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F Ivan Harris (official thread)

vrbryant

Ever thus to ____ers
Staff member
I would really love to know what people's (anyone who went to Saturday's scrimmage that I was way too hung over to attend) perception was of the play of both Sylvester and Ivan Harris. I'm very much interested in who got the best of whom, as well as the ins and outs of the PG play. antosu - if you're there, give me some info, man.
 
Harris making the most out of his last go-round
Senior forward averaging 12.1 points, 4 rebounds
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Bob Baptist
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Ivan Harris had the talk with himself in the offseason that a lot of college athletes do before their senior year. They take stock of what they have done, compare it to what they thought they would do and resolve to make up the difference.

"Leave with nothing to look back on (with regret)," Harris said. "I just wanted to work hard every day. It?s my last go-round."

So far, at least, it has been his best.

A career 42 percent shooter from outside the three-point arc, Harris has added more value to his game for the Ohio State men?s basketball team. He is averaging 12.1 points and four rebounds heading into the game against Valparaiso today and is defending like he never has.

In a win over Youngstown State on Nov. 24, "he had one of the best defensive performances we?ve ever had in our time at Ohio State," coach Thad Matta said.

Harris? performance didn?t fall off much in a loss at North Carolina on Wednesday, Matta added. "I thought he and David (Lighty) probably did the best job of battling in the paint and giving everything they had to keep the ball out of there," Matta said.

What?s up with Harris, the gangly, happy-go-lucky kid who came into the program as a McDonald?s All- American in 2003 and for three years seemed content to mostly lob threes?

Some of it is "seeing the sand falling through the hourglass and saying, ?This is almost it for me,? " Matta said.

But some of it, also, is "the weight he?s added to his body and the strength that he?s added," Matta said. "It has given him more confidence."

Harris weighed 200 pounds or less as a freshman; he?s 218 now. He can bench-press 280 pounds, 50 more than when he arrived. "It?s helped me bang down low and stabilize my position," he said.

And while he?s still quick to smile and jokes about his three-point prowess ? "That?s what I do," he says ? Harris has matured enough to realize he needed to be more than the "Microwave," his nickname, to succeed at the level he plays.

"You?ve got to do it every day," he said, "and you?ve got to play hard."

Harris realized it especially when he and Matta talked last spring. After switching to a wing position last year and seeing his playing time reduced by more than half, Harris was told he would return to power forward, where he started all 32 games as a sophomore but averaged only 3.2 rebounds and attempted only eight free throws.

Harris said Matta told him his aggression and rebounding had to improve. Matta didn?t say what would happen if they didn?t, but Harris said the implication was clear: He would finish his career playing garbage minutes.

"I needed to rebound," he said. "I hadn?t been doing it. I needed to make a difference, and I?m trying to right now. I?m trying to get five rebounds a game."

He had five or more in three consecutive games before getting one against North Carolina.

"Kind of seeing it for the last two years, and now watching him do it on the court and seeing his excitement every day as he comes into practice, is enjoyable for me as his coach," Matta said.


[email protected]

http://www.columbusdispatch.com/football/football.php?story=dispatch/2006/12/02/20061202-E1-02.html
 
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OSU BASKETBALL
Harris has his own national title dream

Ohio State's football team isn't the only show in Columbus as the Springfield native and the rest of Matta's team is showing.


By Kermit Rowe

Sunday, December 03, 2006


Springfield's Ivan Harris has come full circle.
And now he's got a date circled on his calendar that he could legitimately make ? one that would be a memorable end to his basketball career at Ohio State.
That date is April 2, 2007 ? the night of the NCAA Championship game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
And why not? His Buckeyes were ranked No. 1 in this week's coaches poll and No. 3 in the Associated Press' version, although they'll fall after a loss to North Carolina on Wednesday. Heck, there's already one Ohio State team in a high-profile national title game. Why not two?
At any rate, it's a long way from precocious freshman on a sub-.500 team under Jim O'Brien to a senior leader of the top-ranked Bucks of Thad Matta.
Did he ever think he'd be in this position?
"Not really," answered Harris, who had 20 points Wednesday against the Tar Heels and nine Saturday in a 78-58 victory over Valparaiso. "When I got here, the team was struggling a little bit. Then as the years went on, our record started to get better, and we started to get better players in here."
Being the only leftover from the O'Brien regime gives Harris a unique perspective.
"It has changed dramatically," said Harris. "Starting at the bottom and working all the way to the top and winning the Big Ten last year was something special. This year, we've got some great young players, some All-Americans, and we want to win it all."
The young guns ? tabbed the "Thad Five" ? are turning to Harris and fellow senior Ron Lewis for leadership.
"It's a whole new atmosphere for them," he said. "I'm just here as senior to step in and be a leader and show them the ropes. We're just there to be the big-brother figures."
It's a role he welcomes.
"As long as we are winning games, it's fine with me," said Harris. "The young class that's in here now, I feel real comfortable with them as far as learning the offense. They are very coachable players."
Speaking of coachable, that's been Harris' calling card ever since his days as a North Panther and South Wildcat. It may just explain why he's the only O'Brien leftover.
"I've been with Coach Matta for three years, and now I'm a senior trying to show some leadership," he said. "I want to show them (the younger Buckeyes) it is entirely different than high school ball. To get to that next level, you've got to work hard in practice."
Harris is pleased his role is finally defined.
"Coach Matta wants me to rebound and play hard every game, plus shoot open shots and play good defense," Harris said.
So far, so good. Harris is averaging 12.1 points and 4.0 rebounds per contest after just 3.6 points and 0.7 rebounds last year.
"So far, I'm doing pretty good," he said. "I'm trying to average 5 rebounds a game and work hard on defense. Rebounding is a mind set you have to have. I'm very happy with the way things are going."
Which explains his optimism.
"We haven't even gotten Greg Oden on the court," he said. "He is one of the big pieces of the puzzle for our team. With him coming back, we are really excited about what we can do.
"I think it would be a great experience for me to win a national championship."
 
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Harris doing the little things for OSU



Wednesday, February 07, 2007

By David Jablonski
Staff Writer




COLUMBUS, Ohio ? Ivan Harris felt like he was everywhere Tuesday night, and indeed, he stamped his name on almost every category of the box score: Three points, three rebounds, two assists, two blocks, one steal.
It doesn't stand out in the way that Mike Conley's 23-point effort in the 76-63 victory over Michigan at the Schottenstein Center (see Page D4), but the Springfield native Harris made his mark in his own way.
"I think that's important," Harris said after the game. "You have to have an all-around game ? defense and offense."

Cont'd...
 
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Harris thrives on family support

Springfield native is a senior on the Ohio State men's basketball team.



By David Jablonski
Staff Writer

Thursday, February 08, 2007

COLUMBUS, Ohio ? More than five years have passed since Ivan Harris verbally committed to Ohio State. He settled on the Buckeyes as a junior, telling the News-Sun on Nov. 28, 2001, that "Ohio State is the right school for me. It's close to home, and the academics is important to me and my parents."
Right there in that one quote, the Springfield native Harris said everything about why he picked Ohio State and why it has worked out for him.

Cont'd...
 
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Supporting Ivan comes naturally

Harris family members attend almost every OSU game, whether it is home or away.


By David Jablonski
Staff Writer

Thursday, February 08, 2007

About two hours remained until game time, and the Ivan Harris Fan Club (dad, step-mom, brothers) was ready.
Scarlet clothes? Check. Gray clothes? Check. Buckeye beads necklace? Somewhere nearby.

The Harris family shows their pride in their son, Ivan, and the Buckeye's Wednesday. The family members are Ivan's father, Mike, his mother Rochelle and brothers, Benjamin, 8, center, and Peyton. Staff photo by Bill LackeyClick to enlarge




If there's a family version of Buckeyeman ? without the face paint ? this would be it.
The Harrises love the Buckeyes, and they love Ivan. Since they're one and the same, you can imagine how much this season means to them.
 
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Harris: "It's hard to believe"



By David Jablonski
Staff Writer

Monday, February 26, 2007

COLUMBUS, Ohio ? Ivan Harris was a popular and busy man after Sunday's 49-48 victory over Wisconsin. The Ohio State senior might have put more work into the post-game scene than into the game itself ? and that's even considering what a great game he had.
First, there was the patented Ohio State celebration. You've seen it at the Horseshoe, throngs of crazed students and fans turning the football field into a mosh pit. But they did it on the basketball court Sunday, surrounding the Springfield native Harris and his teammates after the victory that clinched the program's second straight Big Ten title.
 
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Harris stars for OSU

Springfield native has 13 points as Buckeyes' win battle of top-ranked teams at Schottenstein Center on Sunday.


By David Jablonski
Staff Writer

Monday, February 26, 2007

COLUMBUS, Ohio ? For the last time at the Schottenstein Center, Ivan Harris heard these words:
"For Ohio State at forward, a 6-7 senior from Springfield, No. 3 Ivan Harris," the public address announcer said.


It wouldn't be the last time Harris heard his name mentioned Sunday.
 
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Wow, after 4 years here Ivan still only has a one page thread? I know I've been one to ride him for playing soft but one page? C'mon guys Ivan's only got about 4 games left as a Buckeye we've got to at least get him a second page. :blush:


Seriously, I have been very impressed by Ivans effort over the past few weeks. He hasn't been content to just jack shots up from 3. He has been driving the lane, going after loose balls, hitting the open shots and getting the assists lately. He's still not a defensive stopper of great rebounder but he's light years away from where he started this season at in my opinion. Ivan had an excellent game against Purdon't today and I think he'll come up big against Wisky also. Great job Ivan keep up the hustle!
 
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OHIO STATE NOTES
Springfield native gets some brotherly love at United Center


By Mark Gokavi
Staff Writer

Sunday, March 11, 2007

CHICAGO ? The United Center video board keeps finding Benjamin and Peyton, grade-schoolers who dance and show off their No. 3 Ohio State jerseys.
On Saturday, older brother Ivan Harris got a little face time on the big screen during replays. The Springfield native hit 4-of-8 shots when other Buckeyes struggled.

Continued.....
 
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Seriously, I have been very impressed by Ivans effort over the past few weeks. He hasn't been content to just jack shots up from 3. He has been driving the lane, going after loose balls, hitting the open shots and getting the assists lately. He's still not a defensive stopper of great rebounder but he's light years away from where he started this season at in my opinion. Ivan had an excellent game against Purdon't today and I think he'll come up big against Wisky also. Great job Ivan keep up the hustle!


Totally agree. Plus he always seems to give the team a jump start at the beginning of the game by making a three. I noticed yesterday against Purdue that he just didn't settle for the three but tried to take it to the rack. I don't understand why he doesn't get more minutes than Lewis except for the fact he does not have the ballhandling skills that Lewis possesses. I think Ivan realizes that he is coming down to the wire of his Ohio State career and is taking everything that coaches have been trying to tell him to heart.
 
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I talked up Ivan in an earlier game thread...but just to get it into his actual player thread...I think he's done everything Matta could've asked of him. He's a guy who came into OSU with great expectations as a McD's All-American and his career hasn't exactly been storybook. But I believe the guy goes out there and plays his guts out. He hustles and goes hard. He plays his role and doesn't force crap. He plays under control. I love what he brings to this team and he's stepped up big time in a couple different games. I love watching guys like this who stick it out and do whatever they can to be team guys. Anyway, my props go out to Ivan for sticking it out his whole career here and giving it all he's got. Here's hoping you have a great NCAA tournament Ivan and go out in style!
 
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