SATURDAY DECEMBER 12, 2009
#13 Ohio State Buckeyes (7-1) v #22 Butler Bulldogs (6-3)
The No.13 Ohio State Buckeyes will tip off at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Saturday night against the No. 22 Butler Bulldogs.
The Buckeyes edged out the Bulldogs 54-51, the last time these two teams met on December 13, 2008.
The Bulldogs are coming off a disappointing 72-65 loss to No. 15 Georgetown on Tuesday in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden. A game that the Hoyas dominated Butler just about everywhere on the hardwood. Butler forward Matt Howard was held to just nine points on 1-of-9 shooting. The loss was the third in as many games against ranked teams for Butler, and they have lost eight of their last nine games against teams in the Top 25. The Bulldogs’ Gordon Hayward had 24 points in the loss. Hayward, Shelvin Mack and Howard are averaging a collective 42.3 points per game, but are choking in the clutch – especially on defense.
Ohio State is on a an early tear winning five in a row since their only loss to No. 6 North Carolina back in mid November in the 2K Sports Classic semifinals. They are coming off an easy 111-60 win over the Eastern Michigan Eagles on Saturday. P.J. Hill lead the team with a career-high 18 points, followed by Jeremie Simmons 17, while William Buford and David Lighty each had 16 for the Buckeyes in the win. The bad news is Bucks standout Evan Turner has sustained broken bones in his back that will sideline him for at least the next eight week. Turner who came in averaging 20.6 points and 12.9 rebounds, was fouled on a dunk attempt, held onto the rim too long and landed on his back causing the injury.
Odds are not yet posted for this game.
If Butler wants to beat the Hoyas they will need to tighten up defensively especially in the paint where Georgetown finished with a 43-30 rebound advantage, and 30-16 inside.
I like the Buckeyes in this match up even without Evan Turner.
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