2020-2021 B1G Basketball Thread

[medinabuckeye1]

Purdue TCOB today. Now I don't have to work about the IL/OSU or IA/WI games, at least not for the double bye.

You should still probably root for Wisconsin tomorrow because as #3 your Boilermakers would avoid Michigan until the CG but as #4 you would likely meet them in the semi-final.

[MaximumSam]

This ESPN broadcast is rough. It looked like Kyle Young got absolutely hammered with no call. The refs whistle a touch foul on OSU. There is no replay of anything, and Dick Vitale is babbling on about his foundation and god knows what the whole time.

[Brutus Buckeye]

Cockburn makes Liddell look like a little kid.

[medinabuckeye1]

This ESPN broadcast is rough. It looked like Kyle Young got absolutely hammered with no call. The refs whistle a touch foul on OSU. There is no replay of anything, and Dick Vitale is babbling on about his foundation and god knows what the whole time.

I was listening to the radio broadcast for part of it, much better.

However, on the radio they stated that Ohio State was locked into the #5 seed due to Purdue's win. I think that will probably be correct but I do NOT think it is locked in.

If Ohio State beats Illinois and Iowa loses to Wisconsin the Buckeyes and Hawkeyes would tie for 4th/5th at 13-7. 

• First tiebreaker is H2H, they split so move on.
• Second tiebreaker is record against the best team. Both are 0-season against Michigan.
• Third tiebreaker is record against the next best team. Ohio State would be 2-0 against Illinois while Iowa is 0-1 against the Illini.

As I read that, Ohio State would win that tie and get the #4 seed.

[MaximumSam]

This is terrible. This is a top ten matchup and great game, and the play by play guy can barely get Vitale to pay attention to it.

[medinabuckeye1]

Buckeyes' shot selection as they have collapsed down the stretch has been awful. 

[bayareabadger]

Quite a game. Tough finish for OSU, but it was gonna come down to something close, I suppose. 

Ayo is pretty good, I guess. 

[medinabuckeye1]

Updated for RU>MN, PU>IU, and IL>tOSU:

• 15-2 or 14-3 Michigan.  
• 16-4 Illinois.  
• 14-6 Iowa if they beat UW, 13-6 Purdue if Iowa loses.
• 13-6 Purdue if IA beats UW, 13-7 Iowa if they lose.
• 12-8 Ohio State. 
• 11-9 or 10-10 Wisconsin.  
• 10-10 Rutgers if UW wins or UMD loses. 10-10 Maryland if they win and UW loses.
• 10-10 Rutgers if UW loses and UMD wins. 10-10 Maryland if they and UW both win. 9-11 Maryland if they lose. 
• 9-11 or 8-12 Michigan State. 
• 7-12 Indiana.  
• 7-12 or 6-13 Penn State. 
• 6-14 Minnesota if NU loses. 6-13 Northwestern if they win.
• 6-14 Minnesota if NU wins. 6-13 Northwestern if they win.
• 4-15 or 3-16 Nebraska.   

BTT match ups, Wednesday:

• #11 Penn State vs #14 Nebraska 
• #12/13 Northwestern vs Minnesota 

Thursday :

• #5 Ohio State vs NU/MN
• #6 Wisconsin vs PSU/UNL
• #7 Rutgers or Maryland vs #10 Indiana 
• #8 Rutgers or Maryland vs #9 Michigan State 

Friday:

• #1 Michigan vs RU or UMD / MSU
• #2 Illinois vs RU or UMD / IU
• #3 Iowa or Purdue vs UW/PSU/UNL
• #4 Purdue or Iowa vs tOSU/NU/MN

Saturday:

• M / RU or UMD / MSU vs PU or IA /tOSU/NU/MN
• IL / RU or UMD / IU vs IA or PU /UW/PSU/UNL

[Honestbuckeye]

I have not watched much college basketball this year, which is pretty common for me. I do get into the tournaments though.

But I turned on the television after my round of golf to see Ohio State with a four point lead with over three minutes to play.  From there- all I can think is “how did this Ohio State team win 18 games“?   They are terrible.  

[MaximumSam]

Buckeyes' shot selection as they have collapsed down the stretch has been awful.

Yeah Duane Washington really lost the game by just taking a bunch of bad shots for no reason

[medinabuckeye1]

Yeah Duane Washington really lost the game by just taking a bunch of bad shots for no reason

I have to recount the ending for myself and those who didn't see it, what a mess.

• 4:42, Washington made a layup to give Ohio State a four point lead at 65-61.
• 4:42-3:48 Illinois and Ohio State traded threes. Liddell hit tOSU's with 3:48 to go to regain the four point lead, 68-64.
• 3:46, tOSU called timeout.
• 3:46-3:32, tOSU got a defensive stop.
• 3:32, tOSU got a rebound so they had a four point lead and the ball.
• 3:32-2:33, due to back-to-back ORB's and an Illinois turnover, Ohio State had four opportunities to extend the lead. Aherns missed a three then Washington missed a three, then Washington missed a layup, then Washington missed again.
• 2:33-2:13, tOSU fouled the Illinois shooter who made one of two to make it 65-68.
• 2:13-1:54, tOSU had a chance to expand on the three point lead but Young missed a three.
• 1:54-1:33, Illinois hit a three to tie it up at 68.
• 1:33-1:09, tOSU had a chance to go back ahead but Washington missed a three.
• 1:09-0:44, Illinois made a layup, got fouled, and made the FT to take a three point lead 71-68.
• 0:44-0:25, Liddell missed a shot, tOSU had to foul, and Illinois made both FT's to take a five point lead 73-68.
• O:25-0:05, due to back-to-back ORB's, tOSU had three chances to cut the lead.Washington, Aherns, and Liddell each missed a three.
• 0:05, Illinois got the RB and that was that.

By my count Ohio State missed their last 10 shots:

• Five by Washington
• Two by Aherns
• Two by Liddell
• One by Young

Watching in real time it seemed like maybe one or two of the ten were actually good looks.

[bayareabadger]

This OSU team is fascinating to get a handle on. 

They lost three top players from last year's team, plus one of the top young guys quit midseason. The replacements were fine, but nothing super notable. They were preseason No. 23, No. 10 in KenPom. So you expect good, not great. 

They scuffle out of the gate, start conference play 5-4. Defense isn't good. Not much size. Offensive ability is there. They beat Illinois on the road, lose to Purdue at home. They were as low as No. 24 in KenPom at one point, but were 18 after that loss. 

Then they beat Wisconsin to kick off winning seven in a row, including a shootout with Iowa, and rise to 6 in KenPom, No. 4 in the AP poll (polls are dumb). And then one bad loss, two toss-up type games against top-10 teams and Iowa where they rally after halftime but then lose the rope. 

And in the end, you have a sort of flawed team (that defense) that is for the most part better than expected, and maybe better than the players it has, but after zenith landed with a thud. Like in the preseason, if I told OSU fans they'd be borderline top-10, great offense, top 2-3 seed, fifth in the conference, they'd take it. And if I told them that on Jan 20 they'd take it (maybe as late as right before the Iowa game?). But because of the timing, it feels just much worse. 

But, of course, this sport has the tournament that will leave a taste in your mouth about the team for the next few years. So that's where a lot of the final impression is made. 

(I'm reminded of Wisconsin teams that would start 5-0 and then catch OSU. Like the challenge of OSU wasn't different, but it felt different at 5-0 when they lost)

[bayareabadger]

I have to recount the ending for myself and those who didn't see it, what a mess.

• 4:42, Washington made a layup to give Ohio State a four point lead at 65-61.
• 4:42-3:48 Illinois and Ohio State traded threes. Liddell hit tOSU's with 3:48 to go to regain the four point lead, 68-64.
• 3:46, tOSU called timeout.
• 3:46-3:32, tOSU got a defensive stop.
• 3:32, tOSU got a rebound so they had a four point lead and the ball.
• 3:32-2:33, due to back-to-back ORB's and an Illinois turnover, Ohio State had four opportunities to extend the lead. Aherns missed a three then Washington missed a three, then Washington missed a layup, then Washington missed again.
• 2:33-2:13, tOSU fouled the Illinois shooter who made one of two to make it 65-68.
• 2:13-1:54, tOSU had a chance to expand on the three point lead but Young missed a three.
• 1:54-1:33, Illinois hit a three to tie it up at 68.
• 1:33-1:09, tOSU had a chance to go back ahead but Washington missed a three.
• 1:09-0:44, Illinois made a layup, got fouled, and made the FT to take a three point lead 71-68.
• 0:44-0:25, Liddell missed a shot, tOSU had to foul, and Illinois made both FT's to take a five point lead 73-68.
• O:25-0:05, due to back-to-back ORB's, tOSU had three chances to cut the lead.Washington, Aherns, and Liddell each missed a three.
• 0:05, Illinois got the RB and that was that.

By my count Ohio State missed their last 10 shots:

• Five by Washington
• Two by Aherns
• Two by Liddell
• One by Young

Watching in real time it seemed like maybe one or two of the ten were actually good looks.

Now you got my nerd brain curious


3:32-2:33, due to back-to-back ORB's and an Illinois turnover, Ohio State had four opportunities to extend the lead. Aherns missed a three then Washington missed a three, then Washington missed a layup, then Washington missed again.


Aherns 3 - Spot up, which is good, but a bit deep and with a defender not super close, but there. There's 10 seconds on the clock. I'd grade the shot as fine, unless you want Washington creating with like 6 on the clock.

Washington 3 - Came after the guard went under the screen. I don't know how he is off the bounce, but I'm inclined to let good shooters shoot in that spot. I'd say a better than OK shot.

Washington layup - He attacks on the reset. Just him on Cockburn. Puts it high to get it over the guy, but can't get it down. Not my favorite shot, but I understand the thought of, "We just missed two 3s, I need to be aggressive." I'd say not a super shot, but not going there would be pretty conservative. Interesting note, Washington's man sees he's beat and starts fading back toward Young, in the lane of a kickout, Heady play.

Washington layup - Another in the school of "we need to be aggressive and shoot close to the rim. Illinois ignores Young on the pop. Interestingly, no help really comes, so Washington tries to create some contact and flip it in over a guard he's stronger than, but the contact yields nothing and the shot is pretty wild.


2:13-1:54, tOSU had a chance to expand on the three point lead but Young missed a three.


This 3 is very open because Cockburn is guarding young and helping all the way off. Young seems to fade a little, which isn't ideal, but this is a very good shot with 10 on the clock.


1:33-1:09, tOSU had a chance to go back ahead but Washington missed a three.

Hmmm, I don't think this is a super shot. The defender doesn't get a hand up, which is often a green light. But the defender is close, close but unprepared and off-balance. It's sort of a "tough shot that sometimes goes in and might be better than anything else you get in the next 12 seconds" kind of shot.


0:44-0:25, Liddell missed a shot

As a shot type itself, this is a bad kind of shot. Fadeaway, mid post, ehh. That said, OSU has lived this year on shots that math deems less than good. If that's a pet shot for Liddell, I understand it more. He's got a big edge in height and weight, so he clears some space. Trying to press the size edge is tricky because Cockburn is cutting off one side and Ayo is lurking on the other. I'd call it a bad shot unless it's one that he really works, but it might be.

I wouldn't get too deep into the last three shots because you're almost never gonna take a good shot down 5 with under 25 seconds left.



So I'd say four good, three bad. OSU is a weird one on this because they kinda break the defensive math of basketball. And they were a little more down to earth on that front today, though I don't know if that was about defensive approach or just some regression. 

[betarhoalphadelta]

You should still probably root for Wisconsin tomorrow because as #3 your Boilermakers would avoid Michigan until the CG but as #4 you would likely meet them in the semi-final.

Eh. I'm not sure whether I'm more scared/excited for another crack at Michigan or at Illinois. Illinois might be a worse matchup because Cockburn is more capable of handling Purdue's size in the paint than Dickinson IMHO. 

Either way, I don't care. It's house money at that point. A loss isn't terrible and a win is huge. 

I'd like to see either game. We played both early in the season and the team has grown quite a bit since. It would be a good barometer before the tourney.