Despite both playing very sloppy basketball, The Ohio State Buckeyes and Xavier Musketeers treated hoops fans to a thrilling battle yesterday as the #1 Seed Bucks defated Xavier in OT, 78-71.

As an Ohio State graduate and fan, I cannot remember a more heart-racing Buckeye sports experience since the 2002 National Championship Game in football. The Buckeyes never seemed to get any momentum going and let Xavier hang around too long. The next thing I knew I was looking up at a 9 point Xavier lead with 2:54 to go in the game. The Buckeyes appeared to be doomed. OSU had shown no indications that they could hit shots all night, Greg Oden was about to foul out and the cheap Xavier fans surrounding me at Buffalo Wild Wings started chanting "Nah Nah Nah Nah Hey Hey Hey Goodbye" in my face. But despite all that - I still sensed Sean Miller wasn't meant to win this game, something crazy was going to happen, and it did.

tOSU somehow creeped back in the ballgame, cutting the deficit by 2 with 10 seconds left. Oden commits his fifth foul and sends Justin Cage to the foul line. After hearing Cage whine all week about Thad Matta's departure from XU, I thought in the back of my mind that this guy may go up there and seal the victory - getting his sweet revenge on old Matta, but he didn't. He missed the second free throw, giving OSU just enough time to storm down the court and make a long 3 pointer to send the game to overtime. Mike Conley Jr scored all the Buckeyes' points in OT to put the Bucks in the Sweet 16. Amazing.

There will be no Cinderella story for Xavier. Ron Lewis' 3 pointer at the buzzer also probably cost Sean Miller millions of dollars in offers for other coaching positions, but he'll still leave. That's the Xavier way right? Make a run in the NCAA Tournament every 3-4 years and have your coach leave for bigger opportunities. Don't be surprised if Miller is coaching the Wolverines next season.

Also - while I am at it I'd like to point out publically just how classless the XU fans were. I realize this game was a heartbreaker but that is not a reason to make statements like "I hope you enjoyed your PUBLIC education, how much did you even pay for that? $7000?" and "I will make more money than you" and "I got a real JESUIT education." I've had a lot of people talk trash to me before but this was just ridiculous. Chances are your doctor, dentist and rich daddy's lawyer are all graduates of tOSU, so don't throw that shit my way suckaz! It is just a basketball game. You are embarrassing your famous alumni, Mike Damone and Bill Cunningham! Go Bucks!

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	david aka the TYZ - March 19, 2007 I agree that it should not have been an intentional foul. I think Oden's momentum into the player made it look a lot worse. With that said what a shame X is sent packing. Just breaks my heart. Xavier is the ONE opponent I will pull for Ohio State to beat. I was upset the two had to play each other but at least one gets eliminated. Go Vols.
	Franny - March 19, 2007 So are you claiming that your father knows more than NCAA coaches and officials? UPDATED: What I've gathered on the Oden foul Since this seems to be the topic that won't go away...I talked to four college coaches and two college officials.... I asked for their opinion/interpretation of the 5th foul on Oden and if it should have been ruled intentional/flagrant. I feel even better about my initial thought. Only one I spoke with thought it could have been ruled intentional. It seems to be more of a fan driven debate, and I can certainly understand the passion of the Xavier fans involved. Highlights of what was told to me: "A frustration foul does not = an intentional foul...." "It must be obvious...a swing, punch, undercut or a breakaway takedown" "At the time, the thought of an intentional didn't even enter my mind" "I actually thought OSU was fouled on the putback" "As a coach, on either team in that situation, I'd prefer an intentional foul not be called...it would have to be a situation where you undercut someone when they are airborne" "Intentional fouls on a scrum under the basket are so rare, I certainly don't recall many" "Any foul by a 7ft 280 lb player is going to look harsh.....I equate it to a Shaq foul." "This is easy........If you have questions about it, it's not intentional...it must be obvious." "You are taught to give the benefit of the doubt" "CBS's crew did not even make an issue of it" Here are three points given to me by a college official of 20+ years. 1. The assignment chairman for these conferences/leagues have required meetings every offseason where game situations are reviewed and discussed. End of game issues are always on the agenda. 2. Here is what we were told on a number of different occasions over many seasons by a number of different assignment chairmen and many coaches who attended these meetings: if the foul is blatantly/unequivocally intentional: a punch that connects, a hard push where the player gets seriously injured, an undercut where the player sails through the air and lands on his back or head then you are instructed/required to call such a foul intentional or flagrant. 3. If on the other hand there is some doubt in your mind about the severity of the foul and the factors listed above are absent you were instructed NOT to call it intentional or flagrant and "let the kids decide the outcome of the game." 4. This makes such a call very subjective and subject to officials' interpretation but they have drilled it into your head that at the end of the game there should be no doubt in anyone's mind that it was intentional and if it is questionable you are expected to opt for the less serious foul. Lance, This is what I believe caused the official to make the call he did (although I do not necessarily agree with the decision, I am explaining why I think it was called the way it was).
	Franny - March 18, 2007 JMart- Wouldn't the XU people have the inferiority complex? They are the ones that made the comments. Read the blog please.
	JMart - March 18, 2007 Franny you have a serious inferiority complex about your alma mater. You say this stuff all the time. You really must subconsciously feel your OSU degree doesn't match up or something. I also noticed how you didn't mention a thing about the officials not having the balls to call an obvious intentional or flagrant foul on Oden when he absolutely levelled Cage. My father, an OSU alum and ardent Buckeyes fan basically said it was a chicken-shit and terrible call.
	Woodmania - March 18, 2007 This could have been a HUGE program builder for X. Talk about a giant missed opportunity. They could have milked this win for years when talking to recruits.

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