Once more. Because it's awesome.A day later and surprise at the ease of the Buckeyes' huge win in Champaign still hasn't leveled off. It's clear that this team is starting to click and will be a force come tournament time, but the week ahead is everything in terms of deciding the Big Ten championship.
First up, Purdue on Wednesday. The Boilers, streaking in their own right with a seven game conference winning streak, will be looking for revenge from the stunner in Mackey. Or, as we like to call it, the night Evan Turner took Robbie Hummel's manhood. JaJuan Johnson didn't help the home team's cause in that one, settling for four points, but he's been the catalyst for Purdue's run, averaging 19.
On Sunday, Matta's crew takes on Sparty at the Breslin Center in what could very well be the de facto regular season championship game. The Buckeyes only have two wins in East Lansing in the past ten years and the reigning Big Ten Player of the Year, Kalin Lucas, has returned from his ankle injury and dealing recovery damage, so this certainly isn't one you're expecting to win. But, Turner and his teammates handled Michigan State the last time they met (albeit on a neutral court in the Big Ten tournament last March) the way the season started, I feel like I'm playing with house money right now.
I'm feeling so good, that I'm scanning the landscape and having a hard time finding a dominant team in the field for the NCAA tourney. Ohio State is probably looking at between a two and a five seed, depending on how things break, but when Diebler, Lighty and Lauderdale are on, that's a dangerous starting five.
Whatever happens, there will be a party.
The incredibly entertaining career of Mark Titus is coming to an end with Senior Night on March 2nd against the Illini. Following the game, he'll go under the knife for knee surgery and three months after that, he'll be soaking the IBA, or other such comparable league with his mid-range jumper.
To celebrate his greatness, he's hosting a Club Trillion Farewell Party at The Big Bang on the 27th. You don't need me to tell you that dueling pianos + Mark Titus = a night full of win.
If you need further encouragement, look no further than the invite:
Do you want to be a jealous doucher that only looks at pictures of the event but doesn't go to it themselves? Didn't think so. Even if you're not from Columbus, make the drive or catch a flight. It's what America would want.
The Ginn Way
CBS Sunday Morning ran a feel-good feature on the work Ted Ginn Sr. is doing at his Glenville Academy. We know he cranks out football talent (and his 2010 team might be the best yet) and it's a focus of the piece, but it's nice to see the other side of his work touched upon.
The falling Wolverine over Armen Keteyian's head during the interview sessions was a nice touch as well.
Your Monday Appreciation Session
It's easy around these parts to get caught up in commiserating and recriminations, especially after heartbreakers on the football field, but are we not living in the golden era of Buckeye athletics? The football team just won another conference championship, as did the lady hoopsters, claiming an unprecedented sixth straight and the men are in position as well. I can remember marveling in 2007 after the three pulled off the first-ever league sweep of the three sports. And here we are in great position to do it again.
