Buckeyes Fall To Michigan State In B1G Championship

Sullinger  is ready for March Madness

Draymond Green now has the winning chapter in Michigan State history he has longed for.

Green had 12 points and nine rebounds to help the eighth-ranked Spartans beat No. 7 Ohio State 68-64 on Sunday in the Big Ten tournament championship game.

Green and the Spartans claimed both the Big Ten regular-season and tournament titles, and earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. The Big Ten player of the year and the tournament's most outstanding player felt he needed to win something for coach Tom Izzo to include him in the conversation with Michigan State greats.

Brandon Wood scored a season-high 21 points. Wood transferred to Michigan State after graduating from Valparaiso last year with eligibility remaining. He received a waiver from the NCAA to play immediately because he entered graduate school. He only started because starter Branden Dawson tore a left knee ligament in the regular-season finale against Ohio State.

B1G Tournament Basketball Preview: Ohio State vs. Michigan State

Buckeyes look to finish as champs

Ohio State and Michigan State met in a last-second thriller a week ago, with the Buckeyes prevailing to earn a share of the Big Ten regular-season title.

Only one team will leave the court with a championship -- and a possible No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament -- when the seventh-ranked Buckeyes face the eighth-ranked Spartans for the conference tournament crown Sunday in Indianapolis.

William Buford's jumper with 1 second remaining gave Ohio State (27-6) a 72-70 victory last Sunday in East Lansing, forcing a three-way tie with Michigan State and Michigan atop the Big Ten standings.

It was the second failed attempt at winning an outright conference title for the Spartans (26-7), who also lost at Indiana on Feb. 28.

Big Ten player of the year Draymond Green scored 14 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in Saturday's 65-52 semifinal win over No. 14 Wisconsin, and he said Sunday's game is a chance at redemption for top-seeded Michigan State.

Ohio State Pounds Rival Wolverines On Way To B1G Championship Game

(Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Jared Sullinger scored 24 points to help No. 7 Ohio State defeat Michigan (No. 13 ESPN/USA Today, No. 10 AP) 77-55 on Saturday in the Big Ten tournament semifinals.

Deshaun Thomas scored 22 points and William Buford added 10 for the third-seeded Buckeyes (27-6), who advanced to play No. 8 Michigan State in the final on Sunday. Michigan State defeated Wisconsin (No. 12 ESPN/USA Today, No. 14 AP) 65-52 in the other semifinal on Saturday.

The Buckeyes shot 49 percent from the field to earn a shot at their third straight Big Ten tournament title.

Tim Hardaway, Jr., led No. 2 seed Michigan with 13 points, but he made just 3 of 10 shots. Trey Burke, Michigan's other star player, scored five points on 1-for-11 shooting and had eight turnovers

The Wolverines (24-9) shot 31 percent from the field, made just 4 of 25 3-pointers and committed 18 turnovers in one of their worst offensive performances of the season.

B1G Tournament Basketball Preview: Ohio State vs. Michigan

Ohio State is facing Michigan for the 3rd time

Based on the way Ohio State looked in its first game of the event, the Wolverines will need to play much better against their archrival if they want to earn a spot in the league championship game.

The No. 10 Wolverines look to prevent the seventh-ranked Buckeyes from reaching the Big Ten final for a fourth consecutive season when they meet in the semifinals for the second straight year Saturday in Indianapolis.

Co-Big Ten champions in the regular season along with Michigan State, second-seeded Michigan (24-8) and third-seeded Ohio State split their first two meetings in 2011-12. The Buckeyes (26-6) won 64-49 at home Jan. 29, but the Wolverines got their revenge and snapped a six-game skid in the series with a 56-51 win in Ann Arbor on Feb. 18.

William Buford had 16 points and Jared Sullinger added 14 with 13 rebounds as the two-time defending tournament champion Buckeyes beat Michigan 68-61 in last season's semifinals, improving to 5-0 against the Wolverines in Big Ten tournament play.

Considering the way Ohio State played during an 88-71 win over Purdue on Friday, Michigan has reason to be concerned after it needed a late rally and overtime to beat 10th-seeded Minnesota 73-69 earlier in the evening.

Basketball Preview: #8 Ohio State vs. #16 Wisconsin

Buford is playing his last home game

Despite its recent losses, Ohio State remains in contention for another Big Ten title. Another subpar performance against a ranked opponent, though, might all but end those championship hopes. The eighth-ranked Buckeyes will try to keep those alive by getting past No. 16 Wisconsin in their final home game of the season Sunday.

Ohio State (23-5, 11-4) has split its past four games -- with both of those losses against Top 25 teams -- and is 1 1/2 games behind Michigan State in the conference race. The Buckeyes, seeking their fifth title in seven seasons and third in a row, will visit the Spartans on March 4 to conclude the regular season.

After shooting 38.8 percent in a 56-51 loss at rival Michigan on Feb. 18, Ohio State bounced back with a 65.3 percent performance -- its second-best this season -- in an 83-67 rout of visiting Illinois on Tuesday. The Buckeyes made 11 of their first 12 shots in that game.

Deshaun Thomas finished with a team-best 19 points while making six of his eight shots, and William Buford had 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting.

Buford, who has been a part of 108 wins over his four seasons, will be the only Buckeyes player participating in his final home game. The senior guard is 34 points shy of surpassing Michael Redd for fifth on the school's scoring list.

Thomas, Buford Blow By Illinois 83-67

Deshaun Thomas scored 19 points and Ohio State (No. 9 ESPN/USA Today, No. 8 AP) regained its shooting touch, rolling over Illinois 83-67 on Tuesday night to remain in the thick of the Big Ten race.

Ohio State shot 65 percent from the field.

William Buford, much maligned for his recent poor shooting, had 17 points, and Aaron Craft added 11 to go with five assists. Jared Sullinger, third in the conference at 17.5 points a game, managed just nine before fouling out.

The Buckeyes (23-5, 11-4) stayed on the heels of Big Ten leader Michigan State with three games remaining. The sixth-ranked Spartans are 11-3 in league play heading into a game at Minnesota on Wednesday night. Ohio State will visit Michigan State in the regular-season finale on March 4.

Meyers Leonard had 21 for Illinois (16-12, 5-10), which has lost six in a row and nine of 10.

The game was a dramatic turnaround for Brandon Paul, who had 43 points in Illinois' 79-74 stunner over then-No. 5 Ohio State on Jan. 10. Paul almost destroyed the Buckeyes by himself, making 11 of 15 shots from the field -- including 8 of 10 3-pointers -- and 13 of 15 free throws.

Basketball Buckeyes Fall At Michigan

Cold shooting left the Bucks with an L

More than 17 hours after Beilein showed up at the Crisler Center with doughnuts for the fans, Michigan (No. 19 ESPN/USA Today, No. 17 AP) finished off a 56-51 victory over No. 6 Ohio State. (Ed. Note That gives Ohio State a 2-game losing streak against teams from TSUN)

The Wolverines (20-7, 10-4 Big Ten) are 15-0 at home and tied with the Buckeyes for second place in the Big Ten, a half-game behind Michigan State.

The star of the night was a true freshman who was introduced to the fired-up crowd as "The pride of Columbus, Ohio, Trey Burke."

Burke finished with 17 points, including a game-clinching runner with 11 seconds left that helped Michigan stop a six-game losing streak to the Buckeyes.

Basketball Preview: #6 Ohio State vs. #19 Michigan

Can Sullinger and OSU bounce back?

The memory of another frustrating loss to rival Ohio State last month remains vivid in the collective minds of the Michigan basketball team.

With that defeat as motivation, the No. 17 Wolverines try to avoid a seventh consecutive loss to the sixth-ranked Buckeyes on Saturday night in a Big Ten matchup at Crisler Arena.

Michigan (19-7, 9-4) trailed by three at halftime at Ohio State on Jan. 29, but the Buckeyes used a 14-2 run midway through the second half to win 64-49. By the end of the game, Buckeye fans added insult to the result by singing "We Don't Give A Damn For the Whole State of Michigan."

The rematch is here, in a prime-time setting and on a court where the Wolverines have won 15 straight dating to last season. The Buckeyes are going to be tested coming off of their recent loss to Michigan State.

Basketball Preview: #2 Ohio State vs. #15 Indiana

Sullinger and co. will have their hands full

After carrying a perfect non-conference record, Indiana was greeted to a rude awakening in its Big Ten opener, and it won't get any easier, as the Buckeyes are up next. Getting back on track could prove difficult with Ohio State coming to town.

Hoping to rebound from their first defeat, the No. 13 Hoosiers look to avoid a seventh consecutive loss to the second-ranked Buckeyes on Saturday. Aside from a 73-72 win over then-No. 1 Kentucky on Dec. 10, Indiana (12-1, 0-1) posted 11 double-digit wins during its 12-0 start. Coach Tom Crean's team, though, failed to carry over any momentum into Wednesday's 80-65 loss at No. 16 Michigan State.

The Hoosiers, whose 50.5 field-goal percentage ranks among the top 10 in the country, shot 42.2 percent from the floor versus the Spartans and had a season-low nine free throws, making just five. Indiana entered Wednesday averaging 28.0 attempts from the foul line.

Basketball Buckeyes Ranked #3 In Preseason Poll

No soup votes for you

On Wednesday, the Coaches Poll came out, releasing it's Preseason rankings. The Buckeyes (who return Wooden Top 50 players Jared Sullinger, Aaron Craft, and William Buford to the team) were ranked #3, but received no first place votes. That honor was held for North Carolina who received all but 1 first place votes, and looks to compete for the national title behind sophomore Harrison Barnes.

Going now to look at the schedule, I see a pretty tough road for Ohio State, but if they do win these big games, I'm sure voters will place them on top if UNC fails to impress against lower schools. Ohio State faces #10 Florida, #6 Duke, at #13 Kansas, and then a couple of ranked Big Ten conference games.

Coaches Poll Preseason Top Ten
1. North Carolina
2. Kentucky
3. Ohio State
4. Connecticut
5. Syracuse
6. Duke
7. Vanderbilt
8. Louisville
9. Memphis
10. Florida

Your thoughts on where the Buckeyes were placed?

This Year In Basketball Is Going To Be Good

The 2011 Ohio State Men's basketball team is going to be fantastic this year, and with less than 2 months away from games being played, we have some studs returning to this Sweet Sixteen team. We have Jared Sullinger, Aaron Craft, William Buford, DeShaun Thomas and so many more pieces that are essential to this team. Based off of Big Ten Network's Brent Yarina, here's the best Ohio State has to offer.

Player Rankings (Only Ohio State players included) :

1. Jared Sullinger - The Big Ten's best player on the Big Ten's best team, Sullinger has shed weight and expects to spend more time with his face to the basket. As if he wasn't hard enough to guard already.
2010-2011 Stats: 54%, 17.2 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 1.2 APG, 1 SPG, 0.5 BPG

5. Aaron Craft - The Big Ten's best on-the-ball defender, Craft dazzled as a freshman and impacts the game in ways that don't always show up in the box score, but his control on the game at hand usually helps swing the W/L column in Ohio State's favor at the end.
2010-2011 Stats: 6.9 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 4.8 APG, 2SPG,.

6. William Buford - We've yet to see Buford's best, and if he lives up to his high potential and continues to improve on defense, we could be looking at this year's E'Twaun Moore. We've already seen what he can do when he's hot, and now the challenge is to get him consistent.
2010-2011 Stats: 14.4 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 2.9 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.3 BPG

Freshman Recruit F LaQuinton Ross Ineligible

The NCAA doesn't stop, and now it's got it's eyes on the OSU basketball program by ruling incoming star forward LaQuinton Ross. Ross, an incoming freshman to this class, was supposed to be a huge part of this year's team to try and win a National Championship.

The reason for being announced ineligible was due to him failing his entrance exams such as the SAT/ACT.

Per 11W:

"Ross was ranked as the 43rd best player in the class of 2011 by Rivals and as the 13th best small forward in the class by Scout. Ross' agenda in the short term appear to be to head back home to Mississippi in order to take a class and retake the SAT in an effort to be granted eligibility. Even without the talented freshman, the Bucks are still expected to be amongst the nation's premiere teams in 2011/2012. Ohio State still welcomes in the highly touted Amir Williams, Sam Thompson, Shannon Scott, and Trey McDonald to join a core that includes Jared Sullinger, Aaron Craft, and William Buford."

Links Around The League

A new feature here at ITS, we'll be posting every now and then about the big headlines hitting other schools in the Big Ten. It also gives you links to the best sports blogs on the web.

First up, the Legends Division: 


Iowa: The Hawkeyes will be facing their much hated rival Northwestern in a prime time match-up on the Big Ten Network. Fan favorite running back Adam Robinson will not be returning in a Hawkeye uniform, instead opting to transfer to an unnamed school. Links from Black Heart Gold Pants


Michigan: That Team Up North and Brady Hoke himself, are really starting to pick up some recruits, and I mean really getting some decent players that just might make The Game interesting. For the second half, anyway. Links from MGoBlog


Michigan State: Not to be outdone, in the recruiting trail, the Spartans aren't giving up the fight to get the best recruits they can muster up. Russell Byrd's left foot is giving him trouble again, which could mean some difficulty for the basketball program. Links from The Only Colors


Minnesota: Last year in the Big Ten/ACC challenge, the Golden Gophers faced off against the Cavaliers, from Virginia, and ended up losing a tight game. This time around, they face off against the Hokies, which I think will be a true test for this squad who has high hopes. Links from The Daily Gopher


Nebraska: Tommie Frazier snubbed from College Football Hall of Fame. Corn Nation also looks at the most important game for the Huskers this season. Links from Corn Nation


Northwestern: The Wildcats get 3 prime time games, coming against Michigan, Iowa, and Penn State. Links from Lake The Posts

Buckeye Seniors Take Their Last Fall

When Brandon Knight let the ball go from his hands, with less than 10 seconds in the game, Buckeye fans shuddered with the possibility of a loss to our beloved Buckeyes. Aaron Craft would be guarding, so we knew we could trust him to try and make a play. So when Knight let the ball go, and the ball made that dreadful "swoosh" noise, we all knew, truly, that our season was done. 


Of course, when bad things like that happen, there is always that small glimmer of hope. So when we inbounded it with about 6 seconds left in the game, we all were thinking the same thing "Please let some Madness magic come to this team". Buford was 2 for 19 on the night. He ended up taking the shot that would careen off the rim, and be knocked away before anyone else could try and make a put-back.


Ohio State's Jon Diebler hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 60 with 21 seconds remaining, but rather than call timeout Kentucky coach John Calipari opted to trust his players.

Knight, who knocked down a winner in Kentucky's second-round victory over Princeton, drove to his right then hit a silky 15-foot jumper. Ohio State coach Thad Matta has called this team a special one capable of getting the program back to the Final Four for the first time since 2007. Yet it ended with the Buckeyes trudging off the floor in disbelief. Sullinger led Ohio State (34-3) with 21 points and 16 rebounds, but the Buckeyes fell in the regional semifinals for a second straight season. Sullinger said in the aftermath he expects to return for his sophomore year, if only to wash out the taste of a bitter end to an otherwise spectacular season.

"I'm definitely coming back next year," Sullinger said. "I need to work on a lot of things. I have to come back. I'm coming back to win."

Buckeyes Pay Wisconsin Back With Interest

Sullinger and the Buckeyes get revenge

Diebler lived up to his "Threebler" nickname Sunday, by hitting 7 of 8 shots behind the arc while scoring 27 points, as Ohio State (29-2, 16-2 Big Ten) set NCAA Division I records by making 14 of 15 3-pointers (93.3 percent) and hitting 14 in a row -- after missing the first. Still hurting from their first loss of the year, a 71-67 setback at Wisconsin on Feb. 12, the Buckeyes unleashed their best game of the season -- shutdown defense at one end and 68-percent shooting from the field at the other.


Freshman Jared Sullinger had 22 points just weeks after accusing a Wisconsin fan of spitting in his face as he left the floor at the Kohl Center. He had told several people that he not only wanted to beat the Badgers, but that he wanted to beat them by 50 points. It wasn't that big of a blowout, but they did defeat the Badgers by 28 in the 93-65 win. William Buford added 18 points and David Lighty 13 for the Buckeyes, who won their 22nd straight home game while dropping Wisconsin to just 4-5 in Big Ten road games this season.

Ryan had been the focal point for many fans in a capacity crowd of 18,809 who felt he had disrespected the Buckeyes after the first meeting when he said, "We won the game. Deal with it."

Josh Gasser had 17 points, Jon Leuer 16 and Keaton Nankivil 10 for the Badgers (23-7, 13-5). Jordan Taylor, who had scored 21 of his 27 points to lead the comeback in the second half of the first meeting, was limited to eight points on 2-of-9 shooting. He was shadowed throughout the game by Ohio State freshman Aaron Craft.

Buckeyes Looking For Revenge Against Badgers

Sullinger's turn soon?

Heading into their second showdown in three weeks, top-ranked Ohio State and No. 10 Wisconsin are saying too much was made of their first meeting and all the words and accusations that followed. Buckeyes coach Thad Matta is advising Ohio State fans to calm down and leave their animosity at home on Sunday. Ohio State is also the regular season outright Big Ten Champions. On to the teams:

First, the Badgers, ranked No. 13 at the time, came back from a 15-point deficit to end Ohio State's perfect season and knock the Buckeyes out of the top spot in the polls.

Then Buckeyes center Jared Sullinger alleged in a postgame message on Twitter that one of the Badgers faithful spit in his face as he was trying to escape the floor amid a mass of celebrating fans.

Later, Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan didn't make a whole lot of friends in Columbus when, in response to questions about the Sullinger incident, he said, "We won the game. Deal with it."

Matta says all of that ancillary stuff doesn't have much bearing on the rematch between the Badgers (23-6, 13-4 Big Ten) and Buckeyes (28-2, 15-2).

Diebler, Buckeyes Clinch Share Of Big Ten Championship

Threebler!

Whether wide open, fading away from a defender or with a bad look at the basket with a hand in his face, Ohio State's Jon Diebler had one of those games in which he just couldn't miss.


The kid was on absolute fire Tuesday night at Penn State, draining 10 3's for tying a conference record. Diebler had a career-high 30 points and set a school record with 10 3-pointers Tuesday night to lead top-ranked Ohio State to an 82-61 rout of Penn State to clinch at least a share of the Big Ten title.

Diebler went 5 of 6 from behind the arc in the first half as the Buckeyes (28-2, 15-2) built a 15-point halftime lead and never let up. There wasn't much talk afterward about tying for the title -- a loss by No. 6 Purdue at Iowa on Saturday or an Ohio State win over No. 10 Wisconsin on Sunday would give the Buckeyes the title outright.

Penn State is now falling fast on the chances of going to the NCAA tournament this year, and they'd better find their footing quickly, otherwise their feet will be on the couch watching March Madness on the TV. 


Senior Talor Battle scored 18 points in his final regular-season home game for Penn State (15-13, 8-9).

Lighty Brings Buckeyes Back

Jared & Buckeyes were able to rely on Lighty

David Lighty scored 17 of his 21 points in the second half and William Buford had all 17 of his in the first to lead Ohio State (No. 3 ESPN/USA Today, No. 2 AP) past Illinois 89-70 on Tuesday night, an impressive bounce-back game after two recent losses for the Buckeyes.


The Buckeyes never trailed after tying it 2-2, building a 15-point lead at halftime and then trading runs with the Illini, but eventually pulling off the win 89-70.

Ohio State shot 53 percent from the field to end Illinois' string of 37 consecutive games holding an opponent under 50 percent. The last team to reach 50 percent was also Ohio State, which shot 53.1 against the Illini on Feb. 14, 2010.


Buford, though, was the chief reason the Buckeyes pulled away. He had 17 points to go with two assists, feeding Diebler for a 3 from the right corner at the buzzer to send the large crowd into intermission with a sustained roar. 

Buckeyes Bounce Back Against Spartans

Buford played a key part in the win

Coming off an upset loss at the hands of Wisconsin, Buckeye fans weren't sure what to expect. Would they see a hangover from the loss at the Kohl Center, or a Purdue smash-down? The players, actually, just acted like the loss never happened, struggling their way to a 71-61 victory over the Spartans. Jon Diebler and David Lighty each had 12 points. Craft, a freshman substitute point guard, had seven points, four assists, four steals and three rebounds -- and a hustle play that was the talk of both head coaches.


Kalin Lucas led the Spartans (14-11, 6-7) with 14 points, while Adreian Payne and Draymond Green each had 10. They've lost six of their last eight but fought hard throughout. Izzo continued to tell the media that the Spartans aren't out for the count. I would say they are awfully close at this point, though, and need to get moving if they want to earn a good spot in the NCAA tournament.


Near the end, Ohio State fans taunted the Spartans, who have made it to the Final Four in six of the last 12 seasons, with a cheer of "N-I-T! N-I-T!". Can't say I encourage it, coming off a loss and being spit on by Badger fans.

The Buckeyes were 23 of 29 at the free-throw line to the Spartans' 5 of 6, another aspect of the game that rankled Izzo.

#1 Falls in the Land of Dairy

This time it was basketball

Ugh! Wisconsin again!

For the second time in the last 6 months, the Badgers have knocked the #1 Buckeyes of their pedestal to grab bragging right between the two schools. Nightmares of Florida crept back into my head after this one though it was a little less painful than losing two national titles to the same team. Either way, Wisconsin is quickly becoming enemy number one for Buckeye nation. If any entrepreneur out there has Bo Ryan and Bret Bielema piñatas for sale I would be happy to place a large order, possibly enough to put your children through college.