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G/F Evan "The Villain" Turner (2010 Naismith Winner)

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OSU picked 3rd, Turner on preseason first team

I'm in Chicago for Big Ten media day. The conference just announced the results of voting for the top three teams in the conference as well as the preseason All-Big Ten team and player of the year.

No surprises here, at least for me.

Michigan State, Purdue and Ohio State are 1-2-3. That's how I voted, too. I think the Buckeyes' experience in their starting five gives them a shot at the top two teams, though Sparty and the Boilers are loaded. But Michigan, Minnesota and Illinois, and maybe Northwestern and Wisconsin, also should have a shot at top five.

The first team is Manny Harris of Michigan, Kalin Lucas of Michigan State, Evan Turner of Ohio State, Talor Battle of Penn State and Robbie Hummel of Purdue. That's an exact match with last season's first team save for one: Purdue center JaJuan Johnson is replaced by his teammate, Hummel, who was last season's preseason player of the year until a back injury hampered his performance for much of the season.
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http://blog.dispatch.com/hoopsscoops/2009/10/osu_picked_3rd_turner_on_prese_1.shtml
 
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OSU men's basketball: Turner looking for some respect
Friday, October 30, 2009
By Bob Baptist
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

ROSEMONT, Ill. -- Evan Turner discovered last spring what's involved in the voting for Big Ten player of the year.

"It doesn't go to the best player," he said. "It goes to the best player on the best team."

Turner would like to be both this season.

He was regarded as neither yesterday when the Big Ten announced the results of preseason voting for its top three men's basketball teams and player of the year at its annual media day in suburban Chicago.

Michigan State, Purdue and Ohio State finished first, second and third. Michigan State guard Kalin Lucas, Big Ten player of the year last season after the Spartans won the championship by four games, repeated as preseason player of the year for the 2009-10 season.

"Last year, I was upset because we didn't win the conference, and we (didn't finish) in a better position," Turner said of the Buckeyes, who had a 10-8 record and tied for fourth in the Big Ten.

"But I knew I was by far the best player in the Big Ten, and I wasn't really worried about it anymore. The award happened, it was out the window, we kept playing, and we had an opportunity to beat Michigan State a couple days later."
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BuckeyeXtra - OSU men's basketball: Turner looking for some respect
 
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Tlangs;1579485; said:
I have to admit....Turner spending more time at the point scares me. He tends to have a lot of turnovers. We need him to take care of the rock.
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I don't think he turned it over that much last year when he was playing PG. When he got into problems was when he tried to almost create too much but just playing the normal PG position his turnovers weren't that great. I am not that concerned. Really, the only thing that concerns me about this team is perhaps its lack of rebounding. These guys are going to have to rebound as a team.
"It doesn't go to the best player," he said. "It goes to the best player on the best team."
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Unfortunately, that's the way it is in most sports on almost all levels.
 
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I thought those times where he was given the ball to create something were the times he was playing PG. I agree, when he was running off screens and catching the ball in the post, he didn't tend to turn it over. When he was given the ball at the top and asked to penetrate and dish is when he had issues. I assume if he is playing PG, then he's going to be asked to do a lot of penetrate and dish, not posting up and coming off baseline screens, so I think there is some cause for concern based on what we saw last year.

Now Matta has said he has gotten 10 times better at being patient, so thats a good sign that we can expect improvement in that area from ET this year. The guy is our best player and my concern is that we are moving him from a position he is great at to one where he had some issues. I understand the concept of getting your best players as many minutes as possible, but if you are sacrificing player productivity to do that, then maybe its not the best solution. We'll all see in about a month or so because we have some pretty good OOC games to build an opinion on.
 
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Turning a new corner: OSU guard takes on new challenge
By Zack Meisel
[email protected]
Tuesday, November 3, 2009

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Christian Lautenschleger / Lantern photographer
Soph. Evan Turner drives against a double team Thursday night at Value City Arena.

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Christian Lautenschleger / Lantern photographer
Ohio State soph. guard/forward Evan Turner dribbles during the first half against Butler in Value City Arena.

As if Evan Turner didn?t do enough already.

In the game of basketball, guards typically handle the ball and pass, forwards shoot and score and centers rebound and block shots. So what position is Turner, who led Ohio State in points, rebounds, assists, 3-point percentage and steals a year ago?

?He would be your hybrid point forward, whatever those announcers call those guys,? coach Thad Matta said. ?He?s a guy that can do a lot of different things.?

Technically speaking, Turner started all 33 games last season at shooting guard, with juniors Jeremie Simmons and P.J. Hill splitting the point guard duties. But the 6-foot-7 swingman handled the leather as much as any point guard would, as evidenced by his team-high 7.1 assists per game.

As the Buckeyes turn the page on a new season, Matta will present Turner with a new role to add to his arsenal: the team?s true point guard.

?I think I?m going to do a little bit of everything,? said Turner, a First Team All-Big Ten selection last year. ?I?m going to start off at point guard, trying to orchestrate the team. I always prefer to have the ball in my hands and try to have control over the game.?

While his all-around statistics impress, Turner?s passing ability caught Matta?s eye, triggering the idea to start the junior at the point.

?One thing I?ve seen a lot of improvement in is Evan?s passing,? Matta said. ?That?s something that we talked about in the offseason. From that standpoint, we?ve got to get him the ball in certain situations because he finds guys, and it?s advantageous for us where he is when he catches it. The defense has a lot of decisions to make. When we have guys around him that can shoot it, that?s good for us.?

The switch means that Hill and Simmons will both come off the bench, a demotion they refuse to scoff at, knowing full well that the team excels best when Turner possesses the ball.

?It benefits us a lot because Evan is such a great player that he can not only create for himself, but he can create for others,? Hill said. ?That makes the game easy when a guy can drive. Everybody is all eyes on him, they help, we move into position, and he gets us the ball on time every time where we want it.

?And even if they don?t help, then he scores. Good things happen when he has the ball. He?s a very special player.?
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The Lantern - Turning a new corner: OSU guard takes on new challenge
 
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Hard to believe that there is no need one triple-double recorded an Ohio State basketball history.

Evan Turner, who had 15 points, 14 rebounds and 6 assists, on the possibility of achieving a triple-double this season:

"I?m just going to keep playing ball and if a triple-double comes, that?s what?s up. As long as we?re winning like this, it?s all good. I?m just really trying to help my team win and rebound when I can, pass the ball to open men and just keep playing as I?ve been playing. If a triple-double comes, a triple-double comes. But I?m trying to get some wins right now."

The only recorded triple-double in OSU history is by Dennis Hopson, who had 27 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in a 1986 win over Ohio University. That's if you don't count Michael Redd's 26 points, 10 assists and 10 turnovers in a win over Toledo his freshman year (1997).
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Postgame comments after win over Walsh (Hoops & Scoops: an OSU basketball blog)
 
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For Evan Turner, the NBA can wait
By Mike Popovich
CantonRep.com staff writer
Posted Nov 09, 2009

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AP Jay LaPrete
Ohio State's Evan Turner (left) drives the baseline against Walsh's Jeremy Shardo during the first half of an exhibition game Wednesday in Columbus.

COLUMBUS ?

Evan Turner easily could have followed the path taken by some of Ohio State?s young basketball players the past few years.

Many projected Turner to be a first-round pick if he decided to leave for the NBA after last season. The 6-foot-7 junior guard chose to stay and was firm about his decision.

?When I?m doing homework at night, I think, ?I could be in the NBA right now,? ? Turner said. ?But other than that, this is fun. I?m getting better every single day. My friends ... I?m enjoying myself.

?Besides the homework part, I haven?t thought twice about it.?

Turner was a Big Ten Player of the Year finalist last season when he averaged a league-leading 17.3 points and was among the league?s top 10 players in rebounds, assists and steals. Take him out of the lineup, and the Buckeyes probably don?t win 22 games and make it back to the NCAA tournament.

?He is just so active on the floor,? guard Jon Diebler said.

Turner is accustomed to getting to the basket and finishing strong. That will never change.

Coach Thad Matta also plans to give Turner more chances to initiate offense as a point guard this season. Turner played point guard in high school.

?One thing I?ve seen a lot of improvement in is Evan?s passing,? Matta said. ?We have to give him the ball in certain situations because he finds guys. ... The defense has a lot of decisions to make. And when you have guys around you who can shoot it, it?s good for us.?

Turner prefers to run the offense and not play off the ball.

?Coach Matta is helping me understand the system more and putting trust in me to carry out what has to be done,? Turner said. ?I think I can make plays and I have a lot of teammates who can make shots.?

Turner had an impressive debut as a starting point guard during last week?s exhibition win over Walsh. He finished with 15 points, 14 rebounds and six assists in 24 minutes.

Turner also had only one turnover. That?s a great sign, considering that he averaged 3 1/2 turnovers a game last season.

?You all know in the past it?s always tough taking care of the ball,? Turner said. ? ... In that situation I can?t get too high or too low. Some nights I?m going to have a rough time keeping the ball out from where it?s supposed to be. It?s pretty good so far, and I?m going to take it one step at a time. I can?t get too excited.?
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For Evan Turner, the NBA can wait - Canton, OH - CantonRep.com
 
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