I’ll admit it. Ever since the brackets came out, I wanted to write about this game. Not for the storylines and not for the Tigers attempt to break through the apparent glass ceiling and punch through to Atlanta. Nope, none of this intrigues me more than anticipated Steel Cage match that will be played in the low blocks between to men who look like George Burns compared to normal collegiate basketball players. Joey Dorsey v. Greg Oden in the winner takes all Death Match. They should let Randy “Macho Man” Savage, Goldberg and Hulk Hogan referee this thing. No fouls. Just let them bang it out and see who’s left standing. I am being very serious about this. Billy Raftery said it best in the last game “If you’re not fast, you don’t need to be on this court.” Let’s change this one to “If you don’t have the ability to be a WWE wrestler, don’t get on the court.” By the way, this game could only make Dorsey millions of dollars. All we’re missing is the masks, the square circle and goofy nicknames.
But, this is a legitimate look at what Oden is supposed to be. Say all you want about the interior players he’s had to play in the last three games and they aren’t a bunch of beasts. Tennessee’s could become that way with Chism and Crews, but they are freshmen and they aren’t there yet. On the flip side is Dorsey, who is a man. All of the sudden Oden is going to have someone who wants to dance with him. This should good, old-fashioned interior beating basketball. The type of ball that always reminds me (and how many of you have this same memory?) of my White Station Middle School PE teacher yelling that “basketball is a no contact sport!” Really? What have I been watching then? Whatever. Basketball is at its’ very best when to athletic bigs are battling in the post. It’s about the time you realize, “Hey, I wouldn’t under any circumstances drive the lane in this game. In fact, it would be like pulling teeth to get me inside the three point stripe.” That’s what’s on deck. I’ve been hoping for two weeks for this matchup. Now, if they could only enter the court with masks on…
Yesterday, I was way too excited after the game to post (re: drunk). While I’m certainly not the drinking type at games, this was a little different. Five hours before the game, I realized that, for the first time since last year’s tourney run, I was a fan again. I couldn’t spit out a sentence. I had three very important conversations and remembered the gist of none of them. With my stomach twisted in knots, I decided beer was a good idea. So were the EMT and the heart defibrillator. And the blood pressure medication (I described watching the game to my father like getting pocket Aces for two straight hours. He agrees.) It was a good idea last night. Not today. I experienced something that I can only describe as the equal to having Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker getting in some speed bag work on my lower abdomen. Basically, all freaking day. This practice, also very much installed during Game 7 of the Mets- Cards NLCS last year, always reminds me of the Putty/ Devils correlation in Seinfeld. “Gotta support the team!” I don’t know why. With that piece of all too personal information, on to the matchups…
Joey Dorsey v Greg Oden
Since I’ve already tried to be humorous on this subject, let’s keep it to basketball, shall we? It’s going to be a great matchup and you can almost guarantee that one or both of them will have to sit with foul trouble. Actually, I don’t know what the line on the two of them fouling out is, but I’d put it at 1.5. There have been people wondering if Oden isn’t saving himself and not going full speed due to his not wanting to put his wrist in jeopardy. It’s a shot, I guess and I wouldn’t know one way or the other. Nor do I think he’s going to bring anything less than his A game against Dorsey. Oden knows what’s on the line- people now questioning whether he would be the #1 over Durant, a national TV tournament game in front of every scout on the planet and the chance to dominate a player that gets a lot of credit for being a very good low post player. It’s a recipe for disaster for the Tigers in this matchup. Never the less, the Tigers could have Alonzo Mourning in his Georgetown days and I’d still give the edge to Oden. That’s how good he already is.
Edge: Moderately Ohio State
Mike Conley Jr v Andre Allen/ Willie Kemp
The two headed, one bodied monster point guard that the U of M employs goes up against one of the best freshman point guards in the country. Mike Conley is that good. He can also play, well, not poorly and not loose but he has the ability to miss a few shots and get lost in the game for stretches. The Tennessee game was the perfect showcase of his good (the second half) and the bad (the first half). On the Tigers side of things, Willie Kemp just came off, by far, his best Tiger game of the season. He looked poised and he actually made a couple of huge shots at the start of the second half when A&M was looking to really extend the lead. On the other hand, we might have witnessed Andre Allen in his worst NCAA tourney game. He didn’t shoot well, he made some uncustomary mistakes although he did play good defense. And that’s what this matchup, and maybe game, will come down to- who defends this position better.
Edge: Even to slightly Ohio State
Ron Lewis v CDR
No, CDR won’t guard Lewis, but this is another huge matchup. At this point, you just can’t bet against CDR doing something great. He just, well, defies everything. Lewis has been playing the part of Acie Law the last few games, hitting huge threes when the Buckeyes have needed it most. Lewis, for his part, has been the national unsung hero. Everybody has been ready to anoint Oden and Conley and everyone forgot the guy who should scare everyone the most, Ron Lewis. And he and CDR will trade baskets all night. The difference is that Lewis is going to have to guard Roberts for stretches while Antonio Anderson will be in Lewis’ grill all afternoon long. Lewis, like everyone before him, will not like Anderson on him. CDR on the other hand, just has to keep being CDR. While many will debate his pro prospects, he’s so unique, you just don’t know. If he can continue to get off his shot in the NBA, why wouldn’t he be in The League?
Edge: Even to slightly Ohio State
Daequan Cook v Antonio Anderson
No one had a bigger turnaround in the A&M game than Antonio. In the first half, I didn’t know that was a player on the Memphis roster. In the second half, he, like Dozier, became a defensive force. He blocked shots, constantly harassed Acie Law and generally ran the defensive unit. Cook, on the other hand, wasn’t any factor in his team’s comeback against UT. In fact, he has only scored in double figures 3 times in his last 14 games. This from a kid who averages 10+ points a night on the season. Cook is a long-range shooter, although his shot has been off for most of the last month, and CDR will probably get this defensive assignment due to this. Anderson, for his part, is going to have to be much more efficient and much more direct on his drives. If he can get back to the guy getting into the paint, Oden or no Oden, it’s going to hurt Ohio State’s defense. While they like to channel to Oden, if you get around the first defensive player, you make Oden make a decision and that’ll can leave Dorsey open or create fouls on the Buckeyes freshman.
Edge: Memphis
Ivan Harris/ Othello Hunter v Robert Dozier
The tandem that holds down the four spot for Ohio State can be dangerous, if unheralded. Ivan Harris seems to play the best when the spotlight is brightest. His best games have come against Wisconsin (twice), UNC and UT. That’s a nice list. Unfortunately, I can’t remember a thing about his game. I don’t know why, but I just can’t. Although, his name is fantastic. He should be a Russian spy or a boxer. Maybe a Russian boxer turned spy. I gotta call John LeCarre. Othello Hunter is no slouch in the name department either. The guy could go English theatre one night; hippie/ jam band guitarist the next. On the basketball side of things, he’s Harris’ opposite, as his big games have come against the likes of Cleveland State, Northwestern, Coppin State and Minnesota. As for Dozier, he’s coming into his own. He’s affecting games by rebounding, defending and blocking shots and he’s even started to look for his shot. It’s been a great revelation. Dozier is certainly the guy with the most NBA pedigree on this team and he’s beginning to look like it. If he can dominate this matchup and there’s no reason to think he won’t, this will be a huge advantage for the U of M.
Edge: Memphis, big time.
Jamar Butler v Jeremy Hunt
Both Jamar and Jeremy are going to have to play tough defense, sometimes on each other, if they want to neutralize the other. Both players can get ridiculously hot, although Jeremy has certainly shown to be more adept at it than Butler. Butler can create for his team and score the ball, which makes he and Conley really tough to check when they are both on the court at the same time. Jeremy Hunt just makes opposing defenses wonder where he’s going to line up next. He's blatantly showing off his incredible range. I thought Rodney Newsom had the best range of any Tiger I had seen with a nod going to Mingo Johnson. Hunt just gets off the bus, picks up the ball and goes to work. His shooting stroke is so pure, his shots come down with icicles on them. This is going to be a battle for both, but Hunt’s seniority is going to help Memphis.
Edge: Memphis, slightly to moderately
David Lighty v Doneal Mack
Doneal only logged six minutes against A&M (not really sure why except for maybe Kemp’s hot play) and drained a really important three. Lighty, the freshman, hasn’t shown the same flashes as Mack throughout the season. Now, that certainly could be due to conference affiliations, but it still stands to reason that Doneal already has it on his resume. Either way, both of these players will be thrust into open hostilities and they may be on a very short leash.
Edge: Memphis, by half of a frog’s hair
Matt Terwilliger v Kareem Cooper
The one thing about Ohio State is that they are almost as deep as the Tigers. And seriously, how can you not love a guy named Matt “Bob” Terwilliger (that’s a Sideshow Bob Terwilliger reference from the Simpsons). After his deer-in-headlights game against A&M, a game where James Ray openly announced at halftime that Cooper should have been drawn and courtered (a horse reference that still has me doubled over some 24 hours later), Coop might have an impact in this game. He’s going to be called on to defend Oden for stretches and he has the body to do it. Well, the girth at least. Sideshow Bob is Oden’s replacement and won’t see a ton of time. If you’re a Buckeye fan, you want this guy waving the towel. All game long. If you check out Bob’s stats, there are a lot of 1’s, 2’s and 3’s. Not exactly what you’re looking for.
Edge: Memphis
And there we are. I’ve located my EMT for the game. I will be testing my faith in man and everything spiritual. I will once again be personally responsible for building a canal going directly from my living room into the kitchen due to the twenty-two miles of pacing I will embark on at about 3:30 CST tomorrow. The beer will be bought. There will be no shaving. This is big time. This is the chance to get that 22-year monkey off of our backs. Something screams “Destiny!” here. I don’t know, I can feel it. Something is just clicking. Of course, I could be completely wrong. In which case, you can contact me at the Mental Hospital on Poplar. I’ll be there.
For the prediction? Ahh, Memphis by three. Maybe in Overtime.
On second thought, maybe I should order two EMT’s.
