Pre-Game Clips: Redemtion, Sullinger’s Ass, The Extra Option

It’s game day! That means one thing for OSU fans. Follow the words of the Sully. If he say’s listen to Party in the USA, then you crank it as loud as the speakers will allow you. Cause tonight, there is going to be a party in West Lafeyette. No matter where the party goes, before the game there’s a lot of chirping about the biggest game of the week. With Texas losing on Saturday, the number one ranking is their for the Buckeyes to grab.

And so is a Big Ten Championship.

Enough blabbering, let’s roll the pre-game clips before this afternoon’s game!

Clipped from: www.dispatch.com (share this clip)

“I’ve been feeling pretty good lately, my teammates know that, and it’s been working out for me,” Buford said after scoring 23 points against Michigan State on Tuesday. “Every shot I take I think is going to go down.”

From www.dispatch.com (share this quote)

Buford has been the man-child the Buckeyes have needed shooting from the field, averaging 17 points the last six games. Down the stretch, teams have found out a way to shut down Sullinger (somewhat) in the post. They’ve also limited the damage that Jon Diebler can cause from three point range.

Everyone knows that Buford is carrying the hot hand and it won’t be surprising if he takes over the game today against Purdue. Once he get’s going, he’s hard to stop. E’Twaun Moore, I hope you’re ready to play some defense my friend. Buford is looking more and more like an NBA prospect every time out on the floor.

Clipped from: www.cleveland.com (share this clip)

His butt is a feature of his athleticism as much as Dallas Lauderdale’s wingspan, Aaron Craft’s quick feet or David Lighty’s explosion. It’s a unique trait that gives Sullinger an edge at what he does best — which is to maneuver inside, whether grabbing rebounds, pinning a defender while making a post move or creating a wall so other teammates can drive to the basket.

From www.cleveland.com (share this quote)

Yes folks, we’re talking about practice Jared Sullinger’s ass before game time. I’ll admit it. I have a thing for his badonkadonk. It grinds and gets in the perfect position. He is the best ass-shakin’ bucket in the post makin’ phenom Ohio State has seen since the 83 year old. And let’s be honest. It wasn’t the ass that made Greg Oden the bomb. It was his sheer power.

Shake that thang Sully, Shake that thang. It’s a party in the U.S.A.

Clipped from: www.cleveland.com (share this clip)

Jared Sullinger could become the fourth Ohio State big man to leave after his freshman year in the past five seasons, following Greg Oden, Kosta Koufos and B.J. Mullens. It says a lot about Thad Matta’s coaching that, while he was on the clock from Day One, he has forged the Buckeyes into a team that, while thin, going only seven-deep, yet seems to have everything but depth.

From www.cleveland.com (share this quote)

Bill Livingston of The Cleveland Plain Dealer argues how this Ohio State basketball team has saved the sport of college basketball this season. He takes a look at some of the former powers of the sport, and the state now this season. He makes some valid points about this team and how it has help weather what would normally be considered a mediocre at best season.

Clipped from: www.hammerandrails.com (share this clip)

Everything that could go wrong in game one did. We double teamed Jared Sullinger (and we rarely double team anyone). We left shooters open and William Buford and Jon Diebler did what excellent shooters do with good looks and buried us from long range. We even got a taste of our own medicine as Aaron Craft channeled Chris Kramer in terms of being the annoying scrappy guard that we love when he’s on our team and despise when he’s not.

So what can we do the second time around? Well, it begins with better perimeter defense. We have to stop with the double teaming of Sullinger and trust that JaJuan Johnson and maybe even Travis Carroll can limit him defensively. I rally don’t care if Sullinger scores 50 as long as we don’t get beat by perimeter shooters again. We have to get out on Diebler, Buford, craft, and David Lighty. We cannot allow them to rotate the ball at will like we did the first time around.

From www.hammerandrails.com (share this quote)

Hammer and Nails breaks down the Purdue side of things very nicely, as Redemption game number three takes place this afternoon for the Boilermakers. It will be interesting to see what type of offense the Buckeyes run, but if they get shut down in the perimeter, it will be a tough game to win at Mackey.