The Buckeyes were pleased to see senior guard William Buford score 15 points and snag nine rebounds in the 78-54 Big Ten home win over Penn State that allowed Ohio State to keep pace and maintain hold on a share of first place in the conference.
They will need a complete and productive Buford when they host Michigan next in a showdown that will eliminate one of the two rivals from the league lead.
Buford, the team's only senior and its sole player with more than a year of experience at Ohio State, had been in a bit of a funk lately.
His shooting percentages are down slightly from last season, and Buford had the Buckeyes' following scratching its collective head with his bizarre play in the closing moments of an early Big Ten loss at Indiana.
With Ohio State down by two and less than 10 seconds to play, Buford fired up a desperation three-pointer from well outside the arc and several Hoosier defenders pressed around him. Ohio State still had about five seconds to work with, and needed only a two-pointer to tie the game.
Buford has also been uncharacteristically sloppy with the ball as of late. He had just 20 turnovers in the first 13 games of the season, but once Big Ten play started, Buford turned the ball over 21 times in just six Big Ten games.
Ohio State coach Thad Matta has remained entrenched in Buford's corner, despite his senior's recent shaky spell. Matta said he has no hesitation in calling on Buford in a tight situation, if it arises.
"I've got great trust in him," Matta said on his weekly radio call-in show. "A lot of times you go into battles with the guys that have been in them before."
Matta said that when it comes to crunch time, he is still confident the Buford will react properly, but Matta acknowledged the room for improvement.
"Because we do want the ball in his hands," Matta said, "and we do want him making better decisions."
Buford hit 3-of-6 from outside the arc against Penn State, and all six of his free throws. He had just one turnover and two assists in 32 minutes of action in the lopsided win.
NOTES, QUOTES
Williams showing flashes of brilliance in short playing time
--C Amir Williams, a 6-11 freshman from the same Detroit high school that produced Shane Battier and Chris Webber, blocked three shots in the eight minutes he played in the win over Penn State. Williams, the defensive force in the middle the Buckeyes have lacked since Greg Oden left early for the NBA, leads Ohio State with 18 blocked shots, although he's played just about eight minutes per game in 18 appearances.
--PG Aaron Craft has made the cut and is one of the 20 remaining candidates for this season's Bob Cousy Award. Craft scored 11 points and passed out three assists in just 22 minutes of action as the Buckeyes routed Penn State by 24 points to move to 18-3 overall and 6-2 in the Big Ten. Craft leads the Buckeyes with 105 assists and 50 steals, and his defense on Michigan freshman PG Trey Burke will be crucial in their upcoming Big Ten showdown.
BY THE NUMBERS: 400 -- When his team visited Nebraska for a recent Big Ten game, Ohio State coach Thad Matta worked his 400th game as a head coach. Matta is 309-91 over 12 years as a head coach, with eight seasons at Ohio State, one at Butler and three at Xavier.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "The biggest thing to tell us if we are connected is if we are talking on defense. We understand that we are in the game and focused and we have five guys on the floor. When everyone is moving and talking that feels good." -- Ohio State sophomore PG Aaron Craft on the defensive key for the Buckeyes.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
THIS WEEK'S GAMES:
--vs. Michigan, Jan. 28
KEY MATCHUPS: The Buckeyes collide with the rival Wolverines for the first of their two meetings this season, and encounter a Michigan team that is charged and energized by PG Trey Burke. Ohio State sends its sophomore PG Aaron Craft out to try and slow Burke, who leads Michigan in scoring. Michigan sophomore G Tim Hardaway Jr. has been mired in an extended shooting slump, but Ohio State's senior G William Buford will work to see that Hardaway doesn't get well against the Buckeyes. Inside, Ohio State's All-American F Jared Sullinger squares off with Michigan sophomore F Jordan Morgan.
STAR WATCH: F Jared Sullinger had 20 points in the 78-54 win over Penn State, giving him 963 points in about one and a half seasons at Ohio State and pushing the sophomore closer to the magical 1,000 point mark. Jerry Lucas was the fastest Buckeye to reach 1,000 points in his career, doing so in just 38 games. Current NBA star Michael Redd did it in 49 games. Sullinger has played in 56 games in his Ohio State career and averaged about 17 ppg. Sullinger, who had 13 rebounds in the win over Penn State, recorded the ninth double-double of the season, and owns 27 in his career.
FUTURES MARKET: The Buckeyes are bringing along freshman F LaQuinton Ross, who was cleared to play in December and saw his first game action on Dec. 22. Ross, one of the highest rated recruits in the country last year, attended classes at Ohio State and worked out with his teammates over the summer, but had to wait until the NCAA cleared him academically. He is expected to add another dimension to the Buckeyes, with his length and outside shooting touch.
PLAYER NOTES
--G William Buford finished the first eight games of the Big Ten schedule 383 points away from being Ohio State's all-time career scoring leader. Buford needs to average about 17 points per game and have the Buckeyes advance to the Big Ten Tournament final and the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament to pass current career scoring leader Dennis Hopson, who has 2,096 points.
--F Evan Ravenel was pressed into service for substantial minutes in the road game at Nebraska due to the foul trouble that plagued All-American F Jared Sullinger. Ravenel responded with seven points and four rebounds in the Ohio State rout.
--F Sam Thompson, a freshman from Chicago, had three blocked shots in the recent Ohio State road win at Nebraska.
