COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Welcome to the Big Ten, Terps.
Paul Coffey Jersey . LaQuinton Ross scored 17 of his 20 points in the first half, hitting his first four 3-pointers, to send No. 5 Ohio State to an early lead and a 76-60 victory over Maryland on Wednesday night in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. It was Marylands last appearance in the annual conference matchup -- well, at least as an Atlantic Coast Conference team. Next year, the Terrapins join the Buckeyes in the new 14-team Big Ten. "We didnt talk about it being our last one," coach Mark Turgeon said. "We just talked about Ohio State and obviously we didnt do a good job playing against them. So give them credit." Sam Thompson added 14 points, including four rim-rattling dunks off alley-oop passes, and Lenzelle Smith Jr. had 12. Aaron Craft created havoc on defence and chipped in with 10 points as the Buckeyes (7-0) controlled the game at both ends. "Basketball is basketball," said ex-Xavier guard Dez Wells, who led Maryland with 19 points. "I dont care what conference youre in. That doesnt matter to me." Ohio State blitzed the Terrapins (5-3) on defence -- scoring 25 points off 14 turnovers. The Buckeyes also shot 60 per cent on 3-pointers in the opening half and 52 per cent from the field for the game. The lead never dropped below double digits over the last 24 minutes, and the Buckeyes eased up after going up by 25 points in the second half. Ohio State had struggled shooting in its first four games. But the Buckeyes lit it up for 69 per cent from the field -- the sixth-best mark in school history -- during a 99-64 rout of North Florida on Saturday. "We shot the ball well last game and we wanted to build off it," said Craft, who finished with five steals and six assists. "We just wanted to come out and not have a slow start, come out with our minds right. We were able to do that. Obviously, LaQuinton helped out a lot coming in and knocking down those early shots. And that kind of relaxes everybody else and gets them going." The Buckeyes led 43-26 at halftime and never really let the game leave their grasp. Ross was the difference early, making those first four shots from behind the arc. After Maryland became more aware of him on the perimeter, Thompson scored on two high-flying, alley-oop dunks that shook the arena. Behind Ross 12 points, the Buckeyes broke out to an 18-9 lead. The Terrapins regrouped to trade baskets and pull to 27-20 before Thompson had five points and Ross the other three in an 8-0 run. Leading 35-26, Ohio State went on another 8-0 run. On the Terps final possession of the half, Craft dived on the floor and stole the ball in a scrum, then passed it out while on the floor. Thompson got the ball, spun in the lane on a breakaway and then banked in a layup just as the buzzer sounded. "We took the timeout," Ohio State coach Thad Matta said. "We said, Hey, theyre going to take one shot, we can get a little risky here in terms of pushing up our pressure. For him to get down on the floor and flick it up like that, it was just a tremendous play." Maryland made a mini-run in the second half, but Thompson ended that by going high over the rim to stuff in back-to-back passes, one from Shannon Scott and the other from Craft. "Shannon and Craft are so good at forcing steals and getting us out in transition," Thompson said. "They draw so much attention in the open floor that I just do the easy part and I finish. Theyve always put the ball right on the money. All I have to do is just dunk it home." Former Michigan swingman Evan Smotrycz scored 15 points and Charles Mitchell added 12 points and 11 rebounds for Maryland, which had won four in a row after losing two of its first three.
Darnell Nurse Oilers Jersey . The Raptors second-year forward has been one of the primary beneficiaries of the early-season trade, breaking out and becoming a vital part of his teams success on both ends of the floor. Around the league, teams are starting to take notice and feature Ross more predominately in their pre-game scouting reports but its not just the opposition that hes impressing.
Oscar Klefbom Oilers Jersey . He was still a kid, going into his senior year of high school. Thursday, the point guard stood in front of a couple dozen members of the media and spoke with poise about how much hed grown since then, and how hes ready for the next level.(SportsNetwork.com) - Mike Zimmer is approaching the waning days of what he hopes is the first of many years as the Minnesota Vikings head coach. Joe Philbin is likely in the death throes of his three-year stint in Miami. Such is life in the NFL where 6-8 is considered progress in one city and being a tick better at 7-7 is a disappointment in another. The Dolphins and their lame-duck head coach will try to halt a two-game losing streak on Sunday when they host a Vikings team excited about the development of rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, a Miami native. Philbins ultimate fate was probably sealed last weekend when Miami faltered in the second half and was doused by AFC East-rival New England, 41-13, in Foxbrorough. Tom Brady threw a pair of touchdown passes during a 24-point third quarter, as the Patriots clinched their sixth straight division title. Ryan Tannehill completed 29-of-47 passes for 346 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions for Miami, which had beaten New England in the season opener 33-20 but saw its already slim playoff hopes dashed further with the second straight loss. The Dolphins outscored the Patriots 23-0 in the second half back in September but had the tables turned this time to the tune of 27-0 in the final 30 minutes of this one. We have to play 60 minutes of football, Philbin said. You cant make the mistakes that we made. Miami is technically still alive in the postseason race but must win its final two games -- against Minnesota and the New York Jets -- and receive plenty of help elsewhere to get in. I believe in the players, Philbin said. I have confidence in the players. We have an outstanding locker room. The Vikings, meanwhile, had 10-4 Detroit on the ropes last weekend but faltered thanks in large part to a blocked, fourth-quarter field goal. The Lions Matt Prater hit his late field goal to lift Detroit to a 16-14 victory over Minnesota in the NFC North matchup. Bridgewater went 31-for-41 for 315 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions for the Vikings, who had won their previous two coming into the game. Leading by one Minnesota went on an impressive long drive that covered 75 yards over 18 plays and ate up 11 minutes, but the team came away empty as Blair Walshs 26-yard field goal was blocked by Jason Jones. Detroit then countered with the march that won the game, culminating with Praters 33-yard field goal for a 16-14 lead with 3:38 to play. The Vikings had chances, getting the ball back near midfield thanks to a big return from Cordarrelle Patterson, but Patterson fell on a fourth down passing play to give the ball back to Detroit. Minnesota forced a punt and got the ball back with 45 seconds, but they were only able to get to midfield and Walshs 68-yard field goal attempt fell well short to end the game. We led almost all the way, but we cant turn the ball over twice and we cant miss field goals, Bridgewater said. Were just going to continue to try to get better. The Dolphins lead their all-time series with Minnesota by a 6-4 margin, winning the last two. The teams havent played since Sept. 19, 2010 when Miami edged the Vikings, 14-10, in Minneapolis. They havent tussled in South Florida since 2006. WHAT TO WATCH FOR Philbin has been the definition of mediocre as the Dolphins coach, compiling a 7-9 record in 2012 and upping that to 8-8 last season before settling in at 7-7 with two weeks left in the current campaign. A 5-3 start annd some improvement by Tannehill has many thinking Miami was ready to take the next step this season but thats been tempered in the last two weeks as the Dolphins have been outscored by a 69-26 margin in losses to playoff- caliber teams, Baltimore and New England.
Adam Larsson Jersey. Players were disappointed. Coaches are disappointed. Owners are disappointed. I think thats understandable, Philbin admitted. The main issue has been the offense which cant get the running game going and hasnt topped 16 points in any game during the month of December. The Dolphins have mustered only 71 yards on the ground per game this month, making the team one-dimensional and easy to figure out especially when it falls behind. With opposing defenses content to pin their ears back Tanneheill has been sacked 10 times during Miamis two-game skid. The Vikings strength, meanwhile, is its defense, not a surprise considering Zimmers reputation as a blitz doctor. Minnesota has improved from 31st in the NFL to 11th in defense in one-year under Zimmer, who is on the verge of turning young players like defensive end Everson Griffen, defensive tackle Shariff Floyd, linebacker Anthony Barr and cornerback Xavier Rhodes into stars. Safety Harrison Smith, meanwhile, is already entrenched as one of the NFLs best. The unit has continued to be stingy despite being without Floyd and Barr recently due to knee injuries, holding Detroit to a season-low 233 yards. Offensively Minnesota isnt very dynamic because of the year-long absence of Adrian Peterson due to off-the-field issues. Things are starting to click for Bridgewater, though, who will be aiming for a third straight game with a completion percentage over 70.0 and more than 300 yards passing. The good thing is Teddy is getting a lot of these experiences, Zimmer said. The on-the-job training hes getting I really believe will bode well for him in the future and for us as an organization and as a team. Bridgewater, meanwhile, is excited for his chance to play in South Florida. Im pretty loved back home in Miami and a lot of people tell me that Im a role model in my community, Bridgewater said Wednesday. So itll be amazing to see how many turn out there and get to see me play in person for the first time for some people. The Vikings may have found something in first-year receiver Charles Johnson, a lengthy and speedy target who has an innate feel for running routes and creating separation. Johnson has quickly become Bridgewaters favorite target, snaring 20 balls for 355 yards and two TDs over his last five games. The Dolphins defense is talented but has stalled recently, forcing just five turnovers in the past six games as the pass rush has slowed. Miami has also struggled against the run in recent weeks because of injuries at the linebacker position. Part of my job is to get the team to play up to their potential each and every week, Philbin said. To that degree, certainly I feel like we could do better. OVERALL ANALYSIS The Vikings are headed in the right direction but still havent figured out how to close in tight games. Figure on the growing pains to continue here on the road as Miami wins a field-gal game late. Right now whats relevant is getting our team to play up to their potential for 60 minutes against the Minnesota Vikings, the embattled Philbin said. Thats really all that is important to me right now. Sports Network predicted outcome: Dolphins 20, Vikings 17 ' ' '
