Top 5 Questions Facing the Buckeyes

1. David Lighty—missed?

The loss of junior captain David Lighty has proven to be more serious than anyone could have expected. Lighty, a key reserve from the Conley-Oden Buckeyes, has stepped into his new role as the leader of this team among failed expectations.

Fans and media alike agreed that the loss of Lighty would not bring the demise of the Buckeyes. But a closer look at this team reveals that this injury was a serious blow to the Buckeyes.

Since Lighty exited the lineup Dec. 17, the team once with the nation's longest winning streak, including ranked wins over Notre Dame and Miami, is struggling to stay in the middle of the pack in the Big Ten.

Lighty’s stats are meager at best, averaging 9.7 pts, 1.9 assists, and 1.4 steals per game, but his impact on the Buckeyes is much more than just stats.

“In Lighty, the Buckeyes lost a guard with Final Four experience, someone who understands Thad Matta's system and could be a much-needed mentor to the younger players on the team,” said Andy Katz.

The Buckeyes, now six weeks into Lighty’s 6-12 week injury, are hoping for a miracle because without Lighty, Ohio State lacks the ability to win against top Big Ten foes Michigan St. and Illinois.


2. Can the bench survive with the loss of Crater?

Backup Anthony Crater poured salt on the wound, just 11 days after the loss of Lighty, requesting a release from Coach Thad Matta. Crater had 12 points and 19 assists in the young season. This leaves the much-maligned P.J. Hill to step up and be the guy one year after Buckeye fans found out he could not be the guy.

P.J. Hill quickly won the favor of the Ohio State faithful with his defensive pressure and energy, but his offensive deficiencies are too many to overcome. Averaging 1.4 points and 1.1 assists per game, Hill looks like he is playing a jacked-up version of hot potato with the ball.

William Buford (G) and B.J. Mullens (C) have shown improvement, but Ohio State lacks depth in the backcourt behind Jeremie Simmons. In a tough stretch of the Big Ten season, the Buckeyes are forced to find points off the bench from the likes of Nikola Kecman, Kyle Madsen, and Walter Offutt.


3. The Diebler Debacle?

As a senior at Upper Sandusky High School, Jon Diebler led the nation in scoring at 41.2 points per game, grabbed 12.3 rebounds per game, was named Mr. Basketball in Ohio, and finished his career as Ohio’s all-time leading scorer. All of his success has not been able to translate into consistency at the next level.

As a sophomore Diebler is averaging 10.5 points per game and is still struggling to find a role in Thad Matta’s offense. Offensively he lives and dies with the three, and his lack of strength makes him a liability cutting to the basket.

Diebler has a great work ethic, discipline, and a genuine desire to improve. He may turn out to be Matta’s best recruit simply because he may stick around for four years, if the fans are willing to wait.


4. Can B.J. Mullens give the Buckeyes a post presence?

After the exodus of Kosta Koufos, a big man with a pulse would bring a smile to any Buckeye fan. A year of turnovers and outside jumpshots from the big seven-footer left people in Columbus screaming for a big man that can get his hands dirty in the paint.

Thad Matta attempted to ease the freshman center, B.J. Mullens, into the starting lineup, and it has paid dividends. Mullens has okay hands, quick feet, and the ability to score with many different post moves. He still lacks intensity and can sometimes let his emotions get the best of him. Let’s just hope this seven-footer decides to stick around for a second year.


5. Too Young?

Too bad. In an era of college basketball where the NBA has significantly crippled some NCAA programs, Ohio State has fallen victim to the one and done syndrome plaguing many universities.

Year in and year out players come to campus to scrape by, avoid injuries, and prepare for the NBA Draft. Programs are forced to learn how to recruit on the fly as many of their highly touted freshmen opt out for the draft.

Thad Matta has struggled with his recruiting strategy, and although the Buckeyes have the second-youngest team in the Big Ten, they could be even younger next season with the potential of losing sophomore Evan Turner (the team's leading scorer) and freshman center B.J. Mullens.

After three straight seasons of great recruiting classes, next season Thad Matta could be looking for answers from the student body in the form of some walk-ons.

Big Ten Basketball Making Statement

Fellow Buckeye fans, it's been way too long. Figured I'd chime in during this special time of year where families come together and celebrate the holidays. Except this lovey dovey business doesn’t suit all of us so let’s get to something more important: our annual Arizona Fiesta draws closer each day. Wait that’s not it. O yea: all I can think about is how jacked up I am for the upcoming Big Ten basketball season.

The conference may have failed to defeat the ACC yet again in the challenge but the depth is the best in years. Already this year three teams outside of the top 25 in the preseason poll have knocked off top 10 teams. Michigan (for the record I still root against them during nonconference) knocked off both UCLA and Duke, Minnesota defeated Lousiville today and of course are Buckeyes outplayed Notre Dame. Throw in Michigan State's "neutral site" win in Houston today over Texas and you have some impressive wins prior to Christmas.

Adding to the excitement is that OSU already has a perfect 8-0 record and another cupcake in UNC-Asheville coming. Without David Lighty (broken foot, out 2-3 months) the scarlet and gray will be challenged but will need a real collapse to avoid the tourney. At worst this team will be 9-1 before conference play kicks off at home against Iowa, 4 p.m. online @ OhioStateSports.net. Bob Huggins and West Virginia pose a threat on the 27th (Saturday also at 4 and online @OhioStateSports.net) but this Lightyless group could use another toughy before the Big Ten season.

All in all it should be a fun winter in Columbus. Heck the Jackets even managed an overtime triumph against the record setting San Jose Sharks. Is Gabe Norris the spark the organization needs to end the playoff drought? Clearly this is another subject for a person who fervently follows hockey (hint hint) but you get what I'm saying. Get hyped, get ready and enjoy the break everybody! Perhaps Thad Mattas crew has a few presents in the stockings (or driedel bags if you're apart of the tribe) for Buckeyes near and far.

Ohio State Football Award Winners

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State running back Chris “Beanie” Wells was voted 2008 team Most Valuable Player as announced at the Football Appreciation Banquet this afternoon.

Wells also received the Archie Griffin Award as outstanding offensive player, the W.W. Hayes Award as outstanding player in the Michigan game and the Rex Kern Award as the outstanding offensive back. Linebacker James Laurinaitis and cornerback Malcolm Jenkins shared the Bill Willis Award as the outstanding defensive player.

Other award winners: Ryan Lukens (John Galbreath, academics); Terrelle Pryor (first-year offensive player); Nathan Williams first-year defensive player); Shaun Lane (Ike Kelley, special teams standout); James Laurinaitis (Randy Gradishar, linebacker); Brian Robiskie (Paul Warfield, receiver); Malcolm Jenkins and Kurt Coleman (Arnie Chonko, defensive back);

Tyson Gentry (Bo Rein, most inspirational); Alex Boone (Jim Parker, offensive lineman); Kurt Coleman (SAE, Homecoming game standout); Thaddeus Gibson (Agonis Rick Meyer, Penn State game standout); Rory Nicol (Jim Marshall Warrior); Nader Abdallah (Jack Stephenson, defensive lineman).

Courtesy Shelly Poe
Ohio State Athletic Communications
www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com

Men's Swimming: Ohio State Wins First OSU Invite Title

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The nationally-ranked Ohio State men’s swimming and diving team captured its first Ohio State Swimming and Diving Invite title Sunday at the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion with a score of 1382.5 points. The No. 11 Buckeyes topped the three-time reigning champion Minnesota by over 500 points.

“I am extremely please with this group of guys,” Bill Wadley, head men’s swimming coach, said. “It was a dynamite effort by the whole team, from the freshmen to the seniors. It was a fun weekend and fun to see all of their hard work being paid off.

“We’re very thrilled to win big over such a tough field of competitors.”

Rounding out the top five behind Ohio State was Minnesota with 873.5 points, Penn State (649), Notre Dame (398) and Cleveland State (194).

A major highlight of the day’s events was the 200 breaststroke that saw the Buckeyes go 1-2-3-4-5, led by 2007 team Most Outstanding Swimmer Sam Pelkey. Despite injuries that have plagued his fall training, the junior took first in a meet-record time of 1:58.60.

“Sam Pelkey has an uncanny ability to take his game to the next level and is a champion both in the pool and in spirit,” Wadley said. “Sam has been injured all fall and really shined tonight. It is hard to imagine anyone with a unique ability to pull everything all together like he has.”

Also standing out was the performance by junior Niksa Roki in the 200 butterfly. The 2008 Croatian Olympian took third with an NCAA “B” time of 1:46.07, breaking a 24-year school record in the process.

“To have a swimmer break records like Niksa has this weekend at this time of the year is fantastic,” Wadley said. “He had an outstanding swim today.”

Reigning national champion Sean Moore had a dominating performance on the platform diving event for the Buckeyes. The sophomore took the title in a McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion record of 434.60 points.

Juniors Stefan Sigrist and Mark Neiman opened up the final session of the Invite with a 1-2 finish in the 1,650-yard freestyle. Sigrist won in a meet-record time and NCAA “B” cut time of 15:15.09, just edging out Neiman’s “B” time of 15:15.69.

Ohio State’s depth shone through in the evening’s next event as the Buckeyes had six out of eight swimmers in the 200 backstroke championship final. Penn State’s Patrick Schirk took the top spot, with Ohio State sophomore Phil Seleskie taking second in 1:46.55.

Sophomore Itai Chammah captured third in the event (1:46.82) and was followed by Justin Farra in fourth (1:47.13) and Tyler King in fifth (1:47.96). Freshman Austin Mudd and sophomore Michael Hulme rounded out the field, finishing seventh (1:49.17) and eighth (1:49.19), respectively.

In the 100 freestyle, Buckeye co-captain Joel Elber swam a career-best time of 44.13 to finish second just behind Minnesota’s Curt Carlson.

Closing out the weekend was the 400 freestyle relay. The team of junior Andrew Olson, Elber and freshmen Markus Sievers and Lincoln Fahrbach finished second in a “B” time of 2:58.00.

The Buckeyes will take a break from competition to focus on finals. The team returns to the pool on January 9 to face off with Wright State at the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion. The co-ed meet begins at 5 p.m.

Courtesy Jerry Emig
Ohio State Athletic Communications
www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com

Men's Hockey: Buckeyes Top Robert Morris, 7-4, in Cleveland

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Buckeyes received goals from six players and points from 14 total as the Ohio State men’s hockey team defeated Robert Morris, 7-4, Saturday in Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. Sophomore C.J. Severyn led the Buckeyes with a career-high two goals, with classmate Peter Boyd adding a career-high three points on a goal and two assists. Cleveland native John Albert added two assists in the win, which extended the Buckeyes’ winning streak to four.

The Buckeyes led 2-0 after the first period. Severyn put the Buckeyes on the board just 34 seconds into the game, intercepting a Colonial clearing attempt inside the blue line and scoring from the high slot for his second goal of the year. At 16:17 Sergio Somma tallied, from Boyd and freshman Sean Duddy. The Buckeyes held the Colonials scoreless on four power-play chances in the period, with 2:49 of 5-on-3 action. The first two-man chance for the Colonials spanned 1:07, with Ohio State not allowing a shot on goal. A second opportunity for 1:42 came at 11:29 and Buckeye sophomore goalie Dustin Carlson stopped all five shots on the 5-on-3. The Buckeyes outshot Robert Morris in the period, 13-9, and were 0-for-1 on the power play.

The teams combined for five goals in the second period, with the Buckeyes leading, 5-2, after two. Severyn added his second goal of the game at 7:33, assisted by freshman Cory Schneider, marking his first career assist, and Kyle Reed, to give the Buckeyes a 3-0 lead. The Colonials tallied twice in 2:08, with Chris Margott scoring at 11:00 and Nathan Longpre scoring on the power play at 13:08, cutting the Buckeye lead to one (3-2). The Buckeyes scored twice in the final 3:06. Sophomore Shane Sims scored his first goal of the season on the power play at 16:54, assisted by Boyd and Albert. Freshman Zac Dalpe scored on a breakaway at 17:31, assisted by Albert. The Buckeyes outshot Robert Morris, 16-6, in the period. Robert Morris scored on its one power-play chance and Ohio State was 1-for-2.

The teams added four goals in the third period, with all coming in the final 5:49. Boyd scored at 14:11, assisted by Cleveland (Solon) native Chris Reed and Patrick Schafer, who played juniors in Cleveland. RMU responded 20 seconds later on a goal from Dave Cowan. Hunter Bishop added the seventh Buckeye goal 29 seconds later, with assists coming from Ian Boots and Corey Elkins. The Colonials closed out the scoring with a 5-on-3 goal at 17:25. The Colonials outshot Ohio State in the period, 16-11. The Colonials were 1-for-3 on the power play, with Ohio State 0-for-1.

For the game, Ohio State outshot the Colonials, 40-31. Carlson had 27 saves in 59:48. RMU’s Wes Russell started and took the loss, allowing five goals and making 21 saves in the 37:31. Brooks Osgergard closed out the game, with 12 saves and two goals allowed in 22:29.

Ohio State was 1-for-4 on the power play in the game, with Robert Morris 2-for-8.

Postgame Notes
The Buckeyes will close out first-half play with a home series with Bentley next weekend. The teams will meet at 7:05 p.m. Friday and 8:05 p.m. Saturday in Value City Arena in Columbus.

The Buckeyes scored the most goals since a 9-3 victory over Bowling Green Nov. 18, 2006.

Severyn has three goals in his last three games combined.

Bishop has a goal in four-consecutive games.

Albert is on a four-game scoring streak, with 2-4-6 totals and two points in each of his last two games.

Boots has at least one point in each of the last four games, with a 2-3-5 line.

Boyd tied the team’s season high with three points. It was the fourth two-assist game of his career.

Courtesy Leann Parker
Ohio State Athletics
www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com