Buckeyes Earn Share Of Big Ten Title With Last Second Win Over Spartans

Buford's game winner lifts OSU

Ohio State's only senior ended Michigan State's regular season on a sour note.

William Buford made a high-arcing jumper from the top of the key with 1 second left, lifting the Buckeyes (No. 11 ESPN/USA Today, No. 10 AP) to a 72-70 win over the fifth-ranked Spartans on Sunday to forge a three-way tie for the Big Ten championship.

Draymond Green had a chance to put the Spartans ahead in his final home game with 32 seconds left, but missed a long fadeaway from the right wing. Just before the buzzer, Green had a heave that missed the mark.

Buford's game-winning shot made a once-raucous arena nearly silent and gave a group of people elsewhere in the state a reason to shout with joy.

The Big Ten Season Begins

Here comes the B1G..skirts?

Well folks, the fake season is officially over and it is time to finally enter conference play. I guess it really isn't a fake season although it felt like one this year. Going into the season I think we all knew, even if you didn't want to admit it to yourself, this was going to be a rebuilding year. After the fallout from over the summer it was hard to picture the Buckeye’s demolishing opponents and vying for a spot in the National title game. If Tatgate and the mess it caused never happened I think that would have been a possibility.

Unfortunately, our worst nightmares were realized which in turn thrust numerous young and unproven players into the limelight.

The dust has settled somewhat and OSU now stands at 3-1 heading into the Big Ten gauntlet. At many other schools, 3-1 would be cause for parades but here in Ohio it is a tough pill to swallow. We have been spoiled over the past decade and expect to beat teams like Miami. That didn’t happen this season (thanks Joey Ballgame) and the focus must lie on getting into that inaugural Big Ten title game. It won’t be easy though, especially right out of the gate this weekend with MSU coming to town.

Hopes and Fears Come With the Start of Big Ten Play.

It's on

The game against Colorado opened some eyes and quelled some fears. It also raised some questions for me.

Here is what I am hoping for and fearing for on Saturday as the Buckeyes open the Big Ten season:

Hopes

- That film room time for the offense and Braxton Miller is plentiful this week. With the first full week of classes upon them, our student athletes better start working on their time management, inside and outside of the WHAC.

- That the turnovers stop! I know we didn't lose any against Colorado, but that will not always be the case, especially against a team like Michigan State and as we get further into league play.

- The offense finds a balance in both play calling and effectiveness. The stats seemed pretty even at the end of the game but at the beginning they were quite lop sided. I know Miller has the ability to make a broken play into something but he needs to learn the system first and then create, not create then learn.

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.