UI-Ohio State game notes

Check out Paul Klee's grades from Sunday's Illinois-Ohio State game here.

To watch the highlights, click here.

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News and notes from Sunday in Columbus, Ohio.

To put your mind at ease, just listen to Jerry Palm.

He's the veteran bracketologist that runs CollegeRPI.com.

"Illinois is in," Palm said Sunday, moments after No. 18 Illinois beat Ohio State 70-68 at Value City Arena. "They've been in for a while now."

For years Palm has been putting together mock NCAA tournament brackets well before Selection Sunday, which this season arrives on March 15, in less than three weeks. He believes the Illini have nothing to worry about – "They're just playing for a seed" – and merely are working on a higher seed.

"I think Illinois is playing for a top-20 (Nos. 1-5) seed at this point," Palm said. "They figure to be in the 5-6 range. If they won out and won the Big Ten tournament, they could be a 3 or a 2 even. They are what they are. They're a borderline top-20 team. They're not going to fall to the bottom of the bracket."

But will the Big Ten be punished for its low scores and poor national perception? Its reputation is less-than-endearing, as evidenced by the fallout from Penn State's 38-33 win against Illinois on Wednesday. Palm said the NCAA selection committee doesn't consider style of play when building the 65-team bracket, but "there is an eye test" that considers whether a team "looks like an NCAA tournament team."

"If somebody on the committee watched that game (Penn State-Illinois), and chances are somebody did, it might be the kind of stain that's difficult to erase," Palm said. "That could be the kind of thing that hurts them. Maybe it drops them a seed or two.

"But you can win with any style. The important thing is that you win. And Illinois is winning."

In his latest bracket on CBSSportsline.com, Palm said, he had eight teams from the Big Ten in the field. He said the most likely scenario is six or seven, though.

"The two teams in the most trouble are Michigan, because of their remaining schedule, and Penn State, because of their nonconference schedule," Palm said.

* * *

Most of the time, Chester Frazier couldn't care less about personal accolades.

But you can tell the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award means something to the Illinois senior.

"Right now it's not too important," Frazier said after playing 34 minutes Sunday. "It would be good to get it. But right now winning and getting to the (NCAA) tournament is my main focus right now. Winning takes care of everything. If we win, I'm sure all of those individual accolades will come."

Once again, Frazier drew the assignment of the opponent's best player. The 6-foot-2 guard defended 6-7 Evan Turner, who matched his scoring average with 17 points, including 15 in the second half. Turner had to work for it, shooting 6 for 15 from the field, but he kept Ohio State in the game.

"Every time I touched the ball early, they would bring about three guys over to help, which made it harder to penetrate into the lane," said Turner, who had a season-low four points in his first matchup with Frazier.

Frazier should be a frontrunner for the award, though he could be in trouble if Purdue continues its late surge. Purdue guard Chris Kramer was named Defensive Player of the Year last season, and voting coaches might consider who finishes higher in the standings.

Frazier's marksmanship lately has gained notice. He nailed a big three at Indiana last week and swished a pair of late threes against Ohio State on Sunday.

"When he has his feet set, we feel pretty good about him shooting the ball," Bruce Weber said.

* * *

Despite the loss, Turner continued to show why he's a leading candidate for the Big Ten Player of the Year award. He scored at least 17 points for the eighth time in conference play.

What stands out, though, is how Turner has chiseled his body in one-plus seasons. As a player at Westchester St. Joseph, Turner was thin, almost skinny, but has built himself into a future NBA draft pick.

"He has NBA talent," said Mike Mullins, who coached Turner and Demetri McCamey on the AAU circuit with the Illinois Wolves program. "One thing about Evan is that he's always wanted to be great. When others are at the mall or at the movies, he's working at it. Once his body, game and mind came together, he was going to make that leap, because of his work ethic."

Turner's role in the Ohio State rotation expanded when junior captain David Lighty went down with a foot injury in December. (An Ohio State official said Lighty meets the criteria for a medical redshirt if he can't return this season).

Turner is one of nine players nationally to lead his team in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals.

"They gave him the keys to the team and he's responded," Mullins said Sunday.

In head-to-head matchups, McCamey evened the score with his former teammate at two wins apiece. McCamey had 15 points and seven assists in 37 minutes, the second most he's played in a Big Ten game this season.

"I think he's shown dramatic improvement from his freshman to sophomore year," Mullins said of McCamey. "He's still got a long way to go to get where we want him to be, and where Demetri wants to be. I think he's getting there."

* * *

Ohio State athletics director Gene Smith, a member of the NCAA tournament selection committee, was in attendance Sunday.

"This year's tough because there's some really good teams out there," Smith at halftime. An Ohio State official said members of the selection committee, like Smith, are not permitted to go into detail about the selection process.

What's not tough: finding dough in the Ohio State athletics department. Smith said the Buckeyes' athletic budget is at $115 million. Ohio State has 36 sports and more than 900 student-athletes, Smith said.

* * *

The Illinois bench stayed, well, on the bench.

Weber has been hesitant to use his reserves, and the bench accounted for a season-low 23 minutes at Ohio State. Reserves played just four minutes in the second half.

Weber cited two main reasons for ignoring the reserves: the starters "were playing well" and "those other guys aren't quite as good against the zone."

"When Demetri got tired, he took himself out. Mike Tisdale, the same thing," Weber said. "It's a different game because of (Ohio State's) zone. They're not running and cutting. They play deliberate on offense. I just told them, 'When you get tired, get out.' "

Weber said he'll give the team the day off today. Starters Trent Meacham (a career-high 39 minutes), McCamey (37, his second most in a Big Ten game) and Mike Davis (37, one shy of a career high) might thank him for it.

"I feel like I'm in great shape. I'll play 40 minutes if I have to," Frazier said. "The guys on the bench just have to be ready when called on. It's just one of those things. Coach (Weber) trusts guys in certain situations. If he goes to you, he does. But if he doesn't, you've got to be a good cheerleader."

One reserve that did not check in was Alex Legion. Weber said, "He's got to make shots" to earn minutes, and the Kentucky transfer is 2 for 19 on threes in his last 10 games. Part of that may due to a limited role, though, as the shooter relies on finding a rhythm.

"He's kind of in a shooting slump right now," Frazier said of Legion. "We've got to find a way to incorporate him into the offense and get him making some shots."

* * *

With 2:38 left in the first half, a foreign sound echoed through Value City Arena.

"Demetri McCamey at the line, shooting one."

McCamey's free throw marked the first time in 58 minutes, 8 seconds of basketball that an Illinois player had attempted a free throw. The free throw-less stretch spanned three games. A week prior, at Indiana, Illinois attempted a free throw with 47 seconds left in the game. Then the Illini went 40 minutes against Penn State without attempting one.

"We've got to get it inside, get to the free throw line more," Meacham said.

Entering Sunday's games, Illinois had attempted fewer free throws than everyone else in the Big Ten. The Illini went 5 for 9 from the line at Ohio State.

* * *

Davis' 22 points marked the fourth time in his career he's topped the 20-point barrier. He did work against Ohio State's zone defense, flashing to the post for open jumpers and slipping beneath the frontcourt for layups.

"Coach (Weber) made it a priority to get me the ball in the middle," Davis said.

With a team-high eight rebounds, Davis also helped the Illini stay close on the rebounding battle. Ohio State had 27 boards to Illinois' 26.

"We're not going after it the way we want to," said Ohio State coach Thad Matta. "They have to do a better job of wanting it in the air. You have to come out and be hungry for the ball."

* * *

Illinois hosts Minnesota on Thursday and Michigan State next Sunday, the latter being Senior Day at the Assembly Hall. Weber dubbed it "Senior Week."

"We've got to come out, use our crowd and play with confidence," Meacham said.

Illinois (22-6, 10-5 Big Ten) is two wins shy of Weber's stated goal of 24 wins through the Big Ten tournament. The coach remained hesitant to say Illinois has clinched an NCAA tournament berth.

"You still never know. We get to 23 or 24 (wins), I'll feel a little more comfortable," he said. "We got to 10 (Big Ten wins), and that's a big number. We don't want to end up 10-8. That wouldn't be very good. Get to 11 and I'll be happy. Get to 12 and I'll be even happier. If you can fight your way to 12 or 13, then you're talking about a better seed."

– Paul Klee

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