Seth's 50 Centers

It’s a new year and I’ll likely hit a myriad of topics as I watch the non-HD showing of Ohio State at Illinois basketball.

First, I’d like to thank those of you out there who expressed kind thoughts upon the passing of my grandmother a few weeks ago. It was a tough time and that, along with the busy holidays, accounted for a lack of posting on the site, but again, having people care really helps in times like those.

OSU wins first league contest

Jamar Butler had a huge night, with a career high 32 points, and led the Buckeyes to a 74-58 win at Illinois.

There was a point early in the second half when things were still up in the air and the senior just took over. I talk later in this post (which was written before halftime) about how good he is in crunch time and he outdid even my expectations of what he could do tonight!

I just hope he doesn’t wear down as the season goes along. He played 39 minutes tonight and will likely average around that throughout the league schedule.

To zone or not to zone

The story goes that just minutes before OSU’s first regular season game coach Thad Matta drew up a 3-2 zone defense for his team to implement.

After an embarrassing preseason loss to Division II Findlay, Matta was rightfully concerned about his squad’s defensive intensity. It’s a young team, with freshmen Kosta Koufos, Jon Diebler, Evan Turner and Dallas Lauderdale all playing vital roles, not to mention juco transfer P.J. Hill and freshman Eric Wallace, who have seen some minutes.

So, the 3-2 zone was put in and the numbers say it’s worked — opponents have shot just 37 percent from the field against the Buckeyes. It’s just hard to believe it sometimes! With three defenders committed to the perimeter, inside communication has been a must. Early in games teams have found holes in there, but in most games, including the championship rematch at home against Flroida, Matta’s staff sewed up the holes before those gaps became gorges.

Tonight the Bucks played some 2-3 zone because of the Illini’s inability to shoot the ball from outside.

How good can the baby Bucks be?

So far this year’s squad has done OK. At 9-3 in the pre-Big Ten schedule — a return game at Tennessee is scheduled for the middle of an 18-game league slate. The three losses came to No. 1 North Carolina, Texas A&M and at Butler. OSU held leads at halftime of two of those contests, and led with just minutes to play in the first against the Aggies in the NIT title game.

All three losses came to teams that’ll be in the NCAA tournament with chances to go into the second week or beyond. But what does that mean for OSU? I guess it can only help to have played good teams, but other than Syracuse, which the Buckeyes beat in the NIT semifinal, I don’t know if any of the teams they defeated will go dancing in March.

I’m optimistic that this team can continue to grow and will indeed be among the league’s elite come conference tourney time, but only time will tell.

I like Koufos and the wide array of options he brings at over 7-feet tall. I love Jamar Butler’s leadership and cold-blooded shooting touch in tight spots. Diebler has awaken from his shooting coma and can hurt teams from anywhere this side of halfcourt, and with Turner starting ahead of him now the options seem even deeper. Turner and Lighty both starting helps because both can slash to the hoop and open up the perimeter.

Oh those silly Bengals

What can I say?

I spoke on the phone last night with my friend Matt and when we weren’t talking about OSU’s football team’s possibilities in the BCS title game, we were drowning in our sorrows over our pro football team.

As bad as the defense was in 2007 — Marvin Lewis let D-coordinator Chuck Bresnihan and defensive coach Ricky Hunley go yesterday — it only gave up 17 points a game in the second half of the schedule, so something else is wrong!

First, the decision making from the front office was brutal. They entered the Patriots game with just three healthy linebackers, and within two defensive plays only had two. What kind of owner/general manager lets that happen? So, we’ve gone from drafting/signing thugs and criminals, to not signing anyone! I guess that’s safer!

The offense frustrates me more than the D. I don’t expect much from the defense, but how can a team with so many weapons be so bad in the red zone? I’ll tell you. The genius coordinator Bob Bratkowski failed to attack the goal line any time the Bengals even sniffed the 30-yard line.

I was more confident from 55 yards out than in the red zone.

OSU football

Don’t think I forgot the biggest thing going around here this week!

Can the Buckeyes overcome that terrible defeat from the title game a year ago? Does it really matter that OSU is 0-8 against SEC teams in bowl games?

Do the length of Peyton Manning’s cleats in the Citrus Bowl, or Ryan Brewer’s vendetta against John Cooper in the Outback Bowl or even Sherman Williams’ painting of the Bucks in another Citrus Bowl really affect how the 2007 Buckeyes will fare in this game?

Probably not, but a win would go a long way, wouldn’t it?

NFL Picks

Congratulations to Brian for avenging the sports guys’ embarrassing letdown to the CPA a season ago, even if he only made picks for 15 of the 16 games in Week 17!

Brian’s expert picking this season earned him a lunch with the other pickers, whether he likes it or not!

Seth 13-3
Brian 12-3
The CPA 10-6
Big Game 9-7
Jessica 8-8

Final totals

Brian 182
Jessica 170
Seth 170
The CPA 168
Big Game 167

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