2011-2012 Men's Buckeye Basketball (Final Four Season)

[daddyphatsacs]

This team needs a leader. Buford doesn't seem like he's willing to take on the role, it's time for Sullinger or Craft to take over.

I've got a feeling that these guys are about to go on a huge run that'll take them into March....

 

[LitlBuck]

COLUMBUS -- "One problem we have is that we just sit back and wait for somebody else to do something," said the Ohio State point guard.

"Me and coach talked and we don't know what we can do to get guys ready to go night in and night out. I mean, we had some guys ready to go and some guys weren't," said the Ohio State point guard.

"You never know what team is going to show up," said the Ohio State point guard. "Some games we play hard and some games we don't. And every time we don't the other team makes us pay for it."

The above is from the Plain Dealer article on the previous page. I just don't get it. I can't understand why the team is not coming to play every night. Are some guys dissatisfied with their playing time I can't understand that because Matta is playing more guys than he has since he has been at Ohio State. Doesn't everyone like to win... very frustrating:(

 

[Best Buckeye]

A lot of our problems could stem from our lack of experience and the younger players not fully understanding the game while on the court,
Having said that, it doesn't explain the play of our starters who don't seem to be able to play at full speed all the time.
At this time I don't see them coming together in time for the big dance unless someone steps up as a leader.

 

[korchiki]

The above is from the Plain Dealer article on the previous page. I just don't get it. I can't understand why the team is not coming to play every night. Are some guys dissatisfied with their playing time I can't understand that because Matta is playing more guys than he has since he has been at Ohio State. Doesn't everyone like to win... very frustrating:(

You are taking it out of context. Here is the start of the article.

COLUMBUS -- "One problem we have is that we just sit back and wait for somebody else to do something," said the Ohio State point guard.
"Me and coach talked and we don't know what we can do to get guys ready to go night in and night out. I mean, we had some guys ready to go and some guys weren't," said the Ohio State point guard.

"You never know what team is going to show up," said the Ohio State point guard. "Some games we play hard and some games we don't. And every time we don't the other team makes us pay for it."

Is this one Buckeye repeating himself? No, it's proof that the midseason bump Ohio State hit Tuesday night with a 79-74 loss at Illinois isn't new. History proves that the Buckeyes could go either way from here. In one previous year, one of those comments preceded a run to the Final Four. In another year, one of the comments preceded a collapse that left the Buckeyes out of the NCAA Tournament.

The first quote was from Mike Conley Jr. in February of 2007, the second was from Jamar Butler in February of 2008 and the third was from Aaron Craft on Tuesday night. All three times, the Buckeyes were talented and frustrated, the first time days after a near-loss at Penn State, the second immediately after a loss at Iowa and the third after a loss at Illinois.

Either way this team needs to grow up fast. I expect them to figure it out and be a better team as a result. Last year UConn was miserable during the regular season and turned it on toward the end. Happens all the time. No reason to think they won't figure it out this year.

 

[Onebuckfan]

Last years team had pretty well defined roles..this year some players are trying to find their way..and I think sometimes they play to what the fans want than what the coaches want..Highlight dunks are for the fans..defense floor spacing blocking out are boring to fans but that is what the staff wants..

 

[OSU_Buckguy]

You are taking it out of context. Here is the start of the article.

...

The first quote was from Mike Conley Jr. in February of 2007, the second was from Jamar Butler in February of 2008 and the third was from Aaron Craft on Tuesday night.

i immediately knew that one of the quotes didn't come from craft. he would never start a sentence with "me and coach talked..."

 

[OSU_Buckguy]

given our solid depth, outstanding athletes, and poor jump-shooting, i'd like to see us exploit the secondary break a lot more than we do.

 

[Onebuckfan]

given our solid depth, outstanding athletes, and poor jump-shooting, i'd like to see us exploit the secondary break a lot more than we do.

I agree most of our offensive troubles are in the halfcourt when we don't go to Sully. The secondary break is a scramble mode for the defense and would be an advantage for our athletes..Buford is more effective in this mode

 

[Bill Lucas]

It's tough for Sully to be a go to guy when there's no knock down jump shooter on the wing. We're seeing double and triple teams when the ball goes into the post. Didn't see that last year.

 

[Yertle]

This team needs a leader. Buford doesn't seem like he's willing to take on the role, it's time for Sullinger or Craft to take over.

I've got a feeling that these guys are about to go on a huge run that'll take them into March....

I really really hope you're right, but I don't share your optimism right now. Not to bash Buford, but he's not having a good stretch right now to say the least, and I agree, he's not the motivating leader that we need. Watching the games, I don't feel like Buford can be relied on late, which is what we need. If a game is close, we are in trouble... as we've seen this year. Losing 3 close games, and crushing 15 teams. The closest wins have been South Carolina and Florida, and those were in hand with 5 minutes to go. Any game that is tight, we have lost. The reason is we need a leader who is clutch down the stretch... we don't have one. At this point, I'm HOPING for a Big 10 Championship and a Sweet 16 appearance. I'm not feeling good about how this will all play out.

 

[y0yoyoin]

sullinger is openly admiting to taking plays off on defense against the illinois game...wether that is so he stays out of foul trouble or not i dont know...but i feel the whole team played relaxed (besides sam thompson who played great D on paul) for certain portions of the game...i even feel that Crafts D has been not as aggressive...he is not in the opposing players jock like he used to do...since big 10 season started he has 8 steals in 5 games...he had 6 steals in his first 2 games this year...is this because of better competition or because he is trying to stay out of foul trouble?? either way, hopefully everyone will step it up because we need to work on being more consistent once the tournament comes

 

[Yertle]

(besides sam thompson who played great D on paul)

Dude scored 43. I don't think you can honestly use the phrase "great D" in that sentence. Sam seemed more aggressive than others, but "great"? No.

And I have noticed a slide in Craft's d as well. Are people figuring him out? Is he under the weather? Just a slump? My imagination? Not sure.

 

[DaBears]

The game today is going to be a big measuring stick for this team. Even with all of its troubles on the road, they still have consistently run teams off the court at home. I'm expecting a motivated team today that is going to run Indiana out of the building, but if we don't see a team playing its all for 40 minutes, I see a disappointing finish to this season coming.

Everyone keeps talking about needing a leader to step up and get this team focused on the floor. I agree and I do not see that leader being Buford, it is simply not in his personality. It is either going to be Craft or Sullinger or this team will continue to be rudderless.

 

[buckeyescott11]

I think the issue with Craft's D is that he's still playing aggressive, but he's getting called for ticky tack fouls that last year and earlier this season weren't being called. As a result he's backing off a bit so he doesn't sit on the bench all half like he did at Iowa, I think.

 

[y0yoyoin]

Dude scored 43. I don't think you can honestly use the phrase "great D" in that sentence. Sam seemed more aggressive than others, but "great"? No.

And I have noticed a slide in Craft's d as well. Are people figuring him out? Is he under the weather? Just a slump? My imagination? Not sure.

thompson was the only one who was actually slowing paul down...im not about to go back and look at the film to see how many points he scored while thompson was on him in the 2nd half but bob baptist agrees as well