By BRUCE HOOLEY
FOXSportsOhio.com
Jan. 10, 2011
The same drawback that doomed Ohio State's basketball team last year again looms as its demise.
The second-ranked Buckeyes better use the next two months to fix their bench-depth problem before it brings a premature end to their role in March Madness.
The numbers seem stacked in Ohio State's favor, what with national player of the year Evan Turner the only departure from the starting five Thad Matta rode like a whip-happy jockey last season in reaching the Sweet 16.
Add six freshmen of consequence to the four returnees, and depth figured to be Ohio State's ally this time around.
It isn't, and a 67-64 escape against Minnesota on Sunday at Value City Arena proved as much.
The Buckeyes simply aren't built right now to withstand any adversity with their numbers. Not with Matta having zero faith in freshmen guards Jordan Sibert and Lenzelle Smith Jr., with J.D. Weatherspoon academically ineligible and with Dallas Lauderdale still a threat to maim at the free-throw line.
For some reason, Minnesota coach Tubby Smith elected not to foul Lauderdale, a 33 percent free-throw shooter, on any of four Ohio State possessions in the final 2:30 until the Gophers had reduced a 63-57 deficit to 67-64 with 29 seconds left.
Lauderdale predictably missed both attempts, giving Minnesota a chance to tie at the buzzer. That hope went awry when William Buford got a piece of Austin Hollins' 3-point attempt
