2016-2017 Ohio State Men's Basketball (Official Thread)

[NFBuck]

Yep.

I read: I don't know what the exact problem is. I don't know if it's Matta. I don't know what the answer is. I don't know much of anything. This team isn't going to be competing nationally for a while. BUT because of what Thad Matta did over a half decade ago, we should endure this [Mark May] stain for a season or two more before actions are taken to fix the problems and that should be acceptable.

Okay...

This is the only argument to be made anymore. Matta was great several years ago, so we should just keep him despite consistently diminishing returns. The argument I see from people angling to keep him are generally "good luck trying to find a coach that can do what Matta has done here." Well, can we find someone that recruits hoards of blue-chip players and get us to a couple of Final Fours and a National Final? I don't know, maybe not. But that's not what we're looking to replace. We're looking to replace a guy who has six straight seasons of declining results, is about to miss his second straight tourney, and is a Rutgers away from occupying the B1G basement. A guy whose recruiting has fallen off at an alarming rate, and even the handful of 4* players he's landed the past couple years have failed to develop. That's the disconnect.

 

[CFPBuckeye]

This is the only argument to be made anymore. Matta was great several years ago, so we should just keep him despite consistently diminishing returns. The argument I see from people angling to keep him are generally "good luck trying to find a coach that can do what Matta has done here." Well, can we find someone that recruits hoards of blue-chip players and get us to a couple of Final Fours and a National Final? I don't know, maybe not. But that's not what we're looking to replace. We're looking to replace a guy who has six straight seasons of declining results, is about to miss his second straight tourney, and is a Rutgers away from occupying the B1G basement. A guy whose recruiting has fallen off at an alarming rate, and even the handful of 4* players he's landed the past couple years have failed to develop. That's the disconnect.

It hurts to "like" this because it's true.

 

[NFBuck]

It's kinda like saying I'm a De Niro or Pacino fan; I'll always love them for the work they did years ago, doesn't mean I want to watch the garbage they're in these days. In fact, I wish they'd just stop.

 

[buckeyemania11]

This is rock bottom. The only thing keeping us from being dead last in the B1G is Rutgers (do we even count them?)

Penn State and Nebraska are above us. This is the current state of the program.

 

[Jake]

We're looking to replace a guy who has six straight seasons of declining results, is about to miss his second straight tourney, and is a Rutgers away from occupying the B1G basement. A guy whose recruiting has fallen off at an alarming rate, and even the handful of 4* players he's landed the past couple years have failed to develop.

Ten or more losses for 4 straight seasons, and a good chance of finishing .500 or worse this season. Only six coaches are paid more, and that's what we're getting?

Unfortunately, I suspect sentimentality and wishful thinking will prevail for at least one more season. It's bad business, but it's not uncommon in sports.

 

[ArmyVet83]

While I put much of the blame on the coaches, this team has too many issues to count. Sometimes when I watch them, I wonder if they like playing together. I cannot put my finger on it. There is talent but that talent does not mesh on the court.

Here is a possibility, maybe he has missed on certain recruits and had to resort to Plan C, D, E, and F recruits to fill holes on the team. Since the great class that wasn't of Scott, Thompson, Williams, and others maybe he started second guessing himself on what type of team he wanted to put on the court. High tempo run and gun, defensive oriented, etc.

Or maybe Thad has burned out.

 

[Jake]

Here is a possibility, maybe he has missed on certain recruits and had to resort to Plan C, D, E, and F recruits to fill holes on the team. Since the great class that wasn't of Scott, Thompson, Williams, and others maybe he started second guessing himself on what type of team he wanted to put on the court.

If Thad can't get the players to compete with his system, then he needs a new system or we need a new coach.

 

[NFBuck]

Unfortunately, I suspect sentimentality and wishful thinking will prevail for at least one more season. It's bad business, but it's not uncommon in sports.

I've said numerous times that I expect him back next year. If a move is made, it'll be because Matta steps down, and I don't see that happening with millions of dollars on the table. I cannot see a situation where Matta is fired this year, and frankly, he deserves that courtesy. However, I think he needs his feet held to the fire wrt assistants. For years, we had quality assistants come through here that went on to head coaching gigs. Nobody is knocking on the door to interview Dickerson, Paulus or Jent.

Next year could be a different story. Unless they get some assistants in here to actually COACH these kids, next year will likely be worse. A 3-15 / 4-14 B1G season and increasingly empty arena probably makes him ripe for a firing.

I don't want to waste another year next year, but sadly, I think that's what's gonna happen. Sad that it's come to this.

 

[LitlBuck]

Nobody is knocking on the door to interview Dickerson, Paulus or Jent.

I have no idea with regard to Dickerson or Paulus but with regard to Jent I have to disagree. I once heard an NBA coach say that there is more "coaching" done in the last 2 minutes of an NBA game(I really do not like the NBA) then there is during an entire college basketball game and Jent was an NBA assistant. Now with regard to recruiting, I have no idea but I think that Chris could always mention his relationship with Lebron.

With regard to Matta, I think you know where I stand

 

[NFBuck]

Somebody quoted me. Where's the tits?

 

[buckeyemania11]

I've said numerous times that I expect him back next year. If a move is made, it'll be because Matta steps down, and I don't see that happening with millions of dollars on the table. I cannot see a situation where Matta is fired this year, and frankly, he deserves that courtesy. However, I think he needs his feet held to the fire wrt assistants. For years, we had quality assistants come through here that went on to head coaching gigs. Nobody is knocking on the door to interview Dickerson, Paulus or Jent.

Next year could be a different story. Unless they get some assistants in here to actually COACH these kids, next year will likely be worse. A 3-15 / 4-14 B1G season and increasingly empty arena probably makes him ripe for a firing.

I don't want to waste another year next year, but sadly, I think that's what's gonna happen. Sad that it's come to this.

Next year is probably going to be a waste anyways.

I'm guessing Thompson will not be returning, he tried leaving after last year (lol) and this is probably the peak he's going to reach. What's the point to coming back to school another year to a trainwreck? he's been by far the best big this year and surprisingly improved. Who's gonna step in and replace him right away?

I would not be shocked if Tate said screw it and jetted to go play overseas or something either

Enthusiasm surrounding the program is about non existent at the moment, so a exodus of a few players leaving early surprisingly might be expected.

But I kind of get what you mean, Another awful year with Matta is pointless, at least if we had a new coach he could start implementing what he wanted to do and recruit the type of guys he wants.

 

[NFBuck]

I'm just assuming Thompson goes. That would be a hit. Wouldn't surprise me if Lyle goes, as well. I've never been a fan of Lyle, so frankly, meh. Loving is obviously going as he's mercifully out of eligibilty.

That likely leaves you with the following lineup:

PG- C.J. Jackson (would have been a good fit as a bench guy on Matta's better teams. As a starting PG? Woof. // Call it a wash with this year, because at least he doesn't play out of control like Lyle often does.)
SG- Kam Williams (One dimensional player who needs to shoot much better than he has this year to have any value. // Returning starter, needs to get better.)
C- Kaleb Wesson (True Freshman. Has some talent, but he ain't no Sully despite a similar build. Would be better served coming off the bench for a year, but here we are. // Probably a significant downgrade from TT)
F- KBD (Assuming he can bounce back, maybe he lives up to some of the recruiting hype, but wouldn't bet on it given this staffs track record // Loving should be addition through subtraction, so call this an upgrade.)
F- Jae'Sean Tate (I think he's back. I've said before, he would be much better served in a complimentary and/or bench role playing 16-20 minutes a game, but with this roster, he's often seen trying to take the game in his hands, something he does not have the skill for. // Wash. I think he is what he is, and he'll be it again next year.)

BENCH
C- Micah Potter (Charmin-soft "stretch" player. Has some shooting ability, but my God, his defense. I don't see how he ever develops past being an offensive role player)
F- Andre Wesson (Marginally skilled player who would likely be an end-of-bench guy in Matta's better years.)
F- Derek Funderburke (Has potential, but can this staff "coach him up"? I have my doubts.)
PG- Braxton Beverly (Freshman, tiny PG. Another guy who is probably best served filling a Jeremie Simmons-type role.)
C- David Bell (Garbage-time big body.)

I look at that roster and cringe. The backcourt depth is perilously thin. Unless KBD takes a giant leap, we have nobody that is a consistent scoring threat. It's an undersized roster. Again, is there anybody there willing to step into a leadership role? I've felt for a long time that Loving will eventually be addition-by-subtraction, but he does contribute 13 ppg, so that has to be replaced. I guess if KBD is healthy, that's doable. Lyle, again, I have major issues with his game, particularly his basketball IQ, but that's 11 ppg gone if he leaves. I just have a hard time seeing how that roster is any better than this year.

Now, if TT and Lyle return, and KBD is healthy...with the additions of K. Wesson and Funderburk, maybe marginal improvement is possible. But that's a big IF.

 

[LitlBuck]

Now, if TT and Lyle return, and KBD is healthy...with the additions of K. Wesson and Funderburk, maybe marginal improvement is possible. But that's a big IF.

You need to keep up on your basketball recruiting After the loss to Nebraska this past weekend, Matta extended an offer to a recruit by the name of Mark Smith. He is very similar in size to Lyle so you might want to add him to the list but he is just a may be.

I do not know if Thompson leaves or not. If he leaves, he certainly is not going to the NBA but maybe Europe will call. I think that Lyle is out of here at the end of this year and will be headed for Europe. Loving can go anywhere he wants where they have a playground.

 

[NFBuck]

You need to keep up on your basketball recruiting After the loss to Nebraska this past weekend, Matta extended an offer to a recruit by the name of Mark Smith. He is very similar in size to Lyle so you might want to add him to the list but he is just a may be.

I did see the offer, but didn't include him because I don't know how likely he is to end up here. Looks like a decent prospect, but again, he's the #25 PG, and #107 overall player in the country. And we'd be hoping for him to be a significant contributor. There was a time when a kid with those credentials would be something of an afterthought in a tOSU recruiting class.

 

[LitlBuck]

I'm guessing Thompson will not be returning, he tried leaving after last year (lol) and this is probably the peak he's going to reach. What's the point to coming back to school another year to a trainwreck? he's been by far the best big this year and surprisingly improved. Who's gonna step in and replace him right away?

Thompson did not try leaving last year. He only went to the NBA evaluation camp to try and improve his game. If he leaves, it certainly will not be for the NBA but for Europe. If Thompson leaves, Potter and Wesson, possibly DF, will have to step up big time to fill his role.

I would not be shocked if Tate said screw it and jetted to go play overseas or something either

Tate is not going anywhere. His loyalty to the program is unbelievable and I am not really sure if his game is meant for the European league or not.