Ohio State Buckeyes Thread

• Automatik

  

  I'm discussing OSU on another forum. A KU fan is constantly bashing craft. He says he would be better at the 3 and let Scott start full time. I'm thinking he's full of shit. Thoughts?
• Terry_Tate

  

  I've been in the "Scott should be the primary ball handler and play 30 minutes a game" camp all year, so I totally agree. Nothing about Crafts offense is smooth, and I just don't think they can win it all with him handling the ball in crunch time. Scott at least knows his role isn't to score, its to set everyone up, which he can do really well(Michigan State is an exception, that was a youth move IMO). Crafts role should never be more than a killer defender, team leader, and role player on offense. It has happened way too many times where he tries to take over and fails miserably, and I think each time makes him want to do it more. There is no damn reason why he should take the last 2 shots, none.
• Automatik

  

  But Craft at the 3, Scott starting PG. Who sits?
  
  That seems like it would cause a rotation clusterfuck.
  
  Also, I don't think they can win it all regardless of who plays PG.. We have way too many flaws with the team to even think about that.
• SportsAndLady

  

  Automatik;1383631 wrote:I'm discussing OSU on another forum. A KU fan is constantly bashing craft. He says he would be better at the 3 and let Scott start full time. I'm thinking he's full of shit. Thoughts?

  
  Haha ku fans hate craft its really random..they're usually such easy going fans.
• Automatik

  

  It's obvious he doesn't watch OSU other than the 3 KU games and last night. He said Scott should have been taking minutes from Craft last year. That along with moving Craft to the 3 is laughable.
  
  We have to make do with what we have and just roll with it. After what we lost following last season I expected a rocky one this year.
• SportsAndLady

  

  Craft should definitely be on the court, that's ridiculous to say otherwise...but his offensive leash should be shortened to that of a shoelace.
• vball10set

  Terry_Tate;1383894 wrote: ... and I just don't think they can win it all with him handling the ball in crunch time.

  So you think they can "win it all" with someone else handling the ball? That's funny. :rolleyes:
• Terry_Tate

  

  It might sound hilarious, but this team is as talented as any. They might have just beat the #3 team in the nation on their home floor after hitting 14 3s last night if Craft didn't screw it up twice in a row, not to mention the back to back pathetic possessions with around 3 minutes to go. Indiana is the only "sure thing" in the country to me, but outside of them, Ohio State has the pieces to play with anyone. Against Michigan Matta put the ball in Scott's hands with about 3 minutes to go and Ohio State got 3 buckets to seal the win. They may not win it all with Scott running the show in crunch time, but they damn sure wont win it with Craft.
• Terry_Tate

  

  Automatik;1383902 wrote:But Craft at the 3, Scott starting PG. Who sits?
  
  That seems like it would cause a rotation cluster****.
  
  Also, I don't think they can win it all regardless of who plays PG.. We have way too many flaws with the team to even think about that.

  
  I don't really use 1-5 with this team. 4 is Thomas, 5 is Williams/Rav, but other than that you could have Craft, Scott, Smith, Thompson, or Ross out there. I like Craft-Scott-Ross out there with those 2 but you don't have a true 2 in that instance.
• Ghmothwdwhso

  WebFire;1382735 wrote:Don't watch much basketball? It's the new Adidas thing.

  It's still shitty.............
• WebFire

  Ghmothwdwhso;1384148 wrote:It's still shitty.............

  I actually didn't mind them. Something different for one game, and the kids and recruits love it. They were better than the last football uniforms they dreamed up for Michigan.
• vball10set

  Terry_Tate;1384142 wrote:It might sound hilarious, but this team is as talented as any. They might have just beat the #3 team in the nation on their home floor after hitting 14 3s last night if Craft didn't screw it up twice in a row, not to mention the back to back pathetic possessions with around 3 minutes to go. Indiana is the only "sure thing" in the country to me, but outside of them, Ohio State has the pieces to play with anyone. Against Michigan Matta put the ball in Scott's hands with about 3 minutes to go and Ohio State got 3 buckets to seal the win. They may not win it all with Scott running the show in crunch time, but they damn sure wont win it with Craft.

  If it wasn't for Craft, they wouldn't have been in position to win this game in the first place. If Matta thought that Scott gave them a better chance of winning, then he'd be in there. He knows a helluva lot more about this team, and this game, than you and I ever will.
• WebFire

  Terry_Tate;1384142 wrote:Indiana is the only "sure thing" in the country to me

  I would disagree. They've lost 2 games on their own floor. One to an unranked team. I don't know that anyone is a sure thing this year.
• FatHobbit

  

  Terry_Tate;1383894 wrote:I've been in the "Scott should be the primary ball handler and play 30 minutes a game" camp all year, so I totally agree. Nothing about Crafts offense is smooth, and I just don't think they can win it all with him handling the ball in crunch time. Scott at least knows his role isn't to score, its to set everyone up, which he can do really well(Michigan State is an exception, that was a youth move IMO). Crafts role should never be more than a killer defender, team leader, and role player on offense. It has happened way too many times where he tries to take over and fails miserably, and I think each time makes him want to do it more. There is no damn reason why he should take the last 2 shots, none.

  Do you mean like at the end of the MSU game when Scott almost missed the backboard and Deshaun was right behind him? I'm not complaining about the refs, but Craft driving to the basket had a pretty good chance of drawing the foul. It's not like it was a terrible shot. He just didn't get the call.
• se-alum

  

  I was surprised that Scott didn't see more time in the 2nd half, as he played pretty well in the 2nd half. However, without Craft, this game isn't close.
• vball10set

  For the record, I'm a big fan of Scott, as I think he's got a huge upside-it's just that I think the Craft-bashing is not only unwarranted, but unjustified as well. IMO, I'd like to see a starting lineup of Craft, Scott, Ross, Thomas and Williams (not a big fan, but he's the best big man we have), with Thompson and Ravenel coming off the bench.
• Laley23

  

  WebFire;1384225 wrote:I would disagree. They've lost 2 games on their own floor. One to an unranked team. I don't know that anyone is a sure thing this year.

  1 game. To fucking Wisconsin. God I hate them. Havent won versus Wisconsin since about 2003.
• WebFire

  Laley23;1384351 wrote:1 game. To fucking Wisconsin. God I hate them. Havent won versus Wisconsin since about 2003.

  Was Butler neutral?
• Laley23

  

  WebFire;1384391 wrote:Was Butler neutral?

  Yep, Conseco. IU had the most fans, but it was about split cause Purdue, Butler and ND fans were all for Butler.
  
  
  EDIT: I looked it up. IU hasnt beaten Wisconsin since January 2007. 11 straight losses. I dont know what it is about them. Fuck.
• vball10set

  Laley23;1384407 wrote: EDIT: I looked it up. IU hasnt beaten Wisconsin since January 2007. 11 straight losses. I dont know what it is about them. ****.

  
• WebFire

  Laley23;1384407 wrote:Yep, Conseco. IU had the most fans, but it was about split cause Purdue, Butler and ND fans were all for Butler.
  
  
  EDIT: I looked it up. IU hasnt beaten Wisconsin since January 2007. 11 straight losses. I dont know what it is about them. Fuck.

  Ah, ok.
• Terry_Tate

  

  vball10set;1384209 wrote:If it wasn't for Craft, they wouldn't have been in position to win this game in the first place. If Matta thought that Scott gave them a better chance of winning, then he'd be in there. He knows a helluva lot more about this team, and this game, than you and I ever will.

  
  I am fine with Craft playing, just not fine with him running the offense for 35 minutes a game. He can run the offense for 20 and be off the ball for 15, especially in crunch time. There is no point in debating things on a message board if the argument becomes that the coach knows more than us so he's right. Coaches have made mistakes before and will again. Craft is one hell of a competitor and really smart so Matta wants to let him do his thing, but it has cost them multiple times before, and will cost them again this season. It's easy to use the same argument with Shannon Scott, but he had one gaffe and has never been a point guard with a strong intention to score, so I think he could be great in that closer role. I'm just sick of seeing Craft try to be Kobe and close things out when it's overly obvious he can't do it.
• Terry_Tate

  

  WebFire;1384225 wrote:I would disagree. They've lost 2 games on their own floor. One to an unranked team. I don't know that anyone is a sure thing this year.

  
  That is true and a valid point, I just think Indiana has one of the best post players, one of the best guards, can hit 3s, can slash, and when March hits they'll be rolling. But who knows with how this season has gone.
• WebFire

  Terry_Tate;1384661 wrote:That is true and a valid point, I just think Indiana has one of the best post players, one of the best guards, can hit 3s, can slash, and when March hits they'll be rolling. But who knows with how this season has gone.

  Don't get me wrong, they are certainly one of the real contenders.
• vball10set

  Terry_Tate;1384659 wrote:I am fine with Craft playing, just not fine with him running the offense for 35 minutes a game. He can run the offense for 20 and be off the ball for 15, especially in crunch time. There is no point in debating things on a message board if the argument becomes that the coach knows more than us so he's right. Coaches have made mistakes before and will again. Craft is one hell of a competitor and really smart so Matta wants to let him do his thing, but it has cost them multiple times before, and will cost them again this season. It's easy to use the same argument with Shannon Scott, but he had one gaffe and has never been a point guard with a strong intention to score, so I think he could be great in that closer role. I'm just sick of seeing Craft try to be Kobe and close things out when it's overly obvious he can't do it.

  You've obviously got your mind made up on Craft, so we'll just agree to disagree. However, the "coaches making mistakes" claim is weak, especially when it comes to personnel moves pertaining to players he sees EVERY DAY in practice. I can't speak for you, but I know I only watch them on game days.