Ohio State Next Season
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mallymal614I guess we can now discuss the possibilities for next year’s buckeyes. Of course a lot of it depends on whether or not Evan Turner returns. If he does decide to return (which is a slim possibility) the Buckeyes are preseason #1 or #2 in the national polls in my opinion. If not, they probably ranked in the top 15 because they still will have four starters back and a top recruiting class coming in. Like others have mention, my main concern will be the point guard position assuming Turner doesn’t come back. I heard ideas about possibly Lighty or Diebler running it, but I don’t think they are nearly the ball handler Turner is. It’s one thing to bring the ball up the court with no pressure but against a pressing team, could they really handle it? Hopefully one of the incoming freshmen Craft, Smith, or Sibert can fill the void. To sum everything up, I think this team is capable of at least another sweet 16 appearance. It will come down to the point guard position whether or not they are final four ball club.
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centralbucksfanMally, your right with your above assessment. Some seem to think that Lighty, Buford or even Deibler can fill in at the PG. No way, no how.
I really believe, without Turner, Matta will hand the ball to Craft. I feel with the experience around him...he will be fine. I think Smith can spell him if and when its needed.
As mentioned, with Turner...OSU is a top 5 team easily. Without him, and with the depth of talent coming in....OSU is a top 15 team. How Craft develops will determine just how good OSU can be.
Craft will surprise some. He is a tough kid, very good defender who has a great feel for the game. He was recruited, offered and accepted a scholarship by Tenn/Pearl. He can play. But, as a true frosh, he will have his struggles. Hopefully those are early in the season and he progresses enough to do the job come Big Ten season.
That being said...and I realize its wishful thinking...I am hopeful Turner returns. Watching CBS prior to the MSU/Tenn game...they made some great points about players like Collins, Hansbrough and Reddick all deciding to stay for 4yrs. It could and does happen.
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devil1197I'll say it now and risk eating crow, but with the guys around next season Aaron Craft will be an good PG for OSU. He may not score but I am not sure he'll be needed to early on in his career. He finally won't be the main focus of defenses, he won't get double and triple teamed like he did at LB.
He plays very solid defense and is a true PG imo. I would like to see him put on some weight but overall I think he'll be a pretty good distributer of the ball. -
Laley23
OSU should be very solid. I think Matta would be smart to try to up the tempo next year despite the lack of proven PGs. They are going to have so much offensive talent that I think the more possessions he can get the better off they will be. DeShaun Thomas can flat fill it up better than virtually any HSer I have ever seen. If he played for a better team he wouldve broken Damon Baileys Indiana HS scoring record. As it stands, his team was eliminated early in the State tourney ever year and he finished second or third (I forget) and like 125 pts short.
We all know what Sullinger brings and even without Turner I think Thomas and Sullinger as well as an expanded role for Lighty will give Diebler as many open looks as he had this year. An up and down game would also suit Buford really well. -
mallymal614Plus no one expected Mike Conely to be the type of player he was as a freshman. Hopefully Craft can surprise us as well.
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devil1197
Exactly, Conley was a great bonus from getting Oden a bonus that many OSU fans overlooked early on.mallymal614 wrote: Plus no one expected Mike Conely to be the type of player he was as a freshman. Hopefully Craft can surprise us as well.
Craft could be that bonus coming to OSU with this great class around him and the solid talent already playing for OSU. -
centralbucksfanAnd the great thing here...OSU is looking VERY good for years to come!! Exciting future ahead for this program!!
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Laley23
Sorry, but most people expect 5 Star PGs to be VERY good, even as freshman. Conley was no different.mallymal614 wrote: Plus no one expected Mike Conely to be the type of player he was as a freshman. Hopefully Craft can surprise us as well. -
devil1197
Actually, he was over shadowed by Oden and OSU fans were just focused on Oden as the player. Conley, although ranked high, was seen as a thrown in imo.Laley23 wrote:
Sorry, but most people expect 5 Star PGs to be VERY good, even as freshman. Conley was no different.mallymal614 wrote: Plus no one expected Mike Conely to be the type of player he was as a freshman. Hopefully Craft can surprise us as well.
He definitely exceeded expectations from many OSU fans. -
centralbucksfan
As an OSU fan, who follows OSU as close as anyone, and recruiting....I don't think there was many who thought Conley was goign to do what he did his frosh year. He was MUCH better then advertised. Heck, many thought he was overrated because he had Oden, and thought Matta "gave" him a scholarship to get Oden.Laley23 wrote:
Sorry, but most people expect 5 Star PGs to be VERY good, even as freshman. Conley was no different.mallymal614 wrote: Plus no one expected Mike Conely to be the type of player he was as a freshman. Hopefully Craft can surprise us as well.
Conley did in fact, turn out to be MUCH, MUCH more then what was expected...even for a 5 star player. -
Laley23
Ok, well maybe for OSU fans because they didnt follow recruiting at that point like some do now. But most college basketball fans knew what OSU was getting in Conley. Throw in's arent that good. I watched both a ton in HS and Conley was a huge reason that team never lost.devil1197 wrote:
Actually, he was over shadowed by Oden and OSU fans were just focused on Oden as the player. Conley, although ranked high, was seen as a thrown in imo.Laley23 wrote:
Sorry, but most people expect 5 Star PGs to be VERY good, even as freshman. Conley was no different.mallymal614 wrote: Plus no one expected Mike Conely to be the type of player he was as a freshman. Hopefully Craft can surprise us as well.
He definitely exceeded expectations from many OSU fans. -
mallymal614Most people didn't even have Conley starting. It was assumed Butler had the position locked up until Matta decided to go with a two point guard system. Before the 2006-07 class came in, I thought Oden first, Cook second, and then Conley. Yeah Conley may have been a 5 star recruit, but did anyone really think he would be a 1-and-done player?
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Laley23
Well maybe Im just in the minority because I knew how good Conley was from seeing him in person so often
I wasnt shocked in the least. Hell, his jumpshot abandoned him in college, he actually made most of the open jumpers he got in HS (granted he didnt have to take nearly as many) -
centralbucksfan
Laley, I respect your basketball IQ as much as anyone on this board...but there is NO WAY you could have predicted Conley to be a one and done, top 5 NBA pick. No way, no how pal.Laley23 wrote: Well maybe Im just in the minority because I knew how good Conley was from seeing him in person so often
I wasnt shocked in the least. Hell, his jumpshot abandoned him in college, he actually made most of the open jumpers he got in HS (granted he didnt have to take nearly as many)
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royal_k
I've seen Craft play every year since the 7th grade. I believe he will come in and contribute right away. I realize he played D3, and for the most part didn't see the athletes he will see next year. But the kid has game. He lives in the gym. And his defense is very, very good. -
Laley23
Oh hell no I didnt. BUT, I did expect him to start and be the #1 PG and dominate the offensive sets, which he did. He grew in confidence that I didnt expect and jsut lit up the world the last part of the year leading to a 1 and done.centralbucksfan wrote:
Laley, I respect your basketball IQ as much as anyone on this board...but there is NO WAY you could have predicted Conley to be a one and done, top 5 NBA pick. No way, no how pal.Laley23 wrote: Well maybe Im just in the minority because I knew how good Conley was from seeing him in person so often
I wasnt shocked in the least. Hell, his jumpshot abandoned him in college, he actually made most of the open jumpers he got in HS (granted he didnt have to take nearly as many)
Im simply saying that I didnt see him as a throw in at all, which so many others did. -
mallymal614
Starting point guard for the All-Ohio Red AAU team that won 3 National Championships in a row. I'm pretty sure he went up against great competition while doing so.royal_k wrote: I've seen Craft play every year since the 7th grade. I believe he will come in and contribute right away. I realize he played D3, and for the most part didn't see the athletes he will see next year. But the kid has game. He lives in the gym. And his defense is very, very good. -
devil1197
He played in the summer against some of the top players in the country, so he has some experience going agaisnt those type of players.royal_k wrote: I've seen Craft play every year since the 7th grade. I believe he will come in and contribute right away. I realize he played D3, and for the most part didn't see the athletes he will see next year. But the kid has game. He lives in the gym. And his defense is very, very good.
Plus he led his HS team to state his freshman year and plays lockdown defense. -
centralbucksfan
Not during the season he didn't see athletes. But he played AAU with Sully and gang for 2/3yrs. He saw plenty of athletes during this time.royal_k wrote: I've seen Craft play every year since the 7th grade. I believe he will come in and contribute right away. I realize he played D3, and for the most part didn't see the athletes he will see next year. But the kid has game. He lives in the gym. And his defense is very, very good. -
ernest_t_bass
Craft is no Conley. -
centralbucksfan
Did I miss where someone said he was?ernest_t_bass wrote: Craft is no Conley. -
thedynasty1998
Yea I never understook this feeling from OSU fans. Matta stated before the year even started that he thought Conley was the best HS PG in the country his senior year. Yes, all the talk was about Oden, but Conley was being recruited by everyone across the country, so it shouldn't have been a surprise for him to excel. Now did he exceed expectations? Yes. But he came in and took the starting PG job from Jamar Butler.Laley23 wrote:
Sorry, but most people expect 5 Star PGs to be VERY good, even as freshman. Conley was no different.mallymal614 wrote: Plus no one expected Mike Conely to be the type of player he was as a freshman. Hopefully Craft can surprise us as well. -
BaseballIf Craft can come in and not turn it over plus play some DDDD i will be thrilled...something the bucks missed this yr.
Do not expect a Conley but if settles into a stable point we will be very good -
mallymal614I think this potentially can be Buford's breakout season.
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ThumperACI cannot wait for next year!
I predict this starting lineup (Turner is going to cash his lottery check)
1-Jordan Sibert
2-William Buford
3-David Lighty
4-Deshaun Thomas
5-Jared Sullinger
I have watched Sibert and Sullinger each a few times in person the last two years and I am confident they will start. Also, watching Thomas go against Northland this year, the kid was very impressive, he can handle the ball and has a great jumper. I am very interested to see how Diebler and Lauderdale fit in, but I really do not see either of them starting next year. We also have Craft, Smith, and Weatherspoon coming in too. I have not seen Craft or Smith in person so I really cannot comment on them.