Ohio State vs. Arizona was the match-up all Sixers fans were waiting for. The battle between two potential top draft picks, the game where fans can decide which prospect they prefer, the game where fans can see what the future looks like; D’Angelo Russell facing Stanley Johnson. So how did these top players in the nation perform? Unimpressive to say the least. Actually I’ll go on and say that it was so disappointing I turned off the TV and stopped watching March Madness for the rest of the night. Sixers are looking for a sure thing in this draft to build their future and neither of these guys proved to be anything close.
I guess you can say Stanley Johnson got the last laugh because his Wildcats beat D’Angelo Russell’s Ohio State team to move on to the Sweet 16, but if we are talking about individual performance, neither of these guys impressed. The best part of the night between these two was Russell’s no look pass. Even in an otherwise bad game, Russell was still able to show off why he’s a top pick.
D'Angelo Russell no look pass https://t.co/cPpLe73Xpp
— Hoops Videos (@HoopsVids) March 21, 2015
Stanley Johnson contributed just four points, shooting 1-of-12 from the field. He did rack up 10 rebounds but offensively he had no impact at all for Arizona. Johnson looked like he was going to turn things around late in the first half when he was alone on a fastbreak after a steal. He went up for a one handed slam and his bad day continued as he lost the ball mid-air. He didn’t just underperform for his standards, he underperformed for any level of basketball players.
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D’Angelo Russell didn’t have as bad as a day as Johnson had, but he was pretty bad too. Russell dropped nine points and shot a feeble sixteen percent from the field. He did, however, have seven rebounds and six assists, so he did do some sort of damage on offense. However, in order for Ohio State to win, Russell needed to takeover. Instead, Arizona’s amazing team defense swallowed him up. Credit to the Wildcats for devising a game plan to completely stifle Russell. It wasn’t just Stanley Johnson or RHJ defending him, every time he got past them there was someone at the rim. These are NBA level defenders and most expected Russell to struggle and he did.
It wasn’t the best way to end his college career and now he will have months to think about this performance.
D'Angelo Russell's 16 missed FG are a career high and the most by an Ohio State player in the NCAA Tournament since Jim Jackson in 1992.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 21, 2015
Sad day, Sixers fans. It was fun seeing D’Angelo Russell this season but now we have to wait to see if his name will be called by Adam Silver in April with the Sixers on the clock.
As for Stanley Johnson, if he wants his draft stock to rise and his Wildcats to win a title, he better step his game up. Johnson is still a talented player and if the Sixers fall in the fifth or sixth spot in the draft, he could be a very good option.
With the draft watch over for D’Angelo Russell over for now, Sixers fans should be rooting for potential picks to show us their best games right before the draft. Although these two disappointed today, it should make us fans even more anxious to see what our beloved team decides to do in the draft.
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