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Despite living on the edge, OSU finds a way to prevail
No. 1-ranked Buckeyes aren't blowing many teams out, but they know how to rally and win close contests.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
SAN ANTONIO — Greg Oden didn't know a mulligan from Gilligan's Island.
When he learned it was a do-over off the tee box in golf, the Ohio State center agreed that the Buckeyes have survived their last two NCAA tournament basketball games despite a few hooks and slices.
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"You would love to blow out a team every time you can, but it's not really happening that way for us," Oden said Friday at the Alamodome. "It happens our games come to the end and we are winning, so the best thing to do is to keep playing hard."
Ohio State's 85-84 victory over Tennessee late Thursday put the No. 1-ranked Buckeyes (33-3) into today's 4:40 p.m. South Regional final against Memphis (33-3).
OSU's 20-point comeback came five days after rallying from nine down against Xavier in the final 2:54. The Buckeyes have won 20 in a row.
"On the road, in tough environments, down 20, I mean every possible way you could win," Memphis coach John Calipari marveled. "They won."
The Tigers have won 25 straight and are in the Elite Eight for a second consecutive year. OSU coach Thad Matta isn't worried his young team will shank an opportunity for the Final Fore, er Four.
"I think all our guys show some inexperience," Matta said. "But I wouldn't trade them for anybody and the job they've done for us."
Point guard Mike Conley Jr. said Ohio State would like those long, straight drives. But the Buckeyes can pull off the equivalent of a birdie from the rough.
"It would help a lot more if we were up at halftime," Conley said. "But at the same time, it's good to know that if we're down, we're not out."
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-6951
or mgokavi@
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