NCAA Previews: Recognize the Ohio State Buckeyes

Conference: Big Ten
Record: 27-3, 15-1 in conference
RPI: 2
How They Got In: Favorites to win the Big Ten tournament, they'll get an at-large bid if they don't.

Mascot: Brutus Buckeye first appeared in a 1965 football game against Minnesota. In 1999, he wrote a book, The Spirit of a Buckeye: Brutus Buckeye's Lessons for Life.

Big Win: Beat Wisconsin 49-48 in February to avenge their only Big Ten loss. No particularly impressive non-conference wins.

Notable Losses: If you're looking for a reason to doubt the Buckeyes, look no further than their two games against top-notch teams from other conferences: They lost 98-89 at North Carolina (and it wasn't as close as the score would indicate), and 86-60 at Florida (and it was every bit as much a blowout as the score would indicate).

Player You Should Know: You know about freshmen Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr. But you should also know junior Jamar Butler (pictured). Butler, who leads the team in minutes played, is a streaky shooter. If he's on in March he'll give the Buckeyes an additional scoring threat, but if he's off his missed shots could make Ohio State ripe for an upset.

Outlook: Is Oden a disappointment? You can certainly make that case. But he could define his brief college career with a run in March. Ohio State is a Final Four favorite.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

3-10-2007 @ 11:33PM

JP said...

Jamal Butler looks familiar. Is he a relative to Jerry Butler who also played for Ohio State University Basketball?

3-12-2007 @ 5:45PM

Josh said...

Ohio so kicks ass they fly no lie you know this BALLIN

3-12-2007 @ 4:03PM

3-14-2007 @ 6:36PM

Greg Shumaker said...

Whoever wrote this analysis is an idiot. Their three losses were away to three top ten teams(at the time ranked 1,2,3). OSU is on a 17 game win streak and just won both their conference and tournament championships. UNC was a much closer game than the score indicated. OSU did not have Oden for that game. Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year is not a dissapointment. All three losses were early in the year when OSU's freshmen were just getting acclamated to the game. Ohio State desereved the overall #1 seed.

3-17-2007 @ 2:12AM

d morgan said...

to correct your lack of accurate information the unc game was close enough that osu lead at the half and trailed by 10 with 6:33 to go . osu lost by 9 . florida was a blowout in Oden's 3rd game back with a soft cast on his shooting hand and out of game shape. look at shaq s ist year , maybe alcindor . oh that s right he played jv games back then and walton too .

3-21-2007 @ 6:59PM

Kamron said...

Oden and dissapointment dont belong in the same sentence. Are you on drugs?

3-22-2007 @ 11:56AM

maxwell said...

u guys are a good team

3-22-2007 @ 11:59AM

lets go buks

3-23-2007 @ 9:46AM

John Chapon said...

This is from a 62 year old man,you have to remember these are just young boys playing a game and playing they did to win down 20 points in the first half. So cut them some slack,if you can't say anything nice then don't comment at all. Thank you all. Go Bucks!!

3-23-2007 @ 4:45PM

Sandy Cheeks said...

There is a reason why we are #1 in the country. Last Night was just further proof that OSU is a great team with the ability to go all the way. Way to go Bucks!

3-23-2007 @ 2:10PM

3-23-2007 @ 10:09PM

john michael said...

ohio state has an amazing freshman class theyll be good for a while.Theyll also win the national championship this year GO BUCKS!!!

3-23-2007 @ 10:11PM

ohio state has an amazing freshman class their going to kill for a few years!Theyll also win the national championship this year yea baby..GO BUCKS!!

3-25-2007 @ 12:46AM

aaron said...

dude dat is so tight 25 games in a row and still winnin dem all

3-25-2007 @ 8:31PM

kenny odister said...

I think ohio state has a hell of a team to be so young I think olden is still trying to find hisself as a offinsive player but once he figures that out it will be awsome I am with you all the way go bucks.

3-25-2007 @ 8:42PM

I think ohio state have a hell of a team you have to give them a lot of credit for coming this far with so many freshman's on the team. thad matta has done a great job with this freshman class.I think greg olden is still trying to find his offinsive game but he is only a freshman but look out when he does I am with you all the way go bucks bring home the gold.

4-01-2007 @ 10:48AM

J ames F. Lentz said...

I am 82 years old i have been a fan of ohio state all my life, they have great coaching now, it is to recruit. go bucks

4-01-2007 @ 7:34PM

Robert said...

I agree that Ohio State has a great freshmen class, but next Greg Oden will not be there. You will still have Conley though. So there is still hope - FOR NEXT YEAR. This year though the Gators will win. Though I believe it will be a close game. Ohio State may have Oden, but Florida has Noah and Horford. That's two big men to one. Florida has five players that can hurt you while Ohio State has two maybe three. It's simple numbers. But I do wish you luck - FOR NEXT YEAR.

4-02-2007 @ 12:35AM

dl43228 said...

number 18's comment...lol you must be a Gator fan, so keep talkin all that bull after the bucks cutt down the nets all you'll be able too do is go too bed and cry ...better luck next year FLORIDA!

4-02-2007 @ 10:32AM

EDDIE,COL'S. OH. said...

I AM A 73 YEAR OLD BUCKEYE, AND LOVE THE BUCKS, WIN OR LOSE. I THINK THAT THE GAME TONIGHT WILL BE DECIDED BY HOW FAIR THE REFEREES ARE. IT HAS COME DOWN TO THE TWO BEST TEAMS IN THE NATION IN MY OPINION. I DON'T HAVE A FINAL SCORE TO PREDICT BUT I DO BELIVE THAT IT WILL GO INTO "OVERTIME" MAYBE DOUBLE OVERTIME. I WISH GOOD LUCK TO BOTH TEAMS, BUT I DO WANT MY BUCKEYES TO WIN. "GO BUCKS" P.S. BY THE WAY,FLORIDA DIDEN'T BEAT THE BUCKEYE FOOTBALL TEAM, COACH "TRESSEL" LOST IT FOR THEM.
"EDDIE IN COLUMBUS OHIO"