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C Greg Oden (All B1G, All-American, Defensive Player of the Year, Butler Assistant Coach)

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DDN

Oden OK with injury, invisible basketballs

By Mark Gokavi
Staff Writer

Friday, December 08, 2006
Go ahead, make Thad Matta's day.
Foul Greg Oden. Send the 7-foot center to the line to shoot free throws left-handed until his right wrist fully heals.
As the Ohio State men's basketball team adjusts to having a dominant inside force, some foes might think they can pull a Hack-a-Shaq (Holdin'-an-Oden?) to slow down the Buckeyes.
"My thing is, quite honestly, with the other guys we have on the floor, get us in the bonus," Matta said. "I love that. I've got guys who can drive the ball around him and that's great offense for us."
Oden made 8-of-15 free throws as a southpaw in Ohio State's 78-58 win against Valparaiso. But he did make 6 of his last 8. "All I need to do is play defense and block shots," Oden said.
Chairman of the boards
Matta chuckled halfway through a sentence about what Oden's presence will mean inside. Oden had 10 rebounds and five blocks in 23 minutes to go with 14 points against Valpo.
"I think our rebounding is really going to pick up," Matta said, then laughing at how that sounded. "When we take the floor again, we'll have more continuity and more flow to what we're doing."
Stat pack
And the freshmen shall lead them: The latest Big Ten statistics show OSU's freshmen at or near the top of the league leaders in many categories.
Mike Conley Jr. is tops in assists (6.63), steals (2.75) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.94 to 1). Daequan Cook is fifth in scoring (17.6), seventh in rebounding (7.0) and second in 3-point percentage (.514) and defensive rebounds (5.63).
When Oden has enough games to qualify, expect to see his name atop the blocks list.
BMOC
Oden said campus life hasn't become a big distraction, except for those invisible basketballs.
"It's not crazy, it's really not," he said. "People treat me regular like they did in Indianapolis. I enjoy that. I go to class. Sometimes a guy might stop me, with a basketball (to sign) that he pulled out of nowhere."
Next game
Who: Cleveland State (5-5) at OSU (7-1)
When: 4 p.m. Saturday
TV: None
Radio: WING-AM (1410)
 
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Oden content with being a great center

Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio ? Greg Oden has no desire to hit a three-pointer or to lead a fast break. He's content to just be a dominating center.
The 7-foot freshman made all eight of his shots from the field and Ohio State controlled inside in the fifth-ranked Buckeyes' 78-57 victory over Cleveland State on Saturday.
"When Greg committed to us I said we got the only big guy in the country who wants to be a center," coach Thad Matta said. "We've always said he's got a high basketball IQ. He knows where he's good and what he does best."
What he does best is use his height and athleticism.
Unlike many other 7-footers, he couldn't care less about showing how versatile he is. Being a great center is enough for him.
"I'm slow, and I get tired. And there's a lot of ballhandling. That's about it," Oden joked, talking about what would prevent him from playing on the perimeter. "I just take my time, shoot a couple of hook shots."
Despite foul trouble that limited him to 23 minutes, Oden had 16 points, four rebounds, two assists, three blocked shots and a steal.
With Oden scoring on a drive, a half-hook and two dunks, the Buckeyes broke out to a 12-0 lead over the opening 3:04 and never trailed.
The lead hovered between 15 and 20 points most of the second half.
Othello Hunter led the Buckeyes (8-1) with a career-high 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Hunter said he benefited from playing against Oden in practice and then playing with him in the game.
"I like it. It's kind of easy," he said. "It's me and him out there and most guys will go for him."
Cleveland State coach Gary Waters said he and his team prepared for playing against Oden but were surprised by the effectiveness of the 6-9 Hunter, a junior-college transfer in his first year with the Buckeyes.
"The kid who did an outstanding job when he was on the floor was Hunter. We didn't put a lot of emphasis on him," Waters said. "Oden's going to have what he had because he's got that much potential. But Hunter, we didn't put that into the equation."
Oden did not play in Ohio State's first seven games before scoring 14 points and grabbing 10 rebounds a week ago in a 78-58 win over Valparaiso. He still is recovering from surgery last June to repair ligament damage in his right wrist, and wears an elastic brace on his shooting hand.
One of the nation's most acclaimed recruits, Oden was considered by many to be the top pick in the NBA draft last year if the league had not changed its rules to make high school players wait a year before becoming eligible.
He shot his free throws left-handed but used his right hand almost exclusively when shooting from the field ? although five of his baskets came on dunks.
 
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Telegraph-Forum


Oden's impact sudden

Many Ohio State basketball fans never saw Jerry Lucas play for the Buckeyes. It was 45 years ago, but the rafters at Value City Arena still reflect his presence in Columbus. Three NCAA title game appearances and the Buckeyes only national championship came with Lucas at center in 1960.
Despite glaring differences, it's tough to avoid comparing the presence of 7-foot freshman Greg Oden with the 6-9 Lucas. The high school reputations, the collegiate expectations, the aura surrounding both. So similar.

Each was tutored by a young, knowledgeable, intense Ohio State coach. Lucas under Fred Taylor, Oden under Thad Matta.
It's ironic, too. Their respective games are nothing alike.
Lucas was an offensive force and a rebounding demon from his very first collegiate game.
Oden was a defensive force and a shotblocking machine in his very first collegiate game.
Hailing from Middletown, Lucas was a homegrown product who built an Ohio high school reputation surpassed only by LeBron James.
Oden is an out-of-stater, but his Indianapolis prep pedigree takes a backseat to no one in the fabled Hoosier hinterland -- including high school stars John Wooden, Oscar Robertson and Larry Bird.
Only the most ardent Ohio State fan believes Oden will reject a seven-figure contract this spring when he becomes the first pick in the NBA draft. Judging by his first two games, this almost certainly is his only season in Columbus.
The injured right wrist that sidelined him eight months still isn't right. Still, Oden has been unstoppable in his first two games. He came off the bench four minutes into his season opener against Valparaiso and delivered a double-double while playing just 23 minutes.
His final line was 14 points, 10 rebounds, five blocked shots, and one hand. That is he played with one hand, his off-hand at that. Oden hit 3 of 4 shots, and 8 of 15 free throws. From the line, he shot left-handed. At this point his right hand is little more than a club below the elbow.
"I've been practicing a left-handed jump shot. All I can do is play defense and block shots," Oden said. "Dr. Fisher told me under no circumstances should I dive, or fall -- and if I fall, to keep my hands up and bang my head."
Saturday, he made all eight of his shots, scored 16 points and added three blocks.
Oden makes Ohio State a completely different team. What was once a perimeter-oriented squad now has one of the nation's best interior attacks.
Weighing nearly 280 pounds, Oden's quickness, timing, and aggressiveness make the comparisons to Bill Russell seem reasonable. In reality, it's hard to imagine Russell, at least three inches shorter and 30 pounds lighter, excelling to this degree at the same stage of development.
Is Ohio State a national championship contender?
Without question. The Buckeyes gave third-ranked North Carolina all it wanted
in Chapel Hill -- sans Oden.
"He's got a tremendous future ahead of him as well as this team," Matta said
He does, and they do.
Fellow freshman Daequan Cook, an incredibly efficient perimeter scorer, seems poised to play John Havlicek to Oden's Lucas. One NBA mock draft already lists him as the 10th pick in the first round next summer -- with barely a month of college ball under his belt. Seniors Ron Lewis and surprising Ivan Harris are off to torrid starts, too.
While some anxiously await the showdown at defending national champion Florida on Dec. 23, where Oden will challenge 6-11 Joakim Noah and 6-10 Al Horford, the Buckeyes will bear much closer scrutiny in two months.
What will Oden be like when he's in game shape? Imagine his offensive impact when his right hand becomes a useful instrument. It might take another month or two to measure. So, Big Ten teams figure to absorb the answers.
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Greg Oden: Light Years Ahead of Bynum

Dec 11, 2006 | 6:45AM | report this

Cleveland State coach Gary Waters recruited Los Angeles Lakers big man Andrew Bynum when he was at Rutgers.

"Greg Oden is light years ahead of Andrew Bynum,? said Waters, whose team came up short against Oden and the Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday. "He?s tougher, stronger and his ability to jump and block shots is better.?

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"He?s such a presence,? added Valparaiso coach Homer Drew, who had the distinction of being the first coach to try and stop the 7-foot, 270-pound freshman. ?You just don?t get any shots in the lane.?

Waters even went as far to compare him to one of the greatest defensive big men in college basketball history.

"He?s the best presence since Patrick Ewing,? Waters said. ?But he?s different than Patrick because he?ll dunk everything.?

Oden, the sure-fire No. 1 pick in next June?s NBA Draft, returned about a month ahead of schedule from major surgery on his right wrist back in June. His addition to an already talented Ohio State club has made the Buckeyes one of a handful of teams who have the inside track to the national title this year.

"They win that game if he plays,? Waters said of the Buckeyes loss to North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

"He?s just that good,? added Drew.

The scary part is that Oden still isn?t able to use his right hand offensively. He can rebound with two hands and block shots, but he is still shooting free throws lefty and can?t really utilize any low-post moves due to the injury.

The facet of Oden?s game that impressed both Waters and Drew the most was how hard the big man plays on both ends of the court.

"That?s why they have to give him a rest,? Waters said. ?Not to protect him, but because he plays both ends of the floor with the same intensity. That?s rare, especially with big guys. Most of them tend to stand and wait.?

"He?s as strong as Ewing was,? added Waters. ?He wedges his post before it happens. I don?t know who taught him, but it?s unbelievable. He has psychologically prepared himself for the next play even when it?s two plays away. I didn?t expect that.?

Oden is so strong and powerful that once he gets the ball in the post, no one ? not even Tyler Hansbrough ? is going to stop him.

"It?s over,? Waters said. ?And his hands are so good. If you try and foul him, it?s a three-point play because he?s so strong. The Big Ten doesn?t realize what they are getting into having to face him.?
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Dispatch


More than a BIG MAN
Oden knows life doesn?t revolve around a basketball
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Todd Jones
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH


The big teenager wouldn?t get out of the car, even as his date pleaded with him. His classmates at Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis were like peasants awaiting the arrival of royalty. Actually, they were going to crown Greg Oden: They had elected him king of the homecoming dance.

Continued....
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After watching today's game, one thing I noticed that the big fella could improve on is his rebounding position.

Seems like he's always directly under the bucket and tries to use those big arms to tip any rebound back into himself.
 
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Thump;689264; said:
After watching today's game, one thing I noticed that the big fella could improve on is his rebounding position.

Seems like he's always directly under the bucket and tries to use those big arms to tip any rebound back into himself.
Click to expand...

Must be a pretty big problem when he is pulling down 10+ boards a game...:tongue2:

I know what your saying and positioning will come with more stregth to clear 2 and 3 guys out at a time, and with some more coaching, but he has a knack for the ball and it is great to see a big man that understands how to be strong with the ball in the air and keep it elevated, unlike Twig does at times...
 
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