Buckeye Wednesday

Buckeyes Clinch A Share of Big Ten Title
www.espn.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State's players would watch other schools rush the court and they always wondered what it would be like if they were in the midst of such a wild celebration.
Now they know.
Jon Diebler once again lit up Illinois from behind the arc, hitting seven 3-pointers for 21 points, to lead the Buckeyes (No. 7 ESPN/USA Today, No. 6 AP) to a 73-57 victory on Tuesday night that assured them of at least a share of the Big Ten title.
After the game, just as the Buckeyes had hoped, they were mobbed by fans.
Evan Turner and Dallas Lauderdale had discussed what the reaction would be if they won the title.
"Watching other schools rush the court, I said, 'Dang, I just wonder how it would be if that was to happen!'" Lauderdale said. "Evan was like, 'Let's make it happen.' So that's what we did."
It was the third conference title in the last five years for Ohio State (24-7, 14-4), winners of four straight overall and 13 of 15.
"It felt like you could finally live out one of those moments that they show you when you get recruited here. They show you video of everybody on the floor celebrating, all happy," said Turner, who had his typical, all-around game with 16 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. "That was cool."
After the game, fans swarmed onto the court and cheered while several players ran over to their families to celebrate with them.

Fast Facts
• Ohio State has won seven of its last nine games vs. Illinois.
• The Buckeyes are 17-1 at Value City Arena this season.
• The Illini are 2-2 in their last four games vs. Ohio State.

The crowd chanted "One More Year!" for Turner, a front-runner for national player of the year who has not decided if he will give up his senior season to jump to the NBA.
"I don't even know what to say," said Turner, who missed 4½ weeks with broken bones in his back while the Buckeyes lost three of their first four Big Ten games. "All this hard work we put in, we always persevered through tough times. The stuff we did during the summer, growing as a team and going through all the [things] we went through, this is a testament to [that]. It's a great accomplishment. It's great.
"But it's not over yet. We've got a couple of more trophies to worry about."
Athletic director Gene Smith presented the Big Ten championship trophy to the players -- it was the school's 18th title -- while the band played. The Buckeyes will be the top seed in the Big Ten tournament, after taking a nine-day rest, and will likely be a high seed in the NCAA tournament.
William Buford added 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists but it was David Lighty, who finished with 15 points, who might have provided the biggest spark for the Buckeyes in the second half.
The lead hovered around four points until sub Kyle Madsen hit a baseline jumper and, after an Illinois turnover, Lighty took one quick step to the basket and scored on a left-handed layup while Illini big man Mike Tisdale picked up his third foul. Lighty's three-point play pushed the lead to 58-49 with 9 minutes left.
"Coach [Thad Matta] was telling us to drive and attack," Lighty said. "[Power forward Mike] Davis was guarding me and he's a little bit slower than me. I just tried to be aggressive."
Five straight points by Buford and a basket by Turner on a 3-on-1 fastbreak pushed the lead to 65-51 with less than 7 minutes left.
Diebler hit six 3-pointers and scored 18 points in the Buckeyes' 72-53 rout at Illinois on Feb. 14.
"They can use their athleticism to spread us out," Illinois coach Bruce Weber said. "When Diebler shoots like that, it really puts you in a bind."
Diebler never took a shot inside the arc, hitting half of his 14 attempts.
"The guys had confidence in me," said Diebler, who was just 3 of 17 on 3-pointers the last two games. "They were collapsing on ET, Will and Dave and they were driving. It just left open shots for me. I was fortunate to knock them down tonight."
DeMetri McCamey had 18 points for the Illini (18-12, 10-7), who have lost two straight and four of five.
Illinois now must win its season finale at home on Sunday against Wisconsin (No. 17 ESPN/USA Today, No. 15 AP) to clinch a top-five seed in the Big Ten tournament and a first-round bye.
"The shark got one leg, now it's got another," Weber said. "It's pulling us under. We'll see if we can get away."
Echoing his star player's sentiments, Matta said the Buckeyes still have some unfinished business in the conference and NCAA tournaments.
"In coaching I've been blessed; this is 12 rings in 15 years," Matta said. "I said the most important ring is the next one."


Ohio State Spring Football

OHIO STATE

Spring practice starts: April 1

Spring game: April 24

What to watch:
-Running back competition resumes. Brandon Saine and Dan Herron finished strong in 2009, but they can’t get too comfortable. Several young running backs, including Jordan Hall, Jaamal Berry, Jermil Martin and Carlos Hyde, will be competing for carries this spring. Saine likely has the best chance to lock down a featured role at running back, but if the hype about Berry pans out, it’ll be a dogfight.
-Pryor’s evolution. After Ohio State’s victory in the Rose Bowl, both Terrelle Pryor and Jim Tressel talked about the game being a key juncture in Pryor’s development. The junior quarterback must build on his performance this spring, especially from a passing standpoint. Ohio State can be a more balanced and more effective offense in 2010, but Pryor needs to keep making strides.
-Safety squeeze. The Buckeyes didn’t lose much from the 2009 team, but the safety spot took a hit as first-team All-Big Ten selection Kurt Coleman as well as key contributor Anderson Russell depart. Jermale Hines looks like the answer at one spot, and he’ll enter the spring with high expectations. Ohio State needs to build around Hines and identify playmakers for an increasingly opportunistic unit.


Big Ten Expansion Talk
www.sportsline.com
If this were a child birth, the head would be showing.
Big Ten expansion is moving along faster than Joy Behar's mouth. The Chicago Tribune is reporting that it makes financial sense for the league to add any one of at least five candidates -- Notre Dame, Missouri, Rutgers, Syracuse or Pittsburgh.
The story goes on to say those are only the "obvious" candidates. There could be others. In a sidebar, Rutgers is identified as the favorite! Missouri is second and Pittsburgh is third.
Whoa, slow down. I thought we were only in the discussion stage. Based on what has broken in the last few days, we're going to know a 12th Big Ten/11 team by the summer. Maybe more. The league isn't going to necessarily stop at one. If the Big 12 and Big East weren't on alert before, they are now.
This report answers a key question I had about this whole thing: Which of those schools bring enough to the table financially to guarantee a minimum $22 million payout per year. This tells me that the Big Ten TV partners -- Big Ten Network, DirecTV and ESPN -- have signed off on expansion as a profit center.
The Big Ten has hired an investment firm to analyze candidates. Last week Wisconsin AD Barry Alvarez was quoted as saying the league had hired a research firm to look at 15 potential candidates. Alvarez the right school or schools would have to "buy their way in" to the Big Ten.
At least he was being honest about it.
I talked to a source familiar with the Pac-10 who said he isn't sure that league will do anything. Unlike the Big Ten, there aren't the slam dunk candidates out there. Utah and Colorado, for example, don't deliver that much to a 12-team league even with the addition of a championship game. He reminded me that Pac-10 fans, in general, don't travel well. What if you have, say, an Arizona-Stanford championship game?
Here's my overview from last month.
Keep those seat belts fastened. There's going to be turbulence. For sure.