Ohio St. vs. Illinois: Buckeyes Lose 3 of Last 10 as Illini Pull off 79-74 Upset

Brandon Paul put together one of the best games of his college basketball season by dropping a career-high 43 points (sixth 40-plus-point performance in Illini history) on 11-15 shooting, including eight three-pointers, as the Illini upset the Buckeyes, 79-74, (Tuesday night) in Champaign.

People were wondering how good this Illini team would be, and they answered the bell even without their starting point guard, Sam Maniscalco.

The former All-Missouri Valley point guard happened to be one of the more unappreciated players in the Big Ten. In addition to his ability to make the average pass look effortless, he was also an 84 percent free-throw shooter. Yet, despite Maniscalco missing the last three games, the Illini have risen to the occasion by winning three Big Ten games in a row.

It was Paul who went bonkers in Champagne, but the development of sophomore point guard Joseph Bertrand has to be a pleasant surprise for coach Bruce Weber. Totaling 43 points in the last three games, Bertrand's play has been more than respectable, and team rapport has been sensational with him at the helm.

Even young center Meyers Leonard stood toe-to-toe with arguably the best player in America Tuesday night. Jared Sullinger was held in check all night, and he was limited to only 21 points on 16 shot attempts.

Taking a step back from the amazing victory by the Illini and into Ohio State's psyche, what in the world has happened to these Buckeyes?

Everybody pegged this team as one of the three best teams in America, and yet, there continues to be zero production from the bench. Furthermore, William Buford's inability to hit the open jumper has haunted this squad for years. 

If you look back at the last two seasons in which the Buckeyes lost in the Sweet 16 to an SEC team (Tennessee, Kentucky), Buford has gone just 7-for-29! I am against placing the fault on one player, but it seems too much is put on the poor kid because nobody else has been able to step their games up.

Sullinger will always get his numbers, and Aaron Craft is one of the best defensive point guards in the game with a decent jumper, but there needs to be more help from someone other than those two and Deshaun Thomas (team-leading 23 points). 

Other players desperately need to perform under the limelight, or else, another March meltdown may be upon us. 

Meanwhile, the Illini were taking some scruff from "experts" such as Joe Lunardi, who did not have them ranked very highly two weeks ago.

He wasn't the only one, but in his latest Bracketology, "Joey Brackets" has the Illini as an eighth seed with the green ascending arrow pointing upwards on this squad.

The future looks bright for the "Orange Krush," and we could be witnessing a dark horse and sleeper not only in the Big Ten, but perhaps across the country.