OSU can clinch Big 10 title with win tonight

COLUMBUS (AP) — When Evan Turner came to Ohio State three seasons ago, he wanted to be more than just a good basketball player.

He wanted to leave a mark, to make people remember him.

“I wanted to win a Big Ten title, try to get a national championship and try to be one of the best to ever come out of here,” the junior point guard said Monday.

Now the sixth-ranked Buckeyes are on the verge of reaching one of Turner’s goals. They can clinch at least a share of the Big Ten title with a win over Illinois on Tuesday night in their final home game and regular-season finale.

A reporter joked that if the Buckeyes lost, would that mean Turner would disdain the NBA and return to Ohio State for his senior season?

“I think there’s a greater chance, yeah,” he said with a grin.

But Turner said he wouldn’t go along with the logic that Ohio State fans should therefore root for the Illini to make sure he didn’t turn pro.

“No!” he repeated four times while cracking up.

At least one chapter of a remarkable season comes to a close for the Buckeyes (23-7, 13-4) against the Illini (18-11, 10-6). They started the conference season with four of their first five games on the road, all against teams expected to make the NCAA field. They also entered Big Ten play without Turner, who had broken bones in his back in early December.

They were 1-3 in the conference heading into a game at No. 6 Purdue soon after Turner, still feeling his way, returned to the lineup. They won that game, and haven’t slowed down much since.

Ohio State has won 13 of its last 14 Big Ten games heading into the showdown with Illinois, a team the Buckeyes handled 72-53 on its home floor on Valentine’s Day. Another win over the Illini would mean Purdue (24-4, 12-4) and Michigan State (22-7, 12-4) would have to win their final two games this week in order to share the title.

The Buckeyes would also be the top seed in the Big Ten tournament on March 11-14 in Indianapolis.

Four seniors will be playing their final home game for Ohio State against Illinois. The larger question is whether Turner, heralded as a possible Big Ten and national player of the year, might also be making his final appearance at Value City Arena.

For the record, Turner said he hasn’t even thought about it. He also does not eliminate the possibility he might come back for his senior season.

“I definitely like it here,” said Turner, who averages 19.7 points, 9.3 rebounds and 6 assists a game. “I feel if I stay, it wouldn’t hurt. I’m going to get better as a basketball player, keep maturing as a person. We have a great (recruiting) class coming in, we have great players who are going to be returning. It can only go up and up.”