March 9 2007 at United Center by basketballhistorian.com
The Illinois men’s basketball team advanced to the second round in the Big Ten post-season tourney with a hard-fought 58-54 OT win over the Indiana Hoosiers. Led by 6 ft 10 inch center Shaun Pruitt and 6 ft 9 inch forward Warren Carter on offensive and a host of teammates on defensive the winners
improved to 23-10 for the season.
Warren Carter scored a game-high 17 points and had 7 rebounds while Shaun Pruitt had 16 points and a game high 12 rebounds.
Illinois took a lead in overtime when Shaun Pruitt made the 2nd of two free throws, making it 51-50. No scoring by either team until Shaun Pruitt sunk a short one with 2 minutes left, 53-50. Teammate senior guard Rick McBride canned a free throw putting the Illini up 54-50 with just 33.2 seconds left in the game. Warren Carter sunk one of 2 free throws, 55-50.
Indiana did not quit. The Hoosiers scored when junior 6 ft 3 guard AJ Ratliff sunk one. On the inbounds pass A.J. Ratliff quickly fouled Trent Meacham with 8.3 seconds left. Trent Meacham made the 2nd of two FT, 56-52. Indiana’s senior 6 ft 3 guard Earl Calloway quickly ran the court and laid in one with 3.2 seconds left, 56-54. Illini Trent Meacham was fouled again, and he made both FT with only 2 seconds on the clock, and the final score was Illinois 58 Indiana 54. The Indiana Hoisers men’s basketball team record fell to 20-10 overall for 2007.
Note: Both teams ran into foul trouble early on, 6 ft 6 inches guard Mike White of Indiana picked up his third foul with 11:50 still left in the first half. Indiana led 8-6 on a 3-pointer by 6 ft 4 senior guard Rodrick Wilmont,
and built a 24-16 lead on a successful jump shot by 6 ft 1 freshman Armon Bassett with around 4 minutes left in the half.
March 9 2007 in the United Center in the ‘Heart of Chicago’ News by basketballhistorian.com
The Ohio State Buckeyes Men’s Basketball Team, ranked Number 1 in the nation, advanced to the semi-finals with a convincing display of defense against the upset minded Michigan Wolverines. The 72-62 victory advanced the notion that Ohio State could be very well one of the best defensive teams in college basketball history.
The 7 foot Greg Oden was doubled-team throughout the game but still scored a game-best 22 points, blocked 4 shots and pulled in 8 rebounds. Ohio State 6 ft 4 inch senior guard Ron Lewis hit on 5 of 8 field goals, including two 3 pointers, was 4 for 4 from the free throw, for a total of 16 points. Teammate Mike Conley Jr, a freshman, scored 13 points and led both teams with 6 assists. The Buckeyes Daequan Cook, 6 ft 5 freshman guard, joined in with 9 points, with 3 for 7 FG, including a 3-pointer, and went 2-4 in FT.
6 ft 7 senior forward Ivan Harris made 2 of 4 FG, for 4 points, had an assist and one rebound. Junior guard Jamar Butler, who was averaging 8.6 ppg, ran into early foul trouble and scored just 2 points, had 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 fouls. 6 ft 6 freshman Dave Lightly had an assist and one rebound, 6 ft 8 junior Matt Terwilliger scored 2 points, had a rebound, an assists, 4 fouls.
6 ft 9 junior forward Othello Hunter connected on 2 of 7 shots, for 4 points, 3 rebounds and collected 3 fouls in 27 minutes of play.
Ohio State led 34-29 at half. Officials: Donnee Gray, Steve Stiles and Gene Crawford
In the last 9 minutes of the game, Michigan coach Tommy Amaker stopped double-teaming Greg Oden, who then quickly scored three times. For the game he blistered the Wolverines hitting 8 of 12 field goals, and connected on 6 of ten free throws.
‘We won because it was just being more aggressive and taking what the defense was giving us,’ stated Greg Oden. Recalling the victory, Ohio State coach Thad Matta declared, ‘It has been that way for 31 games. Quite honestly I’ve never coached a team like this.’
The Ohio State Buckeyes improved to 28-3 overall while the Michigan Wolverines men’s basketball team fell to 21-12.
Michigan out-rebounded the mighty Buckeyes 47-25 but most was because Ohio State made half of its shots, 26 of 52 while its defense held Michigan to a poor 18-55 shooting. Two Michigan players scored in double figures, senior Lester Abram and sophomore Jerret Smith.
Wolverine Coach Tommy Amaker packed his starting lineup with four seniors, 6 ft 8 forward Brent Petway, 6 ft 6 F/G Lester Abram, 6 ft 10 center Courtney Sims, and 6 ft 3 inch guard Dion Harris. Brent Petway scored 8 points, and had a game high 12 rebounds, and Lester Abram connected on 4 of 7 field goals, including 3 of 4 long 3 point shots, made 2-of-3 FT and had 4 assists. Courtney Sims had 7 points, including 3 of 5 free throws, and 7 rebounds before fouling out. Dion Harris scored 9 points, made all 6 free throws attempted and led the team with 6 assists.
Michigan’s 6 ft 3 inch guard Jerret Smith hit on 4 of 10 FG, 2 of 5 three pointers, had 12 points, and 3 assists. Freshmen Reed Baker made a 3 point shot, while Ekpe Udoh scored 4 points, and collected 5 rebounds, and DeShawn Sims contributed 6 points, 2-of-2 FG, and 2-of 4 FT, 3 rebounds. 6 ft 6 junior Ron Coleman played 12 minutes, had a rebound and missed 2 FG attempts. Sophomore, 6 ft 5 Jevohn Shepard had an assists, one foul in 3 minutes.
