OSU 85, Minnesota 67

Today's win at Minnesota was a solid victory, although I didn't expect a loss coming at the hands of the Minnesota Golden Gophers. This post isn't going to be so much about today's game, but more about what I like and dislike about the state of the OSU basketball team. I guess we could name this one State of the Matta or something corny like that.

Now that OSU is approaching 30 games played and the Big Ten and NCAA tourney's are in sight, we are starting to learn alot about this Buckeye squad. I like the way that this team is assembled, because it is starting to become more apparent that all of the pieces are in place for a Final Four run. Here are a few things that I like and don't like about the Ohio State Buckeye Men's basketball team as of February 18th, 2007.

1. The Ohio State guards/small forwards- I love the fact that OSU has Conley, Jamar Butler, Ron Lewis and Daequan Cook that love to run the floor and take the ball to the rack. Conley does a very nice job of running the point and also has lightning quick hands and phenomenal anticipation that lead to many backcourt steals and easy buckets. Butler, Lewis and Cook have the ability to be smooth behind the the three-point line, and if those 3 are hitting threes the Buckeyes are very hard to beat.

2. Greg Oden and Othella Hunter- The inside presence that Oden provides is a luxury that not many college basketball teams can match. In the NCAA tourney it is the guards that run the show, but a dominant big can open up open jump shots for teammates and limit easy looks down low for the opposing team. Keeping these two out of foul trouble will be of utmost importance if OSU plans on making any sort of run in late March.

3. Ivan Harris- "The Microwave" can be quite the x-factor, and it seems like opposing teams forget about him when they focus defensively on stopping Oden, Cook, Conley, Lewis and Butler. The open looks will be there for Harris, and his ability to hit the 3 will be huge for the Bucks down the stretech.

4. Matt Terwilliger and David Lighty- These two get overlooked quite often, but they have both supplied solid defense and invaluable minutes off the bench in the Buckeyes 24-3 season record. Keeping Oden fresh and out of foul trouble is a key to the Buckeyes success, and Terwilliger and Hunter have done a nice job of providing solid minutes off the bench.