Friday, March 10, 2000
Is UC's loss Ohio State's gain?
No. 1 seed in Midwest may be up for grabs
BY SCOTT MacGREGOR
The Cincinnati Enquirer
CHICAGO — Cincinnati's loss could be one of the biggest wins of Ohio State's season.
The season-ending injury to UC center Kenyon Martin — and the Bearcats' loss in the Conference USA Tournament — may put the No.1 seed in the NCAA Midwest Regional up for grabs.
And that means if Ohio State wins the Big Ten tournament this weekend, the fourth-ranked Buckeyes could be looking at the Midwest's top seed and a chance to play their first two games in Cleveland, a scant two hours from campus.
But first, there is the Big Ten. Ohio State (22-5) comes in as the conference's top seed and the co-champion of the regular season with Michigan State. The Buckeyes open tournament play today against ninth-seeded Penn State (3p.m. tipoff). at the United Center.
“Everybody talks about what might happen if we're fortunate enough to win and we're deserving of a top seed,” said Ohio State coach Jim O'Brien, “but there's a long way to go.”
Three games, precisely. And Ohio State knows how tough they can be, especially in the rough-and-tumble Big Ten. Last year the Bucks entered as the No.2 seed and were upset in the semifinals by 11th-seeded Illinois before marching to the Final Four.
“The postseason's the time to shine,” said forward Michael Redd, who averages 17.2 points a game. “We've got to continue to play hard and play with a sense of urgency.”
As the Big Ten's No.1 seed — and with a chance to earn an NCAA No.1 seed — Ohio State's expectations are huge. But the Buckeyes' entire season has been about expectations. That's what happens when you're coming off the Final Four.
And no one knows that pressure better than senior point guard Scoonie Penn, the emotional and floor leader of this team for two years. Penn has struggled with his shot this season, hitting just 37 percent, but understands if the Bucks are to make a postseason run as impressive as last year's, he'll have to be the spark.
“You get used to it,” Penn said. “You don't even realize it after a while. Guys feed off. But I'm hungry too. This is the time to be up.”
Penn, who averages 15.4 points, and Redd sounded a little weary in the days leading up to the start of the tournament, but it's no surprise. Ohio State is coming off what O'Brien called a “grueling” stretch that forced OSU to win three road games in the final two weeks to earn the league title. A 79-73 win at Penn State last week was included in that stretch.
Penn hasn't played fewer than 34 minutes in a game in more than a month.
“The last couple games, I've been a little more tired than I usually am,” Penn said. “But I've got enough in me to reach down. I've got enough to go.”
Despite Penn's fatigue, the Buckeyes are playing as well as they have since the Final Four run. Redd has been more aggressive, averaging 21 points over the last nine games. Forward George Reese exploded for 25 points in the season finale.
Penn State (14-14) presents a dual challenge today: 6-foot-7 All-Big Ten forward Jarrett Stephens, who averages 18.7 points a game and a league-high 10.9 rebounds, and guard Joe Crispin, who was second in the league in scoring at 18.8 points.
If the Bucks win today, they would face the winner of fourth-seeded Illinois against fifth-seeded Indiana, two teams they beat in the season's final weeks. But there are no easy roads to the title.
“Whoever wins this will have accomplished an awful lot,” O'Brien said.
If it's the Buckeyes, they probably will earn that No.1 seed. But they're trying not to look that far ahead.
“I think our guys are confident,” O'Brien said. “They know they can beat anybody we play, because we've won a lot of close games. As the games get tight, we feel good about our chances.”
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