Oden sets rebounding record; OSU advances

By Associated Press     Mar 11, 2007

Purdue forward Carl Landry, left, looks for a way around Ohio State center Greg Oden. The Buckeyes won, 63-52, Saturday in Chicago. "I don't think I've ever played against a player like Greg Oden," Landry said after the loss in the Big Ten semifinals. Ohio State plays Wisconsin for the conference title today.

? Greg Oden spread out his arms and let out a primal scream. It was time to celebrate. His highlight-reel dunk pretty much punctuated another victory for Ohio State and sent the Buckeyes to the finals of the Big Ten tournament.

Oden went crashing through the lane, rising high over Carl Landry and David Teague to slam in a missed shot, giving the Buckeyes a late 11-point lead Saturday in their 63-52 victory over Purdue.

The victory moved the Buckeyes (29-3) a step closer to a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. They will take a 16-game winning streak into today’s conference tournament finals against No. 3 Wisconsin.

Oden’s dunk also capped a performance that no doubt will have NBA scouts drooling – 17 points, a tournament-record 19 rebounds and four blocks.

But the dunk is the play that stood out, especially for the normally stoic Oden.

“I didn’t get blocked out,” Oden said. “So I went running back. I don’t know what I did, I was just yelling. I enjoyed it,” Oden said.

Landry scored 24 points for the Boilermakers, who managed just four baskets in the final 10 minutes – three by Landry.

“I don’t think I’ve ever played against a player like Greg Oden,” said Landry, who has now lost to the 7-foot OSU freshman three times this season. “Even if he doesn’t block a shot, he can alter it because he’s so long and athletic. You always have it in the back of your head.”

No. 3 Wisconsin 53, Illinois 41

Chicago – Alando Tucker set the Badgers career scoring record and finished with 21 points to set up a championship matchup with the Buckeyes.

Kammron Taylor scored all but two of his 16 points in the second half for Wisconsin (29-4).

No. 6 Florida 80, Mississippi 59

Atlanta – Corey Brewer scored 22 points, Lee Humphrey added 17, and the Gators moved a game closer to a three-peat at the Southeastern Conference tournament.

Defending national champion Florida (28-5) jumped out to a quick 11-point lead and was never seriously challenged by the Rebels (20-12), who might have cost themselves a chance to slip into the NCAA field.

No. 8 North Carolina 71, Boston College 56

Tampa, Fla. – Brandan Wright scored 20 points, and the top-seeded Tar Heels moved a step closer to their first Atlantic Coast Conference tournament title in nine years.

No. 9 Georgetown 65, No. 13 Pittsburgh 42

New York – Roy Hibbert scored 14 of his 18 points in Georgetown’s big first half, and the Hoyas cruised to the Big East championship.

Jeff Green, the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, added 21 points for top-seeded Georgetown (26-6), which won its conference-record seventh title and first since 1989.

No. 16 Oregon 81, USC 57

Los Angeles – Bryce Taylor scored a career-high 32 points, making every shot he took to lead Oregon to the Pac-10 championship.

The Ducks (26-7) head into the NCAA Tournament on a six-game winning streak. They haven’t been there since 2003.

No. 5 Memphis 71, Houston 59

Memphis, Tenn. – Chris Douglas-Roberts and Antonio Anderson each scored 17 points, and the Tigers extended the nation’s longest winning streak to 22 games to wrap up their second straight Conference USA tournament championship.

No. 25 UNLV 78, No. 23 Brigham Young 70

Las Vegas – The Runnin’ Rebels raced into their first NCAA Tournament in seven years by rallying to win the Mountain West championship.

Michael Umeh scored 18 points and Wink Adams 15 for the Rebels (28-6).

Lon Kruger became the fifth coach to take four teams to the NCAAs.

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