F Mickey Mitchell (transfer to Arizona State)

[CFPBuckeye]

Four kids. That's 1/3 of the roster. From a team that wasn't very good anyway. The starting 5 we bring back still consists primarily of underachievers. I'd probably be less concerned if we were replacing the transfers with a top-level recruiting class. We aren't.

This program isn't stuck in neutral (which, considering we didn't make the tournament, is still unacceptable). It's going in reverse.

If we lost 1/3 of the roster, that never played much to begin with, on a team that "wasn't very good anyway," how is that necessarily a bad thing. The team only lost players that couldn't crack the starting 5 on a bad team. Most coaches wish that the ends of their benches that aren't living up to standards would willingly move on and most of those kids have "discussions" about their future and are "convinced" to move on.

It can be concerning that the staff extended scholarships to these kids and they never lived up to expectations but this staff has also proven that they can recruit players that DO live up to this level of basketball.

 

[OH10]

If we lost 1/3 of the roster, that never played much to begin with, on a team that "wasn't very good anyway," how is that necessarily a bad thing. The team only lost players that couldn't crack the starting 5 on a bad team. Most coaches wish that the ends of their benches that aren't living up to standards would willingly move on and most of those kids have "discussions" about their future and are "convinced" to move on.

Because you have to have some depth. Giddens could have been a heck of a player here. Harris would have been our only true point guard. And we aren't replacing them with anyone better. This all equals a worse team than the bad team we had this year. And no real bright spots on the recruiting trail.

 

[CFPBuckeye]

Because you have to have some depth. Giddens could have been a heck of a player here. Harris would have been our only true point guard. And we aren't replacing them with anyone better. This all equals a worse team than the bad team we had this year. And no real bright spots on the recruiting trail.

Yeah? And we still have Thad Matta. Let's not forget that he is the one who set the bar for what it is that we now expect every year. He has proven more than capable to recruit talent to this team. He isn't going anywhere and the roster might not have loads of talent but that just means that we have opportunities to get better and a coach who has proven capable to taking advantage. Matta has been too good for too long for a 3 year stretch to mean ultimatums should be given. I'll at least give him that.

 

[OH10]

Yeah? And we still have Thad Matta. Let's not forget that he is the one who set the bar for what it is that we now expect every year. He has proven more than capable to recruit talent to this team. He isn't going anywhere and the roster might not have loads of talent but that just means that we have opportunities to get better and a coach who has proven capable to taking advantage. Matta has been too good for too long for a 3 year stretch to mean ultimatums should be given. I'll at least give him that.

Thad Matta has tenure here, as far as I'm concerned. Doesn't mean I'm not concerned.

 

[otisu]

Fickell should have never redshirted him...

 

[colobuck79]

I haven't said it in a while, but make sure you put me down in the "Fire Tom Herman!" Camp, okay?

I clearly want Mack Brown to be gone.

 

[TampaBuckeyes]

I hate when coaches have tenure. Never works out well for the players or the fans. It has been a rough 3 years and my guess is next year doesn't look promising. I've been a Matta fan for a long time but the comments from Russell a few weeks ago about players not wanting to practice were concerning. Not calling for Marta's head. He's had a few bad years in a row and come back from it. I'm just getting the feeling that buckeye basketball does not share similar attitudes to buckeye football.

 

[RB07OSU]

Yikes, another Mitchell hits the road. I am not saying this because of Mitchell but after you have all of Grandstaff, Giddens, Harris and Mitchell leave this year...I would be surprised if we do not finish near dead last in the B1G next year. While this group was not overly talented, they were talented enough to be a pretty good team next year after they developed some cohesiveness and experience. I just don't see how Tate and KBD are going to beat anyone by themselves, unless maybe we kill it in the '16 class with so many exits? Don't get me wrong, Lyle/Thompson/K. Williams are pretty good but if we weren't winning with those guys plus the transferees, I can't see it happening next year (barring transfers coming in/huge '16 class).

 

[buckeyesin07]

What a complete bust the Mitchell's were

The whole scene is bizarre, with both brothers. The fact that Mike left Texas Tech's program after one year makes the whole situation even weirder.

 

[heisman]

Yikes, another Mitchell hits the road. I am not saying this because of Mitchell but after you have all of Grandstaff, Giddens, Harris and Mitchell leave this year...I would be surprised if we do not finish near dead last in the B1G next year. While this group was not overly talented, they were talented enough to be a pretty good team next year after they developed some cohesiveness and experience. I just don't see how Tate and KBD are going to beat anyone by themselves, unless maybe we kill it in the '16 class with so many exits? Don't get me wrong, Lyle/Thompson/K. Williams are pretty good but if we weren't winning with those guys plus the transferees, I can't see it happening next year (barring transfers coming in/huge '16 class).

We won't be anywhere near last. You forgot to mention that Loving is back as well. We'll be fine. Those transfers contributed very little, and would be in backup roles again.

 

[MaxBuck]

The whole scene is bizarre, with both brothers. The fact that Mike left Texas Tech's program after one year makes the whole situation even weirder.

I'd missed Mike's departure from TT. Thanks for the update.

Truly a shame that all this family's athletic talent has not produced more on the field and in the arena.

 

[TampaBuckeyes]

I'd missed Mike's departure from TT. Thanks for the update.

Truly a shame that all this family's athletic talent has not produced more on the field and in the arena.

Also missed Mike's departure from TT, with no plans to go to another school. Both seem very restless. Just be happy it's over.

 

[sparcboxbuck]

The drama to performance ratio here is not exactly favorable. Such a very strange trip.

 

[DZ83CK]

The reason to be concerned with the current performance of the staff isn't that Mickey left....it's because he and a couple others ever landed here and there is doubt as to whether we are bringing in new guys now that are much better. I don't want Thad going anywhere, but I certainly do hope and expect the program to make a positive turn very soon.

It was an obvious mistake to take Mickey back after he decommitted. In watching even a little of his play his last year of AAU ball and monitoring his stats, even a novice evaluator of recruits such as myself could not be optimistic of his chances of being a major player at OSU, and I am not a college coach who has a huge ass salary on the line making that decision. Couldn't score in high school, but he's good enough for OSU? Someone screwed the pooch in making that decision. Dude couldn't even make layups, same thing in high school as what happened in college as well. I don't mind that he transferred one bit, never really belonged on a Big Ten team that is supposed to compete nationally. Very troubling that the staff didn't make the obvious, better decision when they were given an out.

 

[DZ83CK]

After watching that highlight film, is it just me or does he look like a future San Antonio Spur?

I'm hoping no one agrees with you now at least.