Ohio State 67 - #7 Notre Dame 62
Two things became apparent during the Buckeyes game in Indianapolis Saturday. One, Evan Turner isn’t just the Buckeyes beat all-around player; he’s a star in the making. In the last two games, both of them against ranked opponents, he has taken over and dragged a searching OSU offense to victory. Two, this is the best Buckeyes team Thad Matta has put together so far. It is a quick anointment, and this is a young team, but no other team under Matta has shown this much spunk. There’s been more talented freshman (Oden, Conley), there have been better offenses, and even senior led teams like last year. However, no other Buckeyes team in recent history has been this much better in one area than this year’s defense. The Buckeyes defense has been dominant, and in defeating Notre Dame and their outside-in dual threat, this fact was solidified.
Before the game it looked like All-American Notre Dame power forward Luke Harangody would miss his 3rd straight game with pneumatic symptoms. He didn’t. In fact he had a double-double ten minutes into the game. The Buckeyes took the initial Harangody onslaught in stride though, keeping close until the last few minutes when they surged past the Irish to take a 30-28 lead into the half.
There would be little heard from Irish sharpshooter Kyle McAlarney in the second half, which is impressive enough, but in the first half he was nowhere to be found as OSU stuck a variance of taller defenders on him for the whole game. Players from David Lighty, all the way to Dallas Lauderdale (6 more blocks in this game) were seen putting a hand in his face. Obviously Matta had game planned perfectly to stop McAlarney with the prospect of no Harangody, sticking with it was the key to this victory.
The second half was the Evan Turner show. He scored the first eight points of the half, and then just kept going. By the time it was all said and done, he had put together his best night as a Buckeye (28 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals). With contributions from freshman C B.J. Mullens (11 points, 7 rebounds), and freshman guard William Buford (9 points) the Buckeyes produced just enough to carry day.
The possibility that this is the best Buckeyes team of the last decade is real. If Buford or Lighty can add a more consistent offensive game, and Mullens can stay aggressive then this team will be a menace when Big Ten play comes around.
