Matta's One and Dones

[jimotis4heisman]

Matta's One and Dones
BJ Mullens 08-09(?)
33gp-20.3min-8.8pts-4.7rb-.638fg

Kosta Koufos 07-08 (#23)
37gp-27.1min-14.4pts-6.7rb-.508fg

Greg Oden 06-07 (#1)
32gp-28.9min-15.7pts-9.6rbs-.616fg

Mike Conley Jr 06-07 (#4)
39gp-31.6min-11.3pts-3.4rb-.518fg-6.1ast-.304 3fg

Daequan Cook 06-07 (#21)
39gp-19.7min-9.8pts4.3rbs-.445fg1.0ast-.415 3fg



really pretty impressive to have four (5?) first round NBA picks in the past two (3) years. thread for discussion/comparison etc. and future measuring sticks for one and done/early entry.

 

[Jaxbuck]

-If Thad is going to build a program around 1 and done type of talent he needs to find a PG of that caliber. I love Hills heart but he simply isn't good enough.

-I really feel for Mullins. I hope he's smart enough to set himself up for life on his first NBA contract because he simply will not get the development he needs at the NBA level. It will be a complete waste of the kids future but I know there is no way he can turn down the short term money.

- I really hope Turner stays but at this point I have zero expectations. I hope we aren't seeing a mid 90's Cooper NFL factory replay with the hoops program but its starting to feel that way.

As for the last game I'm torn. The embarrassment from losing to Siena is pretty bad but would it be as bad as what Louiville would have done to us with their full court defense? Either way we were doomed to an embarrassing first weekend exit.

Thad got everyones hopes up in 2006 and hasn't really delivered much since. I have a feeling the quiet grumbling will get louder if we get more of the same next year.

 

[Bill Lucas]

Why is there embarassment at losing to Siena?

They brought back EVERYONE from a team that beat a 4 seed last year. They are experienced, we are not. They are good at everything that gives Ohio State problems.

 

[ysubuck]

So what does Thad do?

I'm not being a dick I'm really asking and I've asked myself this for two years now...

do you stay away from the possible one and done players? I mean, Mullens was a projected number one pick coming out of HS and he hasn't delivered. I mean I like the kid, but he isn't even close to being as dominant as he should be. That said, he was probably one and done so do you go after a project center that might develop into something and give you three years and maybe four?

Obviously you go after the players that have other worldly talent (Carmelo Anthony, Greg Oden) but maybe the focus should be on finding the talent that you know will have to stay for two or three years.

Ohio State just isn't getting a return on these one and done guys. Cook, Koufos, Mullens and guys like that really aren't performing at a high level for Ohio State and they are taking up scholarships that might be filled by guys with a little less talent but might have a little more heart.

As far as the PG goes Conley really screwed Ohio State (I don't mean that the way it sounds) when he left because he was supposed to be at least a 3 year guy and then he blew up. That had to have messed up Ohio State's PG recruiting somewhat.

 

[CookyPuss]

-If Thad is going to build a program around 1 and done type of talent he needs to find a PG of that caliber. I love Hills heart but he simply isn't good enough.

I love PJ, and he played well last night, but we're a HANDLING PG away from being very good. I see so many PG's across the country (Wright State, Creighton, Akron, etc.) and wonder why we don't have a great ball handler on the team. PG's on all of those teams would be an upgrade over our current PG's. And they all would have jumped at a chance to play at tOSU.

I know Mike Conley leaving hurt, but you still have to be able to bring a guy in who can face pressure defenses with handle-skills. We just don't have that type of PG and it shows in a game like last night.

And wasn't "Noopy" supposed to fill that void?

 

[morbitzerker]

September can't get here fast enough.

 

[billmac91]

So what does Thad do?

I'm not being a dick I'm really asking and I've asked myself this for two years now...

do you stay away from the possible one and done players? I mean, Mullens was a projected number one pick coming out of HS and he hasn't delivered. I mean I like the kid, but he isn't even close to being as dominant as he should be. That said, he was probably one and done so do you go after a project center that might develop into something and give you three years and maybe four?

Obviously you go after the players that have other worldly talent (Carmelo Anthony, Greg Oden) but maybe the focus should be on finding the talent that you know will have to stay for two or three years.

Ohio State just isn't getting a return on these one and done guys. Cook, Koufos, Mullens and guys like that really aren't performing at a high level for Ohio State and they are taking up scholarships that might be filled by guys with a little less talent but might have a little more heart.

As far as the PG goes Conley really screwed Ohio State (I don't mean that the way it sounds) when he left because he was supposed to be at least a 3 year guy and then he blew up. That had to have messed up Ohio State's PG recruiting somewhat.

I don't want to oversimplify it, but he has to stop recruiting combo guards and then expect them to handle the PG duties. PJ came in for depth, and I don't think Thad ever expected him to have to start. But Jeremie is a good example of a combo guard, that doesn't have the necessary PG skills to be effective, but Thad thought it would work.

There are A LOT of guys out there that have amazing ball handling abilities. When you recruit as much talent as Ohio State does, maybe you offer a guy that other-wise wouldn't get a scholarship just so they can get us into an offense and beat a press. Seriously, did you see Cleveland State's PG last night.....how nice would that have been on tOSU?? We just don't have a guy on the team that possesses the quicks and ball skills to handle pressure.

I'd have loved to win that game last night, but take the pressure we saw last night, and multiply it by 5 and that is Louisville. It could have been really ugly had we won yesterday.........

 

[billmac91]

And wasn't "Noopy" supposed to fill that void?

Yes. that is a very good point, and I had forgotten about him. Noopy would have been huge in a game like last night.

 

[LitlBuck]

And wasn't "Noopy" supposed to fill that void?

He was but we will never know how good of a player he would have been at Ohio State. Plus, he was only a freshman and you know about freshman PG's.

ysubuck

So what does Thad do?

I guess the question would be as how do other coaches across the country do it. Maybe Thad wants to do it right away all of the time. I don't know.

 

[Best Buckeye]

Sometimes I have to wonder just how many brain farts some of you have in a day.
The only reason some of the players go to college is because the NBA won't take them the first year. We all know that. Not that they don't want an education but because they can get millions per year and still get an education. Oden and Conley are doing just that. They come back for summer school at the least.
For one reason or another Thad is able to get a lot of good players to come here but I'm sure he realizes that we will only get one year out of most of them. That may be the first year or the second but in the face of big money they are gone. We haven't had one kid stay over , now have we ?

Well that produces the type of teams that we have, young and inexperienced. We all know that the teams that do the best in the Dance are teams that return their players . Kinda like ummmmmmm Siena.

Some posters whine about the play of the team and expect world beaters when the kids haven't been in a tournament game before. That isn't going to happen 99% 0f the time.
For example what would our teams be like without the ones who are /were one and done. Now that could be scary.
Then we have the posters who think that a player needs more development and most of them do. Well the problem with that thinking is that the NBA is willing to draft a kid that will take two or more years to develop just because the NBA doesn't have enough talent in it now and teams are looking for kids they can develop.
Mullens could be a top five pick just because of his size. No one can argue that he doesn't have talent and the NBA scouts can see talent where it is. I know some of you don't beleive that but it's true , really.

So here is the reality; we will have a inexperienced every year until Thad recruits kids that will be here for up to 4 years.
I think that Mullen is gone right along with Turner. Buford may stay. That means that next year we will play with Hill, Dallas, Deibs, Buford, Madsen, and a new crop of inexperience. Think about that.

 

[Jaxbuck]

Why is there embarassment at losing to Siena?

You think the Siena coach wouldn't kill for half of what Matta has in terms of resources? How many kids from Siena could make the OSU team? If we aren't shooting for anything better that what a 3,000 enrollment school can put on the court we have the wrong people in charge.

 

[billmac91]

You think the Siena coach wouldn't kill for half of what Matta has in terms of resources? How many kids from Siena could make the OSU team? If we aren't shooting for anything better that what a 3,000 enrollment school can put on the court we have the wrong people in charge.

I don't see any embrrassment in it though. Should teams be embarrassed when they lose to Butler, Gonzaga, Utah State, VCU's of the world?

A lot of these mid-majors have a huge advantage in experience and even developed talent. Whether through transfers, or in our case attrition at the PG spot. The difference in the game last night was PG play. I remeber in the 90's, when Rhode Island had 3 NBA players on their squad.

I just don't think the talent gap is that wide. And in a One and done tournament, anything can happen. Time to go find a PG, and come back better next year with or without Evan and BJ.

 

[Jaxbuck]

We only had the better talent last night, Siena had the better team.

Does that make it ok to lose to Siena?

I don't see the truely elite schools having as much trouble from year to year as OSU so I don't buy any of the excuses I see on here.

There are reasons for the failure, there are no excuses.

 

[daddyphatsacs]

I think some people forget that Matta has taken the Bucks to a title game. Problem with Thad is that he's a victim of his own success. If he can get Turner to stick around (which I doubt), OSU will contend for a title next season. If not, I still think that the foundation is there for a deep run.

People also forget that the loss of Lighty was HUGE. I commend Matta for getting the Bucks into the tourney, especially against a very good Big Ten.

I have no problem with recruiting one-and-done type of guys. With that you have to have some quality four year guys, like a Butler, or Lighty mixed in. I think that Lighty, Diebler, and Dallas will be those guys next season.

 

[LitlBuck]

Sometimes I have to wonder just how many brain farts some of you have in a day. Well that produces the type of teams that we have, young and inexperienced. We all know that the teams that do the best in the Dance are teams that return their players . Kinda like ummmmmmm Siena.

Some posters whine about the play of the team and expect world beaters when the kids haven't been in a tournament game before. That isn't going to happen 99% 0f the time.
So here is the reality; we will have a inexperienced every year until Thad recruits kids that will be here for up to 4 years.
I think that Mullen is gone right along with Turner. Buford may stay. That means that next year we will play with Hill, Dallas, Deibs, Buford, Madsen, and a new crop of inexperience. Think about that.

We do not have anyone new coming in next year so there will be no additions and Buford and Turner are not going any place. You need to read some other threads

I think all of us understand about the money but my question is how can other programs be successful year after year and I am not talking about Siena. Maybe those of us who are having "brain farts" would like Matta to slow down and try and not get it done in one year. I am not the individual who thinks that Ohio State can win a national championship every other year but I would like to see some continuity in the program and maybe if luck falls our way we might be able to take a run at a championship.