Archive

Ohio State 2011-2012

  • se-alum
    Wooball;727765 wrote:I hate watching highlight videos of high school big men. For the most part, they all seem like they are lazy on defense and just try to block every shot and on offense all they do is dunk. From what i can gather from reading reports, watching highlights and watching some of his state game last weekend is that he is long, athletic and can run the floor. Its to be seen if he has any post moves and how he defends players his own size, questions that pretty much come with all young post players.

    Also, I expect Shannon Scott to be our best PG next year. I know people love Craft and what he did this year, but from what I have seen, Scott is going to be a real player from the start.
    I definitely hope he is better than the highlights looked. Honestly, he seems soft w/ the ball and doesn't seem to have good hands. I certainly hope I'm wrong and he contributes alot, but for now, I'm not optimistic.

    Also, I think we'll see alot of Craft and Scott on the floor at the same time, especially if Craft improves his shooting as is expected.
  • chicago510
    Will and Jared were in class today. If they were going pro I doubt they would have began the quarter, doesn't that kill your APR when a kid drops his classes to go pro?

    So they are either coming back, or just love school.
  • Writerbuckeye
    chicago510;727808 wrote:Will and Jared were in class today. If they were going pro I doubt they would have began the quarter, doesn't that kill your APR when a kid drops his classes to go pro?

    So they are either coming back, or just love school.

    After past fiascoes with Oden (unintentional) and Koufos (intentional), I doubt VERY MUCH that Matta would allow either of these guys to be in class without knowing they're going to finish the quarter or come back.

    In all likelihood, this means both are coming back as they said they were.
  • centralbucksfan
    se-alum;727773 wrote:I definitely hope he is better than the highlights looked. Honestly, he seems soft w/ the ball and doesn't seem to have good hands. I certainly hope I'm wrong and he contributes alot, but for now, I'm not optimistic.

    Also, I think we'll see alot of Craft and Scott on the floor at the same time, especially if Craft improves his shooting as is expected.

    You sure your not looking at highlights of Trey McDonald? I saw highlights of him, and he is a definate project..even possible redshirt.
  • centralbucksfan
    Wooball;727765 wrote:Also, I expect Shannon Scott to be our best PG next year. I know people love Craft and what he did this year, but from what I have seen, Scott is going to be a real player from the start.

    I expect to see Scott as well. But to say he is going to be better then Craft is a stretch. Craft exceeded everyones expectations. He, IMO, was the difference in this years OSU team. And with his work ethic, I can only imagine the improvement we are going to see from year to year. And you typically see the greatest improvement from year 1 to year 2. Scott will play..but it won't be at the expense of Craft.
  • se-alum
    centralbucksfan;727862 wrote:You sure your not looking at highlights of Trey McDonald? I saw highlights of him, and he is a definate project..even possible redshirt.
    It was definitely Williams, but highlights can be deceiving(especially w/ big men), because it's so easy to double/triple team them.
    It might be a totally different story when he isn't the focal point of defenses.
  • centralbucksfan
    se-alum;727919 wrote:It was definitely Williams, but highlights can be deceiving(especially w/ big men), because it's so easy to double/triple team them.
    It might be a totally different story when he isn't the focal point of defenses.

    Well, from what I have read...the knock on Williams is his effort is inconsistant and needs to add some strength. But that could be said for many HS players coming out. Once he steps foot on campus, the competition to play will force him to rise up...or sit the bench. His upside is tremendous though.
  • mallymal614
    Wooball;727765 wrote: Also, I expect Shannon Scott to be our best PG next year. I know people love Craft and what he did this year, but from what I have seen, Scott is going to be a real player from the start.
    I am glad you brought this up. Because I have been thinking a lot of Shannon Scott, who is scheduled to play in the McDonalds All-American game tomorrow. A lot of Buckeye fans assume that Craft will be the starting point guard. It kind of reminds me of what was being said after the 2005-06 season when Jamar Butler had a pretty good sophomore year and people was talking about how Conely would back him up. Next thing you know, Conely ran the point from game 1 of the next season (though Butler still started). I think it is Craft's job to lose because has proven to get it done at the college level. But the position will have to be won (same applies for other positions) and not given.
  • mallymal614
    chicago510;727808 wrote:Will and Jared were in class today. If they were going pro I doubt they would have began the quarter, doesn't that kill your APR when a kid drops his classes to go pro?

    So they are either coming back, or just love school.

    Jared was asked during the ohio high school division 1 championship game if he still was planing on coming back. He replied saying "He is a man of his word" and that he will be in a buckeye uniform next season. It sounded legit to me.
  • se-alum
    Absolutely no doubt in my mind that Sully will be back, and about 90% sure Buford will be back. There's a REAL good chance that the NBA will be locked out for at least a portion of next season.
  • centralbucksfan
    mallymal614;728229 wrote:I am glad you brought this up. Because I have been thinking a lot of Shannon Scott, who is scheduled to play in the McDonalds All-American game tomorrow. A lot of Buckeye fans assume that Craft will be the starting point guard. It kind of reminds me of what was being said after the 2005-06 season when Jamar Butler had a pretty good sophomore year and people was talking about how Conely would back him up. Next thing you know, Conely ran the point from game 1 of the next season (though Butler still started). I think it is Craft's job to lose because has proven to get it done at the college level. But the position will have to be won (same applies for other positions) and not given.

    Uh, your also talking about a top 5 NBA draft pick. I like Scott, but I don't view him on the same level, not even close, as Conley. You never know...but still highly unlikely that he comes in and takes minutes away from Craft. Craft proved he could not only get it done on offense, but even more so on defense. That on the ball defense he provides, is much more important than many people realize. His toughness and effort cannot be replaced...its rare at this level. If Scott is good enough, he'll get some minutes. But its way too early to expect him to step in, in front of Craft after watching what this kid did. He had a MUCH better frosh year than what Butler did. I liked Butler A LOT, but I see Craft having a better overall career. He just brings much more to the table on both ends of the court, as well as the intangibles he provides.
  • centralbucksfan
    Nice article on Sullinger return to OSU:

    http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/29/sports/ncaabasketball/29sullinger.html?_r=1
  • Big Gain
    77Legend;726136 wrote:What D.Thomas needs to work on is his Defense and playing under control letting the game come to him, not forcing things. I think Buford is gone. But if he comes back, it will be a very nice team. But not getting my hopes up too much, look what happened this weekend. :( Still kind of disappointed OSU did not go after Northland Vikings (Columbus) point guard Trey Burke. If Weatherspoon can put his game together, watch out!

    Trey Burke??? You want the #28 PG instead of the #6 PG in the country? Trey Burke isn't up to Matta/Ohio State standards. It would be stupid to recruit 2 PG's in the same class.
  • Big Gain
    mallymal614;728237 wrote:Jared was asked during the ohio high school division 1 championship game if he still was planing on coming back. He replied saying "He is a man of his word" and that he will be in a buckeye uniform next season. It sounded legit to me.

    It is very difficult for money grubbing wannabe whores to comprehend what goes into the decision making of young intelligent star athletes like Luck and Sullinger.
  • Big Gain
    Prescott;727085 wrote:The future is bright for the OSU basketball team. Diebler was an asset on offense, but a liability on defense. Lighty will be the most difficult guy to replace because of his versatility, but OSU will use multiple players to replace him.I expect Sullinger to lose a little weight and become a true 4.I expect Buford to further refine his game and get stronger. I expect Craft to work on his outside shot and become more of an offensive threat.I think the legacy that Lighty and Diebler leaves with the underclassmen is a solid work ethic and the underclassmen will put in the time to get better. We have all wanted Matta to use his bench. If he doesn't use it next year, he never will.

    POINT GUARDS
    *Aaron Craft
    Shannon Scott
    Lenzelle Smith


    WINGS
    *William Buford
    *DeShaun Thomas
    Jordan Sibert
    Sam Thompson
    LaQuinton Ross
    J.D. Weatherspoon


    BIGS
    *Jared Sullinger
    *Amir Williams
    Evan Ravenal
    Trey McDonald (Redshirt?)

    BTW, we debated with some about the lateral foot speed of Aaron Craft. I think he proved in the loss to Kentucky that he can defend quick PG's. Yea, Knight hit the game winner with Craft all over him, but for most of the game Craft contained Knight. Knight was 3/10 from the field and had 6 turnovers.It was a great defensive effort.

    In the past I've thought Matta would go to a 2 post offense, but I've given up on that. He is too enthralled with 3-point shooters and a 4 guard offense. It's much more likely that the vast majority of the time only one post player will be on the floor at a time and we all know who that will be. Sullinger, Thomas, Buford, Sibert and Craft will start. Willams will have to prove to be a better rebounder and defender than Ravenel to earn playing time behind Sullinger. Smith and Scott will do most of the rotating in at the guard spots at least until Thompson and Ross learn to play defense like Matta requires before earning meaningful minutes.
  • Big Gain
    centralbucksfan;727212 wrote:I think IF he had it, he would use it. I don't think he has had the depth since being at OSU. And I think if you really look across the country, most coaches go with the guys that got them there more then people realize. Give me 2/3 guys on a bench..and I'd be happy. After that, there really isn't enough minutes. People were complaininga about Buford and saying Matta should have pulled him vs UK. Which IMO, is a ridiculous thought. You don't just do something like that after 35 games to a guy that carried OSU pretty damn well down the stretch.
    Again, I think if you have the depth, AND the coach is confident in using it...than it is a bonus. Will OSU have that next year? Based on the guys he had this year, Sibert, Smith and Weatherspoon...Matta should have more depth. Will they improve enough to EARN time? We'll see.....

    Weatherspoon wasn't available most of the season, he had a GPA of 0.00 after the first quarter. I can't imagine him ever being a big contributer for Ohio State let alone stay eligible or graduate.
  • Heretic
    Big Gain;729192 wrote:Weatherspoon wasn't available most of the season, he had a GPA of 0.00 after the first quarter. I can't imagine him ever being a big contributer for Ohio State let alone stay eligible or graduate.

    Honest opinion of Weatherspoon is that he'll be somewhere else sooner or later ala Crater, Wallace (originally part of this year's senior class, I think) and other guys from recent years that didn't stick. Either because of grades or because of a lack of PT. If that isn't the case, I can't see him being a REAL contributer until his junior season. Impression I've had of him is that he's a great athlete who needs a lot of seasoning to learn the college game.
  • Big Gain
    Someone will have to wrestle the Big Ten Title away from Ohio State next year, they're getting used to winning it. IF Michigan and Ohio State don't lose anyone early to the NBA, those two could tie for 1st place. I don't think anyone is saying OSU will be the overall #1 seed next year. I'd be satisfied with a #2 seed, an NCAA Title can be won from that seed can't it? :)
  • centralbucksfan
    Big Gain;729184 wrote:In the past I've thought Matta would go to a 2 post offense, but I've given up on that. He is too enthralled with 3-point shooters and a 4 guard offense. It's much more likely that the vast majority of the time only one post player will be on the floor at a time and we all know who that will be. Sullinger, Thomas, Buford, Sibert and Craft will start. Willams will have to prove to be a better rebounder and defender than Ravenel to earn playing time behind Sullinger. Smith and Scott will do most of the rotating in at the guard spots at least until Thompson and Ross learn to play defense like Matta requires before earning meaningful minutes.

    That will change. Wait and see. Its one reason Sully is returning...for the opportunity to play the 4, learn to play facing basket as that is where he will be forced to play at the next level. He will shed weight, come back leaner, meaner and quicker. The greatest improvement you see from one year to the next...is the 1st to the 2nd year.
  • holdingout
    Big Gain;729192 wrote:Weatherspoon wasn't available most of the season, he had a GPA of 0.00 after the first quarter. I can't imagine him ever being a big contributer for Ohio State let alone stay eligible or graduate.

    How can you stay enrolled in school with a GPA of 0.00???
  • Big Gain
    Azubuike24;726944 wrote:According to most, mid-late 1st round.

    The bigger question is, what does returning for a 4th season, on what projects to be a deeper team, do to RAISE that projection a year from now.

    According to how I see it, not much.

    Buford leaving for the NBA wouldn't be as much about his stock being through the roof, it would be more about weighing weather to spend another year in school or start his NBA contract right away. Conventional wisdom says that if you aren't going to get a "better job" by waiting, why wait? He will have to decide if coming back to college and trying at another NCAA run is worth the risks of returning and not getting paid right away.

    It's a decision almost every non sure-fire lottery pick has to make. There are examples both ways of guys, who in hindsight, made good or bad decisions.
    According to how I see it. There's no reason to believe that Buford couldn't become a lottery pick by returning for his Senior year.

    He will have to work as hard as Turner did between his Sophomore and Junior years, but he witnessed first hand what Turner did and its results. He won't become player of the year and the #2 pick in the NBA draft, but a lottery pick is not beyond his reach. 29 points per game graduated, just assuming 5 of those points makes Buford a 20ppg player at a major program, playing on the same team with a returning 1st Team All-American. A major accomplishment. Adding 10 pounds of muscle and improving his ball handling skills this off season will make Bufford a 1st Team All Big Ten selection. Who's going to get the majority of plays run for Diebler last year? Bufford. Who's going to be Craft's #2 option for assists on drives and dishes next year? Bufford. Those results and another year playing in the spotlight with Sullinger at a Top Ten program, will get Bufford's name mention in the same breath with Sullinger's, gaining him a HUGE amount of press.

    Only a lazy ass dolt wouldn't want to come back for his Senior year for those personal goals AND one more shot at a TEAM goal.

    BTW, the smart money has it better than 50-50 there won't be an NBA season next year.