Then, that became “up to 8 weeks”.
In the end, Evan Turner’s absence was less than 5 weeks, and he couldn’t have reappeared at a better time.
The Buckeyes were reeling, having lost their two opening Big Ten games to Wisconsin and Michigan. In those two matchups the Buckeyes had a combined 107 points while losing by 22 to the Badgers and 9 to the Wolverines. Falling to #20 Wisconsin was one thing- the Badgers’ suffocating defense is well documented, and without a true offensive focus, the Buckeyes were in for an uphill battle. But coming into Sunday’s game, Michigan was 6-6 with losses to teams far poorer than Ohio State. Although the Wolverines are unquestionably talented, it was a game that Ohio State should have won.
Michigan had the better offense in the win over the Buckeyes
Instead, OSU shot a lowly 37% from the field and allowed two of Michigan’s best players to completely take over the game. DeShawn Sims and Manny Harris finished with 52 of UM’s 73 points and the duo accounted for all of the scoring during a late-game 11-0 run for the Wolverines. The victory was a good one for Michigan, and the Wolverines certainly deserve all the credit for owning the floor and limiting OSU’s opportunities. But the fact is that the Buckeyes simply couldn’t replace Turner’s production.
In the first eight games of the season, OSU went 7-1, losing only to defending champ North Carolina. Their offense, though balanced with plenty of outside shooting, clearly ran through Turner. While he was recovering, OSU went 3-3, losing to the three quality opponents it faced in that span. Against stiff competition, the Buckeyes weren’t able to find a substitute for what Turner had been able to do in the early going. The slide began with a loss to Butler in the team’s first game following Turner’s injury. Again, take nothing away from what Butler did- it was the Bulldogs’ skillful play that won them the game. And in that performance, OSU actually managed to run a good offensive gameplan without its leader. Their downfall was poor long-range shooting. But there’s no doubt that OSU was an incomplete team.
And against conference opponents, Turner’s loss was magnified. The Big Ten is a defensive league at heart, and without the answer provided by their best offensive weapon the Buckeyes suffered. In addition to being held down against Michigan, they were complety stuffed by the Badgers, limited to 32% shooting and 43 points. Although David Lighty said after the game that the team had plenty of good looks and merely failed to convert, the truth was that Wisconsin’s defense was able to easily hold OSU in check without the multi-dimensional Turner in the lineup.
Look at it this way: In the nine games with Turner, the Buckeyes have averaged 86.9 points per game and broken 100 twice. In the six games without him, they averaged only 63.8 points per game and made it into the 70s only twice. Thie difference is stark.
But all that is behind the team now. At 11-4, it’s time to regroup and look ahead.
The Buckeyes began doing just that when Turner stepped back on the court against Indiana, leading OSU to a 25 point road win that not only stoppped a rare losing streak, but also came at a very opportune moment. Four of OSU’s first five conference games are on the road, and the way things started off wasn’t very promising. After playing #23 Wisconsin and Michigan, the Bucks had Indiana and Minnesota on the slate before having to face #4 Purdue in West Lafayette. Now the team can breathe a little easier knowing that they will at least be able to face the Boilermakers at full strength.
With Turner back in action, Ohio State resumed its winning ways after a two game skid
Coach Thad Matta eased Turner back into play last night, putting him on the floor for a total of 20 minutes. Turner recorded 8 points, but led the team in assists and clearly made a difference in how the offense was run. When he’s in, he demands immediate respect from opposing defenses which does wonders for the other Buckeyes. Jon Diebler and William Buford dropped 21 and 16 points respectively, and Diebler was a smoking 63% from 3-point range. OSU held the Hoosiers to 34% shooting from the floor in what was somehow Indiana’s first road game of the season.
Next up are the Golden Gophers in Minneapolis. Minnesota has matched OSU’s 11-4 record thus far, but the team has yet to play a team as good as the Buckeyes. It will be an interesting test for both teams and should help provide an early sense of the Big Ten’s depth. The Gophers are 2-1 in Big Ten play, tied for the second best record. If OSU can beat them, both teams will move to 2-2 in the league and OSU can begin its climb up the standings.
To win, the Buckeyes will need to control Lawrence Westbrook, the Gophers’ leading scorer and one of three UM players who averages double-digit points. OSU also needs to continue its offensive resurgence now that its leading scorer is back at the point. This is an important game for Ohio State because three of the team’s next four are against Purdue, Wisconsin, and West Virginia- three ranked teams, two of which are in the Top 10. And while they get to host the rematch with the Badgers, the Bucks are on the road for the other games.
It’s critical for Ohio State to emerge from this stretch with as many wins as possible. While they do have a pair of games against Illinois and one with Michigan State later in the season, they face most of their quality opponents this month and will need to make a statement that can still be heard when Tournament time rolls around.
About Matt StroblMatt is a lifelong sports fan with a passion for writing and analysis. He has written for and edited a variety of printed and online publications, covering a range of sports but focusing on baseball, football, and basketball. Born in Cincinnati, Matt still pulls for his "native" teams including the Buckeyes, Reds, Musketeers, and Bearcats. Nearly two decades in New England got him irrevocably hooked on the Red Sox, Patriots, and Bruins as well. He enjoys following the statistical aspects of sports and is an admitted sabermetric junkie. Follow him on Twitter @mmstrobl.