Ohio State: Player Analysis
January 23, 2008
John Brumbaugh
F Brian Randle – B-
It was Randle’s third straight double double, and he played a pretty good game, but it could have been much better. In the first half he was just one-for-eleven from the floor, and he capped off what may have been his worse half of the season with a missed dunk. He then came out in the second half with a mission, and played much better. He was active both offensively and defensively, and provided energy for the rest of his teammates to feed off of.
C Mike Tisdale – C
Tisdale got the first start of his Illini career and had one of two baskets scored in the first half by someone not named Rodney or Trent. He struggled to find the openings in the Ohio State zone, and just seemed to be out there playing. He scored only four points and pulled down just three rebounds.
G Demetri McCamey – D
After looking so promising since getting the starting job, Demetri has played two straight poor games, and has found himself on the bench during key times in both of those games. Weber once again replaced McCamey with Chester Frazier in a key time in the game, this time to start the second half. McCamey’s shot wasn’t falling (1-for-8 from the floor), and despite a few really nice passes (the one to Randle through the zone was beautiful) the offense just wasn’t running smoothly, especially when they could not beat the Buckeye zone down the court.
F Calvin Brock – D-
Wow, after being the Illini’s most consistent player for the previous eighteen games, games nineteen and twenty were not very good for the Illini small forward. He once again turned the ball over five times, and he generally didn’t play well. Of course the play that highlights this is not boxing out Lighty, but it was just one play in a game of bad plays from Brock. The Illini will need him to get back to his old form if they want to sneak up on people in the Big Ten.
G Chester Frazier – B-
Frazier played within himself again, and I think he is liking his role coming off the bench being the back up point guard, and designated perimeter defender. Surprisingly Frazier only pulled down 1 rebound in the entire contest.
F Bill Cole – B+
In his first it-matters-in-game action, Cole played pretty well. He made the only shot he took, and did not come into the game scared. He got off the bench and was ready to play from the second he stepped on the court, despite not seeing key game action since non-conference play.
C Shaun Pruitt – F
Pruitt was suspended for reasons unknown, but they were specifically stated to not have anything to do with grades or legal issues, so one would have to assume he was the mystery player who went off in the locker room after the Purdue game.