Good luck on the play, gman2.
Here's preview from Capital Times.
Sorry to clutter you're thread & won't do it again if a problem...will just make new one.
COLUMBUS, Ohio - After a team misses as many open jump shots as Ohio State has through five Big Ten Conference men's basketball games, there comes a time when a coach must admit that his players just don't know how to put the ball in the hole.
Don't count Buckeyes coach Jim O'Brien as one of those ready to make that statement.
"I'm expecting us, any game now, to put it all together and have a good shooting night," he said.
The University of Wisconsin is hoping it doesn't happen tonight, when the 17th-ranked Badgers (13-3, 4-1 Big Ten) travel to Value City Arena here to take on the Buckeyes (9-9, 1-4). A victory would move the UW into a first-place tie with Indiana.
The 10th-place Buckeyes, who have been home to some of the Big Ten's best guards over the years, are in a world of hurt because of their horrific perimeter game that includes making just 22.1 percent of their 3-pointers in conference games. They rank last in the conference in that category.
The Buckeyes are shooting just 14.5 percent from 3-point range in their four Big Ten losses. They made 7-of-13 from beyond the arc in their lone conference win against Minnesota.
J.J. Sullinger, a 6-5 sophomore guard, is the leading long-range shooter for the Buckeyes after making 4-of-11 treys in five conference games. Tony Stockman, a transfer from Clemson who was in O'Brien's doghouse last week and didn't make the trip to Iowa, is shooting at an 18.2 percent clip from 3-point range, while freshman guard Nick Dials has made 17.6 percent from 3.
"Part of our dilemma is if you're not going to make outside shots, teams have no reason to extend their defense," said O'Brien, who likes the shots his players have been taking. "And if they don't extend on us, they have the ability to pack it in and kind of jam things up for our two big kids who we like to go to."
The Buckeyes' strength revolves around 7-foot senior center Velimir Radinovic and 6-9 sophomore forward Terence Dials. They are the type of athletic, active big men who have given the Badgers fits, particularly on the road, where the UW has lost three straight.
Dials averages 9.1 points and 6.7 rebounds in all games, but averages a team-leading 11.4 points in Big Ten games. Radinovic averages 9.6 points and 5.9 rebounds in all games, but averages 10.8 points and a team-leading 7.2 rebounds in Big Ten games. They have combined to attempt 47 free throws to lead a team that has attempted 19 more free throws than the Badgers so far in the Big Ten season.
Another forward, 6-6, 240-pound senior Shun Jenkins, has bothered the Badgers in the past. He averages 2.8 points and 3.3 rebounds this year.
"They are getting great position on the low block and getting themselves open," UW assistant Greg Gard said of Dials and Radinovic.
Gard added that they compare to Alabama's big men "with the way they try to pound at you and touch the post, be efficient and get to the free-throw line."
What concerns Wisconsin is its interior defense wasn't exactly stellar during the Badgers' 76-56 win over Illinois Saturday at the Kohl Center. Illini forward Roger Powell exploded for 24 points in that game.
"We have to try and keep the ball out of there. That's the biggest thing. That's always the first line of defense in post defense," said Gard.
"You have to make them guard on our end and you have to move and hopefully try to catch them out of their comfort zone on their end. It'll be a battle for 40 minutes to see who gives in to that first," he added.
"Positioning will be key. Offensive rebounding will be key. You have to limit their touches and force them into taking shots out of their comfort zone and limit their trips to the foul line."
It will also help if the Badgers can bother the Buckeyes' guards into another poor shooting night. That has been one of the Badgers' strengths so far this season as they lead the Big Ten in field-goal percentage defense (38.9 percent) and are fourth in 3-point field-goal percentage defense (29.7) in conference games.
They held Michigan's Daniel Horton to eight points and Illinois' Dee Brown to four in the past two games.
"I like our perimeter players guarding perimeter players," said UW assistant Rob Jeter. "The discipline that we're starting to show guarding perimeters is getting better."
The Buckeyes also haven't helped themselves in the turnover department. While the UW is second in Big Ten games in assist-to-turnover ratio, the Buckeyes are last after turning it over an average of 17.4 times per game.
But making shots remains the Buckeyes' biggest priority.
"I think there's a direct connection to how well we shoot and how well we do," said O'Brien.
He believes Stockman, who will be in the lineup tonight, and Dials are both good shooters.
"It's just been one of those quirky things where none of our guys are making shots on the perimeter. Then it becomes a confidence thing and so we have to keep telling certain guys that they have to keep looking to shoot it," O'Brien said.
"I really believe that one of these games our guys are going to start shooting the ball a lot better. Perhaps we'll win a game or two and get some confidence and I think we can go on a little bit of a roll."
UW-OSU PREVIEW
What: No. 17 Wisconsin (13-3, 4-1 Big Ten) at Ohio State (9-9, 1-4).
When: Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Where: Value City Arena, Columbus, Ohio.
Radio: WIBA-AM/1310 and WIBA-FM/101.5
TV: Fox Sports Net/Ch. 26
Points to Ponder: In Big Ten games, the Buckeyes are shooting 39.9 percent overall, 22.1 percent from 3-point range and 65.6 percent from the free-throw line.
** In Big Ten games, Wisconsin is shooting 44.2 percent overall, 31.3 percent from 3-point range and 70.6 percent from the free-throw line.
** OSU's opponents are shooting 42.9 percent overall, 37.5 percent from 3-point range.
** The UW's opponents are shooting 42.1 percent overall, 33.9 from 3-point range.
** The Buckeyes are outrebounding their opponents by an average of 36.4-33.0 per game and have been outscored by an average of 71.8-61.8.
** The Badgers are outrebounding their opponents by an average of 34.2-30.1 per game. They are outscoring their opponents by an average of 69.5-55.9.
