By Steve Patterson
Ohio State beat #2 seed Wisconsin 66-49 in the Big Ten Tournament yesterday to secure a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament beginning later this week. Mike Conley (18 pts) and Ron Lewis (17 pts) showed up big while center Greg Oden (12 pts, 10 rebounds, and 4 blocks) struggled with fouls in the first half and scored no points before being reinserted into the lineup after halftime. After the game Lewis talked about facing adversity and playing as a team. “I think it helps us with our confidence, and I think it helps us with growing as a team. As you can see, in those three games (the Big Ten Tournament games) we relied on each other, we played team basketball, and we took the negatives that teams had and made them into positives for us.”
Conley added that it’s more difficult playing without Oden. “We were just trying to keep it close without him in the game. A lot of things are a lot harder because he takes up so much space down low and we rely on him for a lot of things. I think a lot of us stepped up in that first half. The seniors played great. The bench really came into play with Greg out of the game. Matt Terwilliger played great, did his thing, got rebounds, and Othello did his thing, as well.”
The team thrived on quick possessions and turning turnovers into break away points. Lewis talked about the rest they got prior to the game and how it helped them push the pace. “I think it was a factor. We got a lot of rest, rested our bodies and our legs. So it was a major factor. Plus we were in zone, so it gave us a lot of rest, as well, to run on the offensive end.”
Great defensive performances by Lighty and Butler have kept the team in the winning column of many recent games. Conley discussed playing defense the whole game and the maturity of the team. “Yeah, I think it was a statement. Three games in three days is a tough thing to do, and for our guys to come out and play defense for 40 minutes, even with Greg out of the game, and to stay in defensive stance and do those little things that helps the team win, that goes to show how far we've come as a team.”
Playing in Lexington in the Southern Region against Central Connecticut State, the Buckeyes are excited about the start of the NCAA tournament. Conley discussed the opponents and the location of their first games. “Well, they made it to the tournament for a reason. They're a good team. Coach has been scouting them pretty well. I know we're looking forward to getting down to Lexington because it's pretty close to home and looking to see a lot of fans out there.”
Finally, Lewis discussed what the team needs to do for the games in Lexington. “Just like you said, just to get rest. Our focus is on the tournament. After we go home, finish our finals, we'll be on spring break, so the main thing for us is just to get rest and focus on the tournament. ”