MILWAUKEE — Nobody got a bigger boost than Ohio State when mighty Kansas tumbled and the Midwest Regional suddenly went up for grabs.
No way, then, that Evan Turner was going to have another bad game.
Turner shook off one of the worst shooting nights of his career by coming within an assist and a rebound of his third triple-double of the season, lifting Ohio State to a 75-66 victory over sloppy Georgia Tech on Sunday in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Turner, a leading candidate to add national player of the year to his Big Ten honors, finished with a game-high 24 points.
“The better he plays,” Ohio State coach Thad Matta said, “the better we play.”
The deeper into the tournament the Buckeyes (29-7) play, too.
With No. 1 Kansas, No. 3 Georgetown and No. 4 Maryland all eliminated, Ohio State has its best chance of returning to the Final Four since Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr. took the Buckeyes there in 2007. Ohio State faces sixth-seeded Tennessee on Friday night in St. Louis in a Midwest Regional semifinal.
“It’s good to get a win out of the way,” Turner said. “Now you just have to focus on the next one. You can’t really spend time celebrating.”
Jon Diebler added 20 points and David Lighty had 18 for the Buckeyes.
ACC Freshman of the Year Derrick Favors, who played just 5 minutes in the first half after picking up two quick fouls, keyed an 11-0 run that cut Ohio State’s lead to 65-61 with 1:47 to play. Turner made two free throws, Lighty converted both of his after an intentional foul and the Yellow Jackets (23-13) never threatened again.
Beating the Buckeyes might have been a tall order anyway, but Georgia Tech (23-13) had no chance with Gani Lawal and Favors, their two leading scorers and rebounders, in foul trouble for much of the game. Favors, who finished with 10 points and four rebounds, fouled out in the last minute. Lawal, who had three fouls before halftime, had 11 points.
“It was really tough,” Lawal said. “Took us out of our rhythm.”
Turnovers didn’t help, either. The Yellow Jackets had 21 miscues, eight more than they had in Friday night’s victory over Oklahoma State.
The Buckeyes weren’t exactly careful with the ball, either. They had 18, nine from Turner.
“We were sloppy with it,” Matta said. “For Evan, with the nine, as long as he gets me 24 (points), nine (assists) and nine (rebounds), I’ll live with it. ... When the time was needed, he delivered for us.”
UC Santa Barbara bumped and hounded Turner into nine points on just 2-of-13 shooting Friday night, and the Yellow Jackets didn’t give him much more breathing room. Two Yellow Jackets were glued to Turner every time he brought the ball up the court, with top defender Iman Shumpert — Turner’s backcourtmate in junior high — all over him.
But there’s a reason Turner is up for player of the year.
When the Yellow Jackets eased up on their suffocating press to start the second half, Turner and the Buckeyes simply took it to the Yellow Jackets. With Turner feeding them the ball, Lighty and Jon Diebler lit it up from outside and William Buford and Dallas Lauderdale pounded the ball inside.
As for Turner, well, he just hit from wherever he wanted.
A 3-pointer by Lighty sparked a 14-2 run that gave the Buckeyes a 46-32 lead with 12:47 left. A layup by Favors got the Yellow Jackets within 52-43 with 9:15 to play, but Buford followed his own shot and tapped home the rebound, and the Buckeyes were off and running again.
“I was just trying to take what the defense gave me,” Turner said. “I was trying to go at the right time and definitely just try to try my best to make plays and get everybody involved and definitely concentrate a little bit more on finishing shots.”
The Yellow Jackets did make that one last run, but it was too little, too late.
“The idea is to wear them down, but we saw what that pressure did for us turning the ball over,” Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt said. “Some of the fouls we committed in the first half were silly fouls — the ones we stayed away from the latter part of the season and certainly Friday night. That made us a little tentative in the second half. We weren’t nearly as good.”
UT's new $45 million football…
Vanderbilt 93, Tennessee 79, Feb. 9…
Tennessee 69, South Carolina 57 men's…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 50
ROCKYTOP2010 writes:
were going to have to slow down Turner and Diebler to have a chance of winning this one
vol_4_fan writes:
This is who we needed to win because it keeps the talking heads busy with Ohio St. & Mich St playing for a Final Four berth. As long as they keep ignoring us we will keep surprising them! Go Vols
johnlg00#206211 writes:
I think we can do that. I also do not expect the Vols to give OSU as many gifts in the form of inexcusably sloppy play as GT did. The Vols will probably be slight underdogs again, which is just the way CBP likes it. I look for the Vols to pay OSU back for the 2007 heart-breaker. GBO!!! TCB!!!
vol_4_fan writes:
Oh yea let us not forget Northern Iowa, that means we will be the 4th of 4 teams in St. Louis! Go Vols
mdvol writes:
Payback will be a beeooooch - Buckeyes!
volscantball writes:
Note to Pearl:
Play defense on Turner. Now, go earn your salary.
volscantball writes:
When you get to the Sweet 16 you are not surprising anyone. Spoken like a true pig skin fan.
budd#207344 writes:
note to loser poster:
love yourself hard
volscantball writes:
A little testy today? Ohio State is not Ohio U.
orangecountyvols writes:
O K Vol fans,
Who do you put on Turner? We need someone to make his life miserable for 40 minutes. Probably not Maze, but how about Goins, and spot duty for Bone, if nothing else but to get in Turner's head a bit. Having said that, I hope Weezy doesn't come out on the perimeter and foul people 35 feet from the basket.
We just cannot get in foul trouble early. I think if Williams and Chism can continue to be a force inside on the boards, with possible help from Hall, at times Hopson, even S P, we have a good chance.
If Georgia Tech had its turnovers, we know how Tennessee is known to do just that. Empty possessions can be devastating........we need to score every possible way.
As far as preparing for the Vols, wonder what Matta ( sp ) will do? You never know what you'll get with Tennessee. First one guy will step up, then next game he's AWOL. So, somebody else needs to step up then.
As you said, if the media is all over Ohio State and Michigan State in the final and snubs us, that's fine. We play better when noone gives us much chance.
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
hahahaha... you really crack me up.... You know what, I can choose a million screen names, too! You're not fooling anyone! Do you REALLY have nothing better in your little life to do?
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
That's just the way I like it! Keep us off the radar for another game!
volscantball writes:
And the beatdown the Vols put on Ohio was impressive. Come on guys... you make it too easy.
james#216392 writes:
We owe the Buckeyes from a couple years ago. Chism may be the only one to remember but we owe them bug time. Let's send them homw early this time. GO Vols.
volscantball writes:
Just like he stopped Walls and Bledsoe in the SEC Tourney? I can see now why Tenn. is a football school. You fans know nothing about basketball.
globadoc writes:
Tough task for either PG since they would have to play either Turner (6-7), Diebler (6-6), Buford (6-5), or Lighty (6-5).
I suspect JP (6-7), Scotty (6-6), and (gulp) Steven Pearl (6-5) will all get shots at him as they switch up on the perimeter.
ClockworkOrange writes:
I'd say Steven Pearl....
But seriously SP decent play y'day. Please work on your FT shooting, it is embarrassing.
volscantball writes:
I'm sorry ..I meant to say WAS a football school. Enjoy you mediocrity moron.
ClockworkOrange writes:
As far as D'ing Turner, I mean, how did we stop Collins from KU or Downey from SC? Employ a similar scheme. Our d has been SOLID this tourney. Plus, we get an extra day of rest more than OSU. Hit our ft's and shoot over 45 per cent and we win.
MidTennVol writes:
Anybody else think that article read like a junior-high-school kid wrote it?
nepperso#220348 writes:
We're talking basketball while a Socialist Regime is seizing control of our daily lives. I am no longer proud to be an American, if this phooey is American.
nepperso#220348 writes:
Barrack Hussein Obama is a Socialist, and the greatest danger of all to U.S. National Security.
volscantball writes:
Then call YOUR Congressman Bart Gordon who is voting yes to the Health Care bill.
LEXKYVOLS writes:
VOLS open as a 4.5 underdog vs OSU.
UTVOLSRROCKN writes:
We can and will slow them down. Our outstanding defense can stop anybody...just ask Downey to name a few. GBO!
UTVOLSRROCKN writes:
Late breaking news for all Vol fans...."volscantball" is really Tater, BOK, Dog25 and all the others! Its pretty obvious so this is for the fans that are not aware of "them"
And this is for "them"...Sybil...WE LOVE COACH BRUCE PEARL! GBO!
Fryinpansvols writes:
Let’s hope Turner has another bad game come Friday night! If we can rebound and play defense like yesterday we can beat about anyone left in the tournament. By the way, as stated by Bill Justice who comes on 104.5 The Zone in Nashville and who also played for UT he made the comment rebounding and defense is something Coach Pat Summitt has been teaching in her 35 years of coaching. As for Ohio State, I'm so glad they're our opponent. Here we are 3 years later ready to play them again in the Sweet 16 after they stole one away from us when we were up by as much as 30 points. Do you think Wayne Chism and CBP have forgotten that? Heck no! We owe the Suckeyes that one and the regular season game when they beat us on a buzzer beater. If this game doesn’t hype you up, then check your pulse! Because, you're probably not a UT or CBB fan. GBO and beat Ohio State!
AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:
Well, this time they won't have Greg Oden and the Vols don't have a proven 3-pointer. Should be a good game.
TommyJack writes:
Excuse me. Are you suggesting our living standards are third world?
Fryinpansvols writes:
Sorry I spelled Mr. Justus name wrong. I didn't mean to mess up one of the greatest Free Throw Shooters last names. GBO!
stevefrommemphis writes:
Kentucky basketball: bread and circuses for the people, while the Commonwealth's pension plan teeters toward bankruptcy. I’d like to thank all Kentuckians for coming down to Tennessee and leaving all that money at the SEC Tournament last weekend. When you don’t fund your state pension plan, I guess you can afford to spend big. I'm sitting here looking at last week's Barron's, which says Kentucky's state pension plan is only 64% funded, with a $12.3 billion unfunded liability. Tennessee's is 95% funded. So Kentucky is in the hole nearly $3,000 for every man, woman, and child in the Commonwealth.
Kentucky basketball: a winning tradition built on a foundation of corruption. If Kentucky had run a clean program all these years, the Wildcats wouldn't be any better at basketball than they are at football.
First school to get NCAA death penalty in basketball? KENTUCKY
In Season on the Brink, Bobby Knight called what school cheaters more than 25 years ago? KENTUCKY
Eddie Sutton was never in trouble with NCAA BEFORE or AFTER he coached at what school? KENTUCKY (DUI is not an NCAA violation.)
(Fill in the blank) Jerry Tarkanian once said: “The NCAA is so mad at ______ that they will probably give Cleveland State two more years of probation.” KENTUCKY
Only school to hire a coach who was coach at two different schools whose appearances in Final Four were ordered “vacated” by NCAA? KENTUCKY
In December 2009, Bobby Knight said "integrity is really lacking" in college basketball and cited the coach of what school as an example? KENTUCKY
Typical Kentucky responses:
1. “Bobby Knight is a jerk.” My response: Knight is a jerk, and a bully, but he has NEVER been accused of being a CHEATER.
2. “Tennessee fans are jealous of Kentucky.” My response: Jealous of North Carolina or Duke, maybe. But contemptuous of Kentucky.
RoadTrip writes:
Don't forget Cam Tatum on Turner. He has been playing good of late.
I don't see anything we can't handle into the Final Four. I agree it is all on the what refs get assigned. It is all about focus, defense and playing smart with our guys. If they do that they will get there. As to playing the Cats and 'Cuse - it's going to take some luck to get them.
Fryinpansvols writes:
Seriously? Politics on my favorite Tennessee college sports board? Please give me a break. This is to talk about UT's mens basketball team and your doing an injustice talking politics taking away what CBP and Vols have accomplished this season. Please don't do that! GBO and beat Ohio State!
Fryinpansvols writes:
Hey Mr. Troll I'm glad you decided to join our message board a few weeks back to trash our basketball team during our NCAA Tournament run. Stay off our board if you don't have anything good to say! And for the record, if you're a real UT fan then you would like our basketball team too and not just the football program.
Fryinpansvols writes:
The game time for Friday night against Ohio State was just announced on CBS. UT plays @ 7:07et/6:07 central. GBO and beat Ohio State!
ROCKYTOP2010 writes:
I will be seeing you there! GO BIG ORANGE!!!!
TheVolunteer writes:
Considering the beating they gave Georgetown, yes it was an impressive win for us. It's not like you dominated Georgia Tech or anything like that. Maybe you should think before you post idiot!
HtownVol writes:
WOW, this VolsCant Ball guy is sad. He is on here a lot today talking like he has wet dreams of being on the high school basketball team.
Its hard for a SEC school fan other than UT to accept that UT is the most consistant program in the SEC over the last 5 years.
What can you say there?
UUmmm UK beat UT 2 times this year... OK I am hapy that it took the most winning basketball team ever 5 years to finish ahead of Tennessee.
UF won 2 national championships... Then lost all their players and cant beat Tennessee but what 2 out of 10, wait that includes the 2 NC seasons.
And those are the only schools to even mention.
So exactly what SEC school is the best team over the past 5 years?
zigvol writes:
Maybe Pearl will throw the box in one on Turner...
John_10065 writes:
GOOD, it's not to late for me getting up at 4 am and it will just about be finished when the wife gets home from work...
That also means there won't be a fight over the 52" and what it is going to be tuned to!
We're going to have our hands full with OSU but I know we'll have a great game plan, we have the tools, our bench is better, and the Vols will burst the Great 8 glass ceiling!
HtownVol writes:
Wait is this guy a OSU fan? And he calls UT a football school?
I will take that from a OSU fan when they cant even compete with the SEC in football, and basketball... Who won the NC when Oden was there? The only year OSU has done anything lately. Oh yeah, again Tennessee owns UF even when they won the championships.
And the sweet 16 3 years ago OSU-UT, wasnt OSU supposed to dominate that game and UT had a 20 point lead or something? Its not much to bragg about but I only bring it up since this guy thinks UT is only a football school.
vol_4_fan writes:
So you are saying that there are no surprise's advancing to the Sweet 16? Northern Iowa, St. Mary's, Washington, need I go on? With all the talk of the Vols being the first upset of the NCAA's, I would think that a lot of people are surprised by this. Just so you know I cheer for the Vols year around, that's is the part I enjoy the most living in KY.with these seasonal fans! Go Vols
back2backchamps writes:
You are kidding, right? By your logic, you would rather have the same results of the last 5 years than you would to have TWO NATIONAL TITLES. Please get past the sweet sixteen just once before you start bragging on your history :)
sambad writes:
Great post. It is easy to hate cheaters.
Fryinpansvols writes:
Hey Gator fan, I think what HtownVol was trying to say is that UT is the most consistent basketball program in the SEC for the last 5 years. Including 8-2 against your Florida Gators. Pearl owns I mean OWNS Donovan! GBO and beat Ohio State!
back2backchamps writes:
Pearl owns Donovan and Donovan has two National Titles. I guess most of us Gator fans can live with that arrangement. Just keep bragging on those regular season wins :)
orangecountyvols writes:
Thanks to all the other Vol fans on your suggestions on how to stop/slow down Mr. Turner.
As also noted, OSU has some other good shooters as well.
Important will also be to get off to a decent start.......in other words, we don't want to come out tight, be a turnover machine, and have to play catch up the whole game. It might be unreasonable to get off to a start such as that great 17-0 effort against Miss State in the SEC tournament.........still would be great to do anything close to that against the Buckeyes.
murrayvol writes:
Excuse me. Do you really think he knows what third world means??
volscantball writes:
Maybe you misunderstood the post. What I meant to say is that if you are in the Sweet 16 then you will be taken more seriously... not that it is a surprise that you made the Sweet 16. I doubt OSU will take Tennessee lightly because the so called experts are not talking about them.
And yes, the seasonal Ky fans remind me a lot of the seasonal Vol football fans.
brown-bag-vol-fan writes:
Go vols
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.