|
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Tommy Freeman scored 23 points behind the strength of six three-pointers, but Ohio, which was the lowest seed to get out of the first round, fell to No. 6-seed Tennessee Saturday afternoon, 83-68.
DeVaughn Washington had 16 points and a team-high eight rebounds, while D.J. Cooper contributed 16 points, six rebounds and four assists.
"We didn't have it," head coach John Groce said. "I think the biggest indicator to me is us going 14 for 26 at the line. That's not us. And the two guards going 4 for 13 at the foul line that are above 80 percent free throw shooters.
"That's not them. Not to take anything against Tennessee or try to indicate that just that difference alone would have won us the game, because there's certainly other aspects of the game that are involved in the outcome. But that gives me an indication that we just didn't have it."
The Vols took the lead with an 18-2 run that started with 12 minutes left in the first half, turning a two-point deficit into a 14-point lead.
"We had a tough time defending them. We played 37 games and only four times, I think - maybe five - has an opponent shot 50 percent against our defense," Groce said. "Some of the high percentage shots they got late in the game (came when) we started scrambling and gambling a little big because of time and score. ... Even with that, they still shot
58 percent in the first half. Just too high a percentage. You're not going to have a lot of success when teams shoot that type of percentage against you."
Ohio kept firing three-pointers, trying 26 in the game and making 10, but never got any closer than 50-45 on Freeman's three-pointer with about 13 minutes to play.
"We got a couple of stops a couple times, (but) even when we got the stops, they got a couple of tip-ins, a couple of putbacks and the ball bounced their way," Cooper said. "We were down five at one time, and they got a big three in the corner."
Each of Saturday's games in Providence matched a double-digit seed against a team from a power conference. But after Saint Mary's knocked off Big East power Villanova, a No. 2 seed and a Final Four participant in 2009, Ohio failed in its attempt to be just the third No. 14 seed to reach the Sweet 16 since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985.
"It's a great experience, especially being a freshman," Cooper said. "Just makes you more humble, makes you more hungry and makes you know what you have to do for next year, for the guys coming back."
The Bobcats (22-15) cut the deficit to six points midway through the second half before the Vols went on a 10-1 run to put it away. Tennessee also dominated inside, outscoring the Mid-American Conference champions 58-12 in the paint.
"We knew going into the game that protecting the paint was going to be very important," Groce said. "They were able to impose their will in that area and did a terrific job of that. I thought that was the biggest difference in the game."
The Volunteers heighth also paid off on the defensive end.
"Their size and length were able to keep our guards on the sideline, and obviously they ... felt comfortable when we would throw it out to our bigs ... to make a play rather than Armon and D.J." Freeman said. "They had a good game plan."
"You don't see too many teams, regardless of (the) league that have a two and three man that are six-foot-seven each. That's pretty unique," Groce said. "I think teams were shooting around 29 percent against three with them, which was eighth nationally, and they do a terrific job of (defending) that."
The Bobcats earned their underdog status honestly: They were a No. 9 seed in the 12-team league tournament, but they swept through though the MAC's postseason bracket and then dispatched No. 3-seed Georgetown in the NCAA Tournament First Round on Thursday evening, 97-83.
"It's been a great feeling, a great ride," Freeman said. "Everybody doubted us coming into the MAC Tournament. Just the way that our team came together with KVK [Kenneth van Kempen] leading us is just a tribute to all the work he's put in over these past four years.
"We all kind of came together and played for him and just wanted to get as many games for him as we could. It's just been a great ride. And for everybody that's returning, as D.J. said, it makes us hungrier, and gives us a taste of what the tournament is like, and just makes us want to come back next year."
J.P. Prince scored 18 points and Scotty Hopson had 17 to lead the Vols on Saturday and give them their third Sweet 16 berth in four years. The other starters also contributed with Brian Williams and Wayne Chism grabbing 12 rebounds apiece and Bobby Maze dishing nine assists.
Tennessee (27-8) will play the winner of Sunday's Ohio State-Georgia Tech game in St. Louis. The Vols have never gotten past the third round, including losses to Ohio State and Louisville under Pearl in 2007 and '08.
Courtesy of OU Athletics
|
