Trading elbows every day with Terence Dials and Greg Oden, two of the best post players in college basketball, has reinforced what Matt Terwilliger is not on a basketball court, as well as what he can be.

When Terwilliger came off the bench early in the second half Tuesday and found himself open along the baseline, the Ohio State junior did not hesitate to shoot ? and hit ? a midrange jumper.

"That?s my game. I can spread the defense a lot more," Terwilliger said. "It kind of changes it up, because Greg is such a dominant post presence and I?m more of a pick-and-popper ? spread the defense out, get other people open, more of a free-flow offense.

"The coaches tell me all the time, when I get my feet set, I?m 90 percent from pretty much anywhere. As long as my feet are set when I?m open, I can knock it down."

He also can grab an offensive rebound or two and give a few fouls, which he did Tuesday in a 76-63 win over Michigan. Terwilliger played 10? minutes and contributed four points, two rebounds and three fouls.

They are modest contributions, to be sure, but they helped Ohio State maintain a lead in the 8? minutes Oden spent on the bench in the second half. The Buckeyes led by seven when Oden picked up his third foul with 17:20 left, and Michigan never got closer than three the rest of the way.

"It goes to show you how deep they are, how talented they can be with or without the big guy," Michigan coach Tommy Amaker said. "That?s the making of a special team, which I think they?re working on becoming."

A week ago, Terwilliger played 18 minutes in a 78-60 win at Purdue. In the two games before that, he played a total of five minutes. He has played seven minutes or fewer in 10 of the past 14 games, after averaging 17? in his first nine games, when Oden was recovering from offseason wrist surgery.

"At first it was tough," Terwilliger said, "but as long as Greg is in there dominating the way he does, it doesn?t bother me at all. As long as we keep getting those W?s, that doesn?t bother me, either."

The coaches have implored him to play every minute as if it is the only minute he will play.

"I want him playing like his feet are on fire, bringing what he can bring to the table," coach Thad Matta said. "Honestly, that?s what I want all our players to do. We try to give them freedom to play and do what they?re capable of doing."

Competing against Dials, the 2006 Big Ten player of the year, in practice for two years and Oden this season has crystallized in Terwilliger?s mind his capabilities. He is not as physical in the post as Dials and Oden, but then, few are. Oden, at 7 feet, has the added advantage of 4 inches on Terwilliger, who is 6-8.

"It?s not fair," Terwilliger said with a smile. "He spends most of his practice with my elbow in his back, making sure he stays out of the paint, because you know if he gets anywhere inside the paint, he?s going to dunk on you. It?s not fair, seriously."

spriestle@dispatch.com?