A Solid Win on a Cold, Snowy Night

The march to March Madness continued for the Ohio State Buckeye men's basketball team tonight, with a Rivalry Week win over Michigan. Columbus, like Cincinnati, was blanketed with snow and low temperatures tonight, cutting into what otherwise would have been a capacity crowd at Value City Arena.

The game, which was on ESPN, was fun to watch. I agree with commentator Steve Lavin that the Buckeyes, owing maybe to their youth and enormous talent, sometimes let down on defense, depending too much on their ability to score in impressive bunches. But as OSU's coach, Thad Matta, works on breaking the team of this bad habit, I believe the Bucks will only get better.

In all honesty, I feel a little sorry for Michigan coach Tommy Amaker. While the Wolverines have a solid winning record, there's a real danger that they might not make the NCAA tournament this year. Amaker's job may be on the line. By all accounts, he's a terrific person and a good coach. Hopefully, he can enjoy success for the balance of the year, except in games against the Buckeyes.

Go, Buckeyes!