Tuesday Night Hoopla: Review of Last Night's Action, Jan. 21, 2009

Big-Ten Run Down

Ohio State vs. No. 24 Illinois

Illinois was not a very nice host to the Ohio State Buckeyes on Tuesday night.  The Fighting Illini let the Buckeyes play around for about five minutes and then OSU was never within eight points the rest of the game, as the Illini beat OSU 67-49 in the first game as a ranked team.

Bruce Weber’s team has played well of late, the still are looking for the leader to handle a game in a tough situation. Demetri McCamey might be that person, but his play can be so up-and-down that I am not sure he can carry the team. 

But against the Buckeyes, McCamey the had a solid game despite a below par shooting night.  He did finish with 13 points, seven assists, three rebounds, and two steals.

The Fighting Illini had four players in double figures with 7'1″Mike Tisdale scoring 15 - but only getting one rebound, guard Chester Frazier had 10, Dominique Keller had 12 points and six rebounds off the bench, and then McCamey with 13.

Ohio State looks like the most offensively inept team in the Big-Ten when they are not hitting from three the struggle to find buckets. Some credit should given to Illini defense, but we have seen this Ohio State before.

Penn State vs. Michigan

Now I have long said that the Big-Ten is a deeper and a more talented conference than many were giving credit, but I never would have picked Penn State to beat Michigan. 

But Penn State has a veteran team that returned all starters from last season and they worked over the ice cold Wolverine team.

6'5″ 240-pound beast, Jamelle Cornley, muscled his way to 17 points and 11 rebounds, beating up the Michigan post players. But he was matched by Michigan’s DeShawn Sims as be scored 21 points and also grabbed 11 rebounds.

But Sims was the only player for Jon Bieliens team to reach double figures in either category.

The Big-Ten’s leading scorer, Penn State’s 5'11″ point guard Talor Battle finished with 15 points and xis assists, but did have four turnovers.

Manny Harris, the Big-Ten’s second leading scorer, was held to 1-for-9 shooting including 0-for-5 from deep.  Michigan as a team shot only 38 percent from the floor and 17 percent from three and was out-rebounded by nine.

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