Post-Game Wrapup

Well, one for two on the day isn't bad. Ohio State squeaked out an ugly one in Champaign, but Syracuse couldn't get it done at home and dropped a second straight game to a top-10 team. Let's start with some notes on the Orange:

-While they seem to be a more complete team this year as compared to last, in that they have a lot of good role players who do their job well. However, the key difference seems to be that they don't have any one player in particular who can take a game over, and put the team on his back in the second half.

-Kris Joseph seems to be the closest to that role, but although 16 of his 23 points came in the second half, he was held scoreless in the last 3 minutes of the game, the pivotal point at which Syracuse went from pushing a good run to draw within 4, to forcing 3-point shots every time they got possession on Villanova's side of the court after a few bad turnovers and missed looks.

-I don't want to get totally down on KJo, because his 23 and 4 was definitely impressive in his first game back after a head injury. Rick Jackson's 16 and 15 didn't go amiss either.

-How is Fab Melo still getting playing time? Much less starting? He plays about 9 minutes a game, averages just 2.2 points and 1.8 rebounds/game...and is 7 feet tall. 7 feet! If you can touch the rim without jumping, those numbers are pretty inexcusable.

Now on to the Buckeyes:

-My man-crush on Jared Sullinger continued to gain steam today. 27 points, 16 boards, and 3 blocks...Fab Melo, you should really be taking notes. These numbers are scary good, and number 0 doesn't seem to show any signs of slowing down.

-Runner-up for MVP of this game has to go to Aaron Craft. His numbers were far from impressive, just 5 points and 4 assists in 31 minutes off the bench, but "clutch" doesn't show up on the stat sheet. He beats the press better than any guard in the country (watch the last 10 minutes of the OSU-Florida game from earlier this year), and showed it again today. Not to mention that 2 of his 5 points came on free throws with 16 seconds left, to make it a 3-point game that was sealed when David Lighty came up with a huge steal on the other end just moments later.

-That makes 20-0 for the #1 Buckeyes this year, but they play 5 ranked teams in their next 7 games, including another showdown with Illinois at home and a trip to Minnesota to play the #21 Golden Gophers, who came within 3 points of an upset the last time these two faced off.

All for now...in the words of a comic (whose name I don't know) at Scarlet and Grey cafe the other night: O-H! I-O...thousands of dollars in student loans.