I want to be a part of it...

Look at that picture.

"It's just a shot of some of the OSU basketball team smiling," you might say.

It isn't just the shot, it is what is behind the shot. This is a team having fun, and once again they had a fun night in the NIT quarterfinals, advancing past Dayton, 74-63.

They have been executing on both ends of the floor, and even more importantly, they have been relaxed and loose throughout the tournament. This is a team that is playing its best basketball right now, and really a group that had much of the talent all along. It was that calm, that quiet confidence, that the team was missing.

With every game another opportunity to state a case for the NCAA Tournament, the team often put too much pressure on themselves and forgot to have any fun. They learned from that.

Trailing 31-30 at half tonight, the Bucks seemed to have met their match in Dayton. But, they breezed by the Flyers in the second half and led to this image of the players enjoying another victory. They will now go to New York for an NIT semifinal for the second time this season, as they did for the NIT Tip-Off tournament.

Like we said on the broadcast, it may only be the NIT, but this team has played with a whole lot of pride rather than hanging their heads over not making the big tourney. If they keep playing like they have the first three games, they will coast to their second-ever NIT Championship. It's no NCAA, but it would be a nice consolation and leave a good taste from this season.

It was great to see seniors Jamar Butler, Matt Terwilliger and Othello Hunter (and maybe departing Kosta Koufos?) leave their final games at the Schott to a standing ovation. It was also a bittersweet night for myself and Josh Ellis, a senior broadcast duo that did our final basketball broadcast. We have been grateful to have the opportunity to call games for this team. I hope to call basketball again soon, next time as a pro, but who knows if and where?

Finally, legendary Cleveland Cavalier announcer Joe Tait did his 3,000th Cavs broadcast tonight. He has been an inspiration to me and has set the bar high for the next era of broadcasters. There will never be another quite like him. Way to go Joe.

On to the "Other" Elite Eight

NIT Second Round

Buckeyes: 73
California: 56

The Buckeyes, with a raucous, sell-out crowd at old St. John Arena backing them, went on a 24-4 run that carried from late in the first half until early in the second half, and never looked back. The Buckeyes dug out of an early slump and five-point deficit behind 20 points from Jamar Butler, 17 from Kosta Koufos and 11 points and 16 rebounds by Othello Hunter. They scored 20 points off of turnovers and also outscored Cal 17-8 in second chance points, a category the Bucks had struggled in all season. For the second straight game, every Buckeye got playing time.

Analysis: The whole radio crew was completely mesmerized by the noise and atmosphere at St. John Arena. The sell-out crowd was deafening from start to finish, creating a much different and more intimate and passionate environment than those seen at the Schott. It was difficult to hear the person next to you. Simply put, it was the perfect atmosphere for a college basketball game. At the end of the game, they announced the next game would be played Wednesday back at the Schott, and you could hear a collective groan go up throughout the crowd. There was no absence of standing ovations and ear-splitting cheers for the team on every hustle play or big score.

As far as the play, Butler started relatively cold, but once he hit one three, St. John turned into soak city, as he drained three straight to throw the place into a frenzy. Koufos was outstanding; he clearly does a better job against weaker big men, but the tough, physical mentality is one he should have even against tougher matchups. Hunter was a beast, swallowing up rebounds like a vacuum. David Lighty was all over the place on defense, coming up with four steals and numerous other big defensive plays.

Up next: Buckeyes will host Dayton back at the new Value City Arena (groan) on Wednesday at 9 p.m. Coverage begins at 8:40 on www.ohiostatesports.net

iNIT to win it

The Buckeyes answered the question in resounding fashion with an 84-66 victory over UNC Asheville in round one of the NIT on Tuesday night. Yes, this is only the NIT, but we are still out to “win it all,” even if just for pride.
They got Thad Matta his eight straight 20-win season. Jamar Butler had 21 points and 10 assists. Othello Hunter, Kosta Koufos and David Lighty also had solid games in double figures.
The Bucks played hard and determined to win, but more importantly, played a much more calm basketball and it was for the better. Few shots were forced, little panic occurred. They actually looked like they were having fun.
It was a pleasant sign for the broadcasters and 7,000-plus in attendance. A few more relaxed yet at the same time aggressive games like this one might have landed OSU in that other tournament.
A major standing ovation for those fans on Tuesday, by the way. They weren’t great in numbers, but it was one of the better crowds at the Schott this year. The true fans were there and gave some great ovations for OSU’s hustle, determination and great all-around play.
The fans were even treated to seeing every Buckeye player on the floor, including the roar-inducing Mark Titus and Danny Peters. Peters even added a lay-up to cap the scoring.
And, what would the night have been without 7-foot-7 Kenny George of UNC-A, skyscraping over everybody and dunking without leaving his feet. It was truly a sight to behold.
Round two will take place Monday at 7 at the old St. John Arena. Hopefully the Buckeyes can bring the fun down the road for another victory, this time over California.

Buckeyes are a 1-seed!.......oh, wait

After an early exit in the Big Ten tournament, the Buckeyes find themselves on the dance floor—at the NIT.
Ohio State wasn’t the only bubble team to give little reason for the NCAA committee to select them; many of the teams that went into the weekend on the bubble did little to improve their status.
However, the Bucks’ loss to Michigan State opened the door for Pac-10 bubble teams Arizona and Oregon who got the nod for playing in what many see as a superior conference to the Big Ten, among others. A Buckeye win over MSU would have certainly been enough to nudge OSU into the real dance.
Now, it’s all about whether the players feel snubbed and are out to prove something or if they are just going to hang their heads. As a No. 1 seed in the NIT, they have a pretty easy draw that starts with UNC-Asheville at the Schott on Tuesday night. Most of the teams that they would face down the road are very beatable; it is the NIT, after all.
At least it will be somewhat exciting to see the glacier that is Kenny George, UNC-A’s seven-foot-seven-inch center that can dunk standing flat-footed.
Otherwise, it’s an unremarkable end to a season filled with promise that—like Ohio State’s tournament bid—came up just short so many times.

-M.F.

Short-lived stay in Indy

Indianapolis, IN—

Michigan State: 67
Ohio State: 60

The Buckeyes NCAA tournament hopes are on life support following today’s loss to MSU in the Big Ten quarterfinals. Spartan senior guard Drew Neitzel scored 28, hitting numerous dagger threes that sucked the momentum out of OSU. Kosta Koufos (19 points) and David Lighty (12) led the way for Ohio State.

Comments: The offense was very flat, leading to a lot of lengthy possessions that ended in a forced shot. The defense adjusted to Neitzel for a brief spell, but the Spartans did a great job making their own adjustments to rotate the ball to an open Neitzel for more heartbreaking threes. The Bucks also couldn’t make the big stop when they needed it. The defensive rebounding was again atrocious, allowing 15 offensive boards to MSU. Koufos was brilliant in one of the best games of his freshman season. Evan Turner struggled and Jamar Butler didn’t step up to make the big play. A technical foul on Othello Hunter midway through the second half was also an unnecessary hindrance. The officiating certainly didn't help, as there were a lot of touch fouls called and little reward of aggressive defending on both sides.

Tourney: The Buckeyes stand a slim chance of making the NCAA tournament. Despite a solid strength of schedule, they have just two wins over teams in the top-50 in RPI. This team seems destined for the NIT, but many of the other bubble teams have also fallen early in their conference tourneys. There is a chance, but it is very small.

Dribbles: While there were some Buckeye fans in attendance, many of the 15,000-plus in attendance either wore green-and-white or were other fans who were just anti-Buckeye for the game…the broadcast team will be staying in Indy for the weekend despite the loss…Thad Matta remains one win shy of his 8th straight 20-win season…The post-game meal receives a “B-plus” from the broadcasters…stay tuned to http://www.ohiostatesports.net/ for post-season broadcasting notes

-Matt Friedman