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Ohio State Basketball Official Thread

  • reclegend22
    SportsAndLady;1525470 wrote:Hahaha cbf is back!!
    Guess that Celebration of Life service we held is meaningless now. Glad to have a regular back. This board can use some new blood.

    As for CBF's post:

    I agree about Thompson. There are quite a few insiders who believe Thompson will have a breakout year this season. He's already an athletic freak with a game that every now and then flashes glimpses of Evan Turner. With a little more time and experience to improve his shooting and ball-handling skills, Thompson is probably Ohio State's best player, or at least the player with the most upside on the team.
  • Terry_Tate
    I think Amir is an important player for Ohio State, but let's be honest, I'll bet he doesn't play more than 24 minutes a game and even if he takes a jump in his game he still won't be on the level of other top big men. I think Scott and Thompson becoming scorers and all-around players are more integral to this teams success than if Amir can make the step up to being an above average big man. They only have one guy that as of last year is a scorer and that is Ross, so if they don't have at least one other person step up in scoring it will be a long year regardless of Amir's progress. It is important for him to be at least competent, but I think Thompson or Scott becoming a scorer is more important as that will open up more for the team and they'll be guys that could play 35 minutes a game as opposed to Amir's 24-26.

    It's all subjective though as to what is more important, but I hope I'm wrong about Amir's ceiling this year and hopefully he tells me to GFM. If him, Scott, AND Thompson all make big jumps then this team can play with anyone.
  • se-alum
    I'm actually really excited about this team, even more so than last years team. I think Ross will be a better scorer than what Deshaun was. He has a much purer shot. If people remember, Thompson was playing great offensively the 2nd half of the season last year. I still think Lenzelle is better off the bench than being a starter, but I bet Matta starts him. Also, don't sleep on Amedeo. He had a big summer, and by all accounts is a knock down shooter. His biggest question will be defensively. We know what we're getting from Craft and Scott at the very least, but if Scott has improved his offensive game like they say he has, this tandem could be hell for other backcourts on both ends of the floor.
  • Midstate01
    My worry with Ross is that he wants to do what deshaun did, be a chucker. It's not what this team needs though. Hopefully it's not the case, but he seems like a kid who wants to really showcase himself. I don't mean that negatively, more along the lines of he probably wants this to be his team this year.
  • vball10set
    centralbucksfan;1525455 wrote: I honestly don't think Thomas is as big a loss as many think. I think with what they have returning, and the development of Ross, Thompson, as well as others, his scoring will be made up across the board.
    A lot of excellent posts on this thread, but if there's one comment that sums up my feelings going into the season, this would be it.
  • Automatik
    So I'm hoping to the to the OSU/ND game at MSG on 12/21 for the Gotham Classic.

    The cheapest tickets on StubHub are around $40 but only available behind the baskets. The regular 100 level seats aren't available. Club levels are available, but they are outrageous. Upper levels aren't even offered.

    Is anyone in the know? Will more be released? 100 level seats sold out? It seems rather early to be having this few tickets available.
  • Terry_Tate
    Automatik;1526087 wrote:So I'm hoping to the to the OSU/ND game at MSG on 12/21 for the Gotham Classic.

    The cheapest tickets on StubHub are around $40 but only available behind the baskets. The regular 100 level seats aren't available. Club levels are available, but they are outrageous. Upper levels aren't even offered.

    Is anyone in the know? Will more be released? 100 level seats sold out? It seems rather early to be having this few tickets available.
    Try through the regular site where you get tickets. I got mine a few months ago and the tickets were cheaper through the Gotham Classic website then stubhub, so I would try there if you haven't yet. I'll check real quick on prices for seats. It will be my first time to New York and I can't wait to see Madison Square Garden.

    Edit: looks like there are a decent amount of tickets available on ticketmaster, I would just try there.
  • centralbucksfan
    Terry_Tate;1525515 wrote:I think Amir is an important player for Ohio State, but let's be honest, I'll bet he doesn't play more than 24 minutes a game and even if he takes a jump in his game he still won't be on the level of other top big men. I think Scott and Thompson becoming scorers and all-around players are more integral to this teams success than if Amir can make the step up to being an above average big man. They only have one guy that as of last year is a scorer and that is Ross, so if they don't have at least one other person step up in scoring it will be a long year regardless of Amir's progress. It is important for him to be at least competent, but I think Thompson or Scott becoming a scorer is more important as that will open up more for the team and they'll be guys that could play 35 minutes a game as opposed to Amir's 24-26.

    It's all subjective though as to what is more important, but I hope I'm wrong about Amir's ceiling this year and hopefully he tells me to GFM. If him, Scott, AND Thompson all make big jumps then this team can play with anyone.
    I think its proven that Ross can and will score. My only concern with him, is that his doesn't have NBA on his mind and he becomes selfish. Lets be honest, that was the knock on him coming into OSU. The kid was once the #1 recruit in the country. It took him some time to figure things out. If he plays team ball, he will be fine. As for other scoring, I think people forget that Smith was a double digit scorer and Thompson avg 8pts. BUT, he only averaged about 25 minutues per game. Smith avg a little over that. Both will be at 30+ min per game, thus their scoring will adjust. And Craft was at 10 per game as well. So I don't think its out of the realm that OSU will have 4 double digit scorers, all with different abilities. That isnt' easy to defend. I love Scott as much as anyone. And IMO, he will continue to be that spark off the bench and get major minutes. Only issue with him, his outside shooting is horrendous. His shooting form is terrible. Not sure we will see THAT much improvement in that area. Hard to change something so drastically when he has done it for so long. But his quickness and play making make up for that most of the time.
    As with Williams...I am not asking for 15/10. I'd like to see him around 8-10pts per game, and around 10rb per game. And even more so, like him on the floor defensively with those long arms in the paint. That is huge with what OSU has on the perimeter defensively. They can put more pressure on teams knowing Williams is in the paint to help out. Not too much to ask from a McDonalds All American in his junior year. As I said, he, IMO, is the key to take OSU to that next level and able to compete with some of the big boys. Just my two cents.
  • se-alum
    centralbucksfan;1526383 wrote:I think its proven that Ross can and will score. My only concern with him, is that his doesn't have NBA on his mind and he becomes selfish. Lets be honest, that was the knock on him coming into OSU. The kid was once the #1 recruit in the country. It took him some time to figure things out. If he plays team ball, he will be fine. As for other scoring, I think people forget that Smith was a double digit scorer and Thompson avg 8pts. BUT, he only averaged about 25 minutues per game. Smith avg a little over that. Both will be at 30+ min per game, thus their scoring will adjust. And Craft was at 10 per game as well. So I don't think its out of the realm that OSU will have 4 double digit scorers, all with different abilities. That isnt' easy to defend. I love Scott as much as anyone. And IMO, he will continue to be that spark off the bench and get major minutes. Only issue with him, his outside shooting is horrendous. His shooting form is terrible. Not sure we will see THAT much improvement in that area. Hard to change something so drastically when he has done it for so long. But his quickness and play making make up for that most of the time.
    As with Williams...I am not asking for 15/10. I'd like to see him around 8-10pts per game, and around 10rb per game. And even more so, like him on the floor defensively with those long arms in the paint. That is huge with what OSU has on the perimeter defensively. They can put more pressure on teams knowing Williams is in the paint to help out. Not too much to ask from a McDonalds All American in his junior year. As I said, he, IMO, is the key to take OSU to that next level and able to compete with some of the big boys. Just my two cents.
    Early reports are that Scott's shot has gotten drastically better.
  • Azubuike24
    Laquinton Ross was never close to the #1 recruit in the country. That's just flat making stuff up...
  • reclegend22
    I did a quick Google search and found this quote from Ross, apparently made after he competed in a Nike camp in Houston several years ago:

    “It was like the top 100 players in the country and I ended up being the No. 1 player coming out of that camp."

    So, according to Ross, yeah, he was.

    That camp, by the way, was attended by Anthony Davis, Ben McCelmore, Austin Rivers, Brad Beal, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Otto Porter.
  • Terry_Tate
    Azubuike24;1527244 wrote:Laquinton Ross was never close to the #1 recruit in the country. That's just flat making stuff up...
    http://msn.foxsports.com/collegebasketball/story/LaQuinton-Ross-Ohio-State-Buckeyes-071212

    http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/LaQuinton-Ross-1325/

    As a sophomore some considered him the #1 recruit in his class. Obviously he fell, but that part was true.
  • Azubuike24
    I'm almost positive Michael Gilchrist was the top player in the class as a Soph, was named the top HS player in the country as a Junior and fell back in the rankings in-lieu of Davis and Rivers as a senior. I never recall Ross being #1 in any website ranking. That's what I was going by. Good prospect, not #1.
  • Azubuike24
    Like Wiggins, Ross was once the No. 1-ranked high school sophomore in the country. Today, he’s hoping a breakout year at Ohio State will propel him to the NBA, where he can join other members of his age group like Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Bradley Beal, who weren’t considered better prospects than Ross a few years ago.

    I assume this is what you were meaning too. I'd love to know what "ranking" that was in other than someone's opinion in an article or after a specific tournament or camp.
  • Laley23
    MKG was #1 as a FR and a SO. Rakeem Christmas (is he that class also??) was #1 on a few of the sites I recall.

    Ross wasnt #1 ever on any ranking site, but obviously some magazines or something ranked him that high for Fox to publish it.
  • Terry_Tate
    http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=843390

    I can keep posting sites, it doesn't matter, at one point there were people that considered him the #1 prospect, haha.
  • reclegend22
    Austin Rivers spent a considerable amount of time as the nation's number one recruit in the class of 2011, as well, for what it's worth, before Anthony Davis eventually supplanted him and Rivers fell down further.
  • Terry_Tate
    http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=885849

    "The final game of the weekend pairs one of the best teams in the D.C. area and nationally in DeMatha against Murrah (Miss.), featuring the No. 1 sophomore in the country in LaQuinton Ross. "
  • Azubuike24
    Well, I will admit I was "wrong." While not official rankings, I do take that back, I guess he was considered #1. It is a lot more difficult when ranking a guy before his Sophomore year.

    Most of all though, I just wanted to crush CBF!
  • Terry_Tate
    Azubuike24;1527270 wrote:Well, I will admit I was "wrong." While not official rankings, I do take that back, I guess he was considered #1. It is a lot more difficult when ranking a guy before his Sophomore year.

    Most of all though, I just wanted to crush CBF!
    Haha, understandable. I only knew it because I had heard it so long and it was why I had such high expectations, but you knew something was up to go from possibly #1 as a sophomore to #60 or so as a Senior. Dude has serious skills though and if he can play 100% all the time and play smart he will be a stud, especially for you in the fantasy league, haha.

    Edit: Went back to Rivals and he was #43 as a Senior. Also, it's really interesting to go back and look at recruiting rankings from a few years ago. Trey Burke from #142 to NPOY as a sophomore for example. Unreal.
  • se-alum
    Terry_Tate;1527269 wrote:http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=885849

    "The final game of the weekend pairs one of the best teams in the D.C. area and nationally in DeMatha against Murrah (Miss.), featuring the No. 1 sophomore in the country in LaQuinton Ross. "
    Ross didn't go to UK, he couldn't have possibly been the #1 player in his class at any time.
  • Azubuike24
    se-alum;1527277 wrote:Ross didn't go to UK, he couldn't have possibly been the #1 player in his class at any time.
    This is true.
  • centralbucksfan
    se-alum;1527277 wrote:Ross didn't go to UK, he couldn't have possibly been the #1 player in his class at any time.
    LOL so true! Still trying to figure out how you lose 12 games, lost in first found of the NIT with all those #1 ranked players?? ;)
  • vball10set
    lol

  • Azubuike24
    centralbucksfan;1527469 wrote:LOL so true! Still trying to figure out how you lose 12 games, lost in first found of the NIT with all those #1 ranked players?? ;)
    Wouldn't say it's an excuse, UK was a Sweet 16 team at best with him, but losing Noel is pretty significant. The guy was one of the most dominating all around players in the country. They built their entire defense around his ability.

    There were many other problems though. Calipari has admitted he expected Marcus Teague to be there as a Sophomore.