No one in the Big Ten needs a week of practice more than Ohio State. On Saturday night in Hinkle Fieldhouse, the Buckeyes were embarrassed, not because they lost to a very good Butler team but because they failed to compete.

Another Lame Effort

How bad was Ohio State’s effort? The Butler Bulldogs outscored Ohio State by 32 points in the game’s final 20:01. One can julienne the game in an effort to rationalize the demoralizing defeat (Butler’s pretty damn good) but, in the end, as they did in another embarrassing 23 point loss to Texas A & M, Ohio State was pummeled because they failed to play hard.

With a difficult early season schedule, Ohio State’s record at 4-3 isn’t entirely surprising. But disconcerting to Buckeye fans is the inconsistent defensive effort, the careless offensive possessions, and the general malaise of the players when challenged, particularly in the second half.

Starting two freshmen after losing the Oden-Conley class to the NBA, Ohio State needs to find chemistry and leadership if they’re to weather the season. While much has been made of David Lighty’s leadership potential, after a team-wide collapse in the second half for the third time in the last four games, the pressure seems to be getting the best of senior captain Jamar Butler off the court.

In an unusually candid article by Buckeye beat writer Bob Baptist, Matta acknowledged his team’s lack of toughness. With a week off before they battle Coppin State, Matta’s open to adjusting short seven man rotation based upon the effort he sees in practice this week. With only Evan Turner and Matt Terwilliger being used consistently off the bench, an opportunity may exist for big recruits Eric Wallace and Dallas Lauderdale and Vandy transfer Kyle Madsen to make meaningful contributions this season. In the end, the reality of in-house competition may be the elixir Ohio State needs to pass its Thanksgiving indigestion.

Take the Fork in the Road

In a season in which the Big Ten media selected Ohio State to finish third in the Conference, the Buckeyes while replete with talent are failing to build on last year’s success. Over the summer, Matta repeatedly pronounced the Oden-Conley class as the foundation of the program. However, after one brief season, Oden-Conley failed to establish a meaningful tradition similar to the hard hat mentality instilled by Mateen Cleeves and the Flintstones in East Lansing under Tom Izzo. With the team now looking to Lighty and Butler, all Buckeye fans can agree on one thing: they want their team to play hard. Matta knows it and starting Monday night against Coppin State, the Buckeyes will need to show it.

From Hinkle to Carver Hawkeye

In Hinkle Fieldhouse, the Big Ten was given another glimpse into the future of Iowa basketball under Todd Lickliter. Shaped by Lickliter and now run by his protégé Brad Stevens, Butler’s motion offense is built around crisp passes that make it seem as if the basketball doesn’t touch the floor on offense and a tenacious defense that doesn’t stop to catch it’s breath. With marginal talent stocked from the small towns of Indiana, Butler now has a tradition of smart basketball worthy of praise. Lucky for Hawkeye fans, such is Iowa’s future albeit with Big Ten caliber athletes.

Posted by TD Lawlor on Tuesday, December 4th, 2007 at 11:44 am.