Buckeyes looking to prove they’re 40-minute men vs. UMass in hunt for first NIT championship since ‘86

For the up and down roller coaster known as the 2007-2008 Ohio State Men’s Basketball season, the Buckeyes have but one more inverted climb to make for a sweet finish: an National Invitation Tournament championship game versus the University of Massachusetts Minutemen (Thursday 7PM on ESPN).

While a year in which OSU did not make the NCAA tournament would normally be filed under the “disappointment” category, the scarlet and gray slammer’s rise from the ashes and four-game win streak through the NIT against UNC-Asheville, California, Dayton and Ole Miss (81-69 dominating performance Tuesday to advance to finals) has without a doubt labeled this season late as somewhat of a success. With their prideful play and improved competitiveness, Buckeye fans can truly appreciate this squad and begin to build excitement for the year to come.

OSU’s second opportunity to raise an NIT championship trophy at Madison Square Garden will be just as difficult as their first (lost 70-47 to Texas A&M in Preseason-NIT championship). Although many fans around the nation were hoping for last season’s championship rematch between Ohio State and Florida, college basketball nation will be pleased to learn the invitational tournament’s best possible match-up will take place on the court in the finale. In Massachusetts, the Buckeyes must contend with a similar Selection Sunday bubble buster who seeks redemption in basketball’s second best post-season tournament and has taken down serious competition to get to New York.

For Ohio State, the second meeting against one of the better members of Atlantic-10 Conference again looks like an unbelievable exciting affair. With this match-up being their first ever meeting, the first (UMass) and third (OSU) NIT title appearance all-time, the final contest for many respected seniors and the absolute last game of the 2007-2008 year, this championship could be one of the more exciting college basketball games after regular-season play.

In UMass, the Buckeye basketballers are contending with the comeback kids of the NIT. The Minutemen faced deficits as large 17 points and defied adversity against opponents Akron, Syracuse and Florida on Tuesday night to find themselves in the title game position (78-66 win after trailing by 10 points). Massachusetts also brings a huge home-court advantage to the contest with four players whom have grown up in the greater New York area to Ohio State’s zero.

The Minutemen bring a lunch-pail type work ethic to the court in every contest, however this does not mean they do not have the finesse to out-shoot their opponents with great touch and precision. With two players averaging over 18 points per game in swingman Gary Forbes and G Ricky Harris and three more highly effective scorers in F Etienne Brower (12.5ppg), G Chris Lowe (11.9ppg) and F Dante Milligan (8.9ppg), UMass can beat you with five different players on any given night.

Head coach Travis Ford favors a run and gun style of offense allowing his guards Forbes and Harris to set quick transitional plays and draw defenders, this opening up space on the floor for Brower and Milligan. They are a highly efficient club shooting the basketball and have run up the scoreboard in wins against strong teams such as Syracuse, Boston College, Houston, Dayton and Florida. UMass has an impressive record of 22-1 when they score 78 points or more in a contest.

In Breaking down the game offensively for OSU, they need only go back to their previous two games to find a solid blueprint against Massachusetts. With G Jamar Butler and swingman Evan Turner both controlling the point, Ohio State has found a way to utilize the entire floor and open up the inside and perimeter for high-percentage shots. G David Lighty, Turner and Butler have found great success taking the ball to the basket and have used high screens to create scoring lanes.

The confidence for the three guards has also extended far beyond the basket as they have had very strong shooting performances in recent games. Against a guard-oriented man defense utilized by UMass, the aggressive driving and off-screen shooting could be a potentially large part of OSU’s scoring and a reason why the Minutemen are in foul trouble early.

Inside, C Kosta Koufos and F Othello Hunter have been forces to be reckoned with. Koufos has been extremely impressive, averaging 17 points in his four games, while Hunter has chipped in with his 10 points per contest. Massachusetts brings a large front-court to the table but the Buckeyes have thrived against big competition of late and seem to be playing up to the task inside. A double-double for Hunter, 20 points for Koufos and a nice game off the bench for Terwilliger would not be out of the question.

Defensively, OSU must play high-energy style defense. Big man Dante Milligan has been a beast inside during the NIT while Ricky Harris and Gary Forbes have dominated the lane and mid-range game. The front of the 2-3 Zone needs to be aggressive and slow down the speed of Travis Ford’s team. When UMass runs and has opportunities to create they will find points in copious ways. Similar to last game, making quick switches on the perimeter and containing space is a must for Head coach Thad Matta. His substitutions will also be a key to staying fresh against the lightening rod’s for the maroon and white.

Inside, the combination of Koufos, Hunter and Terwilliger need to keep Milligan and Brower out of the paint and stay out of foul trouble. Second chance opportunities for Massachusetts was crippling for Florida in the semifinals and several of UMass’s opponents this year. Boxing out and changing shots will help OSU maintain momentum and slow the game to a Buckeye pace.

OSU has shown the qualities of a college basketball team whom could be playing in April. Sure, it’s not the NCAA tournament but it is postseason basketball and it seems as though the team from Columbus has gotten the message. Their secret for the late season surge and potentially NIT championship: sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.

Key Facts OSU/UMass

• Ohio State will be playing in its third NIT title game in program history. The Buckeyes won the event in 1986 with a 73-63 win over Wyoming. Ohio State fell to Connecticut in the 1988 title game 72-67. Ohio State is 17-7 all-time in NIT games.

• Senior Jamar Butler knocked down 4 of 12 3-point attempts to give him 101 made treys on the year. That total is the school record for makes in a season and marks the first time a Buckeye has made 100+ 3s in a season.

• The Buckeyes are 17-3 this season when leading at the half and 21-0 when leading at the 5:00 mark of the second half. With 81 points vs. Mississippi, Ohio State is 14-1 this season when scoring 70 or more points.

• Four Buckeyes are averaging in double figures offensively over the four postseason NIT games to date. Butler (17.5 ppg.) and Koufos (17.3 ppg.) lead the way with David Lighty (11.5 ppg.) and Othello Hunter (10.3 ppg.) also in double figures. Hunter is the top Ohio State rebounder with 7.5 rebounds per game. Hunter, with five rejections Tuesday, has 10 blocks in the tournament as well.

• As a team, Ohio State averages 78 points a game in NIT competition while opponents are being held to 63.5 ppg. The Buckeyes are shooting 51 percent from the field (124-242) and lead in assists (69-52), blocks (23-10) and steals (34-22).

Key Players OSU/UMass

OSU-

G Jamar Butler- Last game for Ohio State, 17PPG in NIT Tournament, 17 points versus Ole Miss including 4 three-pointer (38% behind the arc)

G David Lighty- Averaging 10PPG in NIT Tournament, 16 points vesus Ole Miss, 10 steals in tournament.

C- Kosta Koufos- 17PPG in NIT Tournament, 16 points/7rebounds versus Ole Miss, shooting over 70% in tournament.

UMass-

G-F Gary Forbes- Last game for Massachusetts, averaged 19.5PPG during the season, 19 points versus Florida, 72% free-throw shooter.

G Ricky Harris- Averaged 18PPG during the season as a sophomore, 16 points versus Florida and 23 against Syracuse.

F Dante Milligan- Last game for Massachusetts, averaged 9PPG this season, 17 points/12 rebounds versus Florida and 13 points/11 rebounds against Syracuse.

Reasons for OSU Victory-

1. Will Jamar Butler go off in his final game for OSU- Last game, look for a special performance.

2. Kosta Koufos/ Othello Hunter vs. Dante Milligan/Etienne Brower = The Battle Inside

3. Forbes/Harris/Lowe vs. Ohio State 2-3 Zone = Good shots vs. bad shots

4. OSU guards versus UMass man to man defense = Will the lanes be open?

5. MSG Homecourt Advantage- Will UMass use it to their advantage or OSU come out hot early?

Final Score

OSU 72

UMass 66