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2012-13 Men's Basketball (B1G Tourney Champs, NCAA Elite Eight)

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Preseason Poll

Louisville and Kentucky ranked 2nd and 3rd ahead of Ohio State.

Ohio State is ranked fourth in the preseason poll of college basketball coaches released today by USA Today.

Four other Big Ten teams also are in the top 25: Indiana is first, Michigan fifth, Michigan State 14th and Wisconsin 21st. Minnesota received votes.

The Associated Press media poll will be released Oct. 28, and AP's preseason All-American team Oct 31.

The Buckeyes make their 2012-13 debut on Oct. 30 with an exhibition game in Value City Arena against Walsh University. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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dispatch
 
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I'm happy to be in the top 5, but I get the feeling this team will struggle early and catch its stride in February. This team will be fun to watch and has potential for a final 4 run, but I don't know if I "expect" it.
 
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fanaticbuckeye;2236342; said:
I'm happy to be in the top 5, but I get the feeling this team will struggle early and catch its stride in February. This team will be fun to watch and has potential for a final 4 run, but I don't know if I "expect" it.
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Sounds like the typical Thad Matta squad. I have no problem with them struggling early on, and turning it up in conference play. They are young and unproven outside of D-Thomas and Craft.

Speaking of Craft, WTF...

Goldy-Locks-Craft.jpg


:lol:
 
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[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdKElDkMUW8"]Nuthouse Magic #1 - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVcYoiW2qnA"]Nuthouse Magic #2 - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFqSfKKH3fw"]Nuthouse Magic #3 - YouTube[/ame]
 
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Walk-ons

I am sure that these guys will get their individual threads when it becomes official but from Bob Baptist's twitter here are two guys that have been mentioned as walk-ons.
6-6 Jake Lorbach of Lakewood St. Edward and 6-3 Drew Goldstein of Marlboro, NJ.Goldstein won gold medal in January as part of US Pan- American Maccabi Games team in Brazil.
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A writeup on the Ohio State basketball team. I wonder which coach made this statement.
Quote from an opposing coach in the league: "They don't scare me like they have in the past. They've always had that stud -- whether it was Greg Oden or Jared Sullinger -- in the middle. This team will have to be different, more perimeter-oriented. I love Craft like everyone else, but I'm just not sure he'll have enough help. I think they'll be an upper-tier team in the Big Ten, but I don't see them fighting for the title."
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CBS
 
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Bucknut24 said:
who are the expected starting 5?

and doesn't #4 seem awfully high? I didn't think this team was supposed to be that great this year?
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Thomas, Craft, Williams, Smith Jr., Ross/Thompson. I agree 4th is the nation seems a little high because there are a couple of unknowns such as how Williams is going to play and will Ross/Thompson bring some points/rebounding/defense. Our depth also is a concern.
 
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Heart and soul: Craft. This kid is the poster child for college athletics. He plays with great toughness and verve, and he is a natural winner. Craft is also an elite student as well as the only non-senior at the school to serve as president of Athletes in Action. "You just don't get guys like him," Matta told me. "What he stands for as a person, his accountability, his responsibility. I've never seen a guy who takes such full advantage of the college experience." If Craft takes full advantage of his newfound shooting touch, then it will make a huge difference.

Most improved: Shannon Scott, 6-1 sophomore guard. Scott is a prime candidate for my annual early-season list of sophomores on the rise. Between Craft, Buford and 6-4 junior guard Lenzelle Smith, there weren't a whole lot of minutes available last season for Scott. But Scott is a former McDonald's All-American who is exceptionally quick. He can also play and defend both guard positions. The area Scott needs to improve most is his long-range shooting; he was 1-for-18 from behind the arc last year.

X factor: Amir Williams. You can't overstate the importance of Williams' emergence on this team. As Thomas put it, "I always tell Amir, when you go, we go. Everybody has to feel your presence."

Williams is a sturdy 6-11, 220 pounds, but in the past his presence has not been felt. He was too raw and out of shape to get a lot of playing time as a freshman. He averaged just 6.6 minutes and shot 35.7 percent from the foul line. He has to at least provide rebounding and shotblocking on defense. (Sullinger's rebounding will be missed far more than his scoring.) The good news is, Williams' conditioning is light years ahead of where it was this time last year. His offensive moves remain awkward, but he had a couple of nice moments in practice where he sealed his man, established a proper angle, caught the ball and powered it home. Points from him would be gravy, but gravy sure tastes good.

Incidentally, the runner-up for this category is LaQuinton Ross, a 6-8 sophomore from Jackson, Miss. Ross was a highly-touted recruit, but as a freshman he was academically ineligible during the first semester, and by the time he joined the squad he was hopelessly behind. Ross is a little too laid back for my taste, but I came away from practice thinking he has the most long-term pro potential of anyone on this roster. Ross is smooth and athletic, and he has a real pretty stroke for a guy his size. If the proverbial light ever goes on for him, he's gonna shine mighty bright.

Glue guy: Sam Thompson, 6-7 sophomore forward. This is one of the most electric athletes in the country. If you don't believe me, check out the photo below and video taken at the end of practice. Granted I'm not exactly a Kia -- I'm not even a Tonka truck -- but you can see that Thompson has some mad hops. Said Matta, "The other day he had a tip dunk, I swear he was looking down at the rim."
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Seth Davis on BBall Bucks
 
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OhioState001;2236718; said:
Thomas isn't a stud? He's arguable the second best player in the league and is probably the best offensive player.
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The quote specifically mentioned a "man in the middle". We don't have a center that scares people this year. I think that a lot of people wonder if Craft and Thomas will have enough help to win the Big Ten this year.
 
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IronBuckI;2236735; said:
The quote specifically mentioned a "man in the middle". We don't have a center that scares people this year. I think that a lot of people wonder if Craft and Thomas will have enough help to win the Big Ten this year.
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this is true but we only had Greg for 1 year and Sully for 2. We seemed to still be pretty good in those other seasons.
 
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