Like A Chicago Thaw

Northwestern's basketball team plays deliberately.  In the second half, the team rarely attempted to score with more than 10 seconds on the shot clock.  Despite an overwhelming talent disadvantage, the #8 seed in the Big Ten tourney took the #1 Buckeyes to the limit.  How?  Like the filth left on urban Chicago sidewalks when the snow has melted, they're gritty.  In January, OSU need all  but 3 ticks of the clock to dispatch the Wildcats by a single point.  Today, they needed an extra five minutes.  While I'm thankful for the escape and accept that a win is, indeed, a win.  The downside of the game today is that it has exposed a second glaring chink (the first being perimeter defense) in the Bucks armor: you can beat them if you control the tempo.

For a team led by three seniors and one of the most respected coaches in the nation, Ohio State reacted painfully slowly to Northwestern's tactic.  Not until the overtime did the ball get delivered consistently to Jared Sullinger in the low post.  The overwhelmed boys in purple could do nothing other than hack at Sullinger, who rose to the challenge and made 11 consecutive free throws to seal the game.  Also, as opposed to any NCAA tournament opponent, the Buckeyes had seen this team before and should have been prepared.

Today the Scarlet and Gray triumphed thanks to defense, defense that did not stop pursuing the ball or obstructing lanes regardless of how long the Wildcats milked the clock.  Sullinger and Jon Diebler played the full 45 and Aaron Craft hounded the point like a man possessed.  Good thing, too.  Had the team not come out with, and sustained, such a defensive fervor the result would have been a big, capital L.

If the Bucks hope to make an honest run at a national championship, Thad Matta needs to inspire his team to respond more effectively should an opponent begin to exploit one of OSU's weaknesses.  These players are smart, they understand the game and the offense that they have been asked to run.  With a seven man rotation that features every single piece that a contender could want, none of the individuals are selfish.  When Matta tells them what to do, they do it.  During the break following regulation, he clearly told them to pound it inside.  He should have told them sooner.

On a lighter note, an excellent article on David Lighty here.

Cheers.