+/- for the Beatdown of the Buckeyes

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

Its so much more fun to write about the team when they play well and win.

Player	Minutes	NU Pts	OSU Pts	Raw +/-	Player +/-	Net +/-	Box Pts
Nicholson	31	52	39	+13	+3.52	+6.12	8.8
Berry	38	66	45	+21	+1.54	+5.74	6.8
Ciaravino	25	51	35	+16	+1.31	+4.51	5.9
Windham	29	54	40	+14	-0.02	+2.78	6.2
Martinelli	33	59	40	+19	-3.20	+0.60	2.4
Fitzmorris	9	18	10	+8	-1.08	+0.52	0.3
Mullins	24	34	27	+7	-1.03	+0.37	1.5
Clayton	11	16	9	+7	-1.04	+0.36	-0.2

Ty Berry and Matt Nicholson, the veterans, share "star of the game" honors.
Solid play by KJ Windham and Angelo Ciaravino provided support, with both freshmen (finally) getting 25+ minutes - and playing well.
Jordan Clayton got the start again. Its just a headscratcher at this point. As is his habit, he took the first shot and the 3rd shot of the game, missing both and then never attempting another field goal.
He played the first 3:12 of the 2nd half, then Collins subbed in Windham and KJ played the rest of the game.
Windham played with poise and skill - the talent is obvious - bouncing back from a bad game against Nebraska.
Ciaravino is big, athletic and disruptive, with good basketball instincts.

Nick Martinelli was on the bench with fouls for the final 7:03 of the first half. Mullins/Ciaravino/Windham/Berry closed out the half with an 11-9 win over that period.

Lastly, toward the end of the first half, KJ Windham passed up an open 3 pointer and his coach barked at him to take that shot after we'd lost possession... so of course the next time down the floor Windham jacked up an ill-advised shot from 4 feet outside the arc, which missed badly. Just let them play, coach. Calm encouragement for the young guys...

Since Leach was lost for the season, I've been stressing the importance of playing Nicholson/Martinelli/Windham and any combination of Berry, Mullins and Ciaravino.
It might seem obvious to you. Seemed obvious to me.
But in the Washington game Collins only played those lineups for 5:31. Those lineups won 12-2. We lost the game 76-71.
Against Oregon, those lineups played for 11 minutes and won 27-19. We lost the game 81-75.
Against Nebraska, those lineups played 11:23 and lost 14-12. We lost the game 68-64.
Finally against Ohio State, the good lineups played 23 minutes and outscored OSU 44-34. Of course this means the "not so good" lineups outscored OSU 26-15, which reflects some improvement on the part of Jordan Clayton and Keenan Fitzmorris - at least for this game.
The point is, however, that the good lineups have outscored our 4 opponents a combined 95-69 since Leach got injured.
And that means they need to play as much as possible.

 

[Pasadena Bound]

Great work PWB, thanks

 

[Catreporter]

I wonder if Chris felt some obligation to start Clayton for a few games after he agreed to take off the redshirt so late in the year. And as for KJ, he made a couple of bad decisions in the Nebraska game (especially in the final minute where he drove in and tried to pass to a covered Nicholson instead of go up for the shot himself). Part of the learning curve but I like where he is leading.

 

[CappyNU]

I wonder if Chris felt some obligation to start Clayton for a few games after he agreed to take off the redshirt so late in the year. And as for KJ, he made a couple of bad decisions in the Nebraska game (especially in the final minute where he drove in and tried to pass to a covered Nicholson instead of go up for the shot himself). Part of the learning curve but I like where he is leading.

He might also feel that it's better for KJ to start on the bench and see how the game is going before putting him in.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

He might also feel that it's better for KJ to start on the bench and see how the game is going before putting him in.

Yesterday felt like KJ’s best all around game. Earlier this year he was lost on defense. Yesterday he wasn’t lost. Like almost all players it takes time to adjust to D1ball.

 

[SDakaGordie]

Yesterday felt like KJ’s best all around game. Earlier this year he was lost on defense. Yesterday he wasn’t lost. Like almost all players it takes time to adjust to D1ball.

I would agree on offense, but he seemed to still struggle on defense, though he often had to guard Thornton, who is really tough.

 

[hdhntr1]

I would agree on offense, but he seemed to still struggle on defense, though he often had to guard Thornton, who is really tough.

He may not yet be strong enough on the D side of the ball. Clayton has had an extra year in the system and in the weight room Gotta imagine that would make a difference