NCAA - What do the Buckeyes have to do?

[amazinblue]

What do the Buckeyes have to do to beat Siena on Thursday?

[bluefan]

What do the Buckeyes have to do to beat Siena on Thursday?

Nothing they can do. Their only hope is that Siena doesn't show up.

[Mike Furley]

I actually think we'll beat Siena and that's not just me being a homer. I think the only way Siena wins is if we are cold shooting, careless with the ball, or don't adequately defend the three.

[bigboyBlue]

FWIW, I hope and think they do beat Siena. I'd hate to see 4,5 B10 teams lose in the first round and the bashing to start all over again.

[Don Unverferth]

It actually looks like a good matchup of styles. Siena will try to run, and OSU will try to keep it in the half court.

The offense actually has improved greatly over the year, and become very efficient in halfcourt sets. We space the court pretty well, and get most of the penetration from Evan Turner. He's a pretty complete player who can shoot, pass, and rebound. He doesn't really blow by guys but just kind of works into the lane and is a pretty good finisher. Our improvement on offense is mostly due to William Buford becoming a secondary scorer. He's a true freshman, but in the Rip Hamilton mode. He has a great long range and mid-range game.

Otherwise on offense:

Jon Diebler: Will play almost the whole game and mostly just shoots threes. He can be good but can also disappear.
P.J. Hill and Jeremie Simmons: Our point guards. Neither does much on offense but Simmons will occasionally stick in a three.
Dallas Lauderdale: Center who rarely scores.
B.J. Mullens: Center who will dunk the ball if left open.

On defense we play almost all zone. Usually it's a 3-2 zone. It is pretty weak against the three, especially in the corner, but is pretty good against the 2. They don't rebound well, but they will play hard on defense and try to make the oppoenent use all of the clock.

This is basically a home game for us so big advantage there. The game will hinge on whether Siena can penetrate our zone. It seems like they rely on dribble penetration from their guards and about the only positive of our zone defense this year is that it has been pretty good against dribble penetration. We are susceptable to quick passing around the perimeter and in and out of the middle of the zone, so it will be interesting to see how Siena attacks it. We haven't seen their style of pressing D and they haven't seen our style of zone defense. The weaknesses of our zone (allowing perimeter shots and offensive rebounds) are also weaknesses of Siena, so that should be to our benefit. Our guards will have to be able to handle the press for 40 minutes. How we handle it probably dictates whether we win or not. I doubt Siena's guards are any quicker than what we've faced in the B10, but we haven't seen teams press with the style they will use.

[amazinblue]

Don,

Thanks for your insight... I don't follow the Buckeyes in hoops at all - and, I must say, that you've provided a good analysis of what the Bucks need to do to win...

Go Big Ten...

[RADRACING]

1. Who gives a sh!t about bball
2. Who gives a sh!t about OSU
3. keep repeating 1 & 2

[bluefan]

1. Who gives a sh!t about bball
2. Who gives a sh!t about OSU
3. keep repeating 1 & 2

That's what I'm talkin' about! Not so much #1 but heavily on #2. I'm sure uos could mop the floor with Siena but I sure as hell hope it's the other way around.

[Frank Rizzo]

Get Lebron James to play for them,

[1OSUNUT]

Because it's like a home game I expect the Buckeyes to win a close one - then get waxed by the Cardinals.

[Bighouse]

I actually think we'll beat Siena and that's not just me being a homer. I think the only way Siena wins is if we are cold shooting, careless with the ball, or don't adequately defend the three.
Those mistakes are the types of mistakes OSU commits during big games. Just ask the football team.

P.S. U R a Homer....

[rickyleach]

hope that tressel doesnt coach them , if he does they might get beat 41 -14

[bigboyBlue]

hope that tressel doesnt coach them , if he does they might get beat 41 -14

Including 7 garbage points...not to mention they'll probably injure Mullens after he scores the first 7 points.

[amazinblue]

or don't adequately defend the three.

Furley,

You're an accurate prognosticator... the threes at the end of the OT's were the decision makers.

[rickyleach]

start the fire thad matta web site as soon as possible..