No. 2 Ohio State 85, Minnesota 67: MINNEAPOLIS - Greg Oden and No. 2 Ohio State hardly broke a sweat in beating Minnesota 85-67 Sunday, putting the Buckeyes in position for their first No. 1 ranking in 45 years.
Oden had 19 points nine rebounds and two blocks and Ron Lewis added 16 points. Mike Conley Jr. finished with 10 assists and five steals for Ohio State.
Lawrence McKenzie was a force for the Gophers, but his 22 points weren't near enough against a deep and talented opponent. The Gophers lost their fifth straight and 10th in their last 12.
The No. 1 ranking in the AP Top 25 is up for grabs after top-ranked Florida lost at Vanderbilt on Saturday night, but Ohio State isn't the only team to have a legitimate claim.
In pounding the overmatched Gophers (9-18, 3-10), Ohio State (24-3, 12-1 Big Ten) won its 11th game in a row and is looking for its first No. 1 ranking since Jerry Lucas, John Havlicek and a sub named Bob Knight led the Buckeyes into the national championship game against Cincinnati in 1962.
The Buckeyes' only Big Ten loss this season is to No. 3 Wisconsin (26-2), which travels to Columbus for a showdown with Ohio State in the regular season finale next Sunday.
Fifth-ranked UCLA (23-3) also could make the jump to No. 1 after soundly beating No. 19 Arizona 81-66 on Saturday.With teams realizing the potential of not just Oden, but the rest of the Buckeyes, it makes defending all the more difficult.
Gophers freshman center Bryce Webster held his own defensively against Oden in the first half, but eventually, double-teaming Oden became impossible because of the threat the perimeter players posed.
The well-balanced attack by Ohio State proved far too much for Minnesota to handle as the Buckeyes started piling it on in the second half.
Gophers sophomore guard Jamal Abu-Shamala said when you have a team that is strong both inside and out, it's tough to play defense.
"They have the best center in the country down low and some of the best shooters in the country around the perimeter, so you can't double (team)," he said. "You can't compensate one thing for the other and they just run a really tough style."
Oden is expected to be one of the top two picks in this year's NBA Draft, should he turn pro, and with that in mind, Matta said he'll take pleasure in the time that Oden is at Ohio State.
NBA Future: DeMarcus Cousins DeMarcus Cousins is a big PF who averaged 26 pts, 15 rebounds, 10 assists, 70% FG and 80% FT per game as a freshman in high school last year. DeMarcus Cousins has developing post moves, is an excellent rebounder, and a solid athlete. DeMarcus Cousins' ability to overpower players gives him a very high ceiling. DeMarcus Cousins has a 7'3" wingspan and 9'0" standing reach. DeMarcus Cousins is very raw. DeMarcus Cousins needs to work on his footwork and decision making mostly. DeMarcus Cousins offense is coming along fine, but he needs to become more of a leader on defense. DeMarcus Cousins consistency is also a problem against top competition.
NBA Future: Jrue Holiday
Check out Jrue Holiday, the 6-3 sophomore shooting guard from North Hollywood (Calif.) Campbell Hall, one of the elite guards in the west, regardless of class...
Jrue Holiday, the 6-3 sophomore shooting guard from North Hollywood (Calif.) Campbell Hall, is seen here in action from a CIF playoff game last week.
Jrue Holiday is #21 in white, not to be confused with his older brother, 6-6 junior Justin Holiday, who is #22.
NBA Future: Dashonte Riley
H.S. Detroit Cass Tech
Age: 14
Sport: Basketball. She starts on the varsity basketball team.
Family: Mother, Collette Anderson; twin sister, Daisha Riley, 14
What surprises you the most about high school? "There is way more kids in school. In basketball, the speed of the game is faster."
Favorite subject: Math
Least favorite subject: Science
What are your goals for high school? "To graduate and to continue to learn."
