why nervous?
OSU BASKETBALL
Matta is making sure Lewis stays plenty busy
Nike camp, Australia trip on summer docket
Monday, July 10, 2006
Bob Baptist
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
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INDIANAPOLIS — Ron Lewis’ reward for the hard work he has logged in Ohio State’s practice gym this off-season is more hard work. He isn’t complaining.
Lewis, a Brookhaven graduate who will be a fifth-year senior at Ohio State next season, was one of approximately 30 college basketball players serving as "counselors" to highschool recruits who attended the Nike All-American Camp, which ended yesterday.
Mostly, Lewis and the rest of the collegians — who included D.J. White and A.J. Ratliff of Indiana, Brian Randle of Illinois, Glen "Big Baby" Davis of Louisiana State and Malik Hairston of Oregon — worked out separately from the preps, drilled by a staff of Nikeaffiliated coaches from the professional and amateur ranks.
"They sent me an invitation and I filled it out and sent it right back. I couldn’t pass nothing up like this," Lewis said. "I went to this before my senior year of high school. There were a lot of great players here. It was great competition."
Ohio State coach Thad Matta recommended Lewis to camp directors. He also placed Lewis on a team of Big Ten players that will travel to Australia for a series of exhibition games in August.
Matta’s off-season goals for Lewis include him improving his ball-handling, finishing his scoring chances better and improving his awareness off the ball both offensively and defensively.
"He’s big enough, he’s long enough (that) I think he should get more disruptive defensively," Matta said.
Lewis also has taken on more responsibility for leading an OSU team that lost six players from last season and has five newcomers: freshmen Mike Conley Jr., Daequan Cook, David Lighty and Greg Oden, and junior-college transfer Othello Hunter.
"I didn’t know they were going to come in (and be) as good as everybody said they were, but they came in (playing) great," Lewis said. "What I love about them is they came in ready to work. That’s going to help us a lot."
The freshmen and the rest of the team have been playing behind closed doors in the OSU practice gym since summer classes began June 19. Hunter is still at his junior college in Florida completing credits before he can transfer.
Oden, the 7-foot-1 centerpiece of the freshman class, is not permitted to scrimmage with his teammates while his right wrist heals from surgery June 16 that reattached a torn ligament.
"He’s able to work out with his left hand. He’s just working on his jump hook and dunking the ball," Lewis said. "For a big man, I didn’t know he had hops like he does."
How high can Oden hop?
"His head is over the rim, I can tell you that," Lewis said.
It was initially reported that Oden might not be ready to play until mid-December. Matta said last week that he had no update.
"I think he comes back to the doctor (in Indianapolis) next weekend for a checkup," Matta said. "Right now, it’s way too early (to speculate)."
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Men's Basketball Drops First Game of Foreign Tour
Doyle records nine points and 10 rebounds in the defeat
Aug. 12, 2006
Game Stats (PDF Format)
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Release courtesy of the Big Ten Sydney, Australia - The Big Ten Men's Basketball Foreign Tour team opened their 2006 tour with a 117-91 loss to the West Sydney Razorbacks Basketball Club in Australia on Saturday.
After arriving in Sydney, Australia on Wednesday and three days of sightseeing for the Big Ten squad, Saturday's game was played at the Hills Basketball Stadium - a one-hour bus trip from the team's hotel.
Illinois' Marcus Arnold led the squad in scoring with 18 points, shooting 6-of-11 from the field, while Ohio State's Ron Lewis and Michigan's Jerrit Smith followed with 16 and 11 points, respectively. Michigan's Lester Abram, Northwestern's Tim Doyle and Purdue's Gordon Watt nearly reached double figures in scoring with nine points apiece. All 11 players tallied at least two points in the contest. Minnesota's Jonathan Williams notched a team-best 13 rebounds, while Indiana's Roderick Wilmont registered 12 boards, including 10 defensive rebounds.
The Big Ten squad did not show any sluggishness at the opening tip, notching two quick baskets in the first minute, however, the Razorbacks came back quickly to outscore the Big Ten standouts, 35-19, in the first stanza, The West Sydney team maintained its momentum through the next three quarters, never allowing the Big Ten Foreign Tour team to post a rally and ensure the Razorbacks a 117-91 victory.
The Big Ten contingent resumes competition against the Sydney Kings on Sunday. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. local time. For Tour results, stats, photos and entertaining diaries of the student-athletes, log on to www.bigten.org.
Big Ten Men's Basketball Foreign Tour Team Claims 97-89 Victory Over Sydney Kings
Ohio State's Ron Lewis scores 16 in win
Aug. 13, 2006
Box Score in PDF Format
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Sydney, Australia - The Big Ten Men's Basketball Foreign Tour team picked up its first win of the trip with a 97-89 triumph over the Sydney Kings Basketball Club in Australia on Sunday.
Both teams went back and forth before the conference squad built a 50-43 advantage heading into halftime. The Sydney Kings continued to mount several comebacks in the second half, however, the Big Ten team held on to claim the nine-point victory.
"I am really proud of these guys," said Foreign Tour head coach Tommy Amaker (Michigan). "The team bounced back after showing some jitters in their first game yesterday. They played great defense and what really made the difference in tonight's game was that this team was 22-of-28 from the free throw line, which helped us offensively."
Michigan's Lester Abram led the way for the Big Ten contingent, tallying 18 points on 5-of-13 shooting from the field. Joining Abram in double figures was Ohio State's Ron Lewis (16 points), Indiana's Roderick Wilmont (15), Illinois' Marcus Arnold (12) and Northwestern's Tim Doyle (10). The Fighting Illini's Arnold, who was the Big Ten's leading scorer in Saturday's game against the West Sydney Razorbacks, tallied the first double-double with 12 points and a team-best 10 rebounds verses the Kings. Minnesota's Jonathan Williams followed with nine boards, while adding one block.
The Big Ten Foreign Tour Team is now 1-1 on its journey through Australia as Lewis is averaging a team-high 16 points per outing followed by Arnold's 15 points per contest. The squad departs for Brisbane, Australia on Monday for a four-day stay that includes two more games. The team's next contest is Tuesday against the Brisbane Bullets (11 a.m. local time). For Tour results, stats, photos and entertaining diaries of the student-athletes, log on to www.bigten.org.
