#8 tOSU 72, #9 Siena 74 (Final, 2OT)

[Fungo Squiggly]

I understand your frustration but seriously... Pitt, kansas, Oklahoma State, Tennessee, Northern Iowa among many others ALL had problems with Sienas defense. Siena did lose to some of those teams but after each of those games the coaches and players ALL remarked how fast, tenacious and harrassing Sienas defense was at times. Please dont let Siena's poor play and lousy shooting leave you feeling like you lost to a bad team. On the contrary... OSU lost to a very good team that struggled shooting but RAMPED up the D to compensate. Your rebounding issues lastnight in particular were due to your team ESPECIALLY your bigs getting back on D rather than crashing the boards for fear of Siena getting out and running. OSU did an incredible job of preventing siena runouts all friggin night... and much of that was due to them abandoning the boards and getting back. Had OSU hit the boards who knows what would have happened to the pace of the game.

I know youve never heard of them and probably dont respect them... but Siena is a damn good team

While offensive rebounding isn't a strength for OSU, the dearth of those isnt nearly as disconcerting as the poor effort at defensive rebounding. It's been a thorn in the team's side all season. Guys standing around watching, failing to box out, two guys going for the same ball and knocking it out of bounds. I mentioned it during the game, but there were several occasions where a Siena player came down with an offensive board surrounded by 3 Buckeyes. It's exasperating and frustrating as hell to watch. It's particularly frustrating because they did a much better job last weekend in the Big Ten tournament but reverted to their earlier ways last night.

To compund the issue, OSU isn't a good transition team, so opponents can crash the offesnive glass without too many worries about OSU getting easy buckets going the other way. Our guys have perfected the art of turning a 3 on 1 into a 4 on 2 going the other way. It's a beautiful sight.

Seriously, congtats on the win last night. It was disheartening as an OSU fan, but really.....I had no hopes for anything more than a first round win and a good showing against UL. To get to watch a game with that much excitement and the tremendous clutch play down the stretch by Moore and Siena was a lot of fun.

Now go out and shock UL tomorrow!

 

[RedQueenRace]

Your rebounding issues lastnight in particular were due to your team ESPECIALLY your bigs getting back on D rather than crashing the boards for fear of Siena getting out and running. OSU did an incredible job of preventing siena runouts all friggin night... and much of that was due to them abandoning the boards and getting back. Had OSU hit the boards who knows what would have happened to the pace of the game.


I know youve never heard of them and probably dont respect them... but Siena is a damn good team

First off, congratulations to your team on their win last night. I knew this was no easy matchup for either team.

It is possible that part of the rebounding problems were due to the bigs getting back. I live in Florida and coverage here was focused on FSU/Wisc with cuts to the OSU/Siena game so I don't know what went on in the Buckeyes offensive end.

However, it does not explain the rebounding issues on the defensive end. They gave up 21 OFFENSIVE rebounds to Siena, who certainly wasn't going to rush the ball down and score in OSU's basket.

Rebounding has been an issue with this team all year long. It has killed them in other games they should have won (see MSU/Wisconsin to start) and it did them in again last night.

 

[RB07OSU]

My take...I didn't get to see the whole game because I'm in Florida, but at the end, I think God himself made those 3's fall. Three total 3 point miracle shots? Seems like destiny to me and though I'm sure there was more we could have done to win, that's just unbelievable. It is a shame though because just when I think we are playing good basketball down the stretch, we go and get beat by frickin Sienna. Oh well, we'll have more experience next year...PS, if anyone on this team leaves early this year, they are out of their minds...crazy.

 

[LitlBuck]

My take...I didn't get to see the whole game because I'm in Florida, but at the end, I think God himself made those 3's fall. Three total 3 point miracle shots? Seems like destiny to me and though I'm sure there was more we could have done to win, that's just unbelievable. It is a shame though because just when I think we are playing good basketball down the stretch, we go and get beat by frickin Sienna. Oh well, we'll have more experience next year...PS, if anyone on this team leaves early this year, they are out of their minds...crazy.

Thad tried to tell his guys to foul before the 3-point shot that tied it after Hill had made his free throws. I guess the team decided not to listen or did not hear him and Mullens is not enrolled first Spring quarter yet if that tells you anything.

 

[Bill Lucas]

Are we still "embarassed" by losing to Siena after the game they gave Louisville today?

Siena was a quality team this year.

 

[Jaxbuck]

Are we still "embarassed" by losing to Siena after the game they gave Louisville today?

Siena was a quality team this year.

We are still the only big 6 school they beat so yeah.

 

[Best Buckeye]

I'm not embarrased at all. Siena gave L'ville as good a game as we would have . Maybe even better as that game showed a lot in re to what I have been saying about experience. Siena was well prepped and ready to play in both the games.

 

[billmac91]

Let's be truthful about Siena vs. Louisville though. Siena was much better equipped to play Lousiville, than Ohio State. You aren't going to beat or stay close against Louisville without a PG. Siena's PG is legit, and a great ball-handler. We don't currently have that.

Siena just expedited the inevitable, IMO. I just have zero idea how tOSU would have broken the Lousiville pressure without a solid ball-handler.

 

[OSUsushichic]

Siena may have been the better b-ball team, but it was hard to root for Floppy McLovin and crew vs. Louisville.