First-place Ohio State runs past Michigan basketball team, 66-55
Ohio State's David Lighty (23) drives to the basket as Michigan's Manny Harris (3) defends on Saturday. Harris was held to 10 points by the Buckeyes. (Photo: Associated Press)
COLUMBUS - The game was less than a minute old and Evan Turner made his first basket. When he did, Michigan basketball guard Stu Douglass heard it from the stands.
“That’s not even fair.”
Opponents can say that for most of the season when playing No. 9 Ohio State, which beat Michigan, 66-55, on Saturday to move into first place in the Big Ten Conference because of the do-everything junior swingman from Chicago.
Turner lets students yell the truest of taunts. He leaves other players, like Douglass, almost shrugging their shoulders because there isn’t much they can do.
“Sometimes, he does that crossover without even dribbling,” Douglass said. “How tall is he, 6-7, it’s ridiculous. If he’s around the basket, doesn’t matter who is guarding him, 10 foot, he’s going to hit it.”
When Turner doesn’t score, he passes. If neither is working - and that’s a rarity with Ohio State this season - he rebounds, blocks shots and makes steals. The result: A slim hold on first place. Ohio State (23-7, 13-4 Big Ten) will see if it can maintain its half-game lead on the rest of the Big Ten Conference on Sunday when second-place Purdue (24-3, 12-3) faces third-place Michigan State (21-7, 11-4).
During a critical 9-2 Ohio State run that sealed the game for the Buckeyes, Turner showed why he’s a frontrunner for national Player of the Year.
He scored just two of his 18 points in the spurt, but he had a stretch that was electric. Turner ran down the floor and blocked a Zack Novak layup attempt from behind. Then he corralled the ball, led Ohio State on a break, rebounded a missed Jon Diebler 3-pointer for one of his 11 boards and ended up getting the putback.
Ohio State's Dallas Lauderdale dunks over Michigan's Zack Novak during the second half on Saturday. (Photo: Associated Press)
“I knew he was going to get it,” Turner said. “I had no doubt he was going to grab the ball.”
In doing so, Ohio State also took control of the game.
All of this despite one of the more balanced efforts from Michigan this year. The Wolverines had five players in double figures for the first time since the season-opener against Division II Northern Michigan in November.
Novak, freshman Darius Morris and senior forward DeShawn Sims all had 11 points for Michigan. Douglass and junior guard Manny Harris - who struggled to find his shot, going 1-of-8, had 10 each.
And other than those five, Michigan had two points from everyone else on the roster. The starting five for Michigan (13-15, 6-10) actually played one of its better halves in the first half, leading Ohio State by one, 33-32, despite the Buckeyes shooting 63.6 percent from the field and 60 percent from the 3-point line.
Then Turner took over.
“They just made plays,” Harris said. “They did a good job moving within their offense, putting the ball in Evan Turner’s hands to make plays and he made plays.”
Beyond Turner, Michigan also was less patient in the second half. The Wolverines rushed more shots, evidenced by a drop from 11-of-24 shooting in the first half to 6-of-23 in the second half from the field and from 4-of-7 in the first half from the 3-point line to 1-of-10 in the second.
It caused its one-point lead to evaporate, as the Wolverines fell behind after a Turner jumper with 18:15 left in the game and never led again.
Turner went from there, scoring and passing to William Buford, who led all scorers with 24 points, and doing everything his team needs him to.
Even if sometimes it doesn’t register how good of a game he had until you look at the stat sheet. That, Douglass said, makes him different than anyone he’s ever played against.
“You see all these big-time players and he’s the least flashiest, most productive big-time player,” Douglass said. “That’s the best I can put it. He just does his job.
“He has a little bit of flash and has a lot better ball handling over the past two years. But he knows what he needs to do and he just does it, more than any other player I’ve played against.”
That was enough for Ohio State on Saturday - and for most of the season.
Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by e-mail at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein.
Comments
TRIGG6
Mon, Mar 1, 2010 : 10:13 a.m.
7th in BIG TEN just like i said.Ready for your yearly beat down by MSU.
1989NCAACHAMPS
Sat, Feb 27, 2010 : 10:59 p.m.
I sure wish Coach J.B. would bring Novak off the BENCH!! He is an effort, spark type of player. Streaky shooter, but will bring energy off the bench and experience. He should have started Gibson with Sims the entire season. Gibson is a player who if he has success early in the game he can be productive. Starting line-up should be Morris, Douglas, Harris, Sims, Gibson. Bring Novak and Wright of the bench. Wright is a streaky shooter. And just bring LLP in just to give Douglass or Morris a little rest.
Engineer
Sat, Feb 27, 2010 : 10:19 p.m.
Typical of the year. JB has not brought in the players like OSU. Recruiting is huge part of the college game and JB just does not get it. I just do not get those gushing over what a great coach he is. The proof is in the pudding and here at Michigan the pudding is nasty. Time to trade up.
ypsinational
Sat, Feb 27, 2010 : 9:51 p.m.
It seems that Manny can turn it on & off when he wants to. Example: 2nd half vs. Illinois he was determined to get the hole (though he missed 3+ layups.) Against OSU, he didn't do anything until the 2nd half when he went to the line 7 times. Is this Beilein's system or Manny not playing hard? BTW - LLP can transfer back to UofA, at least Novak tries hard while getting 2/3 layups blocked per game.
oscar
Sat, Feb 27, 2010 : 8:37 p.m.
this basketball program is IRRELEVANT. I am done wasting my team.. And like so many, what do we have to look forward to? Beilein is a better coach than Matta? You got to be kidding me. Measured how? One elite 8 in 30 years? Yippie! People that say that are obviously are not in touch with reality.
ritawedaliar
Sat, Feb 27, 2010 : 8:31 p.m.
So how is that West Virginia coach poach thing working out?
Macabre Sunset
Sat, Feb 27, 2010 : 4:37 p.m.
Good point, Zulu. Manny's head isn't in it, the rest of the team has turned to Sims, who is now getting much more attention from opponents. Last year, disciplining Manny shook him up a bit, we saw immediate improvement. This year, it's like he has had enough. I suppose he will leave, because he has NBA talent. But I think he has hurt himself with his uninterested play on a team that could have been NCAA caliber otherwise. The NBA isn't as big on character as the NFL, but I would bet Manny's internal tantruming has cost him millions.
KeepingItReal
Sat, Feb 27, 2010 : 4:11 p.m.
Has anyone noticed. Every since Harris was suspended for that one game, the chemistry on the Michigan team has seem to vanish? We know this is Simms last year, but for his sake, I sincerely hope Harris opt for the NBA. He will get drafted and he will have a good career in the NBA. Jb Has a contract through the 2015 season so I think we should just relax and o do enjoy the team trying to do the best it can to win. Go Tommy!
saginaw
Sat, Feb 27, 2010 : 3:48 p.m.
Simms is a great player, but he be gone next. Manny does not get along that well with BeeLine. I think John would prefer that Manny leave early. As to next year? Who knows? It cannot be too promising. Thad has a great record. He also has about 3 NBA players each year. BeeLine is the better coach and Thad the way better recruiter.....
robert brinker
Sat, Feb 27, 2010 : 3:37 p.m.
Everyone seems to be playing hard exept manny harris. Its just hard to believe any NBA team will take him in the first or early 2nd round.
Doug
Sat, Feb 27, 2010 : 3:09 p.m.
Who are you kidding. We are horrible this season. No one but Sims has shown up. The sad thing is I don't see anything changing with incoming recruits especially in size. I think Tractor Trailer was our last offical big man. Michigan basketball and football are playing like a 500 D2 program. It's that pathetic!!
Austina Rooker
Sat, Feb 27, 2010 : 3:07 p.m.
How can you say that Matta is not a very good coach. He wins 20 games each year, and he is NOT from West Virginia. Maybe Huggins is ready to move up here.
Macabre Sunset
Sat, Feb 27, 2010 : 2:23 p.m.
Theo, Michigan would have to win the conference tournament to receive a bid. A second place might be enough for the NIT. The team's RPI is well above 100 right now. Mercifully, this season is just about over.
treetowncartel
Sat, Feb 27, 2010 : 2:22 p.m.
This program is an embarassment. Harris should have played point forward this season. That would have freed up some guards, but then again you have to get the ball in the basket. The offense is way too gimicky. Out of curiousity, anybody know what ever happened to Lavelle Blanchard?
Jaxon5
Sat, Feb 27, 2010 : 2:20 p.m.
OSU under Thad Matta - 20+ wins for 6 years straight. Not bad coaching at all. Great athletes. Great program. Clean program (at least since 2003-4)
saginaw
Sat, Feb 27, 2010 : 2:08 p.m.
Michigan was not that bad today -- especially in the first half. Ohio State just has really, really good players. OSU coaching is not that great, but they get fabulous athletes.