Right: Ohio State freshman William Buford drives to the dish over Walsh’s Eric Love in the first half. (AP Photo)

Sophomore Evan Turner and freshman William Buford both scored 17 points as Ohio State defeated Walsh in the Buckeyes’ only exhibition game of the season, 90-63, at Value City Arena, Thursday night.

Three others scored in double figures for Ohio State as junior David Lighty and freshman B.J. Mullens both chipped in 12, while junior Kyle Madsen came off the bench to tally 11 points for the Buckeyes.

Ohio State shot a blistering 28-of-42 (66.7%) in two-point field goals, but was just 6-of-19 (31.6%) from three-point land, which is now 20-feet, 9-inches away from the basket, one foot farther that it was a year ago. Overall, the Buckeyes shot 55.7 percent (34-of-61) from the field.

Defensively, Ohio State held Walsh to 41.2 percent (21-of-51) shooting from the floor and forced 19 turnovers, which led to 28 points for the Buckeyes while committing 10.

Turner led the Ohio State with nine rebounds and the Buckeyes had a 37-25 advantage off the glass.

In the battle for the starting point guard position, freshman Anthony Crater turned in a better performance, playing 17 minutes and scoring eight points while knocking down 2-of-3 three-pointers with three rebounds, six assists and no turnovers. Junior college transfer Jeremie Simmons played 21 minutes and had seven points to go along with two rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a turnover.

Madsen, a transfer from Vanderbilt who played sparingly last year, also turned in an impressive performance. Along with his 11 points, he also had eight rebounds and two blocked shots in 21 minutes of action.

Mullens, a seven-foot center who was two inches taller and 30 pounds heavier the Walsh’s biggest post player, was just 3-of-9 from the field and had only four rebounds. Half of his 12 points came from the charity stripe.

Dallas Lauderdale, a 6-foot-8 sophomore forward, did not play because of a left shoulder sprain he suffered during a scrimmage against Miami, but should be ready for Ohio State’s regular season opener next week. Nicola Kecman, a junior college transfer who has to sit out 12 games per NCAA rules due to playing on a club team in his native Serbia two years ago that included players the NCAA considers professionals, was able to play since it was an exhibition game, but did not dress.

Up next, Ohio State hosts Delaware State, next Thursday. Tip-off at St. John Arena is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET.

Tags: Men's Basketball by Matt Barker, Publisher & Editor of BuckeyeBanter.com
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On Wednesday, senior linebacker James Laurinaitis was named as a one of four finalists for the Lombardi Award and the one of eight semifinalists for the Lott Trophy.

The Rotary Lombardi Award is awarded annually to the best college football lineman or linebacker in the nation, and is named after former head coach Vince Lombardi of the Green Bay Packers and Washington Redskins which was established shortly after his death in 1970.

Since then, five Ohio State players have garnered six awards, the most of any other school.

Former Buckeyes who were recipients of the Lombardi Award include: Jim Stillwagon (1970), John Hicks (1973), Chris Spielman (1987), Orlando Pace (1995 & 1996), and A.J. Hawk (2005).

The three other finalists for this year’s Lombardi Award are: USC linebacker Rey Maualuga, Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo, and Alabama offensive lineman Andre Smith.

The Lott Trophy is presented annually to the college football Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year using IMPACT as an acronym for: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community, and Tenacity.

The other seven semifinalists are: Tennessee safety Eric Berry, Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry, Pittsburgh linebacker Scott McKillop, Illinois linebacker Brit Miller, Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo, Oregon defensive end Nick Reed, and Florida State safety Myron Rolle.

The Lott Trophy is named after former USC and San Francisco 49ers safety Ronnie Lott, and it was established in 2004. No Buckeyes have won the award, yet. Laurinaitis was a finalist last year.

On Tuesday, head coach Jim Tressel met with the media for his weekly press conference.

Part of Coach Tressel’s opening statements:

Every week you go on the road it’s a battle, so we’re excited to get a win at Northwestern and we know it gets tougher as we go and we’re looking forward to playing the Illini. Right now they are at 5-5. A year ago when we played them they were at 7-3 and the difference is a ball bouncing here and there and a play that doesn’t get made and I think as I watch them on film they look every bit as good or better today than they did a year ago.”

During the question and answer session, Coach Tressel was asked if Iowa’s win over Penn State stoked his players:

When we entered November, we talked about the same things that we always do no matter what the standings were that anything can happen in November and, yes, we were a game behind. That was a fact. But that we’ve got to take care of business in November and typically if you go through history, the team that takes care of business in November usually ends up feeling good about the result. So do I see a peak in any more interest? We were riding the bus home from the airport when the Iowa kicker kicked it through and you could see that peaked interest because all of a sudden you’re ostensibly back with a shot, if you do your work.”

One subject that I talked about after the Northwestern game was about some of the claims that Ohio State ran up the score. Coach Tressel stated in his postgame press conference that it wasn’t his intent, and was asked if he talked to Coach Fitzgerald since:

No, just immediately after the game. I feel bad that the ball went in and never dreamed it would. We were getting three yards a carry and getting some young guys a chance to play and that stuff happens, but, no, I haven’t talked with him. He’s got a game with Michigan and we’ve got a game with Illinois, we’ve got plenty to do.”

Tags: Football by Matt Barker, Publisher & Editor of BuckeyeBanter.com
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The Best Damn Player of the Game!

QB Terrelle Pryor

For the third time this season, freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor has been named BuckeyeBanter.com’s “The Best Damn Player of the Game” after throwing for 197 yards and three touchdowns in Ohio State’s 45-10 win over Northwestern.

Pryor was 9-of-14 passing and rushed for 33 yards on six carries against the Wildcats. For the season, Pryor is 84-of-129-passing (65.1%) for 1,076 yards with nine touchdowns and three interceptions, while gaining 450 yards on the ground and five more scores.

Helmet Stickers!
RB Beanie Wells	DT Nader Abdallah

Junior running back Beanie Wells rushed for 140 yards on 28 carries and two touchdowns vs. the Wildcats. For the year, Wells had played in seven games and is averaging 116.3 yards per contest with six TDs.

Senior defensive tackle Nader Abdallah had eight total tackles, two pass breakups, and a quarterback hurry against Northwestern.

Tags: Football by Matt Barker, Publisher & Editor of BuckeyeBanter.com
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