Walter offutt leaving Ohio state

• Midstate01

  

  Leaving due to lack of playing time.
  
  With turner or Buford, or both leaving. Gives osu another scholly. Though this will hurt their NCAA score.. Whatever that thing is with grades and players not finishing out semesters.
• Prescott

  Why are these kids so impatient? OSU waited on him and his knee injury, but he can't wait for his turn. Where is he headed?
• Midstate01

  

  Doesn't say where he's going. I agree with you, they were patient with him. Hell they could have gone after someone else with all his injuries but they stayed committed to him....
• Prescott

  http://www.sportingnews.com/college-basketball/article/2009-11-24/ohio-state-guard-walter-offutt-will-transfer
• centralbucksfan

  Thats too bad... I was surprised to not see him play more this year. He kind of came on late last season coming off the bench. I am sure he would have gotten an opportunity at some point this year. As mentioned, lack of patience with these young men is disappointing. Now, unless he goes below D1, will have to sit out another year.
  
  As far as this hurting OSU...it won't unless he goes onto another school and doesn't finish. This stupid ARP rule that OSU is still responsible, even while a player is at another school is just ridiculous.
• se-alum

  

  If I had to sit there and watch PJ Hill play before me, I'd leave to.
• thedynasty1998

  

  Can't really blame him. I thought he would be a solid contributor this year, and when you sit there and watch Diebler play 40 minutes, I'd leave too.
  
  With that said, this is a GOOD THING! OSU was relying on a guy leaving early after the season to make room for the incoming class. Well now they don't have any worries, and Matta might be able to go after someone else. I doubt Turner returns, but the option is there. And if he does leave, Matta might waste another scholarship on some bum that will sit on the bench.
  
  On a side note, I don't know how Matta can be such a good recruiter, yet miss on so many guys. Z, Madsen, Kecman, PJ Hill, etc... All guys who have no business playing Big 10 basketball.
• Midstate01

  

  All transfers or juco players.....
  
  Not really recruits..
• newarkcatholicfan

  

  I hope he goes back to Indiana and signs with Indiana State.
• thedynasty1998

  

  He still recruits jucos and transfers, right?
• centralbucksfan

  Wow, why isn't thedynasty1998 the head coach at OSU!? I mean, he seems to have all the answers and thinks it so easy....
• Midstate01

  

  Doesn't every school in the country have kids who don't play or don't work out?!?!
• thedynasty1998

  

  CBF, I turned them down the last time they had the opening. Didn't pay enough.
  
  I love Matta. I think he's great at OSU and I hope he decides to stay at OSU for a long time.
  
  He's had some bad luck with early entrants, and I don't blame him for that. But it is interesting to me that he can be such a great recruiter, yet bring in so many average players. I know not everyone is going to be a star and you need role players, but you would think that you would at least wants guys that can contribute.
  
  As for the JUCO's, I don't mind them as much because they are two year guys (usually) and you are not wasting a scholarship with them sitting out a year.
  
  The transfers like Z and Madsen are bothersome because you are going to have them for three years and are using a scholarship on a year when they are not even eligible. I just think they would be better off bringing in a project out of the HS ranks. But I can't fault Matta because he is successful and has turned OSU basketball into something relevant.
• centralbucksfan

  thedynasty1998 wrote: CBF, I turned them down the last time they had the opening. Didn't pay enough.
  
  I love Matta. I think he's great at OSU and I hope he decides to stay at OSU for a long time.
  
  He's had some bad luck with early entrants, and I don't blame him for that. But it is interesting to me that he can be such a great recruiter, yet bring in so many average players. I know not everyone is going to be a star and you need role players, but you would think that you would at least wants guys that can contribute.
  
  As for the JUCO's, I don't mind them as much because they are two year guys (usually) and you are not wasting a scholarship with them sitting out a year.
  
  The transfers like Z and Madsen are bothersome because you are going to have them for three years and are using a scholarship on a year when they are not even eligible. I just think they would be better off bringing in a project out of the HS ranks. But I can't fault Matta because he is successful and has turned OSU basketball into something relevant.

  I think you need to realize what Matta walked into when he came to OSU. The year Madsen transfered, was the first year Matta had the Thad Five. He needed some bodies, just for practices. He had NO one to bang with Oden inside. He needed bodies and Madsen had left Vandy.
  The Jucos...well, again, out of need when players left early. No one expected Conley to leave. By the time that happened, Matta didn't have a PG, he was forced to find the best available player in the spring..that meant going the JUCO route with Hill. Similar issue with Simmons.
  I will say that "Z" is a bit of a head scratcher. But then again, 7' players don't grow on trees. Sometimes you have to take a chance and see if a kid can develop. I believe Z is only a soph...so maybe he will pan out in the future to be a solid role player that is needed. Still early to write him off.
  If you asked Matta if he wanted to do what he did by going after JUCO players...I highly doubt those were his first options. Often times, coaches are forced to do things they really don't want to do.
  Matta has dealt with limited scholarships since being at OSU. Some being the early departures, but some because of the O'Brien issues. The lack of depth has forced Matta to do what he has done...not by choice. And, you aren't going to have 4,5 star talent with all 12 players.
  I believe this will be the last year we see such a multitude of issues like this as OSU will be returning quite a few players, and bringing in 6 top recruits. That depth WITH talent will be there next year.
• OneBuckeye

  

  I guess that leaves us with that extra spot for the next class we needed. Now lets hope both buford and turner don't leave.
• centralbucksfan

  OneBuckeye wrote: I guess that leaves us with that extra spot for the next class we needed. Now lets hope both buford and turner don't leave.

  Buford has a LONG way to go before being ready for the NBA. And seeing Mullens in the DL will make some think twice I think.
  Turner is as good as gone, and should be.
• OneBuckeye

  

  ^ That is what I figured all along, but we were still one scholly short. Now we are not. I wonder how long Matta has known this.
• thedynasty1998

  

  CBF, I agree with you. I didn't necessarily mean it a knock on Matta with the head scratchers, because I understand everything you've said. But it's crazy to see guys like Oden, Koufos, Mullens and Lauderdale and then see Madsen playing.
  
  And many were critical of Terwilliger when he was on scholarship, I actually thought he was great for OSU (I know he was O'Briens guy). You need guys who grow up in the system, work hard to get better, practice hard every day and do what is asked of them.
  
  Matta has had his hands tied on a couple different situations (bigs and PG's) and got desperate, but I guess I just wish there would have been someone else out there better to bring in.
  
  
  
  
  Buford hasn't improved the way I thought he would, although it's still early in the season, so I agree he's back. But it's hard to predict what he's hearing and thinking.
  
  For some reason I think Turner considers returning more than most think. He just seems like one of those guys. He was a first rounder last year and returned. If he think he can win a National Championship, he just might return. If he does, OSU will be scary good!
• RiverRat13

  I think Buford should and will return. Next year Matta should be able to use nine players:
  
  Guards: Craft, Buford, Diebler, Sibert, Smith
  Wings/Forwards: Thomas, Lighty
  Posts: Sullinger, Lauderdale
  
  I don't think Weatherspoon will be ready to contribute as a freshmen, but Thad may be wise to throw him some minutes. I think he'll be a good one in time and I could be wrong about him as a freshman. Kecman and "Z" won't see the floor again next year. If Thad only plays seven next year in the heat of battle, then that's on him. He needs to start building a bench and he'll actually have something to work with next year.
• vball10set

  don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out....these kids taking the easy way out just kills me--whatever happened to working harder to get what you want??
• 112in84

  

  He didn't play much, I don't think it will be a big loss for OSU.
• thedynasty1998

  

  Well in his defense, he might just see the writing on the wall. I wish he would have stuck it out, but maybe he knew he wasn't good enough.
  
  I disagree on Weatherspoon. He might not be real polished, but OSU won't have anyone on their roster as athletic as him. Even if he only gets 5-6 minutes a game, I think you have to put him out there to see if he can make some plays. Plus, I think he will add a toughness that OSU is lacking a little bit.
  
  And that's not mentioning the chemistry that he already has with not only Sullinger, but also his AAU buddies.
• mallymal614

  se-alum wrote: If I had to sit there and watch PJ Hill play before me, I'd leave to.

  lol!!
• mallymal614

  Add Offutt to the list of Anthony Crater, Eric Wallace, and Sylvester Mayes who transferred out of Ohio State under Matta's watch.
• stroups

  

  I always wondered why he didn't play more, hopefully this works out the best for him