Ohio State Basketball Official Thread

• Terry_Tate

  

  wildcats20;1568108 wrote:He is a good player, nothing to get overly excited about anymore. He has his bright spots on O, but they have become few and far between. Teams have figured out that they don't have to extend out on him.

  That's what I'm saying. He's an awesome on ball defender, and a fantastic human being, but people talk about him like a first or second team all American. His defense is great but his offense sucks.
• Terry_Tate

  

  This entire team is just driving me nuts aside from Q though. I had an awful day and this is just compounding it, haha.
• se-alum

  

  We knew Craft wasn't a scorer, and he only has one guy that can finish(Ross) when he drives. Hard to be a PG when you have no scorers around you.
• Fly4Fun

  

  Terry_Tate;1568114 wrote:This entire team is just driving me nuts aside from Q though. I had an awful day and this is just compounding it, haha.

  It just feels like it's been forever since a meaningful OSU victory between football team losing to Sparty then Clemson. Now the basketball team about to drop 3 straight... just disappointing as a fan.
  
  I'd love OSU to come back and take this game, but unless we get some easy points off turnovers I don't see it happening.
• Fly4Fun

  

  And right after I typed that, Minnesota blew the game open.
  
  Very poor performance by OSU.
  
  Team should be in the 21-25 range come next rankings, but I'm not sure they even deserve that.
• se-alum

  

  Sweet layup attempt by Scott, the falling down backhanded throw is an under utilized move.
• robj55

  

  We are going to lose a lot of games in conference.
• robj55

  

  I think you have to start looking at Matta and his staff, none of these players have improved over the last few seasons. Craft is the exact same player he was as a sophomore, Lenzelle still disappears, Amir is still soft and not aggressive with no post moves.
• Prescott

  I thought Shannon Scott had made some inroads. He hasn't. I am ready to let him sit on the bench.
• se-alum

  

  Crafts shot has gotten worse than it was last year.
• Fly4Fun

  

  robj55;1568123 wrote:I think you have to start looking at Matta and his staff, none of these players have improved over the last few seasons. Craft is the exact same player he was as a sophomore, Lenzelle still disappears, Amir is still soft and not aggressive with no post moves.

  Amir has improved. Craft hit his ceiling early and I think most knew that. I never expected Craft to get much better. He's a great defensive player, a hustle guy, he can drive when he really feels the team needs it but he just can't hit a jump shot.
  
  To say Matta doesn't develop talent is a bit ridiculous.
• Automatik

  

  Matta developed Turner into the npoy.
• robj55

  

  Fly4Fun;1568126 wrote:Amir has improved. Craft hit his ceiling early and I think most knew that. I never expected Craft to get much better. He's a great defensive player, a hustle guy, he can drive when he really feels the team needs it but he just can't hit a jump shot.
  
  To say Matta doesn't develop talent is a bit ridiculous.

  Who has gotten better then? I didn't say he didn't develop talent but who on this roster has improved their game since coming into college? Amir gets more minutes now but is still the same player he was. How can you play 4 years in college and not improve your jump shot if you're Craft and Scott? You can sugarcoat it all you want but none of these guys has improved in the areas that they needed to.
• LJ

  

  robj55;1568123 wrote:I think you have to start looking at Matta

  Lol
• Mulva

  

  robj55;1568123 wrote:I think you have to start looking at Matta and his staff, none of these players have improved over the last few seasons. Craft is the exact same player he was as a sophomore, Lenzelle still disappears, Amir is still soft and not aggressive with no post moves.

  Smith and Amir's numbers have improved pretty steadily from year to year.
  
  This team just isn't exceptionally talented. I think any reasonable fan knew there were going to be major offensive issues with Deshaun gone.
• LJ

  

  robj55;1568123 wrote:I think you have to start looking at Matta and his staff,

  Rick Pitino's team has 3 losses
  Roy Williams has 6 losses
  Shaka Smart has 4 losses
  Michigan has 4 losses
  John Thompson has 5 losses
  Bill Self has 4 losses
  Caliperi has 4 losses
• LJ

  

  LJ;1568181 wrote:Rick Pitino's team has 3 losses
  Roy Williams has 6 losses
  Shaka Smart has 4 losses
  Michigan has 4 losses
  John Thompson has 5 losses
  Bill Self has 4 losses
  Caliperi has 4 losses

  Really need to start looking at these coaches and their staffs
• centralbucksfan

  Figured the sky would be falling today. lol I had been saying all year, I wasn't sure just how good this team really was. We saw glimpses of this offensive struggle early in the season. And it has reared its ugly head again. This team just has a difficult time putting the ball in the basket. They really do't have a go to guy. Ross had a nice game. But he also cost OSU down the stretch. He missed at least 3 wide open easy shots in the paint, and clanked at least 3 FT's as well. Hard to citicize the only offensive threat.
  Scott has given OSU pretty much nothing since Big Ten play started. Personally, I would sit him and get Thompson in the lineup. Loving had his worst game.
  Just an overall bad performance all around. Protected the ball better. But didn't rebound well at all.
  I am not in any kind of panic mode. Its a long season and I would rather see them peaking by seasons end.
  If you look at the schedule, the Iowa loss is really the only bad loss seeing as it was a home loss. It makes it more glaring now with the Minny loss. But it wasn't inconceivable that this team would have 2 losses in Big Ten. I am confident they will get things turned around. But offense could be a struggle on and off this season. No question.
  BTW, questioning Matta and development is comical. Look at what this guy has done with players in the past. And, if you recall, similar last year..in Feb. OSU lost 3 of 4 games and everyone thought the world was ending. OSU than rattled off 11 straight games. Long season people. Relax.
• vball10set

  Tough game to watch, but as said in other posts, it's not panic mode time...yet. I knew we'd miss DT, but I didn't think it'd be this bad. We seem to be out of synch, still searching for an identity, and I'm not sure what that's going to be. Defense is our strength, but we'velooked tentative and out of position in the last two games there as well. Coach Matta's going to have to really coach these kids up to get a decent seed, but I'm confident he can do so. Right now I'd go with Craft, Q, Amir, Sammy and Smith, Jr (on a short string), with Scott and Loving (yes, he didn't look good last night, but being a freshman gives him a temporary pass) being first in.
• rrfan

  

  Look Craft has been good since day one, but I do think he has gotten better in many areas. Crazy to say the staff should start to be looked at. Keep this staff together and right the ship. I really did not think they were a top ten team early in the year anyway. Lets see them battle and get better.
• vball10set

  rrfan;1568191 wrote:Look Craft has been good since day one, but I do think he has gotten better in many areas. Crazy to say the staff should start to be looked at. Keep this staff together and right the ship. I really did not think they were a top ten team early in the year anyway. Lets see them battle and get better.

  Agreed, and I think robj55 got the message.
• WebFire

  LJ;1568181 wrote:Rick Pitino's team has 3 losses
  Roy Williams has 6 losses
  Shaka Smart has 4 losses
  Michigan has 4 losses
  John Thompson has 5 losses
  Bill Self has 4 losses
  Caliperi has 4 losses

  Michigan is coached by John Beilein.
• LJ

  

  WebFire;1568193 wrote:Michigan is coached by John Beilein.

  
  It's a copypasta
• SportsAndLady

  

  OSU just appears to be getting a little reality check, playing a B1G schedule every game. They played no one in the OOC, and it's starting to hurt them. Where as if you look at KU they lost 4 times in the OOC, but are now on a roll in conference play. It is what it is, and both teams will be right there by the time the tourney rolls around, as they both have great coaches who will get them playing their best ball by the time March rolls around. Just different paths to get there.
  
  And sorry, but Craft is so incredibly overrated. Like terry said, his name is there when people are talking about all-americans, players they would take on their team first, etc. That's insane. He's a hell of a defender, and it's always a very good thing when your intangibles are your biggest assets. But AA? Taking him first over anyone else in college (think that was Jimmy Dykes that said that)? That's crazy.
• centralbucksfan

  SportsAndLady;1568203 wrote:OSU just appears to be getting a little reality check, playing a B1G schedule every game. They played no one in the OOC, and it's starting to hurt them. Where as if you look at KU they lost 4 times in the OOC, but are now on a roll in conference play. It is what it is, and both teams will be right there by the time the tourney rolls around, as they both have great coaches who will get them playing their best ball by the time March rolls around. Just different paths to get there.
  
  And sorry, but Craft is so incredibly overrated. Like terry said, his name is there when people are talking about all-americans, players they would take on their team first, etc. That's insane. He's a hell of a defender, and it's always a very good thing when your intangibles are your biggest assets. But AA? Taking him first over anyone else in college (think that was Jimmy Dykes that said that)? That's crazy.

  Personally don't think the OOC has anything to do with it. If you have a young team that needs seasoned, it would help. OSU is pretty experienced. This isn't football. OSU hasn't played a real tough OOC schedule in past and has been very successful in the BEST conference in the country. They are what they are and they lack shooters overall. They lack identity offensively.
  As far as Craft being overrated, who knows. I don't think anyone claims he is this and that. He is in fact an unbelievable defender and competitor. He plays harder consistantly than ANY college player I have EVER seen. He is the poster child for what college sports should be about as well. No, he isn't overly talented. But I would venture to say ANY college coach would take him in a heart beat. His intangibles can't be measured. What he does on the court with his limited offensive ability is quite amazing at times. Actually, it was the GREAT Bob Knight who said he if he started a team and was able to pick a player, he would start with Craft.