Badgers Take Over on Tucker’s Hoop, Knock off Buckeyes
Every big game features a turning point. Some happen to be more spectacular than others. And in Tuesday’s blockbuster between Ohio State and Wisconsin, it happened to be more spectacular, and memorable, than most.
Buckeyes leading scorer Daequan Cook had just made his only field goal of the game with just under 15 minutes to play, cutting the Wisconsin lead to three. Ohio State followed with a solid defensive possession, forcing Marcus Landry to take a three-pointer with five seconds left on the shot clock. OSU’s Mike Conley, Jr. was in perfect position to grab the airball and cut deeper into the Wisconsin lead, but the ball glanced first off his hands, then his knee, and out of bounds. With three seconds left on the shot clock, Wisconsin inbounded the ball to Alando Tucker, who went up in traffic and had the ball stripped from him. Somehow, Tucker recovered, grabbing the ball near his knees and throwing it in the air just before he hit the ground. After dangling on the rim for a few seconds, the ball dropped in, pushing Wisconsin’s lead to five.
The Badgers instantly upped the intensity, blocking shots, creating steals and dissecting the OSU press on their way to a 10-0 run. Ohio State fought valiantly to come back, but that five-minute stretch was too much to overcome. The missed opportunity by Conley and the subsequent miracle shot by Tucker propelled the home team to the huge win, 72-69.
Several items stood out on this night.
Ohio State does not have the role players Wisconsin does. The Badgers got huge games from Marcus Landry, Michael Flowers and Joe Krabbenhoft, and would not have won the contest without their performances. Landry especially stood out, making key baskets (including two 3s), blocking four shots and playing tough defense on stud center Greg Oden. Oden went without a field goal for three quarters of the game, and was a non-factor for most of the night. Flowers provided big shots as well, and had three steals that sparked fast break points. And Krabbenhoft, who may be the Badgers’ best rebounder, proved so by grabbing nine rebounds in 25 minutes.
While Ohio State has many players that can score on any night, none provide the intangibles and the glue-factor that Wisconsin’s do. Ivan Harris and Ron Lewis can shoot the 3 (8-16 of OSU’s 12-26 from deep), but struggle when asked to get a big rebound, block a shot, or make a hustle play. Ohio State has athletes, scorers, and shooters, but nobody to fall back on when things aren’t working.
Ohio State must also learn how to incorporate Greg Oden into the offensive flow. Many times they settled for quick jumpers and low-percentage shots before giving Oden a touch. Wisconsin was clearly the more patient team offensively, working the ball around against OSU’s trapping zone, finding quality shots and getting the ball into the right players’ hands. Too many Buckeyes pulled up for potentially glamorous deep balls – especially on fast breaks, where Oden was working hard, running the lane, and getting no reward. It’s unclear whether they know what an advantage they have with him in the paint. One post entry per possession would make those coveted threes much easier. In the game’s last minute, when OSU nearly tied the game, Oden finally got the ball, and got two dunks. It’s no accident. Go inside.
We can’t forget about Kammron Taylor, Wisconsin’s senior point guard, who played his best game of the year and paced the Badgers throughout. His season-high 25 points on only eight shots made things easier on Tucker, who was struggling to find his game. It’s nice for Badger fans to find out that if Tucker can’t carry the team, Taylor can step up. And he does one thing much better than Tucker: shoot free throws. Taylor was 12-16 on the night, while Tucker was only 1-6.
With the win, Wisconsin moved to 40-2 in home Big Ten games under Bo Ryan, a record that is astounding. In fact, only Illinois has won at the Kohl Center in Ryan’s tenure. The Badgers also moved to 13-2 against ranked teams at home under Ryan. These statistics cannot be ignored, especially when sizing up the Big Ten race. Protecting your home court is a must for any team that wants to remain in the hunt for a Big Ten title. Wisconsin knows how to do it.
Ohio State will get their chance to answer back on February 25, when the Badgers visit Columbus. The game will probably be entertaining, but there certainly will be one moment – a big three, a miraculous shot, a defensive stand – that we will look back on as the turning point.
