Ohio State Men's Basketball: Buckeyes Rout UTM in Pre-Conference Finale

12 - 27 - 10     vs. Tennessee-Martin     W, 100 - 40     13 - 0

     Ohio State's mundane, yet productive, non-conference portion of the schedule came to a close on Monday night as the Buckeyes annihilated the Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks, a team that was supposedly above the high school level.

     OSU led 31-6 at the 9:35 mark of the 1st half, and the game, for all intents and purposes, was over.  The Buckeyes, though, still had to play 30 more minutes of basketball, and during that period of time they reached the 100-point plateau for the second time this season.  Deshaun Thomas's pair of free throws with 5 seconds remaining in the contest pushed Ohio State into triple digits.

     William Buford scored OSU's first seven points, and the junior swingman added 16 more to lead all scorers.

     Jared Sullinger's 18 points and 11 rebounds gave the big freshman another double-double, and the performance capped off a tremendous stretch of games for Sully.

      Ohio State now hopes it is ready for Big Ten play because league action begins on Friday when the Buckeyes travel to Bloomington to take on the Indiana Hoosiers.

Ohio State Men's Basketball: Clock Strikes Midnight for Oakland

12 - 23 - 10     vs. Oakland     W, 92 - 63     12 - 0

     College basketball is a sport that produces its fair share of Cinderella stories and for the first few months of this season the Oakland Golden Grizzlies have been wearing the proverbial glass slipper.  A win over then-No. 7 Tennessee in Knoxville sealed that fact.

     Although fans of college hoops love to pull for the underdog, the better team usually prevails in the end.  And that was definitely the case on Thursday night as Ohio State turned a close game into an ugly rout of the once-charmed Grizzlies.

     The Buckeyes found themselves in a little bit of trouble in the 1st half when Jared Sullinger picked up his second personal foul.  Needing a boost, OSU turned to Aaron Craft, and the freshman point guard responded with his best night as a Buckeye.  Craft scored 12 points, dished out 7 assists, and recorded 4 steals.

     Ohio State fed off Craft's energy, and the home team outscored the Grizzlies by a count of 55-35 in the 2nd half.

      Deshaun Thomas's 17 points led the Buckeyes in scoring, and Sullinger bounced back from his slow start in time to score 16 while securing nine rebounds.

     Oakland's best player, Keith Benson, fouled out of the contest at the 8:53 mark of the 2nd stanza, completely squelching any upset hopes the Grizzlies still harbored.

Ohio State Men's Basketball: Lighty Sparks OSU to Easy Victory

12 - 21 - 10     vs. UNC-Asheville     W, 96 - 49     11 - 0

     Entering this season, David Lighty was expected to be Ohio State's leader, both on and off the court.  Lighty even said as much when he was quoted as saying, "It's kind of my team."

     However, in the early stages of the campaign Lighty became somewhat of a forgotten man in Columbus due to the emergence of Jared Sullinger.

     That all changed, though, in the opening 5 minutes of the Buckeyes' game against UNC-Asheville.  Lighty was solely responsible for OSU's first 11 points and 13 of the first 16.  Lighty finished the 1st half with 23 points, and he wound up posting 29 for the game, including 7 3-pointers.

      The Bulldogs' game plan was the primary reason for Lighty's offensive outburst.  On the defensive end of the floor, UNC-Asheville consistently double-teamed Sullinger, which presented Lighty with the opportunity to shine. 

     Even though he was taken out of his rhythm offensively, Sullinger still made an impact on the contest by grabbing 16 rebounds.

     William Buford (14 points) and Deshaun Thomas (13 points) also scored in double figures for Ohio State.

     J.P. Primm led the Bulldogs with 15 points, but his effectiveness was diminished because he turned the ball over 7 times.

   

Ohio State Men's Basketball: Sullinger Dominates as OSU Overwhelms South Carolina

12 - 18 - 10     vs. South Carolina     W, 79 - 57     10 - 0

     Ohio State is only 10 games into its regular season, but it is already clear that Jared Sullinger is the Buckeyes' best player.

     Convincing proof of that was on display Saturday afternoon when OSU hosted the South Carolina Gamecocks.

     From the opening tip, which was controlled by Ohio State, Sullinger took complete control of the game.  Using a vast array of moves in the low post, Sullinger created a host of great shots for himself.  And, on the defensive end, the big fella rebounded like a man possessed.  Sullinger finished with 30 points and 19 rebounds, and the 19 boards were the most by a Buckeye since 1968.

     And, to top it all off, Sullinger produced his signature play of the season late in the 1st half.  With 2.6 seconds remaining prior to the intermission, Thad Matta called a timeout in order to draw up one final play for his team.  However, the play appeared doomed from the start because David Lighty was forced to inbound the ball to Ohio State's weakest three-point shooter on the floor, Jared Sullinger.  Sullinger, though, gathered in the slightly errant pass and launched a 30-foot jumper at the buzzer.  The basketball sailed through the air, banked off the backboard, and swished right through the net.  The crowd roared as Sullinger and the Buckeyes headed to the locker room leading by a score of 42-21.

     SC never even sniffed a comeback in the 2nd half, and Ohio State cruised to yet another easy victory.

     Sullinger's 30 points did lead the team, but William Buford and Jon Diebler were able to tally 12 and 11, respectively.

Ohio State Men's Basketball: Diebler's Record Night Paces OSU

12 - 15 - 10     vs. Florida Gulf Coast     W, 83 - 55     9 - 0

     Jon Diebler canned nine three-pointers and scored a career-high 29 points as the second-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes blew past the overmatched Eagles from Florida Gulf Coast.

     Diebler's nine treys tied the school record that had previously been set by Jay Burson in 1988. 

     With Jared Sullinger relegated to the bench due to foul trouble for most of the 1st half, Diebler became the focal point of the Buckeyes' offense.  The senior guard drilled five of his threes prior to the break, and, in so doing, he helped Ohio State build up a 42-16 halftime advantage.

     The intermission did nothing to stop Diebler's shooting barrage as he proceeded to bury four more shots from beyond the arc in the game's final 20 minutes.

     Diebler, however, was not the only Buckeye who got his name in the record books.  William Buford scored 17 points to become the 47th player in Ohio State history to reach the 1,000 point plateau.

     Although Diebler and Buford grabbed the headlines with their performances, Aaron Craft quietly put together a productive night.  The freshman point guard scored eight points, grabbed six rebounds, and dished out seven assists. 

    

Ohio State Men's Basketball: Bucks Dominate Catamounts in St. John Arena

12 - 12 - 10     vs. Western Carolina     W, 85 - 60     8 - 0

     Apparently a change of scenery was just what the doctor ordered for the second-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes.

     Three days after a too-close-for-comfort win over IUPUI, OSU rolled over the Catamounts from Western Carolina in a game that was played in St. John Arena, Ohio State's home venue prior to the building of the Schottenstein Center.

     The Buckeyes wasted no time in squeezing the life out of the Catamounts as Thad Matta's squad raced out to an early 28-12 lead. 

     Jared Sullinger, who was coming off a 40-point explosion against the Jaguars, scored 8 of those first 28 points, and the big man from Columbus Northland High School finished the contest with 17.

     Aside from Sullinger, William Buford and Dallas Lauderdale also had big games.  Buford and Lauderdale both scored 13 points and grabbed 6 rebounds.

     The score at halftime was 42-25, and it only got worse from there.  The Buckeyes scored on their first four possessions of the 2nd stanza and rolled to a 25 point victory.

     Due to the fact that the game was so lopsided, several bench players were able to play quality minutes late in the contest.  J.D. Weatherspoon was one of those players, and he took advantage of his opportunity by scoring seven points.

  

Ohio State Men's Basketball: Sullinger's Career Night Prevents Upset

12 - 9 - 10     vs. IUPUI     W, 75 - 64     7 - 0

     It is a question that will be asked countless times this season - "Where would Ohio State be without Jared Sullinger?"

     Well, to put it simply, the Buckeyes would be 6-1 at the present time if not for Sullinger and his incredible performance on Thursday night against IUPUI.

     The 6'9" forward from Columbus Northland High School single-handedly led the Bucks past an upset-minded Jaguars squad that threatened to put an end to OSU's undefeated season.

     The Jags jumped out to a shocking 50-41 lead at the 12:46 mark of the 2nd half, but Sullinger led OSU back.

     The big freshman scored 40 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, and he did most of the heavy lifting late in the ballgame.  16 of his 40 points came from the charity stripe as Sullinger exerted his will on IUPUI's smaller post players.

     The turning point in the game came shortly after the Jaguars grabbed that aforementioned 9-point cushion.  Christian Siakam, IUPUI's best big man, fouled out of the contest with 10:23 remaining, and the Buckeyes capitalized.

     Led by the dominant play of Sullinger, Ohio State went on a 24-4 run to seize control of the game.

     Sullinger, who was playing just hours after attending his uncle's funeral, reached the 40-point plateau in the final minute of the contest when he dunked home a perfect inbound pass from Aaron Craft.

    

Ohio State Men's Basketball: Buckeyes Win in Defensive Struggle

11 - 30 - 10     at Florida State     W, 58 - 44     6 - 0

     Although the season is only six games old, the Ohio State Buckeyes have already shown an ability to win games played at completely different paces.

     A few weeks ago, the Buckeyes travelled to Gainesville and defeated the Florida Gators in a contest that was nothing short of a shootout.

     However, this game was an old-fashioned defensive battle, but it was Ohio State that still managed to wind up on top by the end of the night.

     Led by Chris Singleton, the Seminoles entered the game with what was regarded as one of the best defenses in the country, and the home team did not disappoint.

     FSU held the Buckeyes to a meager 32% field goal percentage, and Ohio State was also held to a season-low in points scored.

     OSU, though, returned the favor by thoroughly dominating the Seminoles offensive attack, and the Bucks eventually pieced together enough buckets to get the victory.

     Jon Diebler led the way with 12 points, and it was his defensive intensity that prohibited Florida State from making a late comeback.

     Jared Sullinger also played extremely well as the freshman forward recorded another double-double.  Sullinger dropped 11 points and grabbed 13 boards, including six on the offensive end.

     Ohio State led by 11 at halftime, and that lead soon swelled to 17 early in the 2nd half.  But the Noles battled back before Diebler and the Buckeyes closed the deal in the final minutes of action.

Ohio State Football: Buckeyes Continue Dominance of Michigan

11 - 27 - 10     vs. Michigan     W, 37 - 7     11 - 1

     It has been labeled by many as the greatest rivalry in all of sports.  But in recent years, the Ohio State-Michigan game has been nothing more than an annual beatdown of the Wolverines.

     You can thank Jim Tressel for that.

     Since taking over the OSU program in January of 2001, Tressel has completely transformed the rivalry.  Prior to the "Vest's" arrival in Columbus, the Buckeyes struggled mightily to beat their rivals from the north.  But under Tressel, OSU is 9-1 against Michigan, including seven victories in a row.

     In the latest installment of this historic clash, Ohio State thoroughly whipped Michigan to wrap up a share of a 6th consecutive conference title.

     Ohio State received the opening kickoff and promptly went three-and-out.

     Michigan's offense, though, sustained a successful drive as Denard Robinson's tremendous running ability carried the Wolverines deep into OSU territory.  However, on 4th-and-8, Robinson's pass sailed well behind his intended receiver.

     Surprisingly, the Buckeyes once again went three-and-out, and Michigan's defense, widely regarded as one of the poorest in the country, was doing its job.

     Given another opportunity to score first, the Wolverines quickly marched to the OSU 27-yard line.  From there, UM faced a 3rd-and-17, and, as he attempted to scramble for the 1st down, Robinson was separated from the football by Orhian Johnson and Travis Howard.  The loose pigskin rolled inside the 10 before Nathan Williams fell on it.

     Following that turnover, Ohio State finally took advantage of Michigan's awful defense.  A Terrelle Pryor 38-yard pass to Dane Sanzenbacher gave the Buckeyes their initial 1st down of the afternoon, and the drive culminated in a 33-yard field goal off the foot of Devin Barclay.

     Michigan accomplished nothing on its next possession, and Seth Broekhuizen, filling for the starting punter, shanked his boot out of bounds at the UM 35.

     The Buckeyes cashed in on the great field position courtesy of Pryor.  The junior quarterback sparked the home team with a phenomenal play as he scrambled 20 yards behind the line of scrimmage before zipping a 13-yard pass to Taurian Washington.  Moments later, Sanzenbacher ran a slant pattern, and Pryor found him in the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown.

     Trailing 10-0, the Wolverines needed a boost, and Robinson delivered.  D-Rob converted a critical 4th-and-2 by tossing an 11-yard pass to Darryl Stonum, and Michael Shaw's 1-yard plunge pulled the visitors to within three.

     Unfortunately for Michigan, its momentum was short-lived because the Wolverines had to kick the ball back to Ohio State.

     Jordan Hall gathered in the kickoff at his own 15, sprinted through a huge hole created by his blockers, broke two feeble tackle attempts, and raced to the end zone.

     Michigan tried to answer Hall's heroics, but the Wolverines' ensuing possession resulted in yet another turnover on downs.  The failed 4th down attempt featured an incomplete pass thrown by Robinson, and, to make matters worse, he injured his left hand on the play when Adam Bellamy absolutely smashed him.  The Michigan star did not see the field again until the 3rd quarter.

     As Robinson was given medical attention on the sideline, Pryor led Ohio State on a 6 play, 62-yard drive that brought an end to the Wolverines' upset bid.  Pryor's rollout pass to Devier Posey covered the final 33 yards, and the Buckeyes led, 24-7.

     In the last few minutes of the 1st half, the two teams exchanged turnovers.

     First, Michigan's Vincent Smith coughed up the football, and Howard recovered the fumble.

     And then, while trying to throw a second touchdown to Posey, Pryor was picked off by Jordan Kovacs at the goal line.

    

     After 30 minutes of action, the Buckeyes had themselves a 17-point cushion, and they proceeded to begin the 2nd half with a bang.

     On the first play of the 3rd period, Tate Forcier, who was replacing the injured Robinson, threw an erratic pass that a lunging Howard intercepted.

     Dan "Boom" Herron's 32-yard TD rumble enabled Ohio State to turn the miscue into points.

     The Buckeyes now had a lead of 31-7.

     The rout was on.

   

     Due to the fact that Robinson's injury was on his non-throwing hand, the Michigan QB returned to the contest at the 12:25 mark of the 3rd stanza.  But after two offensive series, ABC's television camera clearly showed Robinson telling his coach, Rich Rodriguez, he was done.

     Denard Robinson, the former Heisman Trophy candidate, had quit on his teammates and proven himself to be a fraud.

     Ohio State wrapped up the day's scoring with a pair of field goals, but the first of these 3-pointers did not come without controversy.

     Starting from their own 2, the Buckeyes ran a simple running play, and Herron gashed the Wolverines for what appeared to be a 98-yard touchdown.  However, Sanzenbacher was flagged for holding even though he did nothing but execute a perfect, downfield block.

     And so, the run entered the record books as an 89-yarder, tying the school record which was set by Gene Fekete in 1942.  Ironically, Herron and the Buckeyes were wearing throwback uniforms commemorating the 1942 national championship team.

     In the wake of that terrible call, Ohio State settled for the aforementioned field goal.

     The 4th quarter was simply a 15-minute celebration of OSU's most recent win over its hated rival.

     The lone excitement of the period occurred when the Wolverines turned the ball over on downs for the 4th time, a statistic that becomes more reasonable once you understand Michigan's kicking woes.  UM made only 4 of 13 field goals this season.

     A victory over Michigan.

     A Big Ten championship.

     For Tressel and Ohio State, it was just another day at the office.

Player of the Game

Terrelle Pryor: 18-27 (completions-attempts), 220 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception; 12 carries, 49 yards

     A lot of the pregame buzz surrounding this game centered on the question of which starting quarterback was better.

     You can consider that argument closed.

     While Denard Robinson was throwing in the proverbial towel, Terrelle Pryor was carving up Michigan's defense with both his legs and his arm.

     I will also give an honorable mention to Dan "Boom" Herron (22 carries, 175 yards, 1 touchdown) and to Travis Howard (3 tackles, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery).

Play of the Game

Terrelle Pryor 33-yard TD pass to Devier Posey in the 2nd quarter

     This play sealed Michigan's fate, and it provided plenty of thrills for the sellout crowd at Ohio Stadium.

     Pryor rolled out to his right and threw complete to Posey, who took care of the rest.  The junior wideout sprinted down the field, and, as he neared the goal line, Posey dove between two defenders and into the end zone.

Ohio State Men's Basketball: Streaky Buckeyes Down RedHawks

11 - 26 - 10     vs. Miami University     W, 66 - 45     5 - 0

     While most of the country was watching college football, Ohio State was shaking off its post-Thanksgiving malaise in time to beat a feisty team from Oxford.

     Miami University battled the Buckeyes for most of the 1st half before OSU built up a 28-10 lead with 1:53 to play before the intermission.

     However, the RedHawks closed the half on a 6-0 run, and then they began the 2nd half with a 7-0 run.  All told, Miami University scored 13 unanswered points over a 4 minute stretch.

     The Buckeyes, though, were not deterred on this day as David Lighty poured in 19 points after halftime to give the home team a comfortable win.

     Ohio State's pair of talented freshmen, Deshaun Thomas and Jared Sullinger, added 15 and 12 points, respectively.

     This contest was a tune-up for OSU's ACC-Big Ten Challenge matchup with Florida State in Tallahassee, Florida.

    

Ohio State Football: Clutch Buckeyes: Pryor Engineers Epic Drive to Stun Hawkeyes

11 - 20 - 10     at Iowa     W, 20 - 17     10 - 1

     Terrelle Pryor may not be a great quarterback.  In fact, he is often anything but.

     However, when his team needed to convert a crucial 4th-and-10 late in the 4th quarter, Pryor delivered with an elusive scramble that moved the chains and preserved Ohio State's eventual game-winning drive.

     A few plays later, Dan "Boom" Herron scored from a yard out, and the Buckeyes still have a pulse in their quest for a 6th consecutive conference championship.

     The two teams exchanged a pair of punts to begin the game, and, following OSU's punt, the Hawkeye offense began to click.

     Ricky Stanzi led Iowa on an 8 play, 87-yard march, and the Hawkeyes' QB capped the drive by tossing a 19-yard touchdown to Marvin McNutt.  On the play, Devon Torrence blitzed from his cornerback position, but, for the second week in a row, he arrived at the quarterback too late to prevent the score.

     Ohio State quickly responded as the Buckeyes moved the ball to the Iowa 1-yard line.  The Hawkeye defense, though, produced a huge key goal-line stand, and Jim Tressel decided to settle for 3 points.  Pryor was visibly upset at this decision, but Devin Barclay did make the chip-shot field goal, and OSU was on the board.

     The Hawkeyes had a chance to stretch their lead a few minutes before halftime, but Mike Meyer hooked a 40-yard field goal just outside the left upright.

     Following the failed 3-point attempt, the Buckeyes took over possession and promptly drove into Iowa territory.  Needing about 15 more yards to get into field goal range, Pryor took a shot at the end zone, and the pass was tipped by an Iowa defensive back.  Micah Hyde then made a ridiculous interception off the ricochet as he was falling backwards.

     And so, the score at intermission was 7-3, which was indicative of the way the 1st half played itself out.

     Ohio State received the 2nd half's opening kickoff and swiftly moved down the field.  And Pryor gave the Buckeyes their first lead of the afternoon when he fired a 5-yard TD strike to Reid Fragel.

     The Hawkeyes' ensuing offensive series resulted in a Meyer 31-yard field goal, and this Big Ten clash was tied at 10 after 3 quarters of intense action.

     On the 8th play of the game's final period, Pryor committed a costly mistake deep in OSU territory.  The junior QB attempted to fit a pass into tight coverage, and, as a result, it was picked off by Shaun Prater.

     Two plays later, the Hawkeyes were in the end zone thanks to Marcus Coker and his 1-yard touchdown run.

     The Buckeyes now had 12 minutes with which to work, and they did not waste any of it in moving across midfield.  However, after crossing the 50-yard line, the Ohio State attack bogged down, and Barclay was summoned to salvage 3 points out of the drive.  And the senior kicker knocked down a 48-yarder to pull the Bucks within 4.

     With 7 minutes remaining, the Buckeyes were still alive.

     At this point, the Ohio State defense was in an obvious must-stop mode, and the Silver Bullets got what they needed by forcing a timely 3-and-out.

     The football was resting 76 yards from pay dirt when the Buckeyes began the drive that will ultimately define their season.  The Kinnick Stadium scoreboard clock read "6:05."  For Ohio State, it was now or never.

     On 1st down, Brandon Saine darted 11 yards to OSU 35.  It was Saine's only touch of the contest.

     The next play saw Pryor ramble for 6 yards on an option keeper.  The Buckeyes were on the move, and they reached midfield moments later as Herron gathered in a pass in the left flat and raced upfield.

     Iowa's defense finally stepped up, and the Hawkeyes pressured Pryor into a pair of incomplete passes.

     Just like that, it was 3rd and 10.

     With the crowd roaring all around him, Pryor dropped back and lofted a perfect deep pass to Devier Posey, who was wide open in the end zone.  The Buckeyes started to celebrate, but there was one problem.  Posey had somehow managed to drop the ball.

     Ohio State's season had now, for all intents and purposes, come down to one play.  Pryor took the shotgun snap and rolled out to his right.  Seeing that none of his receivers were open, Pryor reversed his field and, after a moment's hesitation, sprinted for the 1st down.

     Technically, the scamper was worth 14 yards, but, in actuality, it was worth a lot more than that because it sucked the life right out of Iowa's players and fans.

     The Buckeyes' next two plays, a Pryor pass to Sanzenbacher and a Herron run, picked up a combined 10 yards and moved the chains once more.

     From the Hawkeyes' 26, Pryor found a leaping Sanzenbacher along the right sideline at the Iowa 2.

     Two Herron runs later, and the Bucks had a lead of 20-17.

     Sensing the kill, the OSU defense jumped all over Stanzi and the Hawkeyes on Iowa's ensuing possession.  On 3rd down, Cameron Heyward sacked Stanzi for an 11-yard loss, leading to a turnover on downs.

     Ohio State then proceeded to run out the clock, securing a hard-fought victory.

     If the Buckeyes go on to defeat Michigan in the regualar season finale, this win in Iowa City will probably be regarded as one of the greatest in Tressel's tenure at Ohio State.  And to think the Buckeyes were a single play away from losing. . .

Player of the Game

Brian Rolle: 10 tackles, 3 tackles for loss

     Due to his stellar performance in the game's closing minutes, it is tempting to select Terrelle Pryor as the player of the game.  But, keep in mind that if Pryor had played better early in the contest he would not have needed those late-game heroics.

     With Pryor now eliminated, the obvious choice becomes Brian Rolle.

     I continue to be amazed at people who choose to ignore Rolle because of his lack of physical stature.  This ignorance, though, makes no sense at all.  Rolle plays with passion, aggression, and a frightening reckless abandon.

     In this particular game, Rolle was in Iowa's offensive backfield all day long.  And, despite the fact that he is only 5'11", the Hawkeyes were unable to find an answer for number 36.

Play of the Game

Terrelle Pryor 14-yard run on 4th-and-10 in the 4th quarter

     I hope this selection needs no explanation.  But, for those of you who are struggling to get the point, I will simplify matters.  If Pryor would have been stopped short of the 1st down on his clutch scramble, Ohio State's streak of Big Ten titles would have come to an end.

Ohio State Men's Basketball: Buckeyes Win Despite Lackluster Performance

11 - 23 - 10     vs. Morehead State     W, 64 - 45     4 - 0

     After three routine victories to begin the season, Ohio State was not expecting to get its first test from Morehead State.

     Nevertheless, the Eagles, led by forward Kenneth Faried, gamely battled the Buckeyes for most of the night before finally succumbing to OSU's vast advantage in talent.

     Ohio State was dealt was dealt a bit of bad news before the game when Thad Matt and the Buckeyes learned they would be without the services of William Buford.  The junior guard was suffering from back spasms, but he does expect to return to the team in time for Friday's game with Miami University.

     Even without Buford, the Buckeyes should still have been able to easily dispatch of the Eagles.  However, Faried, who is labeled by some experts as a future 1st round draft pick in the NBA, dropped an impressive double-double on Ohio State as the imposing big man poured in 15 points and grabbed 12 boards.

     Matta's squad was bailed out by Jon Diebler and his 20-point night.  Diebler made four of seven three-point attempts, and it was his timely shooting that enabled Ohio State to eventually put away the feisty Eagles.

     The turning point in the game came when Faried picked up his fourth personal foul early in the 2nd half.  From that point on, the Buckeyes attacked the basket at will while MSU struggled to mount any kind of offensive attack.

Ohio State Men's Basketball: Talented Freshmen Lead OSU to Lopsided Victory

11 - 20 - 10     vs. UNC-Wilmington     W, 81 - 41     3 - 0

     On a night when Ohio State's upperclassmen lacked intensity against an overmatched UNCW squad, the Buckeyes' ultra-talented freshmen picked up the slack.

     For the second time this season, Deshaun Thomas led the team in scoring as he poured in 17 points to go along with 7 rebounds.

     Jared Sullinger and Jordan Sibert, a couple more members of Thad Matta's remarkable recruiting class, each contributed 11 points to the Buckeyes' blowout effort.

     Ohio State raced out to a 7-0 lead and never looked back en route to a 48-16 halftime advantage.

     In the 2nd half, though, the Bucks began to lose their focus, and, as a result, they were not able to score as many points as they did in the first two games of the year.

Ohio State Men's Basketball: Buckeyes Make Statement, Rout Gators

11 - 16 - 10     at Florida     W, 93 - 75     2 - 0

     On Tuesday night in Gainesville, Ohio State delivered a message, loud and clear, to the rest of the college basketball country: the Buckeyes may be the best team in the nation, and they are going to be very hard to beat, especially come March.

     Although the Bucks were a preseason top-5 team, nobody, and I mean nobody, saw a performance like this coming.

     Florida was rated as the 10th best college hoops squad, but the Buckeys made the Gators look like a high school team.

     Led by David Lighty and Jared Sullinger, who both tallied 26 points, Ohio State erased a 3-point halftime lead and surged to a lopsided victory.

     The story of the game was Sullinger becuase the big freshman looked unstoppable as he recorded his second career double-double in just his second collegiate game, and in his first road contest at the college level.  The prospect of an experienced Sullinger is downright frightening.

     The Buckeyes turned in a total team effort as four players scored in double figures.

     Apart from Lighty and Sullinger, William Buford (16 points) and Jon Diebler (14 points) also had impressive showings in this big interconference showdown.

     

Ohio State Football: Tale of Two Halves: OSU Salvages Season With Impressive Rally

11 - 13 - 10     vs. Penn State     W, 38 - 14     9 - 1

     Halfway through Ohio State's conference showdown with Penn State, the Nittany Lions had built up a stunning 14 - 3 lead.

     A former walk-on quarterback by the name of Matt McGloin was mocking the Buckeyes' proud defense.

     Jim Tressel, who is usually unbeatable in the month of November, looked rattled as his team struggled throughout an awful 1st half.

     To put it into simpler terms, Ohio State was in deep trouble.

     Sensing impending doom, the frustrated Ohio Stadium crowd let loose a chorus of boos as the equally frustrated Buckeyes walked dejectedly toward their locker room.

     But, when the 2nd half began, Ohio State was a visibly different team.  Inspired by a reportedly fiery pep talk from Tressel, the Buckeyes stormed out of the tunnel and proceeded to overwhelm the Lions.

     The season, at least for the time being, had been saved.

     Although OSU's offense was nothing short of pathetic for most of the 1st half, it did put together a decent drive following the opening kickoff.  Terrelle Pryor lofted a perfect deep pass to Devier Posey that was worth 49 yards of valuable real estate, and the home team was already deep in Penn State territory.  Ohio State, though, as it has done all season, bogged down in the red zone, and Devin Barclay had to be summoned to salvage 3 points out of the drive.  And the senior kicker knocked down a 26-yard field goal.

     Penn State went 3-and-out on its ensuing possession, but, after the Buckeyes returned the favor, the Nittany Lions roared to life.  McGloin began to find his rhythm, and, on the final play of the 10-play march, he tossed a 23-yard TD pass to Justin Brown a split second before being drilled by Devon Torrence who had come on a corner blitz.

     Upon getting the ball back, McGloin continued his dissection of the Ohio State defense.  And the PSU quarterback capped this scoring drive with a 6-yard touchdown strike to a leaping Derek Moye in the end zone.

     After both of these TD passes, McGloin gestured to the OSU bench as if to say, "Bring it on because you can't stop me."

     The Buckeyes were beginning to get angry.

     Late in the 2nd quarter, Penn State threatened to blow the game wide open.  But, on a 4th-and-1 from the OSU 20-yard line, Jermale Hines and Orhian Johnson teamed up to stop Silas Redd short of the 1st down.

     Ohio State now had a chance to put some points on the board prior to halftime, but Tressel decided to remain conservative, and the Bucks eventually punted.

     And, so, the boos rained down from the bleachers at the half's end, but the Buckeyes' fortunes were about to turn.

     Early in the 3rd quarter, Penn State once again was given a chance to put Ohio State away.  However, the Silver Bullets produced a huge stop, forcing the Nittany Lions to punt.  But Anthony Fera's punt was a great one as it pinned the Buckeyes down at their own 4-yard line.

     Then, with its Big Ten title hopes hanging by a thread, Ohio State set in motion the drive of the game.  The Buckeyes took 11 plays to go 96 yards, and, when Dan "Boom" Herron covered the final 5 on a run to pay dirt, the home team had all the momentum.

     On PSU's next possession, the OSU defense turned the game on its head.  McGloin attempted to complete a pass to the left flat, but Torrence jumped the underneath route.  Torrence batted the ball high into the air, bobbled it before securing it in his right hand, and then he raced untouched into the end zone.  As Torrence neared the goal line, the fans began to roar, and for the next few minutes the Horseshoe was literally shaking.

     Penn State's players were now in a state of complete and utter shock, and their state worsened when Ohio State regained possession.  On a 2nd-and-23 from his own 42, Pryor launched a jump ball intended for Posey who was near the goal line.  The pass was thrown poorly, and, as a result, it was batted away by those 2 PSU defensive backs.  Dane Sanzenbacher, though, gathered in the friendly ricochet and stepped into the end zone.

     At this point, the Nittany Lions were a beaten team, and more than 105,000 people clad in red clothing let out a collective sigh of relief.

     Travis Howard's 30-yard pick 6 a few moments later sealed McGloin's fate, at least for this day, as a 2nd half choke artist.

     The Buckeyes added another score in the 4th quarter as Pryor found Jake Stoneburner for a 3-yard touchdown, and, despite a Pryor interception in the red zone, Ohio State had still managed to outscore the Nittany Lions 35-0 after halftime.  That, quite frankly, is unbelievable.

     Trailing 14-3 with 30 minutes to go, the Buckeyes could have very easily folded, but they did not, and that is the mark of a true champion.  And, speaking of champions, if Ohio State wins out it will claim at least a share of its 6th consecutive conference title.

Player of the Game

Dan Herron: 21 carries, 190 yards, 1 touchdown

     Remember when Herron was locked in a fierce competition with Brandon Saine for the starting running back job?

     Wow, how times have changed.

     Fast-forward to the 10th game of the season and "Boom" is running for almost 200 yards against a quality opponent while Saine is struggling to find playing time as a wide receiver.

     And with Terrelle Pryor's recent struggles, Herron's value to the Buckeye offense has increased with each passing week.

Play of the Game

Devon Torrence's 34-yard interception return for a touchdown in the 3rd quarter

     To fully understand the impact of this play, one must first realize the danger Ohio State was in prior to it.  If Torrence would have failed to come up with this clutch interception, Penn State probably would have regained the momentum it had lost.  And the sound the crowd made in the wake of Torrence's TD ramble was truly special, and it is something unique to that jewel on the banks of the Olentangy.

Ohio State Men's Basketball: Bucks Begin Season With Blowout Victory

11 - 12 - 10     vs. North Carolina A&T     W, 102 - 61     1 - 0

     Ohio State's 2010 - '11 season appeared doomed before it began when Evan Turner decided to leave early for the NBA Draft.  The Naismith Award winner's untimely exit led to the majority of Buckeye fans turning their attention to football.

     Thad Matta and his team, though, had a completely different approach.  The other four starter from a year ago returned, and Matta reeled in another top - notch recruiting class.  The result was a number four preseason ranking for this squad and hope of a national championship.

     Ohio State fans got their first look at this team last night when the Buckeyes welcomed in North Carolina A&T in the campaign opener.

      And the aforementioned fabulous freshmen put on quite a show.

     Deshaun Thomas shone the brightest as he piled up 24 points coming off the bench.  Jared Sullinger, the ballyhooed recruit out of Northland High School, made his career debut, and it was worth the wait.  The big forward posted a double - double as he scored 19 points and grabbed 14 rebounds.

     Not wanting to be forgotten, Ohio State's upperclassmen also played extremely well, especially Dallas Lauderdale.  The senior forward finished two blocks shy of a triple - double.

     The Buckeyes never trailed in this game, and they raced out to a 52 - 27 halftime advantage.  A 12 - 0 run to begin the 2nd half completely took A&T out of the contest.

Ohio State Football: Primetime Laugher: Buckeyes Annihilate Gophers

10 - 30 - 10     at Minnesota     W, 52 - 10     8 - 1

     Playing on Hallow's Eve in Minneapolis, Ohio State was supposed to have some trouble in dispatching the Gophers.

     Apparently, Minnesota never received the message.

     The Buckeyes piled up 52 points, and OSU put itself back into the heat of the Big Ten race.

     Clicking on all cylinders, the Ohio State offense moved the ball at will on Minnesota's porous defense.  Terrelle Pryor (18 - 22, 222 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception) and Devier Posey (6 receptions, 115 yards, 1 touchdown) keyed the Buckeyes' aerial assault while Dan "Boom" Herron (17 carries, 114 yards, 1 touchdown) led the ground game with his first 100 - yard rushing day of the season.

     After allowing 7 1st quarter points, the Silver Bullets took complete control of the game.  The Buckeye D forced 3 turnovers, scored a touchdown, and recorded 6 tackles for loss.

     It now appears as if Jim Tressel has finally corrected his squad's frustrating special teams' problems.  Although the Buckeyes still made a few mistakes in this department, they did take several steps in the right direction.  Jordan Hall excelled in the return game, and the Bucks also recovered a blocked punt in the end zone.  That TD was especially rewarding because, prior to this game, OSU had allowed 4 special teams' touchdowns without scoring one of its own.

     Even though this was a good win for Ohio State, it would have been somewhat of a hollow victory if Michigan State had remained unbeaten.  However, the Spartans were drilled, 37 - 6, by Iowa, putting the Buckeyes into a 4 - way tie for first place in the conference.

     Jordan Hall returned the game's opening kickoff 34 yards to the Minnesota 46 - yard line, and the energy went right out of TCF Bank Stadium.  Ohio State proceeded to completely silence the crowd as Pryor led the offense on a methodical march to the UM 1.  And, following a couple of fine defensive plays by the Gophers, Pryor slipped into the end zone on a QB sneak.

     Minnesota, though, had an answer against the Buckeyes' stout defense.  Adam Weber, who is one of the better quarterbacks in the conference, completed 3 deep passes over the middle of the field.  DeLeon Eskridge capped the drive with a 7 - yard TD burst, and OSU had shockingly allowed Minnesota to tie the score.

     Ohio State responded with an impressive 92 - yard march that was sparked by a 34 - yard Pryor scramble on a 3rd down - and - 11.  Several plays later, T.P. tossed a 3 - yard strike to a sliding Brandon Saine in the end zone.

     When Eric Ellestad doinked a field goal off the left upright late in the 1st quarter, momentum was officially wearing scarlet and gray.

     OSU's premier drive of the 2nd period resulted in a 23 - yard field goal off the right foot of Devin Barclay, and the Buckeyes had a two - possession lead they would never relinquish.

     Minnesota went three - and - out on its ensuing series, and Hall turned in a brilliant, 71 - yard return of the punt, setting up the Buckeyes at the UM 1.  However, Pryor made a grievous mistake on the very next play as he was picked off by Ryan Collado at the goal line.

     Pryor bounced back on his next possession, and he led the Ohio State offense on a drive that was, in actuality, a knockout punch.  Herron capped it with a 10 - yard bolt to pay dirt, and the Gophers were now skating on some very thin ice.

     The situation quickly changed from bad to worse for Minnesota because Dan Orseske shanked a 10 - yard punt off the side of his foot.  The Buckeyes promptly capitalized thanks to Pryor's 38 - yard pass to Posey, who had a step on his defender at the goal line.

     With a few ticks of the 1st half clock remaining, Chimdi Chekwa intercepted a desperate heave thrown by Weber.  Although the Buckeyes did not have enough time to convert the turnover into points, they were more than happy to take a 31 - 7 lead to the locker room.

     The Gophers began the 2nd half with a scoring drive, but Ellestad's 33 - yard field goal did little but make the game slightly more respectable.

     The Bucks produced their third big special teams' play of the night a few minutes later.  Following a three - and - out, Minnesota decided to punt even though the Gophers were trailing by 3 touchdowns.  It proved to be the wrong choice because Orseske was forced to field the snap on a bounce which allowed Jonathan Newsome to smother the kick.  Minnesota nearly recovered the loose ball, but Zach Dominicone eventually fell on it in the end zone.

     Hall's 16 - yard TD run early in the 4th quarter brought an end to OSU's offensive explosion for the evening.

     The Ohio State D, however, had one more trick up its sleeve.  On the Golden Gophers' ensuing possession, Chekwa came on a corner blitz and "blind - sided" Weber.  As a result, Weber coughed up the ball, and John Simon scooped it up and returned it 30 yards for the score.

     Scoring on offense, defense, and special teams, Ohio State thoroughly overwhelmed the pitiful Gophers int their stadium.  The victory helped the Buckeyes distance themselves even further from their debacle in Madison, and it also gave them renewed hope in their quest for a 6th consecutive league title.

Player of the Game

Brian Rolle: 6 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 1 fumble forced, and 1 fumble recovered

The phrase "a man possessed" often comes to mind when I watch B - Rolle play football, and never was that description more fitting than on this night in Minneapolis.  Midway through the 3rd quarter, Rolle made a play that was as good as any you will see.  With a blitz having been dialed up by defensive coordinator Jim Heacock, Rolle burst through the offensive line and violently slammed Adam Weber to the ground.  Weber fumbled the ball, and Rolle alertly pounced on it.  And so, in just one play, Rolle recorded a sack, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.  This tremendous effort was one more example of Rolle's extraordinary talent and his value to the Buckeyes' defense.

Play of the Game

Jonathan Newsome's blocked punt recovered by Zach Dominicone for TD in the 3rd quarter

Yes, I realize this play had no real bearing on the game's final outcome.  But for a team desperate to make big plays on special teams, this is sure to boost the unit's confidence moving forward.  And besides, it was a very exciting moment in an otherwise mundane game.

Ohio State Football: Get Used to It: Buckeyes Humiliate Boilers

10 - 23 - 10     vs. Purdue     W, 49 - 0     7 - 1

     Shortly after Ohio State's shocking loss in West Lafayette last season, Purdue head coach Danny Hope sent a message to the rest of the Big Ten Conference.  "Get used to it," he told a group of reporters at his postgame media session.
     The comment obviously angered the Buckeyes, but they had to wait 371 days to make Hope sorry he opened his mouth.  On a cool, dreary day off the banks of the Olentangy, the Bucks finally got their chance, and the scarlet and gray seized the opportunity.  Ohio State piled up 42 1st half points as Hope and the Boilermakers experienced the wrath of the Buckeyes.

     For the 4th consecutive game Dan "Boom" Herron provided Ohio State's offense with an early spark.  Herron ran the ball on the Buckeyes' first 5 plays from scrimmage, and he scored OSU's 2 1st quarter touchdowns.

     Coming off a miserable performance in Madison, Terrelle Pryor desperately needed a solid outing.  And so, Pryor bounced back as he tossed 3 TD passes and helped engineer the rout.  However, Pryor's 2 interceptions showed why he is no longer a Heisman Trophy candidate.

     The Silver Bullets were embarassed by Wisconsin a week ago, and they took out their frustration on Purdue.  The Buckeyes' defense pitched its first shutout of the season and forced 3 turnovers.

     The opening kickoff was an omen of things to come as Jaamal Berry patiently watched Carson Wiggs' kick bounce out of bounds.  A penalty was enforced, and Ohio State set up shop at its own 40 - yard line.

     Jim Tressel decided to make a statement by running the football, and Herron carried the rock 5 times for 45 yards.  After a facemask violation was added on to the drive, Herron's fifth carry reached the end zone when "Boom" dove across the goal line.

     The Buckeyes were forced to punt on their next possession, but the Boilermakers' return man failed to make the catch, and the ball eventually bounced off the helmet of Chris Carlino and into the hands of Jermale Hines.

     OSU gladly resumed their drive at the PU 39, and, 6 plays later, Herron lunged into the end zone from 2 yards out.

     Purdue was now firmly back on its heels, and Ohio State responded by breaking the visitors' collective back.  The Buckeyes drove 91 yards in 11 plays, and Jordan Hall's short TD plunge capped the impressive march.

     OSU continued to push the proverbial gas pedal down as Pryor threw a perfect strike to Devier Posey inside the left pylon.  The touchdown put the Buckeyes up, 28 - 0, but they were just getting started.

     A few minutes later, Pryor zipped a 7 - yard TD pass to Dane Sanzenbacher just moments after the two had connected for 56 yards.

     Ohio State's defense decided to get in on the action when Purdue began its next offensive series.  Ohrian Johnson intercepted a Rob Henry pass and returned it to the Boilers' 40.

     The Buckeyes' offense turned the miscue into points as Pryor flipped a 15 - yard scoring toss to Corey Brown.  The touchdown was the first of Brown's career, and it brought a wild 1st half to a close.

     Ohio State already held a 42 - 0 advantage when the 3rd quarter began, but the Bucks were hoping to pad their lead even further.  However, Pryor's second interception - his first came midway through the 2nd quarter - prohibited the Buckeyes from having offensive success early in the 2nd half.

     OSU's backups dominated the final 15 minutes of the game.  First, Joe Bauserman found a wide open Spencer Smith in the end zone.  With the score, Smith became the second Buckeye on the day to record his first career 6 - pointer.  Then, on Purdue's ensuing possession, Storm Klein picked off a poorly thrown pass in Boilermakers' territory.

     With less than a minute to go, Wiggs missed a 59 - yard field goal, and Purdue's last gasp at avoiding a shutout had failed.

    

     Whoever coined the phrase "to kill two birds with one stone" probably had a day like this in mind because the Buckeyes avenged both their loss to Purdue last year and their loss to Wisconsin last week.  Needless to say, this was an important game for Ohio State, and it delivered a resounding performance.

Player of the Game

Dan Herron: 16 carries, 74 yards, 2 touchdowns

Although Herron once again failed to accumulate 100 yards on the ground, he was clearly the best player on the field.  Herron was determined to lead the offense, and he definitely accomplished that mission.

Play of the Game

Dan Herron's 10 - yard TD run in the 1st quarter

Herron gave the Buckeyes an early lead with a powerful run that revealed why he has become such a fan favorite in Columbus.  On this play, "Boom" darted up the middle, broke a tackle, and, while fully extended, reached the football into the end zone.

Ohio State Football: Buckeyes Experience a Nightmare in Madison

10 - 16 - 10     at Wisconsin     L, 31 - 18     6 - 1

     As the final seconds ticked off the Camp Randall stadium scoreboard, the Buckeyes helplessly watched their national title hopes disappear into the cool, night air.  Ohio State was never able to overcome an early 21 - point deficit, and OSU now hopes they can salvage something positive out of a season that can no longer live up to expectations.

     Although Ohio State was able to pull within 3 points early in the 4th quarter, their fate was probably sealed late in the 2nd quarter.  Twice, in the waning moments of the opening half, the Buckeyes had possession of the football deep in Wisconsin territory, but they scored a total of one field goal.  OSU failed to make up for those missed opportunities.

     While dreams of a national championship were slipping through Ohio State's collective grasp, the Badgers were punching giant holes in Terrelle Pryor's Heisman Trophy candidacy.  Pryor struggled all night in the passing department, and he never got on track with the running part of his game.  The performance drove home the fact that Pryor is simply not a big - time college quarterback.

     Adding insult to injury, the Buckeyes lost Ross Homan to an ankle injury.  Homan did not look to be seriously hurt, but he is expected to miss a couple of weeks.

     The Badger faithful were quickly sent into a frenzy when David Gilreath returned the game's opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown.  The play was one more example of Ohio State's incompetence on special teams.

     Momentum continued to shift Wisconsin's way as they put the ball in the end zone on each of their next two series.  The powerful running of John Clay and James White tore through the Buckeyes' vaunted defense, and after Clay and White reached pay dirt one time apiece, the Badgers led, 21 - 0.

     At this point Ohio State was in an obvious state of shock, but they promptly bounced back.  Dan "Boom" Herron carried OSU down the field with his powerful running, and the Buckeyes eventually reached the UW 3 - yard line.  However, this was when Ohio State began to miss out on those aforementioned opportunities.  Conservative play - calling led to a Devin Barclay 21 - yard field goal, which did little to aid OSU's comeback bid.

     Following an Andrew Sweat interception of Scott Tolzien on Wisconsin's ensuing possession, the Buckeyes once again had favorable field position.  Ohio State's offense, though, mustered virtually nothing in terms of yardage, and, to make matters worse, Barclay hooked a 41 - yard field goal attempt to the left.  As a result, OSU went to the locker room with their undefeated record in serious jeopardy.

     As the 3rd quarter began it was apparent that the Buckeyes were a changed team.  They no longer looked rattled by the hostile crowd, and the increase in confidence resulted in an offensive explosion for Ohio State early in the 2nd half.  A combination of Pryor passes to Dane Sanzenbacher and Herron runs kept the Wisconsin defense off balance.  A pair of Herron TD scampers from 13 and 1 yard out, respectively, got OSU back in the contest.  After Herron's second score, the Buckeyes went for two, and Pryor floated a perfect pass to Reid Fragel.  Ohio State was now within a field goal and more than 11 minutes remained in the game.

     The Badgers, though, responded with a with a knockout punch - a 10 play, 73 - yard drive that was capped off by White's 12 - yard touchdown run.

     A late field goal set the final score at 31 - 18 and moments later the fans stormed the field to celebrate a shocking win over the top - ranked Ohio State Buckeyes.

     Words can not even begin to describe the disappointment that permeated the the Buckeyes' locker room in the wake of the upset loss in Madison.  Hopefully Ohio State can rebound and win at least a share of their 6th consecutive Big Ten championship.

Player of the Game

Dane Sanzenbacher: 6 receptions, 94 yards, 0 touchdowns

Sanzenbacher's toughness was on full display as he repeatedly made difficult catches despite harsh hits from opposing defenders.  The senior wide receiver also bailed out Terrelle Pryor several times by making great grabs fo poorly thrown balls.

Play of the Game

David Gilreath's 97 - yard kickoff return TD in the 1st quarter

Ohio State's special teams have been anything but special this season, and it finally hurt the Buckeyes in a big game.  The wind seemed to go right out of OSU's sails after Gilreath raced to the end zone on the opening kickoff.

Ohio State Football: Got Style Points?: Buckeyes Roll Indiana

10 - 9 - 10     vs. Indiana     W, 38 - 10     6 - 0

     Following Ohio State's narrow win over Illinois last week, experts from around the country pointed out that, in order to play for a national championship, the Buckeyes are going to need some so - called "style points."  And Ohio State was apparently listening to their critics because they humiliated the Hoosiers while piling up some eye - popping numbers.

     The health of Terrelle Pryor's leg was the primary reason for speculation during the week leading up to the Buckeye's Big Ten home opener, and the results were a mixed bag.  Pryor did throw for a career - high 334 yards, but he was obviously being instructed not to run with the football.  Pryor also appeared to be favoring his injured leg when he attempted to scramble away from pressure.  Although Pryor is visibly healthier now than he was a week ago, he does need to get closer to 100% for the game against Wisconsin next week.

     The big news of the day, however, had nothing to do with what took place in Ohio Stadium.  That was a result of top - ranked Alabama's loss to South Carolina which enabled Ohio State to assume the number one spot in the rankings.

    

     The Buckeyes received the opening kickoff and wasted little time in posting the game's first points.  After 3 consecutive passes moved the ball to the IU 39 - yard line, Dan "Boom" Herron sprinted into the end zone on a well - designed draw play.  Even though the game was less than 2 minutes old, Ohio State already held a 7 - 0 advantage.

     Indiana's first possession was a complete disaster as Ben Chappell, due to some severe miscommunication with his receivers, tossed an ill - advised pass that Devon Torrence easily picked off.

     Thanks to the great field position afforded them by Torrence, OSU quickly capitalized.  Pryor hit Dane Sanzenbacher for a 22 - yard score, capping off a swift, 3 - play drive.

     Pryor's second touchdown pass of the afternoon, a 60 - yard toss to Brandon Saine, was quite possibly the best aerial strike of the quarterback's collegiate career.  The play also revealed a subtle transition from running back to wideout for Saine.

     On the Hoosier's next offensive series, the Ohio State D came up with the defensive play of the year.  Ross Homan literally tipped a Chappell pass 5 times before Brian Rolle made a miraculous, diving interception.  The Buckeyes were once again in business, and, 5 plays later, they were in the end zone courtesy of a 17 - yard pass from Pryor to Devier Posey.  Posey went on to finish the contest with 8 catches for 103 yards.

     A 36 - yard field goal off the foot of Devin Barclay sent the Bucks into the locker room leading by a 31 - 0 score.

     Ohio State had officially rebounded from the near - debacle in Champaign.

     Jim Tressel decided to give his first - team offense one final series, and they took full advantage of the opportunity.  A "Boom" Herron 8 - yard TD scamper out of the "wildcat" formation brought an end to a satisfying, 10 - play march.

     The Hoosiers were able to score 10 points in the 2nd half, but the visitors never even came close to making the game competitive.  Included in those 10 points was a touchdown that was more pathetic than anything else.  Early in the 4th quarter Antonio Banks lunged across the goal line as his quarterback, second - stringer Dusty Kiel, attempted to rip the football away.  The play stood up under the scrutiny of instant replay, but Indiana had nothing to be proud of.

     With the backups getting some late reps, the Buckeyes were twice bitten by the turnover bug.  First, Carlos Hyde fumbled as he neared the end zone, and then, Ken Guiton was intercepted by Jeff Thomas on what was, quite frankly, an awful pass.  By that time, though, the Bucks and their fans were looking forward to Wisconsin.

     Ohio State desperately needed to shake off the bad memories from the Illinois game, and Indiana proved to be just what the doctor ordered for the Buckeyes.  The win marked Tressel's 100th in Columbus as his legacy continues to be cemented.

Player of the Game

Terrelle Pryor: 24 - 30 (completions - attempts), 334 yards, 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions; 3 carries, -19 yards; 1 reception, -1 yard

Due to some lingering effects from his now - infamous quad injury, Terrelle Pryor did nothing but throw the ball, and, as a result, he had his first career 300 - yard passing day.  And, in case you're wondering, those 3 rushes all came on sacks, and that one reception was actually a Pryor pass that was batted back into his hands.

Play of the Game

Brian Rolle's interception in the 2nd quarter

A person could watch college football for a long time and never see another play quite like this one.  The fact that Ross Homan had Ben Chappell's pass deflect off his hands 3 times and off each of his feet was amazing in and of itself, but Brian Rolle's diving grab lifted the entire moment into the level of the ridiculous.

Cleveland Indians: Tribe Comes Up Empty in Season Finale

10 - 3 - 10     at Chicago White Sox     L, 6 - 5     69 - 93

     The 2010 season finally came to a close, and the Indians, a team that has spent the year rebuilding for the future, showed once again that they are still a ways away from competing for a division championship.
     The Tribe fought hard, but they could not overcome the work turned in by Juan Pierre and Alexi Ramirez.  Pierre and Ramirez bat at the top of the Sox batting order, and they combined to produce 5 hits and 6 runs batted in.
     A pair of young Cleveland hitters, Luke Carlin and Drew Sutton, hit home runs as the Indians tried desperately to get back in the game.  However, Chicago held on, and the Tribe was forced to limp into the offseason.

Cleveland Indians: Rain, Sox Bring End to Tribe's Streak

10 - 2 - 10     at Chicago White Sox     L, 6 - 2 (6 innings)     69 - 92

     The Indians entered the season's penultimate game with a seven - game winning streak, only to watch it disappear in a rain - shortened contest.
      Due to the brevity of the game, both pitchers, Chicago's Mark Buerhle and Cleveland's Carlos Carrasco, were able to go the distance.  The difference, however, was that Buerhle allowed four fewer runs than Carrasco did.
     The Indians, though, did receive some good news from Kansas City.  A Royals' loss to the Rays enabled the Tribe to clinch 4th place in the division, which, although it is a far cry from 1st, is better than last.
    

Ohio State Football: Buckeyes Survive in Champaign

10 - 2 - 10     at Illinois     W, 24 - 13     5 - 0

     It has been said many times that adversity makes a football team better.
     Ohio State definitely hopes that is the case because in their conference opener at Illinois, adversity hit them from all angles.  First, they had to deal with poor weather and a road crowd for the first time this season.  Then, as OSU was beginning to pull away, Terrelle Pryor mildly strained his left quad on a running play.  Pryor missed the majority of the 3rd quarter, and after returning to the game, he did little more than hand the football off to Daniel "Boom" Herron. 
     Despite all those setbacks, Ohio State was still able to produce a victory, even though it was less than perfect.

     The story of the day was obviously Pryor's injury.  It occurred early in the 3rd period with the Buckeyes looking to build on a 14 - 10 advantage.  On a 2nd - and - 8 from his own 19 - yard line, Pryor scrambled for the 1st down.  However, after he crossed the 30, Pryor awkwardly fell to the ground in obvious pain.  T.P. was eventually taken off the field in order to receive treatment in the locker room.  Upon making his return, Pryor simply kept the Illini defense honest with the threat that he might take off and run.  Pryor, though, later told reporters that there was no way he could have been counted on to do anything productive besides feeding the ball to Herron.
     There is little doubt that Pryor will play next week, but the question of how effective he will be remains unanswered.
     Unfortunately, Pryor was not the only Buckeye who was injured in this game.  Tyler Moeller, Ohio State's linebacker/safety hybrid, tore his pectoral muscle, and he will miss the rest of the season.

     Early in the opening quarter the Illinois offense, led by QB Nathan Scheelhaase, roared to life.  A 23 - yard pass from Jarrey Fayson to Scheelhaase sparked a 9 play, 55 - yard drive that was capped off by Scheelhaase's 3 - yard run into the end zone.
     A 66 - yard run courtesy of Terrelle Pryor enabled Ohio State to quickly retaliate.  Shortly after Pryor's career - long rumble, he found a wide - open Brandon Saine on a short touchdown pass.  Devin Barclay's extra point was blocked, but a holding penalty on the Illini gave Barclay a second chance.  This time he was perfect, and the game was tied at 7.
     The contest remained that way until Pryor made a crucial mistake mid - way through the 2nd quarter.  Attempting to fit the football into a tight window, Pryor was intercepted by Trulon Henry.
     That turnover set up Illinois in great field position, and even though they accumulated just one 1st down, Derek Dimke knocked home a go - ahead, 27 - yard field goal.  The kick achieved a dose of redemption for Dimke because he had previously missed a short kick.
     Prior to the intermission Pryor and the Buckeyes regained the lead.  T.P. scampered for 35 yards which set up his 11 - yard toss to a diving Dane Sanzenbacher.
     Neither offense had any success during the 3rd quarter as Ohio State's defense began to dominate, and Pryor's injury rendered the Buckeyes' attack helpless.  The only excitement of the quarter was generated when the teams traded interceptions.  Jermale Hines picked off Scheelhaase before Joe Bauserman threw a pass to Henry, who gladly collected his second INT of the afternoon.
     Pryor's triumphant return failed to change Jim Tressel's play calling.  With the wind beginning to pick up, Tressel decided not to test the hurt leg of his star quarterback.  And so, Ohio State kept it on the ground in a drive that resulted in a Barclay 32 - yard field goal.
     Illinois then drove deep into OSU territory as they tried to even up the score.  The Bucks' defense held tough, though, and the Illini were forced to settle for 3 points.  Dimke was able to trim the Buckeyes' lead to 4, but time was running out.
     Following a costly personal foul penalty on the Illini, Ohio State took over near midfield and proceeded to seal the home team's fate.  "Boom" Herron's powerful running carried the Buckeyes down the field, and his 6 - yard TD run brought an end to Illinois' upset hopes.

     It was far from routine, but Ohio State kept their national title hopes alive.  Now the Buckeyes have to hope Pryor can still lead them to Glendale.

Player of the Game
Dan Herron: 23 carries, 95 yards, 1 touchdown
The man known as "Boom" enabled Pryor to rest his ailing thigh in the 2nd half.  Herron piled up more than half his yards in the game's final quarter, and his late touchdown wrapped up Ohio State's 11th consecutive victory.

Play of the Game
Terrelle Pryor's return from a quad injury in the 3rd quarter
Ok, this is not really a play, but there probably won't be a bigger moment in the Buckeyes' 2010 season.  Pryor's comeback seemed to ignite Ohio State, and it preserved OSU's undefeated record.

    

Cleveland Indians: Tribe Runs Winning Streak to 7

10 - 1 - 10     at Chicago White Sox     W, 7 - 3     69 - 91

     As the season hastens toward the proverbial finish line, the Indians have suddenly become a red - hot team. 
     The Tribe's series - opening victory in Chicago, which was sparked by an offensive outburst, marks Cleveland's seventh consecutive win.
     Fausto Carmona and Shin - Soo Choo were the stars of the night. 
     Carmona allowed just two runs over six innings of work in his final start of the season.  The win gives him 13 on the year, and it wraps up a solid campaign for the Indians' ace.
     In the case of Choo, it was simply another day at the office.  The Tribe's right - fielder slugged a two - run homer in the 1st, and the Tribe never looked back.

Cleveland Indians: Tribe Wraps Up Doubleheader Sweep

9 - 29 - 10     vs. Detroit     W, 4 - 3     68 - 91

     The Indians completed the home portion of their schedule with a victory as they erased an early 3 - 0 lead against Justin Verlander, who is one of the best pitchers in baseball.
     Verlander's mound opponent, Josh Tomlin, was less than superb, but his five innings of work merited a win on this night.
     The Tribe's comeback was sparked by a passed ball that allowed a run to score in the 4th, and after a Michael Brantley RBI triple in the 5th, Trevor Crowe plated Brantley with a perfectly executed, suicide squeeze bunt.
     In what was their final game at Progressive Field until next season, Cleveland ran their winning streak to six.

Cleveland Indians: Tribe Begins Twin Bill With Victory

9 - 29 - 10     vs. Detroit     W, 4 - 0     67 - 91

     Due to torrential rain the night before, the Indians and Tigers were forced to play a doubleheader, and the in the first game, the Tribe slugged their way to a routine victory.
     Travis Hafner and Shin - Soo Choo both hit two - run homers to account for all of the scoring in this one.  Choo's bunt single set up Hafner's blast, and a walk by Asdrubal Cabrera preceeded Choo's belt.
     Mitch Talbot finally produced a good outing as he tossed seven shutout inning to earn his 10th win of the season in his final start until next year.
   

Cleveland Indians: Behind Trio of Home Runs, Indians Beat Galarraga

9 - 27 - 10     vs. Detroit     W, 6 - 3     66 - 91

     It took the Indians quite a while, but they have finally solved Armando Galarraga.
     The Detroit pitcher came within a missed called of throwing a perfect game against the Indians on June 2nd, and then on August 20th, once again facing the Tribe, he flirted with history once again.
     In his most recent start in Cleveland, Galarraga took a no - no into the 5th before the Indians unloaded on him.
     The Indians scored five times in the inning en route to a comfortable series - opening victory.
     The home run ball was key for the Tribe as they hit three of them in the 5th.  Matt LaPorta and Luke Carlin each hit a solo shot to tie the score at two, and shortly thereafter, Travis Hafner belted out a three - run homer.
     The offensive outburst enabled Carlos Carrasco to pick up the win.  Carrasco tossed six innings of three - run baseball.

Cleveland Indians: Tribe Rallies to Take Series

9 - 26 - 10     vs. Kansas City     W, 5 - 3     65 - 91

     A chance at a series victory appeared to be out of the Indians' reach as the game went to the bottom of the 8th inning.  The Royals were in command, leading 3 - 0, and the Tribe's offense had yet to show any signs of life.  However, Cleveland exploded off the K.C. bullpen for five runs, and the Indians roared back to win their third consecutive contest.
     Behind the brilliant pitching of Bruce Chen - 6 2/3 IP, 0 ER - the Royals built up that three - run advantage, and despite the solid outing from Fausto Carmona - 5 IP, 2 ER - the Indians were still treading some very thin ice as the bottom of the 8th began.
     Asdrubal Cabrera and Shin Soo - Choo led off the frame with back - to - back singles, and the stage had been set for the afternoon's biggest hit.  Shelley Duncan jumped all over a hanging slider, and he belted out a three - run homer down the left field line.  Just like that, the game was tied.
     The Indians, though, still had some work to do.
     After a couple of outs had been recorded, Andy Marte got on base courtesy of a single, and Luis Valbuena followed with a ground - rule double.  Michael Brantley's grounder to first should have ended the threat, but Kila Ka'aihue misplayed the roller into a two - run double.
     With their normal closer, Chris Perez, away from the team because of a personal situation, Vinnie Pestano was given his first shot at a major league save, and he cashed in on the opportunity.  The young right - hander swiftly mowed down the Royals as the Indians finished off their third victory of the four - game set.

Cleveland Indians: Tribe Turns Tables on Greinke

9 - 25 - 10     vs. Kansas City     W, 7 - 1     64 - 91

     Twice this season, when facing Kansas City's Zack Greinke, the Indians have allowed an early lead to slip away.
     This time, they returned the favor.
     The Royals led by a 1 - 0 score as the game entered the bottom of the 3rd inning, but the Indians took care of that deficit in a hurry.  Cleveland scored seven times on Greinke, who failed to even make it through the 4th.
     Luis Valbuena led off the 3rd with a double, and the Tribe offense was ignited.
     It was at this point that Luke Carlin introduced himself to Indians' fans. 
     Carlin, a catcher, was brought in from Pittsburgh, and he made an immediate impact in his first game as a starter by grounding a single back up the middle, scoring Valbuena.
     An Asdrubal Cabrera single plated Carlin, and the very next batter, Shin - Soo Choo, doubled home Cabrera.  Cleveland now led, 3 - 1.
     In the 4th, the Tribe removed all doubt, and in so doing, they forced Greinke to make an early exit.
     The rally started on back - to - back doubles from Jayson Nix and Matt LaPorta, and Valbuena's second single of the night followed on the heels of the consecutive two - baggers.
     With one run in and two men on, Greinke began to self - destruct.  First, he uncorked a wild pitch that chased home LaPorta, and then he surrendered three consecutive singles to Trevor Crowe, Cabrera, and Choo.  Crowe and Choo picked up RBIs on their base - knocks.
     Given an ample amount of offensive support, Jeanmar Gomez cruised to the victory.  Gomez pitched five innings in what will be his final start of the campaign due to a fear of overworking him.

Ohio State Football: Buckeyes Throttle Eastern Michigan

9 - 25 - 10     vs. Eastern Michigan     W, 73 - 20     4 - 0

     The Eagles of Eastern Michigan were lured into Columbus by a hefty paycheck, and they left with the realization that no amount of money can compensate for an utter embarrassment on national television.  The contest produced a complete mismatch as the Buckeyes scored at will en route to a blowout that was difficult to watch, even for Ohio State fans.

     Terrelle Pryor was clearly the best player on the field, and his 348 yards of total offense bore that fact out quite well.  Pryor accounted for 6 touchdowns - 4 passing, 1 rushing, and 1 receiving, in what was arguably his most prolific game as a Buckeye.
     Dane Sanzenbacher was the recipient of all 4 of Pryor's TD tosses.  The senior wide receiver tied a school record with his quartet of receiving touchdowns, and he also accumulated 108 yards on 9 catches.
     OSU finally cleaned up their special teams' problems thanks in large part to Drew Basil's 2 touchbacks.  Those 2 kicks to the end zone lightened the load on the Buckeyes' kick coverage unit, which had been the team's weakest link.
     The Silver Bullets were nearly flawless through the first 3 games of the season, but they showed some chinks in the armor.  It was probably nothing more than an attention lapse, but allowing 20 points to EMU is never a good thing.

     It took Ohio State all of 3 offensive plays to find the end zone for the first of many times during the afternoon.  Facing a blitz on 3rd - and - 7, Terrelle Pryor ran right by a host of Eagles' defenders and after covering 53 yards of real estate, he crossed the goal line.
     The Buckeyes' next possession also lasted just 3 snaps as Pryor tossed a 31 - yard scoring strike to Sanzenbacher.  T.P. absorbed a big hit when he released the football, but the throw was still perfect, and a day - long connection had begun.
     OSU lone forced turnover of the day occurred on EMU's next series.  Devontae Payne, briefly filling in for starting QB Alex Gillett, fumbled an attempted play - action fake, and John Simon recovered the loose pigskin.
     Ohio State failed to fully capitalize on the golden opportunity, but Devin Barclay did convert a 42 - yard field goal as the Buckeyes' lead grew to 17 - 0.
     Dan Herron's 7 - yard TD run off the left side of the offensive line gave the Buckeyes a 24 - 0 advantage at the end of the 1st quarter.
     The beginning of the 2nd period coincided with Eastern Michigan's first sustained march of the game.  Gillett engineered a quick drive that was capped off by a Dwayne Priest 2 - yard touchdown scamper.
     Ohio State didn't take too kindly to the Eagles' score as was was evidenced by OSU's quick respnse.  Without the use of a huddle, Pryor led a swift drive down the field.  A 9 - yard pass from Pryor to Sanzenbacher restored the Buckeyes' 24 - point lead and removed any lingering doubt the sell - out crowd still had.
     Another hook - up between Pryor and Sanzenbacher produced 6 more points, and it appeared as if the 1st half's scoring had been completed.
     However, Gillett slung a 13 - yard pass to Kinsman Thomas for EMU's second touchdown of the contest's opening 30 minutes.
    
     A short trip to the locker room did nothing to dampen Ohio State's firepower.  On their first drive of the second half, the Buckeyes reached pay dirt when Pryor fired one more TD pass to Sanzenbacher.
     Shockingly, OSU's defense surrendered yet another scoring drive a few minutes later.  This time it was a 32 - yard strike from Gillett to Donald Scott that produced the score.
     Following that EMU touchdown, the Buckeye defense reacted with a display of anger and pride.  First, Brian Rolle blocked the extra point before throwing his helmet to the ground on the sideline.  The entire defensive unit then had a passionate meeting with the coaching staff as both parties tried to figure out what was going wrong.  They apparently solved the problem because the Silver Bullets lived up to their nickname for the remainder of the game.
     Ohio State compiled one last highlight late in the 3rd quarter.  Pryor took a snap from the Eagles' 20 - yard line and lateraled the ball to Jordan Hall on an apparent power sweep.  However, Hall stopped on a dime and floated a touchdown pass to a wide open Pryor, who had slipped out of the backfield.
     The Bucks' second team offense scored 3 TDs in the 4th quarter as things began to get utterly ridiculous.  Those 3 touchdowns came byway of a Joe Bauserman 17 - yard pass to Hall, a 65 - yard run by Jaamal Berry, and a Ken Guiton 15 - yard rumble.

     Ohio State's 53 - point margin of victory is indicative of the way in which the Buckeyes thoroughly dominated the Eagles.  Eastern Michigan had no business being on the same field as Ohio State, and the EMU players probably agree with that assessment.  OSU hopes they are now ready for Big Ten conference play.

Player of the Game
Terrelle Pryor: 20 - 26 (completion - attempts), 224 yards, 4 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 7 carries, 104 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 reception, 20 yards, 1 touchdown
If you still think Pryor is unworthy of this meaningless award, please read those stats one more time.  I believe I have made myself crystal clear.

Play of the Game
Terrelle Pryor 53 - yard TD run in the 1st quarter
Pryor's touchdown scamper in the game's opening moments established Ohio State's superiority over Eastern Michigan.  They play was also one more example of Pryor's talent and the edge it creates for him on the gridiron.

Cleveland Indians: Led by Tomlin, Choo, and Nix, the Tribe Rolls

9 - 24 - 10     vs. Kansas City     W, 7 - 3     63 - 91

     Desperately needing a win as the season draws to a close, the Indians turned to Josh Tomlin in hopes that he could give them a solid outing.
     He gave them much more than that.
     The rookie hurler tossed a complete game, his first in the big leagues, and he also struck out six Royals' batters to help bring an end to Cleveland's five - game losing streak.
     Tomlin, however, did not win this game by himself.
     Both Shin - Soo Choo and Jayson Nix had huge performances in support of their pitcher.
     Choo collected three base - hits to go along with a pair of runs batted in.  Choo drove home the Indians' first run when he singled in the 1st, and his 5th inning RBI double proved to be the eventual game - winner.
     Nix, meanwhile, was busy hitting home runs.  Nix blasted out a pair of solo homers to left field in the 2nd and 8th innings, respectively.
     Tomlin began to waver in the 9th, but after surrendering a Wilson Betemit two - run homer, he settled down and recorded the ballgame's final out on a liner to right.