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Matta's Coaching Philosophy/Use of Players

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LitlBuck;1833392; said:
It's actually about 6.5 because Craft plays around 25-30 minutes and Thomas, most of the time gets close to 10 if not more. You really can't count Smith getting any quality minutes for a while due to the fact he missed almost all of the early practice and JD is probably not ready for prime time. Sibert is the unknown but Matta does see him in practice and he certainly knows more than any of us. I really don't understand why we are complaining about playing time. Matta can't win. We play our bench enough and we win or we don't play our bench enough and we win. What do we want:huh:

All I know is that I watched his team ready for the Big Ten season and beyond and I really don't care who plays because the coach sees them in practice and certainly knows more about who is ready to play and who isn't.
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I agree. Way too much griping about playing time for a bunch of FRESHMEN. These are freshmen who have barely been in college. They do not have any experience, have not proven anything at this level - why throw them into the fire when they're not ready? If you think they are ready, then why did they get outscored by 8 against Western Carolina when they were in the last 9 minutes of the game? Yes, Matta recruits very well, but believe it or not, very few freshmen have the talent to come in and be major contributors on a top-5 team.
 
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i think many ohio state fans need to realize that this is the 2011-12 basketball season. those who are complaining are simply using the same argument without recognizing that there has been a substantial change.

pick a new complaint.
 
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Archg2h;2089689; said:
Up 35 to 14 at half and the bench see's little playing time. I really don't get it.

Evan Ravenel, 9 min

J.D. Weatherspoon, 6 min

Shannon Scott, 9 min

Jordan Sibert, 1 min

Sam Thompson, 6 min

Amir Williams, 1 min
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He had to cover the spread dawg...


f20b5f29dfcc4a2d2626daa343e90da0_454082807032824.gif
 
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Does anyone not notice the stark difference in level of play when the bench guys come in? This is the B1G season now, so nothing can be taken for granted. Yesterday, OSU is rolling, up 20-9, and Matta subs in Ravenal and Scott (maybe Thompson too, I can't remember). The intensity and the attention to detail dropped. Not a little, but a lot. All of a sudden OSU went cold on offense, the turnovers started coming, etc.

I'm not saying Matta shouldn't be playing the bench - he should. They need experience and OSU will need them to play important minutes at some point down the line. I'm saying let's quit emphasizing something that is NOT a problem with this team or coach. Matta is using more of his bench than he has in quite some time, but there is a reason guys like Sullinger, Craft, Thomas, and Buford hardly ever leave the floor - they are All-B1G performers and are much better than the alternatives at this point.
 
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Bulls-Eye;2089764; said:
Does anyone not notice the stark difference in level of play when the bench guys come in? This is the B1G season now, so nothing can be taken for granted. Yesterday, OSU is rolling, up 20-9, and Matta subs in Ravenal and Scott (maybe Thompson too, I can't remember). The intensity and the attention to detail dropped. Not a little, but a lot. All of a sudden OSU went cold on offense, the turnovers started coming, etc.

I'm not saying Matta shouldn't be playing the bench - he should. They need experience and OSU will need them to play important minutes at some point down the line. I'm saying let's quit emphasizing something that is NOT a problem with this team or coach. Matta is using more of his bench than he has in quite some time, but there is a reason guys like Sullinger, Craft, Thomas, and Buford hardly ever leave the floor - they are All-B1G performers and are much better than the alternatives at this point.
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They won the rest of the half 15-5. What do you want?

Indiana played good defense in the first half. Ohio State played FANTASTIC defense in the first half. That includes every player that stepped on the court.
 
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there is a reason guys like Sullinger, Craft, Thomas, and Buford hardly ever leave the floor - they are All-B1G performers and are much better than the alternatives at this point.
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and Lenzelle is a pretty solid utility guy who moonlighted as a prolific scorer yesterday.

There are times I wish the backups would get more reps, but yesterday they did and there were consequences.
 
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Bill Lucas;2089769; said:
They won the rest of the half 15-5. What do you want?

Indiana played good defense in the first half. Ohio State played FANTASTIC defense in the first half. That includes every player that stepped on the court.
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I agree with you - they did all play great defense. The problem, as I alluded to, is on the offensive end. It wasn't just good defense by Indiana, it was ill-advised shots, unforced turnovers, etc. by the Buckeyes. That is what happens more often than not when the bench players come in.

Again, I am glad and happy that the bench got the minutes they did. We may be arguing the same thing here. I am pointing out to those who feel Matta needs to use his bench more, that it doesn't always lead to the results they are desiring.
 
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Postgame

From the man himself:)
- As opposed to Illinois, where he leaned heavily on his starters in a tight game, Matta substituted liberally in the first half against Indiana, giving nine players at least four minutes, including Scott, who didn't play at Illinois after playing well the previous game at Iowa.

"I didn?t see the fatigue in (Craft at Illinois)," he said. "But I think the more we can get those guys a little bit of a blow here or there, I think it helps them.

"I think the guys that came in did a great job. Shannon gave us a great boost, really defended. You saw his improvement defending from game one to game two against these guys. And I thought J.D. (Weatherspoon) kind of brought the energy we need him to bring."
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http://www.buckeyextra.com/content/blogs/hoops-and-scoops/2012/01/postgame-indiana.html
 
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