GETTING INSIDE
Ohio State is back in the Final Four.
However, this season the Buckeyes have made it to the semifinals of the NIT with three straight wins. Still, it is a nice accomplishment for a team that returned only one starter and four players from a squad that reached the championship game of the NCAA Tournament last season before falling to Florida.
Ohio State (22-13) needs two more wins to capture the NIT, which would be a good momentum boost for next season. The Buckeyes take on Mississippi (24-10) in the semifinals on April 1 in New York then could be headed for a rematch with Florida (24-11) in the championship game April 3 as the Gators take on Massachusetts (24-10) in the other semifinal.
Mississippi figures to provide a challenge to an Ohio State team that plays solid defense as the Rebels have four players who have scoring averages in double figures. Senior forward Charles Rhodes leads the way with 17.5 points a game, followed by junior guard Jamont Gordon (17.1), sophomore guard Barry Stewart (11.7) and sophomore guard Ben Hansbrough (10.2).
Mississippi is also strong on the boards, a spot where Ohio State is vulnerable, as Rhodes is averaging 7.7 rebounds a game and Gordon is averaging 6.5 to go along with 4.9 assists a game.
NOTES, QUOTES
-Ohio State is participating in its eighth NIT and has a 16-7 all-time record in the event. The Buckeyes have twice been to the final, beating Wyoming in 1986 and losing to Connecticut in 1988.
-Ohio State will be facing Mississippi for the first time ever in the NIT semifinals. Ohio State has a 28-25 all-time record against schools from the Southeastern Conference, including a 62-49 win on Dec. 22 over Florida, which plays Massachusetts in the other semifinal.
COACH: Thad Matta, fourth year at Ohio State.
HOW THEY GOT HERE: Defeated North Carolina-Asheville 84-66 in the first round behind G Jamar Butler's 21 points and 10 assists, defeated California 73-56 in the second round as Butler had 20 points and F Othello Hunter added 11 points and 16 rebounds and defeated Dayton 74-63 in the quarterfinals behind C Kosta Koufos' 21 points.
THEY'LL ADVANCE IF: They hit the boards, especially Othello Hunter and Kosta Koufos, because Mississippi is a strong offensive rebounding team.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I'm excited we still got 80 minutes to play and I'm excited that this season isn't ready to be over yet." - Matt Terwilliger, to the Ohio State Lantern, on playing in the NIT.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
SCOUTING REPORT: Few teams rely more heavily on one player as Ohio State does on G Jamar Butler, the lone returning starter from last year's NCAA runner-up. He not only runs the Buckeyes' offense but is their best outside shooter. C Kosta Koufos is developing into a force inside but the rest of the Buckeyes are inconsistent scorers, though they do play good defense.
GAME REVIEW:
Ohio State 84, North Carolina-Asheville 66
Ohio State 73, California 56
Ohio State 74, Dayton 63
GAME PREVIEW:
vs. Mississippi, Tuesday, April 1, (NIT semifinal)
IN FOCUS: Mississippi has an outstanding inside-outside duo in senior F Charles Rhodes and junior G Jamont Gordon that makes it tough for opposing defenses. Rhodes is averaging 17.5 points and 7.7 rebounds a game and Gordon has averages of 17.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.9 assists.
ROSTER REPORT:
-G Jamar Butler has averaged 17.7 points in Ohio State's three NIT wins. He also became the 25th player in Ohio State history to score 500 points in a season when he had 20 against California in the second round and his total now stands at 518.
-C Kosta Koufos is also averaging 17.7 points a game in the NIT and is just four points away from 500 for the season. Koufos has made 24 of 33 shots from the field in the three games for a sizzling 73 percent. He was 9 of 11 as he scored 21 points in the win over Dayton in the quarterfinals.
-F David Lighty is having a solid NIT, averaging 10.0 points a game while shooting 50 percent (11 of 22) from the floor and making all five free throws. He also has a team-high eight steals in the three games.
