Sandwasher

Rob Bentz after OSU's stunning comeback victory over Tennessee... 

Well I’m officially a girl. I went to bed at halftime and Tivo’d the game. I knew if I stayed up I would either destroy the house with the loss, or end up in jail after celebrating a win. Either way was not a good result. I would much rather sleep through a win than watch a massacre.

The late start (tip was 10:19 PM tonight) has me totally WIDE awake in the wee hours.... So, as therapy, I thought I'd drop you all a line to send my best wishes. Those wishes are that, if you watched the game, your heart survived tonight's OSU Cardiac Stress Test! Watching the Buckeyes get behind by 20 points to a Tennessee team who just literally rained three-pointers on us in the first half. They couldn't do anything wrong, they couldn't miss. The Volunteers played like they were already all NBA stars and multi-millionaires.  And then to watch the Buckeyes -- with Greg Oden and Mike Conley on the bench in foul trouble, no less -- fight back and actually WIN that game to move on to the Elite Eight...! Wow! I think my heart is in pretty good shape, but I can't take too many of those! And afterward I was covered with goose bumps realizing what I had just witnessed. I'll bet those poor Tennessee fans won't get a wink of sleep tonight, tossing and turning ... thinking ... "HOW could we have LOST that game!?"

I am reminded of the remark of one of the Miami football players who told reporters after the 2002 National Championship Buckeyes converted a fourth down with 14 yards gain... "I thought to myself, what do we have to do to stop these guys? Are these Buckeyes some kind of a 'TEAM OF DESTINY'?"

Compared to any of the OSU BB games I've watched this season, this victory was truly a TEAM victory. With their best players, Conley and Oden, both on the bench, the other players whose names infrequently get mentioned – like Mike Terwilliger and James Lighty -- came through and made the most improbable comeback anyone has yet witnessed in this year's NCAA tournament. No contest. They were down 20 points at one point, 17 points at halftime....! You could tell the announcers had already written them off....

Well, now I've got that out of my system, perhaps I can sleep tonight....

Do the 2007 Buckeye Basketball players comprise a "Team of Destiny?" So far they do. Stay tuned. They play Memphis in the Elite Eight on Saturday at 4:00 PM. Tune in ... if your heart can stand it!

WOW. Go Bucks!

John Anderson

OXFORD, Ohio — Lake Superior State swept No. 9 Miami out of the CCHA playoffs Saturday night. Propelled by another dominating performance by goaltender Jeff Jakaitis (43 saves), the visiting Lakers stunned the RedHawks 2-1.

LSSU's first-year coach, Jim Roque was ecstatic with his team's effort, especially considering the condition of his troops. "We had guys hurt. Our leading scoring (Troy Schwab) didn't play all weekend. [Defenseman] Ryan Baird was puking all game on the bench. We didn't even have a full lineup. We only dressed 17 skaters."

Senior Jeff Rainville continued his torrid tear, scoring two goals for a total of three this weekend. The Ontario native is surging since the start of the CCHA playoffs. He totaled five assists last weekend against Ferris State.

LSSU jumped out to an early lead 11:51 into the first period thanks to a Miami defensive lapse in its zone. Rainville forced a turnover right in front of the net and scored easily, glove side.

After Miami evened the score with five minutes left in the contest, Rainville once again found the back of the net less than two minutes later, firing a shot over RedHawks' netminder Jeff Zatkoff's left shoulder from the slot.

This was another instance where LSSU capitalized on a Miami mistake. The RedHawks were unable to clear the puck from their zone. Forward Trent Campbell was able to secure the puck and find Rainville for the assist.

"Jeff Rainville scored two huge goals." Roque said, elated with his senior's recent play. "[The seniors] had tough seasons. [Rainville] thought he could have scored more. Dominic [Osman] and Trent Campbell, they thought they would have bigger years. It is just the perfect time to have a great playoffs. I'm so glad for them."

Daydreaming through most of the game, the arena came to life after the announcement that MU's men's basketball team claimed the MAC tournament title against Akron on a thrilling last-second shot, 53-52. This seemed to add a little spark to the RedHawks. Moments later, 14:45 into the third period, the Red and White were finally able to break through. Ryan Jones deflected an Alec Martinez shot for his first goal of the series.

It appeared that the RedHawks were destined for overtime at the very least, before a costly mistake in their own zone led to Rainville's winning score.

Roque felt the RedHawks were a little off this weekend. "They were not sharp, like as far as crisp, you know? A lot of their passes weren't where they needed to be. Even their defensive guys, [the puck] bounced over their sticks. The puck wasn't exactly were it needed to be. They had a tough weekend, I think. I don't know why."

The sweep in the second round of the CCHA playoffs may have cost the RedHawks a spot in the 16-team NCAA tournament, as Miami head coach Enrico Blasi conceded. "I'm thinking our season is over," Blasi said, before allowing a little bit of hope to remain. "I have no idea, but the RPI and PairWise ranking, the way it works, sometimes it benefits you not playing."

NUMB3RS

• It took referee Kevin Hall almost 30 minutes to call a penalty Friday night; he called four in the first five minutes Saturday. Hall only called four more penalties the remainder of the match.

• The announced attendance of 2,264, approximately 200 fewer than Friday night, was slightly surprising. With Miami's students away on spring break, plenty of good seats were available and being a Saturday night, it was thought that the Steve Cady Arena would be closer to capacity. It was so uncharacteristically quiet, RedHawks' play-by-play announcer Greg Waddell could be heard live calling the entire game.

• After platooning goalies Zatkoff and Charlie Effinger most of the season, the RedHawks scrapped the goalie-by-committee approach this series in favor of Zatkoff.

• Miami outshot Lake State 45-26.

• Jakaitis' play was nothing short of remarkable. The senior, ranked second nationally in save percentage, stopped a combined 79 of 81 shots this weekend.

• All four CCHA second-round contests ended in sweeps Saturday. With the exception of Miami, the favorites all advanced (Notre Dame, Michigan State, and Michigan).

• This season MU and LSSU were placed in the same four-team CCHA cluster. As a result, MU and LSSU faced off with one another four times during the regular season in two home-and-away series. MU won three of the contests, including a February 10-11 home sweep.

--M.D. Sandwasher

As Always, comments, questions, and rants, can be sent to sandwasher@yahoo.com. 

OXFORD, Ohio — The Lake Superior State Lakers shocked the heavily-favored No. 9 Miami RedHawks 2-1 Friday night in the first contest of their best-of-three-game series.

Steady goaltending from senior Jeff Jakaitis allowed Lake Superior State to hang around for most of the game before the Lakers took the lead with two third-period goals. Jakaitis, ranked second nationally in save percentage, fended off 37 of 38 shots.

Afterwards, Miami head coach Enrico Blasi gave high praise to the Lakers' senior netminder. "Jakaitis played well for them. We've got to find a way to get to him tomorrow night."

While forward Jeff Rainville was in a giving mood last week with five assists in the three-game CCHA first-round series against Ferris State, he was on the receiving end of the Lakers' first goal Friday.

Shortly after allowing a power play to expire without a shot on goal, senior defenseman Barnabas Birkeland forced RedHawks' goalie Jeff Zatkoff to lean to his right before sliding the puck across the crease to Rainville for the open-net equalizer 3:33 into the third period.

At the 9:57 mark in the final stanza, Derek A. Smith, one of three candidates for the CCHA's Offensive Defenseman of the Year Award, rifled a shot from the right circle for the game winner. The goal gave the junior 10 for the season.

The Lakers played like they had nothing to lose. Lakers head coach Jim Roque said, "There's not a lot of pressure on us. We are the road team."

After the loss, Miami head coach Enrico Blasi emphasized execution. "Bottom line, we did not execute ... [Saturday night] It's do or die. We need to come out and play with some urgency. We need to pay more attention to detail and see what happens. I think they executed and we didn't. The two goals they scored; they executed beautifully on.

Miami broke a nil-nil tie late in the second period on a rare Kevin Roeder goal when Ryan Jones skated around the net and found Nate Davis in front of the net. Jakaitis was able to fend off but not secure Davis' shot, and "Roads" collected the rebound to the left of the goal and scored on Jakaitis' stick side, picking up his first goal of the season.  

Miami quickly surrendered the lead and shortly after found themselves in a one-goal hole. Thanks to ferocious play, the RedHawks created several scoring chances in the game's final 10 minutes, but Jakaitis and the Lakers' defense proved too formidable of a foe on this night.

Blasi did not have any trouble finding positives from his team's performance.

"I thought we played pretty good in the second period and for the most part we did a good job," he said, before reemphasizing his team's need to execute. "But, in playoff hockey you have to execute, and we did not execute tonight and they did."

Roque knows that his troops have to bring the same intensity Saturday night.

"[Miami is] going to be crappin' bullets tomorrow night," he said. "They are coming, right? They've got to be. I think so. They are a good team; a proud team. [We need to] get a good night's rest and go to work."

The squads will resume action in Oxford Sunday night at 7:05 p.m. If the RedHawks force a third and deciding game, it will be played at 7:05 p.m. Sunday.

NUMB3RS

• Referee Kevin Hall called a miniscule number of penalties, punitively blowing his whistle only seven times on the night. The first penalty was called almost halfway through the game. Even though the Lakers came away with the victory, Roque would still like to see more consistency in this department.

"I'll be honest. I got in trouble last week," he said. "I think the kids are very confused in the game — I think they are really confused with penalties. You know what I mean? They are. I know that refs don't want to decide the game, but it's getting confusing. For every penalty, I could find you five more of the same ones that are not being called. I know the refs don't want to determine the game, but the kids are having a hard time out there. It's frustrating."

• LSSU offered the lone upset in CCHA second-round action Friday night. Notre Dame clobbered Alaska 7-1 thanks to five first-period goals, Michigan State skated to a 4-2 victory over Nebraska-Omaha, and Michigan defeated visiting Northern Michigan 4-1.

• Miami frequently sells out the 3,642-seat Steve Cady Arena; however, with students away on spring break, the RedHawks only drew 2,501 fans. With "Ricoville" half empty, the stadium lacked the typical buzz and electricity.

• This season MU and LSSU were placed in the same four-team CCHA cluster. As a result, MU and LSSU faced off with one another four times this season in home-and-away series. MU won three of the contests, including a February 10-11 home sweep.

--M.D. Sandwasher

As Always, comments, questions, and rants, can be sent to sandwasher@yahoo.com. 

Rob Bentz

Sandwasher Magazine Senior Writer 

A few quick thoughts on the amazing OSU/Wisconsin game…

Walking to the arena, out of curiosity, I asked a scalper how much my ticket would go for, and he said $350.  Even though that would pay for my season tickets the next two seasons, I never really considered it.  I had this game scheduled on my calendar before the season started.  Thanks to the Basketball Gods, both teams more than lived up to their preseason hype, coming into this game ranked one and two respectfully. 

As the contest unfolded, I was repeatedly cursing myself for not selling my ticket.  I shouldn’t have been surprised.  Going into the game, I was worried about the slow, physical play of Wisconsin’s big corn fed white boys. I knew they would rotate thugs to beat on freshman stud Greg Oden. What I didn’t know was I’d be witnessing the worst officiated game in Big 10 history. Oden was held, shoved, pulled and punched. Wisconsin players frequently undercut him and took cheap jabs to his ribs. Somehow, Oden never retaliated. Overshadowed by his superior talent is his discipline and class. Most other players could not withstand the abuse he took.

A huge turning point in the game occurred when Wisconsin forward Brian Butch came down awkwardly on his elbow. It was the worst injury I have ever seen. His elbow dislocated so badly it was bent backward. This injury allowed Oden to stay in the paint and not chase Butch around the 3 point line.

The atmosphere at the game was electrifying.  In anticipation of the intense contest, the arena sound system was cranked up and blaring AC/DC’s “Hells Bells” during timeouts at critical points of the game. The crowd was loud and rowdy.  I can’t imagine how loud it would have been if everyone could have clapped instead of waving the never-intimidating “rally towels;” however, the towels did come in handy. Towards the end of the game when the refs were at their worst, fans were tying the towels in knots and throwing them on the court Cleveland Browns-style.  It was beautiful.  Action was halted at one point to clean the debris off the court.   

OSU fought the refs and boring style of play to narrowly win 49-48.  Senior Ron Lewis’ blocked shot preserved the victory in his last home game.  Ivan Harris and Oden both played well in their last home game too. After watching Oden play all year, I don’t think he is fully developed and prepared to be a dominant force in the NBA; yet, I would advise him to enter the draft after this season. He was beat up and pushed around all year and never received help from the refs. Why subject oneself to such abuse and not get paid handsomely for it?  The Big 10 has always been a physical conference, but the abuse Terrence Dials and Oden have endured the past few years is criminal.

I have been asked numerous times if I “stormed the court” after the game.  No, I didn’t. The security guards were monitoring the crowd and funneling everyone down to one isle. I didn’t want to stand in line and wait my turn to run onto the court.

After the team was presented the Big 10 trophy, everyone came to cut the nets down, except Oden. He went behind the bench high fiving and hugging people, before walking out the tunnel opposite the locker room and away from the team. After the nets were down and the team was getting ready to leave the court Oden reappeared. I never heard why he left the court.  I’m hoping that he was just participating in interviews rather than avoiding the emotional cries from the Scarlet and Gray fans pleading for “One more year.”     

Thankfully, I didn’t sell my ticket.  I got to see the Buckeyes win an outright Big 10 championship and Oden’s last Buckeye home game.  Thanks Greg for a great season. If you put together a great run in March, I might change my dog’s name from Scoonie to Oden.

Go Bucks!  

Oden Bentz, err Scoonie Bentz, enjoying the snow after a Buckeye win

--Rob Bentz

The National recently issued a release regarding their highly anticipated fourth coming album, “Boxer.”  The LP will be issued by Beggars Banquet.  This marks the band’s second release with the label on the heels of the immensely successful “Alligator;” released in 2005 and dubbed by Billboard as “One of the finest albums of [that] year.”   

The release date is set for May 21st in Europe and May 22nd in the U.S. 

Days following the release, the quintet, sometimes sextet, hailing from Columbus, Ohio, and currently residing in Brooklyn, New York, will perform in London, Paris, Berlin, and New York. 

An expanded summer tour with U.S. and Canada dates will be released soon.     

Check out previous releases for free on Napster (the online music store allows listeners to listen to a song up for free up to five times).     

--M.D. Sandwasher

As Always, comments, questions, and rants, can be sent to sandwasher@yahoo.com. 

Due to receive a $1 million dollar bonus this Tuesday, the Steelers parted ways with their talented linebacker.  This led to the following exchanged by two Browns fans.   

The Weedwacker-“Yo, did you hear that the Steelers cut Joey Porter?  The Browns need to snatch him and Nate Clements up.” 

Sandwasher-Referring to Porter, “You really want that a-hole wearing the beautiful Orange and Brown?"

The Weedwacker-“Classy guys are getting us 4 wins a year.  Show him the money!” 

--M.D. Sandwasher

As Always, comments, questions, and rants, can be sent to sandwasher@yahoo.com. 

OXFORD, OH – On a rare Thursday night contest against Robert Morris University, the Miami University RedHawks (21-10-4) crushed the hottest team in the country 7-3. Robert Morris (13-14-1), owners of the nation’s longest winning streak at five, had not allowed an opponent more than two goals during their surge; however, the Colonials found themselves behind three to nil within the first six minutes of the non-conference matchup. The Colonials braved the storm but were never able to fully recover from their gargantuan early game breakdowns.

The RedHawks jumped out to a three goal lead thanks in large part to the newly formed first line of Ryan Jones, Nathan Davis, and Marty Guerin. An injury to starting forward Brian Kaufman against the Alaska Nanooks forced Miami’s head coach Enrico Blasi to shuffle around the offensive lines. After playing inconsistently for three games, the line seems to be starting to gel.

Jones’ first goal came just 1:10 into the game. Guerin brought the puck into the offensive zone, before finding Jones in the slot. Jones skated in front of the net and scored glove side on Colonial netminder Joe Tuset.

A little over two minutes later, on a power play, Jones and Guerin teamed up again to give the Red and White a two goal lead. Guerin rifled a shot from the left point and Jones deflected the shot for his second goal of the game.

The first line was at it again two minutes later with a goal from Davis. Defenseman Ray Eichenlaub took a shot from the point and Davis poked the rebound in for his 18th goal of the season for a 3-0 lead.

After stopping a flurry of shots, RedHawk goalie Charlie Effinger let one pass on a rebound shot by sophomore Chris Margott 14:03 into the first period. The goal moved the Colonials within two at 3-1. The score would stay that way after one period.

MU took a 4-1 lead on a shorthanded goal by Guerin 7:31 into the second period. Already with two assists, Guerin scored on an incredible individual effort. In between the circles with a defender separating him from the goalie, Guerin passed the puck by the defender and to himself, making the defender look absolutely ridiculous, scoring above Tuset’s outstretched glove arm.

Pushed to the brink, RMU scored two goals in the next five minutes, pulling within one at 4-3. The Colonials responded less than a minute after Guerin’s goal on a tic-tac-toe pass to Aaron Clarke. Clarke scored with three seconds remaining on an Eichenlaub penalty.

Kyle Frieday pulled the Colonials within one on an even strength goal from the right circle 12:30 into the second via the five hole.

Senior center Geoff Smith’s gave the RedHawks a little breathing room on a power play goal 16:36 into the second, extending the lead to 5-3. Near the crease, Smith gathered Davis’ shot from the point, and with Tuset off balance, patiently put placed a backhand shot into the empty net. The goal marked Smith’s second in back-to-back games.

Like the first period, the RedHawks exerted their will in the third period for a pair of goals on 14 shots. Naturally, the goals came from the first line. The first came courtesy of captain Jones. 4:30 into the final stanza, Jones scored his third goal of the contest, giving him his second career hat trick and 23 goals on the season. Guerin added his second goal of the night four minutes later to put the finishing touches on the night. Like Jones, Guerin finished with four points on the night.

Overall, RedHawks head coach Blasi seemed pleased with his team’s performance against the Colonials. “[Robert Morris] played hard tonight. They got back into the game. It was tight there for a little bit. I thought we played really well in the third. We controlled our turnovers and made goal scoring chances.”

MU will travel to Pittsburgh to finish the home-and-away series with RMU this Saturday at 7:35 ET. MU will make the long trek to Northern Michigan next weekend for the final regular season series. Next weekend, RMU will host Wayne State.

NUMB3RS

--M.D. Sandwasher

As Always, comments, questions, and rants, can be sent to sandwasher@yahoo.com. 

OXFORD, Ohio – Playing in their last regular season Central Collegiate Hockey Association home game, Miami RedHawk fans bid adieu to seniors Andy Nelson, Joe Cooper, Geoff Smith, Marty Guerin, and Matt Christie. With senior night and a first round playoff bye on the line, the RedHawks (20-10-4, 15-7-4 CCHA) emphatically jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first 28 minutes on the Lake Superior State Lakers (15-14-3, 9-11-3 CCHA) and then held on for dear life for the last 32 minutes, winning 3-2.

The seniors were a big reason for Miami’s early success. It took Miami 10 minutes to warm up Friday night, but the RedHawks wasted little time forcing their will Saturday evening. Miami’s play in the first period, both offensively and defensively, was as dominating of a performance as I have seen from a squad in recent memory. The Red and White were all over the ice, finishing off checks and seemingly gaining control of every lose puck. While holding the Lakers scoreless, including three penalty kills, the RedHawks outshot the Lakers 22 to 13 on their way to a 2-0 lead.

Four-year letterman Matt Christie was the first to light the red lamp thanks to a nifty pass by line mate Justin Mercier. Lakers’ forward Josh Sim was unable to handle the puck in the neutral zone, and Mercier was the benefactor. Mercier and Christie led a 2-0 attack into the offensive zone. Mercier skated to the right of Lakers’ netminder Jeff Jakaitis and he unselfishly found Christie right in front of the crease for an easy score on stick side.

“[Mercier] was a step ahead of me,” Christie said describing the play. “I thought he was going with the backhand but he slid it over to me.”

Three minutes later, the second line was at it again. After another LSSU turnover, this time in the Lakers’ zone, freshman Jarod Palmer put the RedHawks up two to nil on an unassisted, 4-on-4 goal. The goal gave Palmer 10 for the season.

Early into the second period, Nathan Davis made an incredible individual effort, skating around the front of the net patently waiting for an opening. He found a slight slit stick side and put the puck in the back of the net; however, the goal was waved off because there was a RedHawk in the crease before Davis took the shot.

Seniors Geoff Smith and Christie officially made it a 3-0 game 8:08 into the second period, cashing in on a power play opportunity. Christie skated along the left boards before setting up Smith in the slot for a stick side goal.

After pushing the Lakers around for the first half of the game, it appeared the RedHawks eased off of the accelerator, allowing the Lakers to jump back into the game.

The second best penalty killing unit in the country was victim to a goal on consecutive nights 16:43 into the second. Miami goaltender Jeff Zatkoff had been stellar all night, but he finally let one through at the end of a LSSU power play. The PK unit was a mere 13 seconds from killing off their sixth penalty of the night before senior forward Jeff Rainville notched his 10th goal of the season. Rainville rifled a shot in between the circles, scoring to the left side of Zatkoff and bringing his mates within two goals.

LSSU’s fourth line center Troy Schwab pulled the Lakers within a goal 13:41 into the third period. From the right faceoff circle, Schwab scored over Zatkoff’s left arm for his fifth goal of the year.

The RedHawk faithful had to sweat out the last six minutes of the contest, including an open net for the last minute of the game that felt like an eternity. In the end, Zatkoff and Miami’s defense were able to stop a flurry of shots on their way to a weekend sweep of LSSU.

NUMB3RS

--M.D. Sandwasher

As Always, comments, questions, and rants, can be sent to sandwasher@yahoo.com.