jamar Butler could do little wrong.

The senior scored 15 straight Buckeye points, turning a 1-point deficit into a 12-point lead and sparking Ohio State to a 74-58 win over Illinois in the Big Ten opener for both teams.

Butler, a senior and one of the few key pieces left from last season?s NCAA-final team, scored 32 points for the game. Afterward, Butler said he hadn?t had a similar night in a long time.

?Not since my senior year in high school,? he said with a smile.

?We didn?t have enough weapons to match Butler,? Illinois Coach Bruce Weber said. ?Just seemed to get one dagger after another.?

Butler, who averaged 14.2 points coming into the game, was 4-of-7 from 3-point range and 10-of-17 from the field. He accounted for almost half of Ohio State?s (10-3, 1-0) offense in the first half.


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