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

[southcampus]

My roommate is a manager and he won't shut up about Aaron Craft. Says the kid is a beast in practice. Handles the ball very well, commands respect from defenders with his shooting and is EXTREMELY smart. Says he wouldn't be surprised to see him starting some games and getting major pt this year.
He said Dallas has gotten a lot better. Mostly because he's in great shape and is a lot faster. Still wouldn't expect a lot offensively from him, but on defense he should be a force. Sully looks good. Apparently, if they needed him to he could bring the ball up the floor, he's that good. Good command of his size and has been working on his interior moves. Also, he said Buford looks more under control this year in practice. I think he's about to have a big year.

He also said that Jordan Siebert is going to be good, but probably won't make a huge impact until year 2 or 3. JD Weatherspoon is apparently VERY raw. I also though it was funny when my roommate said the freshmen "Dominated" the veterans in a scrimmage the other day.

Gonna be a fun year for the Buckeye Ballers!

 

[Taosman]

I am a newbie here and just wanna say Hi to everyone. I am Daniel from Pennsylvania, US.
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"Mr. Daniel, pay for your purchases and get out...and come again."

 

[lord vegas]

My roommate is a manager and he won't shut up about Aaron Craft. Says the kid is a beast in practice. Handles the ball very well, commands respect from defenders with his shooting and is EXTREMELY smart. Says he wouldn't be surprised to see him starting some games and getting major pt this year.
He said Dallas has gotten a lot better. Mostly because he's in great shape and is a lot faster. Still wouldn't expect a lot offensively from him, but on defense he should be a force. Sully looks good. Apparently, if they needed him to he could bring the ball up the floor, he's that good. Good command of his size and has been working on his interior moves. Also, he said Buford looks more under control this year in practice. I think he's about to have a big year.

He also said that Jordan Siebert is going to be good, but probably won't make a huge impact until year 2 or 3. JD Weatherspoon is apparently VERY raw. I also though it was funny when my roommate said the freshmen "Dominated" the veterans in a scrimmage the other day.

Gonna be a fun year for the Buckeye Ballers!

What's he say about Thomas?

 

[southcampus]

He likes DT a lot. I told him that I heard DT was very raw, he said DT looks good. Says he will play a lot of 4 as a face up post and will extend to the parameter. Apparently, he will see a good bit of PT.

Should be interesting to see how they work that rotation. Sully can play 4 and 5 but will be used as a 5 mostly.

 

[lord vegas]

He likes DT a lot. I told him that I heard DT was very raw, he said DT looks good. Says he will play a lot of 4 as a face up post and will extend to the parameter. Apparently, he will see a good bit of PT.

Should be interesting to see how they work that rotation. Sully can play 4 and 5 but will be used as a 5 mostly.

Thanks. Win or lose this year will be more entertaining that's for sure.

 

[Buckskin86]

UPDATES From OSU Men's Hoops Practice
By BCast on 16:29:42 10/25/10

We only got to watch 15 minutes of practices today, and it was mostly drills, but here are some of my observations of the 2010-11 OSU Men's Hoops team from what I saw today:

- David Lighty is getting his explosion back. I have a feeling fatigue is still a major issue for him, but he was moving around pretty well out there today. He was wearing a black sleeve on his left leg but it didn't seem to be anything.

- He showed some good vertical explosion going to the basket and had some pretty nice battles with Jared Sullinger during the rebounding drill.

Cont....

http://forums.the-ozone.net/messages/760811.html

 

[Buckskin86]

The Ozone: Basketball Practice - Photo Gallery

The Ozone: Basketball Practice - Video

 

[y0yoyoin]

http://blog.dispatch.com/hoopsscoops/2010/10/buckeyes_picked_second_1.shtml#more

Buckeyes picked second Media voters predicted Ohio State to finish second to Michigan State in the Big Ten basketball race this season.
Results were released this morning before the start of the conference's media day in Chicago.
The Buckeyes had no players receive preseason recognition.

OFFICIAL VOTING
Team
1. Michigan State
2. Ohio State
3. Purdue
Preseason All-Big Ten
JaJuan Johnson, Purdue
Jon Leuer, Wisconsin
Kalin Lucas, Michigan State
Demetri McCamey, Illinois
E'Twaun Moore, Purdue
Preseason player of the year
Kalin Lucas

 

[LitlBuck]

I will not argue about the first three mentioned in the Preseason All Big Ten team but I would take Buford over these two (Demetri McCamey, Illinois
E'Twaun Moore, Purdue)
if everything that I have heard about WB improving certain aspects of his game since last season.

 

[DZ83CK]

I'm not as much of a Kalin Lucas fan as so many in the media seem to be. He wasn't really better than WB last year, and honestly I'd take Draymond Green over him if I could take one guy off of Sparty's team for this upcoming season. I'm sure few realize Green had a better A/TO ratio than Lucas last season. Lucas is very good in the open court (then again, who's bad in the open court?), but a lot of teams last year were able to limit him with good defense. It's like Lucas is the sacred pig or something and is now "the man" in the Big Ten since Robbie Hummel (the sacred cow) isn't playing. By my calculations, Lucas averaged fewer than 12 ppg in all the regular season games against Big Ten NCAA tourney teams last season, shooting 25-77 from the field (32%) in those games. If you play good D against him, he won't score many points against you - pretty much all his good games scoring-wise were against teams that IMO played poor perimeter defense last season.

 

[buckeyesin07]

I will not argue about the first three mentioned in the Preseason All Big Ten team but I would take Buford over these two (Demetri McCamey, Illinois
E'Twaun Moore, Purdue)
if everything that I have heard about WB improving certain aspects of his game since last season.

I definitely agree with you on Buford > Moore, and I'd argue that it's not even close. McCamey, though, can play. I could see him getting the nod over WB right now.

 

[Buckskin86]

No.4 nationally and other media day morsels

I used most of my time at Big Ten media day today to gather material for some feature stories down the road, but there were some timely things I wanted to get on the blog before I head for O'Hare and home:

- Jon Diebler said the Buckeyes have a "long ways to go" before they can fulfill predictions that they will finish second in the Big Ten to Michigan State and fourth nationally, which is where they were in the Associated Press preseason poll released today.

Where, I asked Diebler, are they farther behind than he would like to see them with the season opener two weeks away?

"We really have to improve on the defensive end . . . just our overall team defense, because that?s what makes teams great is when all five guys are on the same page defensively," he said.

"We?re going to be able to score. We have guys who can score. What coach is really looking for is guys who can defend, because that?s what?s going to win games, especially in our conference. You can have games in the 70s and 80s and the next game will be in the 40s or 50s. You?ve got to be able to win a game based on your defense."

Diebler said a problem now is that some players are not learning from their mistakes.

"We make mistakes (now), but as the week goes on, we can?t keep making the same mistakes," he said. "There?s got to be a point where we learn from it. When you keep doing it, that?s where the frustration comes in from coach, because we spend time talking about those mistakes."

Cont...

http://blog.dispatch.com/hoopsscoops/2010/10/no4_nationally_and_other_media_1.shtml#more

Matta Pleased with Mix of Veterans and Newcomers
By Brandon Castel

Ohio State coach Thad Matta brought his three seniors with him to Chicago for Big Ten Basketball Media Day, but quickly found himself talking about the new faces of Buckeye basketball.

“The good thing for us is we've still got a couple of weeks before we actually tip‑off, but have been very pleased with our guys' work ethic,” Matta said.

“The freshmen stick-to-itiveness to come in every day and work hard at practice.”

Now in his seventh season in Columbus, Matta is no stranger to bringing in elite talent. Since taking over the Ohio State program in 2004, Matta has had six players selected in the first round of the NBA Draft, including three players in the top three picks.

Reigning National Player of the Year Evan Turner was the latest lottery pick from Columbus, which means the Buckeyes have some big shoes to fill in 2010-11. They were picked to finish second in the Big Ten behind Michigan State by the media in Chicago on Tuesday, but a lot of that will hinge on the play of freshman Jared Sullinger.

“I think Jared has been very good to this point. I think the biggest thing was he's really resurrected his body. He's gotten himself in very good shape,” Matta said.

Cont....

http://www.the-ozone.net/hoops/10-11Men's/BTmediaday.html

 

[OSU_Buckguy]

Where, I asked Diebler, are they farther behind than he would like to see them with the season opener two weeks away?

"We really have to improve on the defensive end . . . just our overall team defense, because that?s what makes teams great is when all five guys are on the same page defensively," he said.

"We?re going to be able to score. We have guys who can score. What coach is really looking for is guys who can defend, because that?s what?s going to win games, especially in our conference. You can have games in the 70s and 80s and the next game will be in the 40s or 50s. You?ve got to be able to win a game based on your defense."

Diebler said a problem now is that some players are not learning from their mistakes.

"We make mistakes (now), but as the week goes on, we can?t keep making the same mistakes," he said. "There?s got to be a point where we learn from it. When you keep doing it, that?s where the frustration comes in from coach, because we spend time talking about those mistakes."

my dollars to anyone's doughnuts that diebler will be a coach one day.

 

[fourteenandoh]

I'm just a bit hesitant to think that we can make it to the final four. I think everyone will agree that in order to make a deep run, you have to get good play ouf of your point guard. If you can't get penetration, and can't take care of the ball it makes it very difficult to compete at the highest level. At this point we don't have a solid point guard. We had to make ET our point guard last year because no one could handle the responsibility.

It was very refreshing to hear southcampus refer to Aaron Craft playing well. I really think that could be the key to this team. Obviously we have plenty of talent and physical ability at all of the other positions. The fact that he is a true freshman is another reason for pause, but it has been done before (conley). It also sounds like those guys (craft and conley) practiced together quite a bit this summer, so maybe Craft was able to pick his brain a bit.

At this point, I don't really know enough to say one way or the other how far we can go. However, I can say that the key to the team will be getting production from the PG position. It takes so much pressure off of everyone else when you have a guy who can penetrate and get the easy shot inside.

 

[BrutusBobcat]

I'm just a bit hesitant to think that we can make it to the final four. I think everyone will agree that in order to make a deep run, you have to get good play ouf of your point guard. If you can't get penetration, and can't take care of the ball it makes it very difficult to compete at the highest level. At this point we don't have a solid point guard. We had to make ET our point guard last year because no one could handle the responsibility.

It was very refreshing to hear southcampus refer to Aaron Craft playing well. I really think that could be the key to this team. Obviously we have plenty of talent and physical ability at all of the other positions. The fact that he is a true freshman is another reason for pause, but it has been done before (conley). It also sounds like those guys (craft and conley) practiced together quite a bit this summer, so maybe Craft was able to pick his brain a bit.

At this point, I don't really know enough to say one way or the other how far we can go. However, I can say that the key to the team will be getting production from the PG position. It takes so much pressure off of everyone else when you have a guy who can penetrate and get the easy shot inside.

A lot of this is going to depend on how this team grows over the year. We're going to (hopefully) see a very different bunch in March than we do in November. How different is what none of us know. There are lots of great pieces -- let's see how Matta puts them together.