tOSU vs Minnesota (game preview)

[Steve19]

Game previews will appear in the press in coming days for inclusion in this thread.

The power ratings and Vegas odds will probably have us as a 1-4 point underdog, but there is reason for optimism for the Buckeyes.

Minnesota will probably becoming off a loss to MSU tonight, having lost by 15 points at home earlier this year. If so, it will be their third in a row and their fourth loss in six games, and their sixth loss in the last ten games. Minny were drubbed by 15 at Indiana in their last game and lost a close one to Northwestern before that.

They will have one less day to rest and prepare than we will have. This may be important because they are 1-4 when they have two days of rest and opponents have three days rest.

Minnesota ends its season with three games that it should win, after the Buckeyes, but needs to beat the Buckeyes in order to get 20 wins prior to the Big Ten tourney.

I know its time to move on, but I always remember Luke Witte whenever we play at Minnesota. Witte was our leading scorer and had a promising pro career coming until the game at Minnesota in 1972.

In the closing seconds of the game, Witte was fouled hard going to the basket. Without any warning, Corky Taylor, a Minnesota player then punched the 7-foot Witte in the head and kneed him in the groin. While he lay on the floor, Ron Behagen, another Minnesota player, stomped on Witte's neck and head. Witte eventually was carried from the arena on a stretcher while hometown Gopher fans booed and threw rubbish onto the court at the Ohio State players.

Neither Minnesota player was ever disciplined and it so disgusted legendary coach Fred Taylor that he lost all enthusiasm for the game and retired early.
Witte was never the same and did not ever play to the same level again, at OSU or afterwards. He averaged less than five points a game for the Cavs before leaving the game after three years in the pros.

I know one should forgive and forget and get on with life, but this memory haunts me every time we play these guys in Minneapolis. I realise that a number of Buckeye standouts have played pro football in Minnesota and that relations are very different today. I'm not saying let's win one for Luke.

But I do remember and it does give me a little more reason for wanting to win.

Despite the home loss this year, I think we can win this one. We then have eight days to prepare before Wisconsin at home and another two to prepare for Iowa away. It is possible that this team could win these three games and be 21-8 and in third place in the Big Ten entering the Illinois game.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

In the closing seconds of the game, Witte was fouled hard going to the basket. Without any warning, Corky Taylor, a Minnesota player then punched the 7-foot Witte in the head and kneed him in the groin. While he lay on the floor, Ron Behagen, another Minnesota player, stomped on Witte's neck and head. Witte eventually was carried from the arena on a stretcher while hometown Gopher fans booed and threw rubbish onto the court at the Ohio State players

A terrible and dark moment in Big Ten basketball history. Alot of us have not forgotten that game and what happened.

Despite the home loss this year, I think we can win this one. We then have eight days to prepare before Wisconsin at home and another two to prepare for Iowa away. It is possible that this team could win these three games and be 21-8 and in third place in the Big Ten entering the Illinois game.

The first game against Minny, was by far our worst performance of the year. We were simply terrible the whole game. I think we have a very good shot at winning this game and I say we win a close one.

 

[coastalbuck]

I was actually watching that game on TV and couldn't believe what happened. I t comes back to mind whenever we play Minny. Wasn't Bill Musselman sp. the coach then?

 

[MaxBuck]

I get more joy out of victories against the Goophers than against any other team. The failure of the B11 to levy any penalties against Minnesota after that game was shameful. Musselman was the prime thug in that fiasco, and I have never had any respect for him or his family since that dark day.

 

[Misanthrope]

I know its time to move on, but I always remember Luke Witte whenever we play at Minnesota. Witte was our leading scorer and had a promising pro career coming until the game at Minnesota in 1972.

In the closing seconds of the game, Witte was fouled hard going to the basket. Without any warning, Corky Taylor, a Minnesota player then punched the 7-foot Witte in the head and kneed him in the groin. While he lay on the floor, Ron Behagen, another Minnesota player, stomped on Witte's neck and head. Witte eventually was carried from the arena on a stretcher while hometown Gopher fans booed and threw rubbish onto the court at the Ohio State players.

Neither Minnesota player was ever disciplined and it so disgusted legendary coach Fred Taylor that he lost all enthusiasm for the game and retired early.
Witte was never the same and did not ever play to the same level again, at OSU or afterwards. He averaged less than five points a game for the Cavs before leaving the game after three years in the pros.

I knew about this event (can't say I remember when it happened - I was 7) and the impact it had on Witte's career, but I did NOT know the Gopher players were never disciplined? How could that be?

How in the hell did they do such a thing without consequence?

I have my own motivations for Minny. My freshman roommate at OSU was a fat, disgusting pig who had no respect for anyone else in the room, nor their belongings. After he finally realized the entire floor couldn't stand him, he transferred to Minnesota. I can't help but think of that fat bastard - we were calling him that a decade before Austin Powers - every time we play them.

 

[Oh8ch]

so disgusted legendary coach Fred Taylor that he lost all enthusiasm for the game and retired early.

Taylor said one of his biggest regrets in coaching was not resigning after the Big Ten failed to take effective action following that game.

Wasn't Bill Musselman sp. the coach then?

Indeed he was and his players did a lot of dunking and slamming during pre-game warm ups that sort of set the emotional stage for what happened in that game. That game is also the reason players are no longer allowed to dunk during warm ups (at least while the officials are on the court).


Past history aside, our earlier loss to Minnesota sticks in my craw more than any other game this season. I can accept the others for one reason or another - but we simply should not have lost that game and it would make a big difference in the standings.

 

[Steve19]

Taylor said one of his biggest regrets in coaching was not resigning after the Big Ten failed to take effective action following that game.

I watched the game with total amazement, unbelieving that something like that could happen. My mother was one of the Buckeye's greatest basketball fans ever and was very knowledgeable about the game. She often spoke to Fred Taylor after games and I can remember very clearly walking in as she spoke to him after this game.

Taylor made the same statement to her a few times over the years. He said that he could not express his disappointment that the University and NCAA would not press Minnesota to do something or express what it had done to his enthusiasm for basketball. My mother said it was as if something in him died after that.

Still irks me that Ohio State has done so little to recognize this great coach.

 

[BB73]

The incident made number 2 on this list of the "Top 20 cheap shots of all time". I guess it wasn't as bad as Ty Cobb going into the stands to beat up a guy with no hands.

http://www.kfan.com/otherside/tuesdaytally/31604.html

2. CORKY TAYLOR AND RON BEHAGEN, 1972
With 36 seconds left and Ohio State leading the University of Minnesota 50-44 at Williams Arena, the Buckeyes' Luke Witte is fouled hard while driving for a layup. Minnesota's Taylor appears to be helping Witte to his feet, but then punches Witte in the head and knees him in the groin. Gophers reserve Behagen jumps in the frey and stomps Witte on the neck and head. Minnesota fans boo Witte as he leaves the court on a stretcher. The game is stopped and Ohio State is declared the winner.

1. TY COBB, 1912
During a series at the Polo Grounds in New York, Cobb is incensed by a heckler's derogatory jeer. The next day, he charges into the crowd and attacks the heckler – a crippled man with no hands named Claude Lueker. As he brutally beats the man, another spectator yells to Cobb that his victim has no hands. Cobb responds, "I don't care if he's got no feet." He is suspended indefinitely for the incident.

 

[Bestbuck36]

This game figures to be tougher now that we won't have Sylvester. We need Dials to come up big and Butler to build on his last game. Foster needs to get his confidence up from outside and we need to clamp down the defense. Looking for win #19. Who'da thunk it?

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Minnesota Game Preview

SCOUT

Minnesota pulled out an overtime victory the last time it met up with Ohio State. This time, the Buckeyes will attempt to turn the table, but they will have to do it in historic Williams Arena, where the Gophers have been tough to beat this season. Ohio State will be playing without suspended forward Matt Sylvester.

Ohio State will look to keep sole possession of fourth place in the Big Ten when it travels to Minnesota on Saturday (5:07 p.m., ESPN Plus).

The Buckeyes (18-8, 7-5) have won six of their last seven games, including a 57-44 triumph over visiting Indiana on Tuesday.

The Golden Gophers (16-9, 6-6) have dropped three straight, the most recent being an 81-62 loss at Michigan State on Wednesday.

Minnesota defeated Ohio State 60-56 in overtime on Jan. 19 in Columbus. The Buckeyes allowed a late lead to slip away in that contest.

“I think as I go back and look, you have to give Minnesota credit for that game,” OSU coach Thad Matta said. “They did a tremendous job of getting an early lead on us, and they didn’t panic when we came back on them and took the lead. Honestly, it was a lot like the Indiana game, they made the plays down the stretch. It was great tip-in to win the game for them. We had a great shot to win it, didn’t make it. That’s what’s great about conference play is you get a chance to play a team the second time and by the first five minutes everybody’s cards will be on the table and now you’ve got to get out and get the job done.”

The Gophers are led by 6-5 junior G/F Vincent Grier, a junior college transfer that has taken the Big Ten by storm. He leads Minnesota in scoring at 17.9 points per game and also averages 5.3 rebounds per game.

Other starters include: 7-0 senior center Jeff Hagen (11.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg), 6-9 freshman forward Dan Coleman (8.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg), 5-10 senior guard Aaron Robinson (7.5 ppg, 2.8 assists per game) and 6-4 senior guard Brent Lawson (7.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg).

The top two players off the bench are 6-0 freshman guard Rico Tucker (7.0 ppg) and 6-6 junior forward J’son Stamper (5.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg).

Ohio State will be playing without sixth-man Matt Sylvester, who has been suspended for one game for unsportsmanlike behavior toward a fan following the Michigan State game.

“Well, I think we just have to move forward,” Matta said. “I’ve been in a lot of positions before where we’ve been down a player. I’ve been down three players before going into a game. So, we just kind of reassess where we are and move forward and hopefully go up there and play our best basketball.

“You learn from it, move forward and it’s that old deal – it is what it is – and we’ve got to learn and move forward and get ready to play Minnesota.”

The 6-7 Sylvester is having a good season. He is, appropriately, sixth on the team in scoring at 7.3 points per game. It was clearly not a good time for his latest incident.

“Yeah, it was an unfortunate incident and Matt feels bad,” Matta said. “It’s obviously one of those deals that we can’t change and I don’t condone it, but hey, we move on.”

With Sylvester out, look for more of sophomore forward Ivan Harris. He has started all 26 games and is averaging 8.1 points, but Sylvester was seeing many more minutes than Harris recently.

“Yeah, I don’t think a whole lot changes,” Matta said. “Obviously we’ll miss having (Sylvester) there, but we’ve been in this situation before. The other night against Indiana, he was sick as can be and in the first half was really not effective for us. So, like I said, we look at Ivan, James (Sullinger), Jermyl (Jackson-Wilson), Matt (Terwilliger). We’ll just make due with what we’ve got.”

Sylvester faced the music on Friday. He couldn’t say much, but he attempted to answer some questions from reporters.

“I can’t even speak on (exactly what happened),” Sylvester said. “But I made a mistake – my yearly mistake – and I’m paying for it.”

Sylvester was likely provoked by one of the rowdy Michigan State fans, but he didn’t want to reveal exactly what the fan did.

“You know how fans are, but I can’t even really speak on that,” he said. “The bottom line is that I made a mistake, did something I shouldn’t have done and I’m very remorseful about it. It’s terrible that I’m having a good year and this has to happen, but I hope that my teammates can go up to Minnesota and get a win. I think they are totally capable of doing that and I will feel even worse if they didn’t. So, I’ve really been trying to talk to the guys and rally the troops, basically.”

Sylvester did mention that the incident took place as he was leaving the court.

So, was it verbal, or non-verbal?

“Can’t even talk about it,” he said. “It was just one of those things where I was leaving the court and still had the competitive edge going and I just lost it for a second.

“You guys have seen fans, and that’s what they do, and they’re allowed to do that. I just reacted in a way that wasn’t appropriate. They did what fans do. But I can’t talk any more about it.”

But why now? Why wasn’t Sylvester suspended for one of the previous two games (Penn State, Indiana)?

“It had to go to the Big Ten and they had to review it,” he said. “I’m thankful for the games that I got to play in and I’m going to serve my punishment and it’s definitely my fault. It’s no one’s fault but mine and I’m just going to stand behind my teammates for the next couple days.

“One of our coaches came to me in the locker room after the Michigan State game and asked if it happened and I told him it did. I’m not going to lie to one of my coaches.”

Sylvester joked that this is his “yearly mistake” but it’s a little different this time around. Last year, when he was suspended for throwing an elbow in the face of an opposing player, he wasn’t a key player on the team and wasn’t missed all that much.

“Yeah, that’s why it hurts so much, because I have such a big role on the team this year,” he said. “Like I said, I really feel like I let these guys down and it’s something that is definitely never going to happen again.”

* Sullinger thinks the Buckeyes have enough players to go up to historic Williams Arena and steal a win. However, the Gophers are 12-3 at home this season.

“We have more than enough to pick up the pieces,” Sullinger said. “Matt is awesome and he does a lot for us, but that’s the thing we’ve done all season. When somebody is down, we’ve got to pick them up and that’s what we’re going to try to do.”

Sullinger talked about the previous meeting between OSU and Minnesota.

“It was a tough one, because we shouldn’t have lost the game,” he said. “We had some bad plays at the end, which led us into overtime, and then we kind of ran out of steam. Back-to-back overtime losses (also to LSU), that was tough. So, yeah, it kind of sticks out in your mind, but a lot of them do. We’ve lost a few close games we should have won this year.”

Sullinger says Matta is even more intense than usual when he’s playing against a team that has already defeated him once.

“Well, you know, Coach Matta has told us he doesn’t like to be swept,” Sullinger said. “He doesn’t like to lose to a team twice, and neither do we. He joked with us the other night at Indiana and said, ‘You’ve never seen a side of me when we’re playing somebody that we’ve lost to,’ and he was right. We saw a different side of Coach Matta. So, he’s going to be intense, we’re going to be intense and we’re just going to try and do anything it takes to get the job done.”

Sullinger knows that Minnesota is in the midst of a losing streak, but he still has a lot of respect for its personnel.

“They’re a good team,” he said. “They’ve got a great guard in Vincent Grier, they’ve got Hagen in the post and everybody else on their team is more than capable of making some big plays. But the one that stands out is Grier, because he had such a good game against us last time. He kind of took over the game a little bit in overtime and won the game for them. If we try and limit his easy looks – because you’re not going to shut out a good player like him – but if you try and limit his easy looks, we’ll be in good shape for the most part.

“They’ve got some good players and they’ve got some tough matchups, as everybody else does. We feel if we do what we’re suppose to do and pay attention to scouting, pay attention to the coaches and what they’re trying to tell us, they put us in great situation to get the job done. So if we do that, we’ll be in pretty good shape.”

Sullinger will likely check Grier for much of the game.

“I’ll probably start out on him and Je’Kel (Foster) will also guard him,” he said. “For the most part, it will be me and Je’Kel on him.”

As for Matta, he obviously knows that the Buckeyes are not playing for an NCAA bid, but there is still plenty to play for in his opinion.

“Yeah, I think this: I think the beauty of college basketball is the length of the season,” Matta said. “At times, it appears to be long, but I love the challenge of every day waking up and getting our men ready to go. We’ve got a guaranteed five games left and I want to make sure our guys have a great understanding that we’re going to try and leave everything on the court, every time we take the court.”

I think the lose of Sylvester will have an impact, but I truely believe we will win this game by at least 8 points.