tOSU vs. Wisconsin (Unofficial Game Preview)

[vrbryant]

The #19 Ohio State Buckeyes (12-2, 2-2)
vs.
The #13 Wisconsin Badgers (14-2, 4-0)
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Wednesday, January 17 - 8:30 p.m.
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​

WISCONSIN - Official Site of Wisconsin Athletics - After dropping two of the last three games, you can hear the air leaking from the tires of the basketball Buckeyes' bandwagon. Nevertheless, many people have demonstrated the ability to be pragmatic, and identify the fact that our two losses are the kind of losses good teams have--tough, gritty, close games that just didn't fall our way. Thankfully, the Big Ten is like an enormous game of Hogan's Alley. Big, meaty, highly-ranked targets just keep popping up, waiting for bullets to drill 'em between the eyes. The loss to MSU was heartbreaking, yes, but this team has shown all year that you need to be damn good to beat them, and even if you do, you're not doing it without a fight. Consequently, the pollsters have left us in roughly the same position we found ourselves before the Indiana game. The Badgers (AP #15, ESPN/USA Today #13) visit Columbus tomorrow with an unblemished Big Ten record, a quality win versus Michigan State, and - like us - just two losses, coming against high-caliber programs (Wake Forest and still-undefeated Pittsburgh). Now, there were some (read: me) who thought that the losses of Mike Wilkinson and Zach Morley would leave this team with too many holes to fill. There were some (yes, me again) who were not convinced that Alando Tucker could carry a team. Well, color me stupid. Bo Ryan's squad is playing admirably, and is well deserving of their top 15 status. Bo Ryan himself can go ... well, whatever. I'm not a fan. Let's look at the players.

#42 - Alando Tucker​

Junior forward Alando Tucker is one of the top offensive threats in the league. What he is: 6'4", 215 pounds, very athletic (38" vert), a volume shooter (nearly 16 FGA per game), a solid rebounder (5.4 rpg). What he is not: A pure shooter (.278 from 3), capable at the line (a horrific .472 on 123 attempts). Tucker's the prototypical scoring wing--something like Ron Lewis, just with more minutes and half the free throw percentage. Anyway, after Killingworth (who was 55% on the season at the time) went 7 for 9 from the line against us, I don't take much for granted. Tucker will be the primary concern, but he's not Wiscy's only weapon.

#23 - Kammron Taylor​

You may remember Kammron from such films as Dogma and CB4, but when he's not making millions laugh as an award-winning actor-comedian, he's suiting up at guard for the Badgers. As a sophomore last year, he started 12 games, and has really stepped up in his junior campaign. The 6'2", 175 pounder is quick off the dribble, a very solid shooter both from long range and from the line, and is the closest thing to a point guard in the starting lineup. He does have a tendency to turn the ball over, but he was hilarious in I'm Gonna Git You, Sucka - that's got to count for something.

#32, sophomore forward-center Brian Butch (6-11, 240) is an interesting player. He's big, yes, but he's not a traditional center. He leads the team in rebounds, yes, but he's not a traditional center. A former McDonald's All-American, Butch has added thirty pounds since high school, but has retained his range and versatility. My understanding is that he'll be checked by the newly-dubbed 'Mr. Big Shot', Matt Sylvester. Won't be easy. Rounding out the starting five are #5, junior forward-center Jason Chappell (6-10, 240) and #4, senior forward Ray Nixon (6-8, 215). First off the bench will be point guard Michael Flowers and frosh forward Marcus Landry. Yeah, thanks - they're okay.

Yes, they're tough. No, they're not unbeatable. Frankly, I really don't think they're as good as Michigan State, despite their recent victory over Izzo et al. A win, and we're back near the top of the heap. A loss, and...screw that. You can't win by worrying about losing. Go Bucks. #*@% 'em up.

Projected starters:

Ohio State

F - Matt Sylvester
F - J.J. Sullinger
C - Terence Dials
G - Je'Kel Foster
G - Jamar Butler

Wisconsin

F - Brian Butch
F - Ray Nixon
C - Jason Chappell
G - Alando Tucker
G - Kammron Taylor


My prediction: OSU 74 - WISC 69

Up next, Penn State...