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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
Its great to see Lewis have some success on the tour, he needs to be a leader out there this year for the younger guys and we need his scoring. I expect big things from Lewis this year.
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crazybuckfan40
Head Coach
chille37;643377; said:
Agreed, I think the list at this point is hard to judge because thee can't have a strong idea of who is going to be starting or not, so they kinda go off of last year.
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Speaking post Oden's return -
Folks are picking us to make a run at the Final Four - something we were not projected to do with last season's group of over-achievers. If we are talking about the Ron Lewis who played last year (33% from three point range, negative assist to turnover ratio, and inconsistent defense), and if that player were to be one of our best five players, I would struggle to think that team could be picked to make such a run - with or without Oden.
Of course, that wont be the Ron Lewis we will see this year. He will be better and reports are his D is much improved - which it must be.
But IMO three spots are locked up - Butler, Cook and Oden. That leaves a battle among Lighty, Conley, Lewis, Hunter, Twigs, and Harris for those other two spots - depending on what kind of line up we are playing at the time.
Do I think he is a lock to start? Yes. Because he is a senior and 'who starts' is not as important as who finishes and he will absolutely be part of the rotation so by all means start him.
Do I think he is a lock to be one of the five on the court at the end of close games late in the season (i.e. our 'best' five)? No.
Lewis was good at attacking the basket last season. I have seen enough of Cook to know that he is better at doing the same things. And when we move Butler off the point he will be better as well. Our needs are different.
I hope he proves me wrong, but if he wants to be a key cog on this team he needs to hit threes, protect the ball and play Defense.
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chille37
Heisman
I agree with almost everything you've mentioned. However, one major asset of his which kept him on the court in the closing minutes last year was his ability to get to the line and convert. You don't think he is one of our best 5 at that? With the talks of improved D and his ability to get to the line, I have to believe he is on the court when the games on the line. Just my two cents
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You may be right. And one thing I should add in testimony to Lewis is that making the starting five this season will be more difficult than it was last year - and he may well do it.
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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
Dispatch
OHIO STATE MEN?S BASKETBALL
Lewis tapping into defense mechanisms
Guard pushed to put his quickness to use at both ends of court
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Bob Baptist
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
NEAL C . LAURON DISPATCH Ron Lewis, trying to steal the ball from Davidson?s Matt McKillop, is a big fan of Ohio State?s new uptempo approach.
Mention the competition in the Ohio State practice gym, the bodies flying up and down the floor at a heightened pace, and a big smile appears on Ron Lewis? normally solemn face.
"Takes me back to my high school days," the guard said.
Brookhaven?s collection of athletes during Lewis? basketball career there made life hell for opponents. The Bearcats were 53-2 his last two seasons, reaching the Division I state tournament twice and winning the championship in his final game.
Lewis is looking forward to revisiting such times in Value City Arena in his final season at Ohio State. An influx of athleticism in the touted 2006 recruiting class has raised both the height and speed at which the Buckeyes play the game, and they plan to use it to their advantage.
"We?re running more fast breaks and talking a lot more about transition," said Lewis, the top returning scorer (11.2 points per game) and rebounder (3.3) from last season?s team.
"Everybody is under 9 percent body fat, and that?s great. I think we had two or three players last year who were over (that). It shows how much of a difference it is when we have running big men."
Coach Thad Matta has wanted to play at a faster tempo since arriving two years ago but did not inherit the athleticism to do it. Now, seven of the roster?s 10 scholarship players are his recruits. Lewis was the first, transferring from Bowling Green two months after Matta was hired in July 2004.
Matta said a transition game could benefit Lewis.
"He does have speed and athleticism, his three-point shot has improved, and he?s been a great driver since the day he got here," Matta said.
"Ron?s got one of the quickest first steps I?ve ever seen offensively. My question always has been, why doesn?t that work on defense? "
Improving his defense, especially his positioning and anticipation away from the ball and in help situations, was one of the offseason goals the coaching staff gave Lewis. The Buckeyes lost a defensive dynamo in Je?Kel Foster, whose disruptiveness in the passing lanes helped him average 2.25 steals as a senior, second best in the Big Ten.
"Ron should be a 1.4- to 1.6-steals-per-game type," Matta said.
Lewis, 6 feet 4 and 200 pounds, "has the body to be a lockdown defender if he wants to play defense consistently," assistant coach Dan Peters said.
Lewis wants to, but he said it?s easier said than done.
"It?s just a mind-set, you just have to think to yourself every play, ?I?m going to play defense and try not to relax.? But it?s hard, because playing every possession, it?s full throttle all the time. It?s something you have to work on until it becomes natural to you. I have the talent to do it."
Having that mind-set will benefit more than just Lewis.
"One thing we?re asking Ron to do is to teach the young guys how to defend, and you can?t tell somebody to do it if you don?t do it yourself," Matta said.
Lewis, one of only two seniors on the team, said he?s not averse to sharing what he knows with teammates who are trying to steal his minutes.
"Practice is practice and we?re always competing," Lewis said, "but in the long run we?re playing together and we?re a team. You have to teach them and get them together so we can all be on the same page when it counts."
The games start counting Nov. 10 against VMI in the first round of the Black Coaches Association Classic in Value City Arena. The first exhibition game is Wednesday against Findlay.
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crazybuckfan40
Head Coach
Congrats to Ron!!!!
Just shows that he is primed for a big year this year...
Just shows that he is primed for a big year this year...
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OSU Picture Archive
Ohio State's Ron Lewis (12) drives to the basket against North Carolina's Reyshawn Terry (3) during the first half of a college basketball game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2006. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
Ohio State's Ron Lewis (12) drives to the basket against North Carolina's Reyshawn Terry (3) during the first half of a college basketball game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2006. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
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