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What We Learned: OSU 65, PSU 51

Sam Thompson

Sam Thompson had 16 points, 6 rebounds in win

Sam Thompson had 16 points and six rebounds as No. 14 Ohio State turned back host Penn State 65-51 Saturday. Click here for details and analysis of the game.

Steve Helwagen

    • Nice to see Sam step up and everyone contribute when DT struggles (actually some aggressive D by PSU). Keep improving and play best ball in March

      Glandorf Bucks

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      Buckluver

    • I think OSU goes to Nebraska next Saturday at 7pm, on the BTN.
      We should be 17-4 going to Michigan.
      Looking at our schedule if we hold home court, a 23-7 regular season is there and a high NCAA seed.
      If we can get round one in Dayton, great.
      From round 2 on, NCAA is all about match up', and which teams adjust best as each game moves on.
      Defense is our one constant, improvement out of kids like Thompson and Scott we saw today, and bench keep maturing, we should be a better team by late February.

      ohiost83 ●

    • It was very encouraging that our Guards tried to get the ball inside to Thomas, Williams, Ravenal and Mc Donald more than they usually do. However, they need to do more of that and the Bigs need to take it to the basket or pitch it back outside to DT, Thompson, Smith or Ross for 3pt attempts.

      We learned that Thompson can be very effective taking the ball to the hoop or shooting from long range or medium range. He is incredibly athletic and if he drives to the basket more frequently, it will open up options for DT, Ross and the Bigs to score. Of course, if he drives more he will score more too which this offense needs badly.

      We learned once again that we are a great defensive Team. But, even against a poor team like PSU, we struggle if our offense stops moving and we simply pass it around the perimeter. If we can get it inside with movement it opens up everything.

      We learned again that we have two excellent PGs. It was great to see Craft take it to the hoop and aggressively look for his own shot. It was even better to see Scott hit some jumpers.

      I thought McDonald looked very good when he was in there. He deserves more minutes. Ross and Williams also deserve more minutes. Smith is a terrific defensive player and is aggressive offensively, which is great - this offense needs guys who are not afraid to take it to the hoop.

      pdan46 ●

    • Solid win. This is the first time in a while that we did not win based on transition offense but rather outscored them in a half court game. We also found a team that shoots the ball worse than we do!

      MCM

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      Bhenson7

    • Bhenson7 said...

      Boy, Slammy Three is playing well right now. If he could stay consistent, things could turn around for this team. His offense reminds me of a young Dave Lighty. He often seems out of control but he has a nice stroke and so much athleticism that the sky is the limit...literally.

      I agree with you re the similarities of Thompson and Lighty. What made Lighty so great was that he would take the ball to the hoop and only later in his career did he become a 3 point shooter. Also, he always guarded the other team's top scorer. Thompson is already a great defensive player and is very athletic. He could easily become a 15 to 20 point per game scorer if he drove to the basket more frequently.

      pdan46 ●

    • I like the lighty comparison for thompson thought same thing when he hit that 3 late in shot clock in 2nd half

      SteveHelwagen ●

    • This team continues to often play to the "level of the competition".....PSU is a very bad team...dispite the glowing stories and reports of theiTV announcers trying to make them into the Harlem Globetrotters...a very bad team......had period of missing 15 straight shots or so.....we did not capitalize and made it a closer game than it should have been.....a lot of standing around by our guys waiting for Thomas to get his 20 points...at least Slam Thompson took his No-Doz and came to play hard.....an ugly win, but any B10 win on the road is a good win.... If Matta is smart he will get McDonald more ito the rotation....brings a tougher, brute force to the post....a win is a win is a win...

      Bigjimmie ●

    • Glad to see Thompson have a good game ....he and the sophomores still look scared out there to me ....my wish continues to be that Ross...Scott and mcdonald continue to get meaningfu minutes....wish matta would've left the sophomore lineup in while psu was making that.run in the second half so they could.learn a little something ....the line up of I craft Thompson Thomas Williams and smith isn't going to get us anywhere.in.the tourney noone out there except for Thomas ans craft even look like they want the ball.in their hands....

      corybuckeye ●

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      BuckeyeKeg

    • Very much a "meh" win but hopefully Thompson can use this scoring outburst and gain confidence to help out the most offensively challenged Thad Matta team to date.

      Amir Williams continues to be Dwight Howard at the free throw line and Vern Troyer on the low block. Ugh. Zero improvement out of this kid, zero post moves, zero emotion from him. Just wow...

      Wisconsin is a must win with two contests left versus Indiana, road trips to Ann Arbor and Madison, and MSU at home.

      MannekenPis

    • ohiost83 said...

      I think OSU goes to Nebraska next Saturday at 7pm, on the BTN. We should be 17-4 going to Michigan. Looking at our schedule if we hold home court, a 23-7 regular season is there and a high NCAA seed. If we can get round one in Dayton, great. From round 2 on, NCAA is all about match up', and which teams adjust best as each game moves on. Defense is our one constant, improvement out of kids like Thompson and Scott we saw today, and bench keep maturing, we should be a better team by late February.

      I would be esctatic with 23-7.

      Tempe03 ●

    • Good stuff, 'Wagen. The ONLY thing that matters in terms of Big Ten road games is emerging with a W.

      Ohio State = Mission accomplished.

      Dave Biddle ●

    • Dave Biddle said...

      Good stuff, 'Wagen. The ONLY thing that matters in terms of Big Ten road games is emerging with a W.

      Ohio State = Mission accomplished.

      You look at all the road upsets ESPN showed today, getting a road W is tougher than most think.
      OSU had a target on it's back with Penn State due to a long loss string, in the end, get out with a "W" and no injuries.

      ohiost83 ●

    • Bigjimmie said...

      This team continues to often play to the "level of the competition".....PSU is a very bad team...dispite the glowing stories and reports of theiTV announcers trying to make them into the Harlem Globetrotters...a very bad team......had period of missing 15 straight shots or so.....we did not capitalize and made it a closer game than it should have been.....a lot of standing around by our guys waiting for Thomas to get his 20 points...at least Slam Thompson took his No-Doz and came to play hard.....an ugly win, but any B10 win on the road is a good win.... If Matta is smart he will get McDonald more ito the rotation....brings a tougher, brute force to the post....a win is a win is a win...

      +1

      Manhattan Buck

    • Hey Bucknuts staff, update the Basketball Schedule on this site...
      Long Beach State * Dec. 8, 12:00 PM Columbus, Oh. W89-55 6-1(0-0)

      This is the last date that you submitted. Need help, I'm for hire!

      This post was edited by goodsons on 1/27/2013 at 7:38 AM

      goodsons ●

    • I learned that at 5' 9" with a 2" inch vertical I could play for either N. Illinois or E. Michigan. Hey, I can miss that many shots in a row too!

      3296woody ●

    • I just updated the schedule, we will try and keep that up to date.

      They actually got a small bump from 27th to 24th in RPI after the road win. Penn State was like 185 in RPI. Good news is everybody else they will play is national top 100 in RPI.

      01-29 Wisconsin 13-6 (4-2) 58
      02-02 at Nebraska 10-10 (1-6) 79
      02-05 at Michigan 17-1 (5-1) 7
      02-10 Indiana 17-2 (5-1) 15
      02-14 Northwestern 12-8 (3-4) 82
      02-17 at Wisconsin 13-6 (4-2) 58
      02-20 Minnesota 15-4 (3-3) 10
      02-24 Michigan St. 16-3 (6-1) 13
      02-28 at Northwestern 12-8 (3-4) 82
      03-05 at Indiana 17-2 (5-1) 15
      03-10 Illinois 14-5 (2-4) 29

      Probably looking at 8-3 or 7-4 finish.

      8-3 would be 23-7, 13-5

      7-4 would be 22-8, 12-6

      That could be difference between top 4 seed in BTT and not.

      Today's games:

      MSU at Indiana, 1 p.m. (CBS)
      Iowa at Purdue, 3:30 p.m. (BTN)
      Michigan at Illinois, 6 p.m. (BTN)

      This post was edited by SteveHelwagen on 1/27/2013 at 10:18 AM

      SteveHelwagen ●

    • nonotagain

    • ohiost83 said...

      I think OSU goes to Nebraska next Saturday at 7pm, on the BTN. We should be 17-4 going to Michigan. Looking at our schedule if we hold home court, a 23-7 regular season is there and a high NCAA seed. If we can get round one in Dayton, great. From round 2 on, NCAA is all about match up', and which teams adjust best as each game moves on. Defense is our one constant, improvement out of kids like Thompson and Scott we saw today, and bench keep maturing, we should be a better team by late February.

      Yup. Seeding and our bracket is going to determine more than ever who wins the tournament this year. Wouldn't surprise me at all to see this team get back to the final four if we get a favorable draw. Our defense is going to be a nightmare for everyone.

      Systems_id

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