The Front Row

I know I'm going to get slaughtered for this but sooner or later we are going to have to question Matta's in-game adjustments. I just don't see why Thompson and Williams play more then Ross and Ravenel.

Ravenel wasn't emotionally and mentally in the game during the second half and he sat down in the game. As a post player, Ravenel shouldn't miss point blank layups around the rim. Thompson got four crucials blocks on Northwestern's perimeter shooters. Ross had a hard time defending the Princeton style offense and that's why he didn't play. Your questions should have been: Why doesn't Matta play Trey McDonald more instead of Williams and Why in the hell didn't Matta recruit Payne instead of Amir Williams. P.S. Coach Matta and staff: Cut your losses with Williams and give McDonald some playing time. P.S. Coach Matta: Your team is more successful playing the bigger body centers like Sullinger and Dials for your type of offensive sets.

Worse than that was the no defense on the Sobo drive for the layup with 2.1 left. It was like Thomas saw him and turned him down. You have to contest that shot, right?

Matta made a very wise adjustment in this game IMO. He eventually said "Hell with it" and used Deshaun at center. They were getting zero production from the 5 spot (Williams/Ravenel) and Matta took the drastic measure of playing the 6-6 Thomas (listed at 6-7) at center for the first time in his career. It worked.

I agree. NU has little height anyway so it worked well. Look who the top rebounders were in this game. The Bucks got nothing from the 3 players that are supposed to be Centers for this team. At least McDonald had a great pass and played with energy.

Only head scratcher for me tonight was the absence of Ross. I thought he had a decent first half yet saw no minutes in the second. To make matters worse, Scott played pretty poorly and Thompson not much better. I have been pretty critical of Ross but I was confused by the rotation tonight from that perspective. When Craft is not getting to the rim and finishing and you have him along with Scott and Thompson on the floor, you better hold the other team under 50.

Once again, Defense won the game. For this team, that is the only recipe for success. Yes, Smith was hot tonight, but he needs to do that every game and he has yet to do it in consecutive games. Ross should definitely get more minutes. But, Thompson played very well tonight defensively. This is the 28th time I have written this - Craft, Scott, Thompson and even Smith need to drive to the basket and shoot or dish. Despite Smith's hot hand, our only consistent scoring results from driving and dishing.

I think we learned that Matta can floor coach-his implimation of the "shorter Offense" seemed to work well as they closed out the game......hey we might as well face it, some teams just do not match up well for the Buckeys..NW is one of those teams..deal wiht it...I will take the 10 point W.

I hated to see Matta get so incensed with Ravenel. He got frustrated, with himself; give the 5th-year senior a little slack. I think Matta saw a loss looming and sort of lost it himself.

This team is frustrating. Craft gets 21 one night, 3 the next. Smith tools along in the single digits, the busts 24. You won't go very far in the NCAA with so little consistency. It's a crap shoot.

Ohio State ran alot of high ball screens for Craft versus MSU. It helps when you have a post player who can set screens for you. Ohio State was more concerned about mismatches from Northwestern and NU guards moving around the court. Centers were out of position most of the game and OSU guards and forwards can cover more ground under the rim. Thomas played a good game versus Olah. He is not ready to play in the NBA. He needs another year. Craft and Scott played a great game with fifteen assists and one turnover. OSU needs to get better guarding ball screens. At least OSU only allowed two back door cuts to the rim.

Ravenel was f..king up big time under the rim. He lost it emotionally and lost his compusure in the game. “He missed a couple point-blank layups and I was trying to get his attention and he kind of lost it,” Matta said. “As a fifth-year senior in this program, you can’t act like that on the court. We’re not going to tolerate it.

“When you play Northwestern, if you step outside the ‘O’ you’re screwed. When I saw he got emotional, I had to get him out of the game.”
You don't slam the ball on the court and yell at the referee. I don't blame Matta for yelling at him.