Sweet 16: (4) Kentucky vs. (1) Ohio State

• Big Gain

  If Thomas would have played more he would have fouled out out before he shot the ball twice. AND the player he was defending would have 3 more layups. Thomas had 2 fouls and his man scored on 2 layups in the 3 minutes he played.
• Big Gain

  vball10set;725272 wrote:I agree, but I thought it was mainly during the first 10 minutes of the game--he was a beast in the second half....Kentucky outplayed OSU, plain and simple...GO BUCKS!!!!

  Sullinger only made 2 good post moves all night, the rest of the time he was stumbling and bumbling. The majority of his points came on Free Throws and put backs. He needs to work on his 8-10 foot jump shot and BALL FAKING and putting the ball on the floor and going around his defender. He did that in HS against much smaller players. He needs to expand his game so that against big defenders like Harrelson he won't be so one dimensional.
• Big Gain

  lhslep134;725329 wrote:Truthfully I'm indifferent about Buford leaving. He's a great talent but him leaving infuses the youth of Sibert, Thompson, Ross and Weatherspoon which I think can benefit the Bucks by giving teams more than 6 options to worry about.

  
  Weatherspoon?? LOL I'd be willing to bet my net worth VS yours he'll flunk out or transfer before becoming a major contributor.
  
  Thompson and Ross will not be ready to handle the responsibility of being a starter like Sullinger and Craft this year nor average 12+ ppg. They will be at the level of Thomas this year, inconsistent with flashes of the future. Were either of them their states player of the year or 3rd all time scorer?
  
  WITH Buford......Sullinger, Craft, Thomas, Sibert and contributions from Ravenal, Smith and a Freshman or two, Ohio State will be a 4 seed like Kentucky this year. Playing their best at tournament time. WITHOUT Buford...... Ohio State will struggle offensively at times and would be an 8 or 9 seed.
• se-alum

  

  lhslep134;725329 wrote:Truthfully I'm indifferent about Buford leaving. He's a great talent but him leaving infuses the youth of Sibert, Thompson, Ross and Weatherspoon which I think can benefit the Bucks by giving teams more than 6 options to worry about.

  
  That's crazy talk, we need Buford if OSU is going to compete at a high level next year. This team will be incredibly young if he doesn't return. I'm hoping for a starting lineup of:
  
  Sully
  Thomas
  Sibert
  Buford
  Craft
  
  Sibert could be the sixth man if Amir Williams is capable of startinng.
• Mulva

  

  SportsAndLady;725427 wrote:No sarcasm at all.

  
  Then nice use of faulty logic. And I'm referring to your first statement. Not anything to do with whether Matta will win one.
  
  Bill Self has 3 awful NCAA tournament losses (Bucknell, Bradley, Northern Iowa). Far worse than any loss Thad has ever had in the tournament. But since he finally won a title he is a "great tournament coach"?
  
  Before he bailed on Kansas, Roy Williams was the choke artist of college basketball. A great coach who couldn't win when it mattered. See 1990, 92, 95, 97, or 98 for prime examples of Roy teams choking at Kansas.
  
  Both of those guys were considered anything BUT "great tournament coaches" until they finally managed to win one. Being a great tournament coach wasn't the reason for those teams winning titles. Those teams winning titles is the only reason that you consider them to be great tournament coaches.
• Big Gain

  Automatik;725316 wrote:Yeah I was surprised Matta didn't attempt to slow the game down and work it in and out. I was waiting for it all night and it never fucking happened.

  
  "Working it in and out"??? You didn't notice that Harrelson was defending Sullinger w/o help for the most part? You didn't notice Kentucky rarely doubled down off of Diebler Buford or Lighty?
• Automatik

  

  Big Gain;725557 wrote:"Working it in and out"??? You didn't notice that Harrelson was defending Sullinger w/o help for the most part? You didn't notice Kentucky rarely doubled down off of Diebler Buford or Lighty?

  
  Yes, I was surprised Harrelson held his own. I wanted to see more patience out of OSU in their half court sets.
• Big Gain

  Automatik;725343 wrote:Do you even watch OSU? He has a great spin move and drop step. Although not that much, I"ve also seen him utilize the baby hook effectively.
  
  Like I said...his footwork is amazing and thats what I would interpret as a good post player.

  
  Tonight for the first time all season Sullinger had to play against a player that was just as big and strong, 3 years older, 2 inches taller and a better jumper. Without being comfortable facing the basket, Sullinger did MORE than I thought possible. The vast majority of his points were on Free Throws and hustling put backs. Sullinger could not score 25 and was incapable of getting a big basket when needed against Kentucky's players and defense.
• Big Gain

  SportsAndLady;725477 wrote:And I understand that, but when there's other more viable options, you have to tell him to give up the rock. Especially in a do-or-die situation.

  
  "Other more viable options"? LOLOLOL I ASSume you mean Thomas? Very unknowledgeable of you. Thomas played 3 minutes. During his time on the floor he had 2 fouls and was beaten for a layup twice. Your "viable option" if played more would have fouled out in 10 minutes and given up several more layups.
• september63

  

  Listening to S & L talk strategy about OSU basketball is funny stuff. S & L, You had better hope Kansas wins it all because these people will be all over your dumb ass if they dont!!!
• Big Gain

  lhslep134;725358 wrote:http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/tournament/2011/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=6251607
  
  Now you can shut up. No need to thank me.
  
  
  As for your analysis of Sullinger, it's not too far from the truth. Sullinger is much better at facing his man leaving him the ability to hit jumpers (like he did all of high school to become the high school POY). His back to the basket game is still very raw, and we saw what Harrellson was able to do defensively about that. Sullinger's footwork IS extremely good, but because of his bigger body, he's not able to elevate above bigger defenders (like Harrellson). That's why I think Amir Williams coming in is HUGE next year because Sully can slide back to the 4, his natural position, and not worry about playing back to the basket every single play.

  
  Williams is 6-10 210, he WILL NOT be ready to play the 5 spot in the Big Ten or against Top Ten programs next year. He will have to drink a ton of "milkshakes" and do some serious weight training to put on at least 20 pounds, before he will be able to just hold his own.
  
  Next year Ravenal will be a "Lauderdale" playing the the 5 spot if you want Sullinger to play PF. For offensive purposes it's more likely Thomas will play the 4 spot and Sullinger will still play the 5. I'm hoping Sullinger can improve his overall game by taking off a few pounds and become comfortable facing the basket, making him more difficult to defend by a BIG physical defender.
• lhslep134

  

  Big Gain;725570 wrote:Williams is 6-10 210, he WILL NOT be ready to play the 5 spot in the Big Ten or against Top Ten programs next year. He will have to drink a ton of "milkshakes" and do some serious weight training to put on at least 20 pounds, before he will be able to just hold his own.

  
  Thats not a concern of mine the majority of high school big men bulk up considerably between the time their weight is charted (beginning of senior year) and the time the first collegiate game starts. I am 100% positive he will weigh at the least 235.
• 77Legend

  

  Matta chose not to play Dallas, just like MallyMal said. He doesn't play the right rotation. You have to adjust your rotation to what team you are playing. We needed height besides Sully, well that height was on the bench.
• Big Gain

  He's LEGALLY going to gain 25 pounds of muscle in 6 months at Ohio State?? LOL
• Big Gain

  77Legend;725583 wrote:Matta chose not to play Dallas, just like MallyMal said. He doesn't play the right rotation. You have to adjust your rotation to what team you are playing. We needed height besides Sully, well that height was on the bench.

  
  We needed more scoring, not Lauderdale.
• Big Gain

  lhslep134;725577 wrote:Thats not a concern of mine the majority of high school big men bulk up considerably between the time their weight is charted (beginning of senior year) and the time the first collegiate game starts. I am 100% positive he will weigh at the least 235.

  
  He's going to gain 25 pounds of muscle LEGALLY in six months at Ohio State?? LOL
• Automatik

  

  Big Gain;725587 wrote:He's going to gain 25 pounds of muscle LEGALLY in six months at Ohio State?? LOL

  Its possible, but not likely. I'd aim for half of that.
• Big Gain

  Williams, Self and Donavon don't win National Championships without the players they recruited. Matta must out recruit Williams, Self and Donavon before he can beat them on they way to a National Title.
• SportsAndLady

  

  Big Gain;725521 wrote:You ignoramus, ALL coaches MUST have talent to "ride".
  
  For Matta to win a National Title he must out recruit Calipari, Donavon and Self. Calhoun, Krzyzewski and Williams will be out of coaching before Matta retires.

  
  What does any of that have to do with my opinion that Matta won't win a title? LOL
• Big Gain

  Skyhook79;725458 wrote:It took Roy Williams 16 years to get his first and Self 15 years. Matta just finished his 11th year. Unfair comparison with those 2.

  Williams has coached 23 years at a Top Ten program. Matta has turned Ohio State into a Top Ten program in 7 years. Williams and Self would never win a National Title at Butler or Xavier either.
• lhslep134

  

  Big Gain;725587 wrote:He's going to gain 25 pounds of muscle LEGALLY in six months at Ohio State?? LOL

  
  There's no way for me to prove this but my point is he probably already weighs in the 218-225 range just from putting on weight since he last got measured during summer camps.
  
  Oh and if you dont think someone 6'10" 215 can play in Big 10 I guessed you've never heard of Jajuan Johnson.
• SportsAndLady

  

  Mulva;725555 wrote:Then nice use of faulty logic. And I'm referring to your first statement. Not anything to do with whether Matta will win one.
  
  Bill Self has 3 awful NCAA tournament losses (Bucknell, Bradley, Northern Iowa). Far worse than any loss Thad has ever had in the tournament. But since he finally won a title he is a "great tournament coach"?
  
  Before he bailed on Kansas, Roy Williams was the choke artist of college basketball. A great coach who couldn't win when it mattered. See 1990, 92, 95, 97, or 98 for prime examples of Roy teams choking at Kansas.
  
  Both of those guys were considered anything BUT "great tournament coaches" until they finally managed to win one. Being a great tournament coach wasn't the reason for those teams winning titles. Those teams winning titles is the only reason that you consider them to be great tournament coaches.

  
  Bill Self has went to the NCAA tournament for the last 13 straight seasons. He took Tulsa to the Elite 8! Then Illinois to the Elite 8. In his 8 seasons at KU, he has been to at least the Elite 8 in 4 of the seasons. He is 19-6 in the NCAA tournament. Not very many coaches ever win national titles, so while yes you can't just say because he's won a championship, that makes him a great coach...but you do have to put a major emphasis on that title run. Lets not forget, he could very well get his 2nd this year.
  
  As for his first round losses...that doesn't take anything away from his tournament success. When you've gone 13 straight seasons in the NCAA tourney, you have to assume a few blunders in there. 6/13 tourneys in the Elite 8 definitely make up for a few early losses.
  
  As for Roy Williams, my only point was that he is a national championship caliber coach. Yes, he struggled early. But that's irrelevant when you look at his two national championship seasons. You said you didn't have an issue with me saying That will not win one, so pointing out that Roy took 16 seasons to get his is irrelevant because he did end up getting his..twice. Roy Williams and Coach K have a relatively similar resume' to Bill Self in that they go every year, and moreso than not, they go deep in the tourney...the championships only add onto the argument, it isn't the sole argument.
• SportsAndLady

  

  Big Gain;725610 wrote:Williams and Self would never win a National Title at Butler or Xavier either.

  
  Self put his time into a smaller program, just as Thad did. Just took That a little longer to reach a big time program. Self took his smaller team (Tulsa) to a second round and an Elite 8. No shit he didn't win a championship, who does at smaller schools? The answer is no one does.
• Ty Webb

  

  Please tell me he didn't just say Bill Self has as good a resume as Roy Williams or Coach K
• SportsAndLady

  

  Big Gain;725567 wrote:"Other more viable options"? LOLOLOL I ASSume you mean Thomas? Very unknowledgeable of you. Thomas played 3 minutes. During his time on the floor he had 2 fouls and was beaten for a layup twice. Your "viable option" if played more would have fouled out in 10 minutes and given up several more layups.

  
  Yeah moron, that's what I meant...they should have gone to Deshaun fucking Thomas....LOL!!
  
  How about Diebler, Lighty, and Sullinger.