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2010-2011 Men's Basketball (Outright Big Ten & BTT Champs)

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OSU men's basketball: Starting over
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
By Bob Baptist
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

The Ohio State men's basketball team meets the media Thursday to discuss the start of preseason practice Friday. We went one-on-one in advance with coach Thad Matta for some insights as well as updates on players coming off surgery. The scoop: David Lighty (broken fifth metatarsal) is fully cleared, Lenzelle Smith (wrist ligament) might not make it back until December, Nikola Kecman (knee ligament) won't see the court until mid-December, and walk-on Eddie Days (broken fifth metatarsal) should be back by mid-November. On other matters:

Question: You were hopeful of playing Dallas Lauderdale and Jared Sullinger together in the starting lineup. That was before Zisis Sarikopoulos left to play professionally in Greece - and left you without a backup center. Can you still afford to play Lauderdale and Sullinger together?

Answer: I think we can. A lot like last year, we can also play (Lighty at power forward), we can play Deshaun (Thomas) there, so it gives us a lttle bit more of a viable (alternative).

Q: When you start practice Friday, who are your first five?

A: I don't know that yet. We've been talking about it as a staff, exactly what we want to do. I've geared everything (in early workouts) toward the defensive end, sort of seeing what guys can do. But the way I do practice, I won't put all five (starters) together. We'll make it as competitive as we possibly can.
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http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2010/10/13/starting-over.html?sid=101
 
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Actually can't wait to see the new uniforms debut once the season gets going. Just hope the background silhouette on the back of the jerseys doesn't have a geometric Brutus or something (never know with Nike).

Thursday's Photo Gallery
http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/Ph...7813&SPID=10421&DB_OEM_ID=17300&PALBID=380841

LWFIPEDUAESUIBC.20101014214044.JPG
 
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College hoops: Turner gone, but OSU eyes reloading
Published: Friday, October 15, 2010
By Rusty Miller
Associated Press

COLUMBUS — Those two neat rows of smiling players, one seated in front of the other, wearing clean, white uniforms? That was not the group picture of Ohio State's point guards, it was the team picture.

"I don't know," disagreed Jon Diebler, one of four Buckeyes starters. "It might have been."

Make no mistake about it, Ohio State is loaded with talent as it begins workouts for the 2010-11 season. It's just that the Buckeyes have all four returning starters except for the one who played the point — and happened to be the best player in the country.

Evan Turner, the Associated Press Player of the Year last season, left a year early to be the No. 2 overall draft pick by the Philadelphia 76ers.

The 6-foot-7 junior stepped into the vacant point guard spot a year ago and averaged 20.4 points, 9.2 rebounds and six assists while leading the Buckeyes (29-8) to a share of the regular-season Big Ten title, the conference's tournament crown and a trip to the NCAA regional semifinals.

"Oh, we're going to miss Evan," said leading returning scorer William Buford (14.4 ppg). "He was more like a brother to us than anything. On the court we're going to miss him a lot. He brought a lot and was the best player in college basketball last year."

In his place, the Buckeyes will likely go with a point guard by committee.
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http://news-herald.com/articles/2010/10/15/sports/nh3169810.txt

Ozone- BBall Photo's

Men's Hoops Media Day-Video
 
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Observations from practice

The Agonis Club held its annual fund-raiser for the team tonight in the Schottenstein Center and, thanks to Ron Stokes, I was invited to attend. The evening included a chance to watch the Buckeyes practice for about 75 minutes, the only chance I'll get until their exhibition game Nov. 7.

Here are a few thoughts. Be aware, it's one practice. Some guys had a better one than others. I assume other guys will have better ones tomorrow. But on this night, this is what I saw:

-- It was a long afternoon, coach Thad Matta said. The team started in the weight room at 3 p.m. and the practice finished at 6:15. That explained why, early in the hour, "the freshmen were not sharp," Matta said afterward. "They feel sorry for themselves. We tell them, 'Your mom's not here anymore. We don't feel sorry for you.'"

What I saw during a series of passing drills were sharp, straight, precise passes by the upperclassmen and soft, imprecise releases by the freshmen. It made you appreciate how several years in the program make a player more aware of the importance of the little things, like throwing a pass straight and crisply enough to avoid a deflection and to a spot on an open teammate's body where he can catch it and get a shot off before an opponent can recover to defend it. Little things like that matter on the college level, where bigger and quicker defenders shrink the floor, and the amount of time a shooter has to get his shot off.

-- In five-on-five situations in the half-court, William Buford ran the point against Aaron Craft.

Cont...
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http://blog.dispatch.com/hoopsscoops/2010/10/observations_from_practice_1.shtml
 
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Free Rivals - Forecasting top frontcourts for 2010-11

10. OHIO STATE
Key performers: Dallas Lauderdale (6-8/255, Sr.), Jared Sullinger (6-9/280, Fr.), Deshaun Thomas (6-6/230, Fr.), J.D. Weatherspoon (6-7/210, Fr.)
The buzz: We admittedly are putting plenty of faith in the upside of a freshman-laden frontcourt, but we just can't overlook the Buckeyes' wealth of talent, even if it's unproven. Sullinger is the No. 5 prospect in the 2010 recruiting class and already has enough bulk to deal with the physical grind of Big Ten competition. Sullinger's a probable lottery pick in next year's draft if he chooses to turn pro. Thomas, the No. 22 prospect in the 2010 class, gives the Buckeyes another physical presence who can crash the boards. Weatherspoon and Sullinger were Columbus (Ohio) Northland High School and AAU teammates, so they already are familiar with each other's games. These freshmen join a frontcourt that also welcomes back Lauderdale, a senior who led the Big Ten last season with 2.1 blocks per game.
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The fact they even looked decent to that reporter after a weight lifting session (thats hard on anyone), and in one of their first practices is a very good sign.

Im not really surprised they beat the upper class either. The 5 on 5 session probably wasn't run with many plays in mind so the fresh just had to play ball and their skill set fits that type of game perfectly.
 
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Defense, baby. Defense.

If this young group comes in and plays hungry defense, this team could go very far. The skill set is there to run alot this year but it all starts with defense. Cant wait to see em get after it!
 
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OHIO STATE WILL MAKE A POINT
Friday, October 22, 2010

DETROIT ? I?ve fallen behind, but I?m going to devote some blame here to my buddy ? who couldn?t take the ripping and running involved in this trip and departed after just a few days to go home.

That meant that I was unable to blog while he drove on some of the rides from one campus to another. I?m recapping my trip to Ohio State today and will finish off with Michigan State and also my quick visit with Xavier coach Chris Mack.

When I walked into the arena on the Ohio State campus, Buckeyes coach Thad Matta wasted no time:

``I?m giving you an all-access pass during practice,? he said.

I was pumped. A chance to sneak into the huddles and watch how the players took to instructions from the coaching staff ? and also an up-close look at a team that could reach the Final Four.

But there was a string attached to Matta?s proposal.

``You have to change in full Ohio State gear from head to toe,? he laughed.

Done deal.

So, I went in the back, was given a pair of Ohio State shorts, shirt and even a pair of red size 15?s that I proceeded to wear for the next couple of hours while I watched Ohio State get after it.

My biggest question going into the day wasn?t just how Matta would replace the National Player of the Year, Evan Turner, but more specifically, what he would do at point guard.

Matta had told me in the summer of 2009 that he was going to play Turner at the point in an effort to get his five best players on the court and the plan obviously worked ? as Turner was clearly effective running the team.

Matta told me this past July that another veteran, David Lighty, would see some time at the point this year. However, after watching the Buckeyes, I think it may be more of a point guard by committee approach with Lighty, William Buford, freshman Aaron Craft and Jon Diebler all handling the duties.

First let?s start with Buford.

Wow.

Cont....
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http://community.foxsports.com/goodmanonfox/blog/2010/10/22/ohio_state_will_make_a_point
 
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