Looking ahead in the schedule I wonder if tOSU won't still be undefeated when we play them in February.
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http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/news?slug=jn-bigten011811
The way Ohio State coach Thad Matta sees it, there’s only one thing tougher than obtaining the top spot in the Associated Press basketball poll.
Keeping it.
Ohio State on Monday earned its first No. 1 national ranking since 2006-07 by leap-frogging previously unbeaten Duke. The Blue Devils fell to No. 4 because of last week’s loss to unranked Florida State.
Maintaining such a lofty status won’t be easy for Ohio State. The Buckeyes (18-0) play seven of their next 10 games against ranked opponents.
More From Jason KingAll about the ACC: Carolina blues Jan 17, 2011 All about the non-Big Six: Worthy candidate Jan 16, 2011 AdChoices
Thad Matta wants his team focused on playing its best at the end of the season, not its current ranking.
“The main thing we’re focused on,” Matta said Monday, “is trying to find ways to improve our basketball team.”
Proud as they are to be ranked No. 1, the Buckeyes certainly haven’t dominated in the fashion that you’d expect from such a touted team. Their last four wins have come by a combined 15 points, and three of them (Iowa, Michigan and Penn State) were against teams expected to finish near the bottom of the Big Ten standings.
On Saturday Ohio State needed a three-point play from Jared Sullinger with 13.2 seconds remaining to squeak by Penn State 69-66. And that game was at home.
“We didn’t play as well as we needed to play last week,” Matta said. “We’re focused on how we can play better basketball. That’s where the focus has to lie. We want to be playing our best basketball at the end of the season.”
Matta – whose team plays host to last-place Iowa on Wednesday – said he’s not worried about the No. 1 ranking going to his players’ heads. The Buckeyes reached the NCAA title game the last time they were ranked No. 1.
“With this team, we don’t have to talk about it,” he said. “They’re pretty aware of [the potential distractions]. To me, this is more important for our program and our university. Hopefully this will kind of identify us.”
LEAGUE RANKINGS
(Last week’s rank in parenthesis.)
1. Ohio State (18-0, 5-0) – The Buckeyes are ranked No. 1 for the third time in school history. (1)
2. Purdue (15-3, 4-1) – The West Virginia loss isn’t too big of a cause for concern. (2)
3. Michigan State (12-5, 4-1) – The Spartans’ last two wins have come in overtime. (5)
4. Wisconsin (13-4, 3-2) – Bo Ryan’s squad ranks second in the nation in assist-turnover ratio. (4)
5. Minnesota (14-4, 3-3) – Three of the Gophers’ next four games are on the road. (6)
6. Illinois (13-5, 3-2) – The Illini shot 30 percent in Saturday’s loss at Wisconsin. (3)
7. Penn State (10-7, 3-3) – Talor Battle averages 20.5 points. (9)
8. Northwestern (11-5, 2-4) – It’s time to write the obituary on the Wildcats’ NCAA tournament hopes. (8)
9. Indiana (10-8, 1-4) – Finally – a Big Ten win for Tom Crean and the Hoosiers. (11)
10. Michigan (11-7, 1-4) – The Wolverines have lost five of their last six. (7)
11. Iowa (7-10, 0-5) – The Hawkeyes’ last three losses have been by double digits and three of their next four games are on the road. (10)
WHO’S HOT?
The league – Led by No. 1 Ohio State, the Big Ten leads all conferences with 55 percent of its teams ranked in the Top 25 poll. Six of the 11 teams in the Big Ten are ranked. Purdue, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan State appear in the rankings along with the Buckeyes.
Trevor Mbakwe, Minnesota – The Gophers standout forward hasn’t let his legal problems off the court effect his play on it. Mbakwe has four double-doubles in his last six games. He’s averaging 13 points and 11.7 rebounds during that span.
Penn State – The Nittany Lions have already matched last season’s Big Ten win total of three. And it’s not as if Ed DeChellis’ squad has been blown out in its losses. Two if its three setbacks have come by single digits. If Penn State remains this competitive, DeChellis won’t have much of a reason to worry about his job.
WHO’S NOT?
Michigan – The Wolverines are tough to figure. One minute they’re taking No. 2 Kansas to overtime in Ann Arbor, the next they’re getting crushed by 19 points by an Indiana squad that’s been as bad as any team in the Big Ten.
Illinois away from home – The Illini continue to struggle outside of Champaign. Four days after being upset by Penn State, Bruce Weber’s squad lost 76-66 at Wisconsin on Saturday. Illinois’ next two games are at home – but they’re against No. 17 Michigan State and No. 1 Ohio State.
Bill Carmody’s contract extension – Carmody certainly isn’t a bad coach. But he’s in 11th year at Northwestern and has yet to lead the Wildcats to the NCAA tournament. That’s why it seemed a bit strange last week when the school announced it had signed Carmody to a multi-year contract extension.
THREE TO WATCH
Michigan State at Illinois, Tuesday – Is Tom Izzo’s team turning the corner?
Ohio State at Illinois, Saturday – The Illini are hoping to at least earn a split in two of their toughest home games of the season.
Michigan State at Purdue, Saturday – The Boilermakers are 9-0 in West Lafayette.
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http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/news?slug=jn-bigten011811
The way Ohio State coach Thad Matta sees it, there’s only one thing tougher than obtaining the top spot in the Associated Press basketball poll.
Keeping it.
Ohio State on Monday earned its first No. 1 national ranking since 2006-07 by leap-frogging previously unbeaten Duke. The Blue Devils fell to No. 4 because of last week’s loss to unranked Florida State.
Maintaining such a lofty status won’t be easy for Ohio State. The Buckeyes (18-0) play seven of their next 10 games against ranked opponents.
More From Jason KingAll about the ACC: Carolina blues Jan 17, 2011 All about the non-Big Six: Worthy candidate Jan 16, 2011 AdChoices
Thad Matta wants his team focused on playing its best at the end of the season, not its current ranking.
“The main thing we’re focused on,” Matta said Monday, “is trying to find ways to improve our basketball team.”
Proud as they are to be ranked No. 1, the Buckeyes certainly haven’t dominated in the fashion that you’d expect from such a touted team. Their last four wins have come by a combined 15 points, and three of them (Iowa, Michigan and Penn State) were against teams expected to finish near the bottom of the Big Ten standings.
On Saturday Ohio State needed a three-point play from Jared Sullinger with 13.2 seconds remaining to squeak by Penn State 69-66. And that game was at home.
“We didn’t play as well as we needed to play last week,” Matta said. “We’re focused on how we can play better basketball. That’s where the focus has to lie. We want to be playing our best basketball at the end of the season.”
Matta – whose team plays host to last-place Iowa on Wednesday – said he’s not worried about the No. 1 ranking going to his players’ heads. The Buckeyes reached the NCAA title game the last time they were ranked No. 1.
“With this team, we don’t have to talk about it,” he said. “They’re pretty aware of [the potential distractions]. To me, this is more important for our program and our university. Hopefully this will kind of identify us.”
LEAGUE RANKINGS
(Last week’s rank in parenthesis.)
1. Ohio State (18-0, 5-0) – The Buckeyes are ranked No. 1 for the third time in school history. (1)
2. Purdue (15-3, 4-1) – The West Virginia loss isn’t too big of a cause for concern. (2)
3. Michigan State (12-5, 4-1) – The Spartans’ last two wins have come in overtime. (5)
4. Wisconsin (13-4, 3-2) – Bo Ryan’s squad ranks second in the nation in assist-turnover ratio. (4)
5. Minnesota (14-4, 3-3) – Three of the Gophers’ next four games are on the road. (6)
6. Illinois (13-5, 3-2) – The Illini shot 30 percent in Saturday’s loss at Wisconsin. (3)
7. Penn State (10-7, 3-3) – Talor Battle averages 20.5 points. (9)
8. Northwestern (11-5, 2-4) – It’s time to write the obituary on the Wildcats’ NCAA tournament hopes. (8)
9. Indiana (10-8, 1-4) – Finally – a Big Ten win for Tom Crean and the Hoosiers. (11)
10. Michigan (11-7, 1-4) – The Wolverines have lost five of their last six. (7)
11. Iowa (7-10, 0-5) – The Hawkeyes’ last three losses have been by double digits and three of their next four games are on the road. (10)
WHO’S HOT?
The league – Led by No. 1 Ohio State, the Big Ten leads all conferences with 55 percent of its teams ranked in the Top 25 poll. Six of the 11 teams in the Big Ten are ranked. Purdue, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan State appear in the rankings along with the Buckeyes.
Trevor Mbakwe, Minnesota – The Gophers standout forward hasn’t let his legal problems off the court effect his play on it. Mbakwe has four double-doubles in his last six games. He’s averaging 13 points and 11.7 rebounds during that span.
Penn State – The Nittany Lions have already matched last season’s Big Ten win total of three. And it’s not as if Ed DeChellis’ squad has been blown out in its losses. Two if its three setbacks have come by single digits. If Penn State remains this competitive, DeChellis won’t have much of a reason to worry about his job.
WHO’S NOT?
Michigan – The Wolverines are tough to figure. One minute they’re taking No. 2 Kansas to overtime in Ann Arbor, the next they’re getting crushed by 19 points by an Indiana squad that’s been as bad as any team in the Big Ten.
Illinois away from home – The Illini continue to struggle outside of Champaign. Four days after being upset by Penn State, Bruce Weber’s squad lost 76-66 at Wisconsin on Saturday. Illinois’ next two games are at home – but they’re against No. 17 Michigan State and No. 1 Ohio State.
Bill Carmody’s contract extension – Carmody certainly isn’t a bad coach. But he’s in 11th year at Northwestern and has yet to lead the Wildcats to the NCAA tournament. That’s why it seemed a bit strange last week when the school announced it had signed Carmody to a multi-year contract extension.
THREE TO WATCH
Michigan State at Illinois, Tuesday – Is Tom Izzo’s team turning the corner?
Ohio State at Illinois, Saturday – The Illini are hoping to at least earn a split in two of their toughest home games of the season.
Michigan State at Purdue, Saturday – The Boilermakers are 9-0 in West Lafayette.