The "Other" Buckeyes

Everyone knows that Ohio State goes as their two stars, Sammy Prahalis and Tayler Hill, go. But, if Ohio State is going to win the Big Ten Tournament, beginning tomorrow, these three other lady Buckeye starters are going to need to step up and provide quality production to assist OSU's dynamic duo.

1. Amber Stokes, G: The third guard in OSU's three guard offense, Stokes plays the role of the dynamic slasher. While Ohio State knows what it is going to get defensively from Stokes, (2012 B10's Defensive Player of the Year) her ability to get to the rim and finish in the paint adds a different dimension to OSU's offense, and will be key. Hill and Prahalis are better as spot-up shooters, not slashers, so OSU will need Stokes' ability to get into the lane and break down the defense to free up open shots for them. The Buckeyes are basically unbeatable when all three guards hit double digits, but Stokes is far and away the most inconsistent offensively of the trio. If she can't find her offense, it puts a lot of pressure on the other two.

2. Ashley Adams, C: If you just looked at her size (6-5) you would assume she's a low post monster, gobbling up rebounds and finishing put backs. Bud Adams' game is much more versatile and perimeter oriented that you would assume. Her height and vision makes her one of the best passers on the squad, and Ohio State likes to place her at the top of the three point arch and allow her to dribble down the wing looking for back door cuts. Her ability to rebound the ball on the defensive end and fire strong outlet passes makes OSU's transition offense extremely dangerous. Ohio State needs Adams to pass effectively and rebound to beat Penn State, if they meet up with the Lady Lions again, because OSU was killed on the glass in the first contest. Her passing is a given, but if OSU wants to win this thing, they need her to improve on her 6.7 rpg numbers, because at her height, that isn't good enough.

3. Kalpana Beach, F: The true freshman is Ohio State's wildcard. He ability to knock down mid-range jump shots offensively, while guarding the post defensively, makes her extremely valuable. However, she can struggle with foul trouble and, as most freshmen do, disappears for long stretches offensively. OSU will need her to knock down open jumpers when Hill, Stokes and Prahalis penetrate, something she's very capable of doing.

Ohio State is going to go as far as Hill and Prahalis take them, however, when the other Buckeye starters are clicking and in rhythm, it makes the Dynamic Duo's job waaaaaay easier. Ohio State can't win the tournament if only Prahalis and Hill reach double figures. Tertiary scoring needs to come from Stokes or Beach, and Adams needs to clean the glass and let OSU push the ball in transition. Sammy and Tayler get the headlines, but the other lady Buckeyes are going to play a pivotal role in their team's tourney chances.

Complete Idiots Guide to the 2012 Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament

Beginning Thursday, the Big Ten's 12 teams will battle it out on the court of the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN for the right to represent the Big Ten as the conference's automatic NCAA tournament participant. For teams like Ohio State and Penn State, this tournament represents the opportunity to play their way into a No. 2, and possibly a No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA tourney. For teams like Indiana, it offers a chance to lose again in conference play--wait, that was a low blow--I mean it offers them the chance to make the NCAA tourney! Okay, well, anyway, this is your primer. I've grouped the teams into Favorites, Ehh, You got a Shot!, Wildcards and Hey, Thanks for Making the Trip!, for your reading enjoyment. Here we go:

Favorites:

Penn State: 23-5, No. 1 seed

Summary: The key for Penn State is balance. Four players average double digit scoring, led by Maggie Lucas' 19.3 points per game (3rd in conference). They are second in the Big Ten is scoring as a team (75.7 ppg), and the ability to find scoring from four different starters makes it difficult for opponents to focus their defensive attention on one player. Not only does Penn State score, they defend (4th in conference in allowed ppg) and rebound your misses (1st in total rebounds/defensive rebounds) so you better make your first shot count, because you aren't getting a second chance.

Ohio State: 24-5, No. 2 seed
Summary:  Some teams are lucky to have a Batman, others are mega-lucky to pair said Batman with a Robin, and even fewer still are super-lucky enough (Yes, for the purpose of this primer, and really, the rest of your life, I decided that super > mega for superlative purposes. You're welcome.) to pair that Batman with another Batman. Ohio State is super-lucky. The Buckeyes boast the best 1-2 offensive punch in college basketball in guard and Big Ten Player of the Year Sammy Prahalis (20.4 ppg) and 1st team all-Big Ten guard Tayler Hill (20.7 ppg). Hill and Prahalis are a big reason why Ohio State is 1st in the Big Ten in scoring, shooting percentage, 3pt shooting percentage, and assist to turnover ratio. Potent offense, Ohio State has it.


Ehh, You got a Shot!:

Iowa: 19-10, No. 3 seed

Summary: Iowa likes to share the basketball, and hit three-pointers (1st in conference in assists and three pointers made). Iowa has four different players with at least 33 three-point makes on the year, however, leading scorer (and top player) Jamie Printy has been out since January with a torn ACL, limiting the Iowa offense. The Hawkeyes have made up for her loss with decent secondary scoring (three players over 12 ppg), but they live and die by the three-ball. If they make their outside shots they can beat anyone, but they've struggled with the B10's best (1-4 against PSU, OSU, NEB and PUR). Look for their run to be competitive, but ultimately fall short.

Purdue: 21-8, No. 4 seed

Summary: Purdue is basically Iowa with a different shade of yellow. They don't have any big time wins over the conference's elite (1-4 against PSU, OSU, IOWA and NEB), but they also don't have any bad losses. They are the Big Ten's strongest team defensively, ranking 1st in defensive scoring and steals, and 2nd in field goal and 3pt shooting defense. The Boilermakers rely on Brittany Rayburn's 14.7 ppg as their offense, because nobody else on the roster averages double figures. Purdue's defense allows them to compete with anyone, but if the offense struggles, as per ushe against the conference's upper tier, they'll lose.


Wildcards:

Nebraska: 21-7, No. 6 seed

Summary: The aptly named Jordan Hooper (You see, because it's a pun, like hooper, like, um, hoops, like basketball hoops. Uh, crickets? Okay, moving on.) is one of the conferences best players, averaging 19.1 ppg and 9.3 rpg. This makes Nebraska a threat to win every single time, because she's usually the best player on the floor. The Cornhuskers are basically the definition of a wildcard, talented enough to beat anyone (wins over PSU, OSU, IOWA, PUR) but also inconsistent enough to drop games to the conference's bottom half (head scratching losses to MINN, NW and MICH). The inconsistency stems from Nebraska's shooting percentage (38%) good enough (or bad enough?) for 11th in the B10. Hooper and Co. are capable of beating anyone in this league, especially on a neutral court, but there's an equal possibility they go ice cold and get bounced first round.

Michigan State: 19-10, No. 5 seed

Summary: The defending regular season conference champions were expected to contend for a consecutive Big Ten title, however, a four game, mid-season losing streak derailed those plans. Instead, Sparty will look to win the conference tournament, a distinct possibility with this veteran group. Porsche Poole leads the way for the Spartans, averaging 13.6 ppg, but outside of Lykendra Johnson's 10.7 ppg, no one else manages more than 7 ppg, putting a lot of pressure on the senior duo. MSU is another upper crust Big Ten team with wins over the conference's best (PSU, PUR, NEB) but also brutal losses to OSU and Iowa. What Spartan team will show up to Indy? The one that lost four straight games in January? Or the one that went 11-1 the rest of the way? Like I said, wildcard.

Hey, Thanks for Making the Trip!: 

Sorry Michigan, Minnesota, Northwestern, Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana--especially you Indiana, one conference win? Wow--we appreciate your membership in this fine conference, but your chances of winning this thing are basically non-existent.

The Big Ten Tournament tips off Thursday, at 11:30 a.m., and continues until a champion is crowned Sunday, at 4:00 p.m.

Lady Buckeyes garner Major Big Ten Honors

Award season was very good to the Ohio State women's Basketball program this year as the scarlet and gray received recognition for their tremendous 2011-2012 campaign. Samantha Prahalis, the only senior on the Buckeye roster, received the honorable distinction of Big Ten Player of the year. Prahalis averaged 22.5 ppg in Big Ten Conference play this season and is four assists away from becoming the all-time leader in Big Ten history. Tayler Hill earned first team all Big Ten and all defensive team honors after leading the Big Ten in scoring all season long with 22.7 ppg. Amber Stokes, and her defensive prowess that she showcased all season long, was awarded the title Big Ten player of the Year in addition to being named to the all defensive team with Hill. Ashley Adams also got recognition for her play this season, earning honorable mention honors from the media.

Buckeyes close out Regular Season with Loss at Nebraska

The 2011-2012 regular season ended with a thud for the Ohio State Women's basketball team as the Lady Bucks lost to the Nebraska Cornhuskers 71-57 in Lincoln. Tayler Hill and Samantha Prahalis provided the majority of scoring for the Scarlet and Gray, tallying 16 and 18 points respectively. Unfortunately, the rest of the Buckeyes only scored 23 points as the Cornhuskers, led by Emily Cady's 24 points, pulled away in the second half. The loss drops the Buckeyes to 24-5 overall and 11-5 in Big Ten play, good for second in the conference standings.

BREAKING ... Prahalis, Hill, Stokes Honored

Per @GerdOzone on Twitter, senior guard Samantha Prahalis was just named Big Ten Player of the Year, the eighth straight time an OSU player has won the award. Guard Amber Stokes was also named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.

Additionally, Stokes received first-team all-defensive honors along with guard Tayler Hill, and Prahalis and Hill were each tabbed as first-team all-conference players.

Prahalis averaged 20.4 ppg and 6.5 apg on 45% shooting. Hill averaged 20.7 ppg on 48% shooting, along 2.5 spg (steals per game). Defensively, Stokes averaged a little over one steal per game, and was always tasked with defending the opposition's best perimeter player.

The three-headed guard monster OSU employs will look to win the school's second consecutive Big Ten Tournament title, beginning this Thursday in Indianapolis. Ohio State is the No. 2 seed.

Hill (4), Prahalis (21) and Stokes (3) along with Raven Ferguson (31) on team picture day, pre-season.