Basketball Preview: #10 Ohio State vs. Northwestern

Sullinger needs to get hot

For Ohio State to have any legitimate chance of reaching the Final Four, Jared Sullinger must re-emerge as the go-to player he's been most of his two seasons. Northwestern's chances of simply reaching the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history could hinge on keeping the preseason All-American in his recent funk.

The 10th-ranked Buckeyes try to set up a weekend showdown for the Big Ten title and avoid being a large notch in the Wildcats' belt Wednesday night when the teams play at Welsh-Ryan Arena.

Ohio State (23-6, 11-5) can still claim a share of the conference title if it wins this game and its regular-season finale Sunday at No. 5 Michigan State. For that to happen, though, the Buckeyes must get Sullinger -- averaging 16.8 points and 8.9 rebounds -- back on track.

The sophomore has been the target of physical double- and triple-teams in recent games as Ohio State has lost three of five. Sullinger has been held in single digits in consecutive games for the first time in his career after scoring eight points in Sunday's 63-60 home loss to then-No. 16 Wisconsin. He missed a portion of the second half after cramping up, and coach Thad Matta is trying to make the needed adjustments to get Sullinger rolling again.

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."

Preview: #1 Ohio State vs. Northwestern

Since their last win against Purdue, in which they steamrolled the Boilermakers, the Buckeyes have "earned" the #1 spot and respect from all or most of the country's pollers. Before that, they would win close games against not great teams, but still win against decent opponents. The Purdue game might just keep the ball rollling, as the Buckeyes take on the Northwestern Wildcats (13-7, 3-6).


In the all-time series between the teams, Ohio State holds a commanding 107-45 lead, although last season ended in a last second shot, losing 72-69. Northwestern runs the "Princeton Offense" meaning the Wildcats will be spreading the ball around with moving players in and out. It usually ends in an open shot for them, providing plenty of pressure for the Buckeye defense.

2010 Previews and Outlooks: Northwestern

I witnessed this Wilcat's molestation.

Northwestern. It's in Chicago, which is nice and it's full of smart people. My 2006 trip to Ryan Field was one of my all time favorite game experiences ever. Tailgating by the basketball arena and lake, freezing my balls off, but trying to stay warm by consuming certain beverages. Taking and drinking a sixer on the way from the tailgating spot to the stadium and as a result almost peeing myself. Then we get inside and it's 75% or so OSU fans. It's was like the mini-shoe. Someone humped the bronze wildcat in the end zone, and ran back in to the stands and as far as I know was never caught or punished. OSU won by 5,000,000 or so and all was good. Ahhhh memories. That was 2006, this is 2010 and they only thing that will be different about the Wildcat's season is that they aren't playing Ohio State. It's too bad, I'd make that trip again. The 2009 campaign was stellar by Northwestern standards.

The 2009 Wildcats finished 8-5 overall, 5-3 in the Big Ten and narrowly lost to Auburn in the Outback Bowl 38-35 in OT. The 3 point victory was attributed the Auburn fan's loud and uproarious SEC chant, and floppy haircuts. Corey Wooton and Mike Kafka took this team pretty far, but guess what? They're both gone. Most would say that with them they took any chance of Northwestern returning to a bowl game with them. I would tend to agree with that.

Corey Wooton: BAMF. Still in Chicago, but not sporting purple.

2010 will be a painful year for Northwestern fans and players. With key contributors on offense and on defense now playing elsewhere what should they expect? "Returning" on offense is last year's backup at quarterback, Dan Persa. You may recall that Persa got decent playing time with Mike Kafka being injured on every other play late last season. Persa saw action in the win against Iowa, although his numbers(5-9 37 yards) weren't the greatest, he only played the 2nd and 3rd quarters and threw the go ahead touch down. Persa also played against Penn State where he went 14-23 and 115 yards through the air and added 42 yards on the ground. Northwestern's leading returning rusher is Scott Concannon who netted 241 yards and 2 TDs(both against Towson) in 2009. Something tells me this guy isn't a Heisman candidate and might not even start in 2010. It's not because he's a white running back, it's because someone else has to be better than him on that roster. Northwestern also uses something called a "super back". WTF?

On defense the story is pretty much the same. Corey Wooton was picked up by the in-town bears in the 4th round. That dude was a beast, and replacing him won't be easy or maybe not even possible. Gone form last year's defense is Wooton, starting DT Adam Hahn, CB Sherrick McManis, and both safeties; Brad Phillips and Brendan Smith. Will anyone be able to fills the shoes of Wooton on Defense? What about the two safeties lost from last year's team? These would be concerns on any team, not just one with lofty academic standards and recruiting issues like Northwestern.

What does 2010 hold for the Wildcats? Let's ask the magic 8 ball:

Don't blame me, blame the 8 ball.

@ Vanderbilt (W): Who has the biggest um.... brains. NORTHWESTERN WINS!! NOOOOoRRRTTTHHHHHwestern WINS!


Illinois State (W): It's Illinois State. That is all.

@ Rice (W): Wouldn't be "surprised" if they lost this one, but I'm pretty sure that Rice still runs the wishbone like it' s 1950 still. Also, they haven't been goof in 50 years.

Central Michigan (W): No LeFevoure, no win for CMU. Also, that's how a Canadian would spell LeFevoure.

@Minnesota (W): Minnesota is bad. Really bad.

Purdue(L): And this is where dreams of a National Championship die for the Wildcats.

BYE WEEK: win?

Michigan State (L): Even Kirk Cousins can't interception his way out of this one.

@ Indiana (L): Pistol is too much for a very green defense. Indiana wins. Also, what the hell is a Hooiser?


@ Penn State (L): They like to wear white shirts. Northwestern will be wearing their away jerseys, which could be cause for confusion and throwing to the wrong people. No sad pandas this time for the Nitts.

Iowa (L): Even though all Iowa fans over at TRE seem to think NU is their kryptonite, I can't see NU winning this game.


Illinois (W): see "Minnesota" for reason.

@ Wisconsin (L): Wisconsin fan came to get up, they came to get down so they'll get out their seats to jump around. Jump up, jump up and get down. This will also be the billionth night game at Camp Randall this season. I swear they play more night games than LSU plays home games.

That was painful. After starting 5-0 the Wildcats end up at 6-6, 3-5 in the Big Ten. Right on the cusp of a bowl berth. Will they get offered a game? They're not a huge draw for any games as they don't have tons of fan or alumni. If they do get offered a bowl, it will be something less than mediocre. According to Wikipedia, who knows all, the Big Tens 8th bowl tie-in is the Little Cesar's bowl.

PIZZA PIZZA, WILDCATS!