What We Learned: OSU 72, Iowa 63

Only saw the second half. Boy they were not mentally in this game. Almost everyone made a mental mistake. I hope this team can get things together.

Updated with analysis, notes, quotes and postgame videos:

http://ohiostate.247sports.com/Article/We-share-lessons-from-Ohio-States-all-too-close-win-over-Iowa-112773

I continue to wonder what the Duke, Syracuse, Arizona, Florida and other high major elite coaches saw in Amir Williams that we're not seeing. Yeah, big guys take the longest to develop but he is maddeningly frustrating to watch and has ZERO post moves after a year and half in CBUS and is just about the worst rebounding 7 footer these eyes have ever seen. Unacceptable and I really question how much he truly loves this game to look like he does at this stage in his career. Makes you wonder how bad Trey McDonald must be. Yikes!

Craft continues to step on his own dong late in games like an 18 year old true FR or something.

Scott will rightfully continue to sit late in games while his FT shooting resembles that of a blind quadriplegic.

Ravenel has absolute stone hands at times it seems. He gets position and is right there to grab the orange but alas it always finds away to be bobbled off his hands. Ugh.

Ross plays as if a sniper in the lower bowl is watching his every move. Has the kid never played in big games before? He is a turnover machine at this point in his career which is not something a struggling offense can overcome every night out so he too will continue to sit until that sh*t gets fixed.

Glad to LSJ get a slump buster of a game. Hopefully a sign of good things to come and not an aberration.

State Penn is pretty awful. We should pick up our second B1G road win providing the Buckeye team bus doesn't explode.

Agree... So I wonder if playing no bench last year leaves some of these younger guys looking to find continuity. We loved last years records and I suggest Thad knows what it takes. But for anyone including me to think, next guy up with a young team, well I look forward to seeing how the team comes together throughout the year but don't expect a similar season as last year. I will just enjoy the development of the team as we prepare for B1G and NCAA and at the same time would be surprised for the team to get past sweet sixteen....

+1- Agree. Things got very sloppy. Iowa does better at the FT line and we lose that game. Thad needs to get a deadly shooter to loosen things up. Lots of athletes but I don't see legit outside threats and do you want to put that tag on Thomas our best inside scorer ?

What we learned is this team is still trying to find themselves along with consistency........but I agree with you CR2011....we learned nothing new that we already know.

1. Amir is still god awful. no rebounds? his 2 points was on a WIDE OPEN DUNK which is really the only way he scores unless he gets fouled and happens to make some free throws
2. FT shooting still very suspect, although CRAFT did hit 8-10
3. This team continues to have mental lapses during the game
4. Ross can score, he's gaining more confidence but crunch time we need ball handlers
5. Craft.....6 TO's? some of his passes are just plain bad and uncalled for.
6. DT is still the freaking man and by the way, teammates of DT........GET HIM THE F'NG BALL WHEN IT IS CRUNCH TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We should have won this game comfortably.....and amazingly because we were DESTROYED on the offensive boards. Thankfully Iowa is not a good 3 pt shooting team and they decided to suck ass at the FT line last night. I think they said overall they are a 71% FT shooting team which is good.....

The thing that pissed me off the most is when Iowa kept pressing and for some reason for many minutes our "press break play" was to have Craft and one other person stand there and try to hold off their guy and call for the ball? WHAT THE F IS THAT???? It took Matta about 6 or 7 minutes too long to call a timeout and then actually draw up a press break play where picks are involved and a lot of movement.

That should be standard.......if a team goes to pressing, immediately go to one fo yoru press break sets. We dribbled too much.....you had Craft and LSJ dribbling around like they were scared for their lives and then guys were dribbling to the worst spots on the floor and picking up their dribble. This IS NOT Louisville bringing the heat...this is Iowa pressing you and creating TO's. 14 of our 17 TO's were in the second half and Iowa capitalized.

I loved Ross stepping up and scoring more but again, he is careless with the ball and still needs work defensively. So in crunch time Matta needs to sub offense for defense depending on the siutation.....or if it is late in the game get him out and get your ball handlers in there, which he did but again, too late.

The most freightening thing about that game was when DT went to the locker room and on the floor was: Craft, LSJ, Ravenal, Thompson, (Ross or Scott? I can't remember) but basically I said to myself.......awe fuck, this is going to be our starting 5 next year WITHOUT RAVENAL!?????? That is a horror story in and of itself!!!!!!

Iowa is not a bad team......they beat Wisky, played IU tough and only lost by like 5...they have some decent bigs. Going to Iowa will be no gimmie......

I hope this team comes ready to play Saturday.....PSU is bad and with this teams mental capacity to disappear i sure hope Matta and crew do everything they can to make sure this team is focused and ready to play.

Go Bucks!

Hey now, Thaddy does 1 thing good. He chews a mean wad of gum!! Need to get rid of Gordon Goober and take his side kick politally correct hire Smith with him.