unbelievable lack of focus and consistency--very surprising,and equally as disappointing

^^^ Have to agree. They don't seem focused and add in Michigan playing well and shooting the 3 = a bad 1st half.

frustrating to say the least. OSU should be leading this game. Some guys are looking tired. I'd love to say maybe we can go to the bench some but Simmons looked horrible for the small amount of time he was in.

One word, ridiculous.

The Diebler hater club, they don't notice the charging fouls he takes or the good block outs.

another terrible call

Important point in the game with Turner sitting. Bufford has been big. Someone else needs to step up.

Mulva wrote:

royal_k wrote: Why is it every time the Buckeyes face some sort of adversity, it's always on Diebler? I don't get it.....

Michigan hits it's third 3 rained in Diebler's face today due to not closing out in time...

giving you any idea?

Nothing said about Turner's man draining threes in the 1st half? By my count more of the 3's came from the man Turner was guarding

Ohio State starting to pull away 45-37

The whiners/haters become silent when OSU does well. Must be terribly frustrating for them,

Big Gain wrote:
Nothing said about Turner's man draining threes in the 1st half? By my count more of the 3's came from the man Turner was guarding

You should learn to count then. Michigan only made four 3s, and 3 of them were over Diebler. He also fouled Novak on a 3.

He's played much better D recently, but in the first half today he was back to the old Iebler.

Make foul shots and make lay ups, instead of miss dunks and Ohio State is up by 15.

Officiating is piss poor. Lighty gets under cut, on the last dunk by Lauderdale, he was bumped....no call...touch fouls on other end left and right. Harris is getting everything called now.

And yet another BAD call off of the UM player...that is just BAD! They are doing their best to keep UM in the game!

Officiating has been absolutely awful today, both ways, all day. It does seem like the stripes are going to do their best to keep UM in this game as time winds down, some how.

66-55 final. Not great...but did what they needed in second half when game was tight. Good to see Buford. Second half defense was MUCH better. I don't believe Novak scored in second half.

Ugly win...Bufford played great. And the Bucks better shoot better from the FT line in the tourney. Should have won by 20.

It's good to see that the officiated was questioned already. Every time I see Eddie Hightower I get scared because you never know what he'll call. He's the worst ref in major college basketball and it's really not even close.

Plus he makes his calls with such arrogance it drives me crazy.

Not a great game by OSU at home, but it's still a win. This late in the season, that's all you want.

Turner and Buford both played well, and Lauderdale was pretty effective.

That's the scary thing with this team though, you know Turner will show up every single game. But someone else has to step up to help him out, and it's so unpredictable who it's going to be. You know Lighty is going to contribute in some fashion whether it's scoring or in other ways. But it really comes down to Diebler and Buford. If both play bad, OSU isn't a good team. If one plays good, OSU is a good team. If both play good, OSU is a very good team.

Today Buford showed up, Diebler didn't. But it was enough for the win against an average Michigan team.

Good game from Buford. Glad they stepped it up in the 2nd half. Now just gotta hope MSU pulls one out over Purdue tomorrow.

Turner today:
18 pts
11 rbs
7 asst.
4 blocks.

The guy makes it look so easy.

thedynasty1998 wrote: It's good to see that the officiated was questioned already. Every time I see Eddie Hightower I get scared because you never know what he'll call. He's the worst ref in major college basketball and it's really not even close.

Plus he makes his calls with such arrogance it drives me crazy.

The worst part is he is often paired with Steve Welmer, who for my money, is the best referee in college basketball.

Although everyone is questioning the consistency of this team, I think we should feel comfortable because in the last stretch of 16 games, Turner has put up consistent numbers and at least one other player has stepped up enough to help him out. Today Buford and Lauderdale provided enough power to overcome a scrappy Michigan team. What will make this team a very difficult out in the NCAA tournament is that someone always steps up when one guy is having an off day. Today Diebler shot very poorly yet the Buckeyes were still able to pull out the win. I really haven't seen a game yet this season that everyone was shut down. Sometimes their wins aren't the prettiest, but they are getting the job done each week. I really like this team's chances come March for a nice run in the tourney.

I liked in the first half when a loose ball out of bounds and Hightower starts hopping and blowing his whistle three or four times then pauses letting everyone look at him then points. He took 7 or 8 seconds of showmanship for a simple out of bounds possession call!lol

As for the game, spotty defense at tmes, but they took care of business.

Laley23 wrote:

thedynasty1998 wrote: It's good to see that the officiated was questioned already. Every time I see Eddie Hightower I get scared because you never know what he'll call. He's the worst ref in major college basketball and it's really not even close.

Plus he makes his calls with such arrogance it drives me crazy.

The worst part is he is often paired with Steve Welmer, who for my money, is the best referee in college basketball.

Wasn't Valentine the 3rd official!? We all know how much Knight loves him! lol Hightower and Valentine together is just flat out scarey!

bulldog8 wrote: Although everyone is questioning the consistency of this team, I think we should feel comfortable because in the last stretch of 16 games, Turner has put up consistent numbers and at least one other player has stepped up enough to help him out. Today Buford and Lauderdale provided enough power to overcome a scrappy Michigan team. What will make this team a very difficult out in the NCAA tournament is that someone always steps up when one guy is having an off day. Today Diebler shot very poorly yet the Buckeyes were still able to pull out the win. I really haven't seen a game yet this season that everyone was shut down. Sometimes their wins aren't the prettiest, but they are getting the job done each week. I really like this team's chances come March for a nice run in the tourney.

I was actually most impressed with Lauderdale. My feeling all year about OSU was that they will struggle in the NCAA tourney due to their lack of overall size and rebounding, but Lauderdale is really turning into a pretty solid ballplayer. Nice game for him today, quite impressed. If he continues to play at such a physical level, that will only help our chances.