MBB Preference OSU or Nova?
Alright, who are you rooting for in the Villanova-OSU match up?
OSU - A team our guys are familiar with and have beaten, but they're also familiar with us. And with the Sweet 16 being Thursday UM and OSU will have ample time to prepare for one another. I personally trust our staff to have our guys more ready for a third match up with the Buckeyes.
Nova - I honestly don't know much about this year's Nova squad. Jay Wright teams are always well-coached with skilled and fundamentally sound players as well as solid shooters on offense. They're also usually tough defensively.
My preference... OSU.
WHAT DO Y'ALL THINK?
March 20th, 2022 at 12:03 PM ^
My first post ever (I think), go easy on me.
No need to worry, we're all thinking about this question.
I want Ohio State, but I never root for them, if that makes sense. Taking something nice away from them again so soon after 11/27/21 would be delicious.
March 20th, 2022 at 12:09 PM ^
Meteor. Failing that, Villanova, I guess. IDRC
I know a couple V law school grads and one was a UM undergrad.
March 20th, 2022 at 12:09 PM ^
OSU is the right answer. Never want to miss an opportunity to end the season for one of your biggest rivals.
Mic drop.
Agree plus the fact we have a far better chance of beating OSU than Villanova who is basically a top 5 team every year. Jay Wright is one of the 2 or 3 best coaches in the country
March 20th, 2022 at 12:10 PM ^
I prefer Villanova. Beating them would mean more than beating OSU again. They are the Big East champs and have been arguably the best program of the past decade. Plus, I would love the symmetry with the women’s team and the chance at some San Antonio revenge.
March 20th, 2022 at 12:48 PM ^
This Villanova team is better than the one that beat Michigan in the championship game? If that’s the case then I think we definitely want OSU
*edit: never mind I totally misread the post
To be quite honest, I really don't want any part of this Villanova team. Much rather play OSU
March 20th, 2022 at 12:10 PM ^
OSU on a neutral court every time. Villanova will act like they've been there before. Because they have.
Neutral court (and neutral refs) is the key.
If Liddell is not allowed to just put his head down and bull rush charge to the basket like Keith Beyers on 3rd and 1, then OSU is not the same team as "Big Ten" OSU.
March 20th, 2022 at 12:11 PM ^
OSuckU. Nothing would be finer than putting them through the grinder again and whooping their butts on national TV.
BRING.
IT.
ON!
March 20th, 2022 at 12:12 PM ^
I think that OSU is very beatable. And Nova's the higher seed. I think I'll take OSU on a neutral court despite the desire for novelty.
I think that we can beat OSU even without playing our A game. (Famous last words!)
Don't be so sure. They were missing their two main bigs when we beat them, and we were missing Dickinson. They beat us with all hands on deck. I rate it a toss-up. But, Here's the two main points:
1. How would we feel if they beat us and move on to the Elite 8 while we go home? --and--
2. FUCK OHIO!
Enough said. I want 'Nova and a chance to atone for our 2 NCAA games against them.
If you're watching the game, how do you feel about it now? I've been busy this afternoon, and am curious. I think we beat a better team (than OSU) yesterday in TN, though, and it looks like Villanova is waxing OSU. . .
Seriously, it's hard to compare teams as it's all about matchups. Some teams just fare better against a team than a more highly rated team would. Still would rather play OSU than Villanova
Yeah nova is the better team so we want osu but the game in Columbus wasn’t us beating an even strength team. When both teams were healthy osu beat us pretty handily at home, I don’t think it’s the best matchup.
March 20th, 2022 at 12:13 PM ^
OSU.
An easier opponent, first of all. (Though not easy.)
And I like the resonances of the year we beat Jimmy Jackson/ Chris Jent led Buckeye squad to get to the Final Four.
March 20th, 2022 at 12:32 PM ^
Still remember Jent missing the potential GW at end of regulation. He probably hears about that every time he goes to a bar in C-Bus
March 20th, 2022 at 12:15 PM ^
I am torn.
On one hand playing OSU gives us the best chance of winning. Even reffing puts them in a tough place when it comes to guarding Dickinson and they are heavily relying on Liddell and Branham right now. However, losing to them and watching them go to the Elite 8 would be tough.
Losing to Villanova and watching them go would be like "well, they did what they were supposed to". I also think we match up decently well with Nova.
I'm gonna say Nova. It's a better emotional hedge and would be a really satisfying win.
Either way it's really nice that our team is most likely already home and can start breaking down tape of Nova (we should have all of our OSU tape already prepared) and start game prep as soon as this evening or at least have Mon-Wed whereas whoever we play gets that one less day.
March 20th, 2022 at 12:21 PM ^
I don’t see the dilemma. Never root for Putin.
March 20th, 2022 at 12:20 PM ^
Isn’t the answer obviously Ohio State? That’s just not really an elite team. Villanova, meanwhile, could legitimately win it all (again).
A bit of a tangent —- but with all the talk yesterday about Rick Barnes and underachieving, one forgets that Jay Wright had the same issue in the 2010-2015 time frame. Obviously he has figured that out. I doubt 2010-2015 era Jay Wright is showing up in San Antonio Thursday if they play Michigan.
March 20th, 2022 at 12:24 PM ^
I cannot decide. Ohio state would give me so much more anxiety.
March 20th, 2022 at 12:26 PM ^
I would rather play Villanova and beat them as payback for beating us in the finals a few years ago. But I would be OK with playing Ohio State. I am a bit torn because Ohio St making the sweet 16 helps to elevate the conference, and we have familiarity with them. And I would love for us to end their season. But then again, they could end our season which would be the worst of all worlds.
March 20th, 2022 at 12:31 PM ^
Ohio definitely.
1. Helps B1G rep to have more teams make Sweet 16
2. Better match-up Nova (though very limited data set) seems to take us out of our game
3. Would be just the 2nd time we've played Ohio - first time was memorable OT win Fab Five FR year in OT in Elite Eight vs. #1 seed Ohio in 1992
March 20th, 2022 at 12:33 PM ^
I'd much rather play OSU, but I won't be sad if I watch them lose
March 20th, 2022 at 12:39 PM ^
What if it snows?
March 20th, 2022 at 12:46 PM ^
I am surprised no one has yet answered “Villanova” for the unique duality of having UM-Nova games in both the WBB and MBB tourneys.
You must have missed Ham's post.
March 20th, 2022 at 12:50 PM ^
Easy, give me Nova
March 20th, 2022 at 12:51 PM ^
I root against OSU in every athletic activity they undertake, and I will be rooting against them today. That said - I'd prefer to play OSU rather than Villanova
March 20th, 2022 at 12:52 PM ^
Definitely OSU over Villanova. Villanova doesn't turn the ball over and we have, uhhh, kinda had a problem with that.
Doesn't matter, we're playing with house money now so I'm just gonna enjoy the ride!
I live two miles from Villanova and still see a lot of people with "2017 champions" bumper stickers. Revenge would be good, but avoiding it entirely would also be good.
What a greedy fanbase. They win the 2016 and 2018 national championships and want to claim 2017 as well?
I learned my lesson a couple decades ago when I literally felt sorry for OSU in 2002 and everyone hated the Miami Hurricanes. (YTM)
I rooted for OSU not worried about this clownish Tressel guy at all, figuring that OSU team was a fluke as they got lucky several times that year - including against us.
No one knew this was the beginning of a two decade run that still goes on today.
Moral of the story: never, ever root for OSU. Or MSU.
The only time in recent memory that I sort of rooted for tOSU was the week before 11/27/21 when there were dropping anvils on East Landfill A & M. There was a) the natural hate I have for the Green Pests, b) strategically we needs tOSU to win for us to have a chance at the B1G Championship, and c) it was fun to watch Cow get torched like that (although scary also since we were on deck next to face that offense). As it turned out the next weekend...
Obviously, if we have a rule against rooting against OSU and MSU in all things, when they play each other you can pick a side.
Usually, I would root for OSU in basketball and MSU in football as losses in those spots causes more angst among their fanbases. There are exceptions, and last fall was one.
I have to admit I made this exact same mistake with this game. Last time it will happen.
My son said it best, right after the Tennessee game: “I hope OSU wins, I want their blood.”
The one thing about playing Nova is they don’t have any size and Hunter can feast down low. If Michigan stays on them on the perimeter then I like our chances. I like the idea of Frankie and Eli rotating on Gillespie and wearing him out. When Nova isn’t hitting from the outside they are a lot easier to beat.
Gillespie will eat Frankie alive/foul him out in 10 minutes by taking him into the post. Hopefully Jones is recovered enough to be able to play, though I do think Frankie needs to see significant time.
I know which team is better coached. Doesn't make any difference.
Sort of rooting for all the big10 teams not named Illinois or Wisconsin.
Even Sparty?
I think it's fair if they're playing Duke
Probably OSU. While losing to them to end our season would be awful, the joy of getting to end their season is too tempting to pass up. I also think they’re a more manageable matchup. Beating Villanova would be an extremely tall order, they are always so well coached and fundamentally sound every time they get on the floor. And Gillespie can beat you by himself.
Also, as much as it would suck to lose to OSU in the tournament, they’d be happy to lose this game to Michigan ten times over to get that 42-27 loss back.
Root for Villanova to lose is the correct answer.
Ohio State. I think if you ask a Buckeye, they dread the idea of playing us next. They might just lose to Villanova because subconsciously they don't want any of that smoke.
OSU all day. I don't want any part of Villanova
I might get negbanged for this but I would be OK if we have a rubber match against Ohio. I suppose it depends which Nova we would get. After thinking about it, I don't really care one way or the other.
My preference for the B1G this afternoon in order I want most to lose.
1. Bucky - I can't stand them and would like Gard and company to go.
2. Moo - Can't root for them even against Dook
3. Illini - Looks like it is going to happen.
4. Ohio - I like Holtman. I think he is a good coach.
5. Purdue - Same with Painter.