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CookyPuss
Screw Blue
COMMENTARY: Basketball Bucks prove there's life after football
By Scott Woods, The Lantern
November 27, 2006
(CSTV U-WIRE) COLUMBUS, Ohio -- We can breathe now, folks.
The 12-week roller coaster ride that hit its peak with a twirling touchdown pass and dove to its plateau with an onside kick is finally over. I can relax now -- sit back, kick up my scarlet and gray Nikes and drink my Budweiser without worrying about paid-off refs, Mark May and the oh-so-obvious anti-Ohio State media bias. Smooth sailing for seven straight weeks.
Or so I thought.
Ladies and gentlemen, the 2006-07 OSU men's basketball team.
This time of year, I really miss the days of Randy Ayers and Jim O'Brien. Back when John Cooper was making every coach in the SEC and Lloyd Carr look like the spawn of Albert Einstein and Bill Belichick, Ayers' ballers were distracting us from our end-of-the-year football futility by getting drunk, breaking into cars and shooting out tires. Now those were the good old days.
Then came O'Brien. The raspy-throated Irishman refused to recruit players with egos or possies, instead preferring Matt Sylvester, a man named Scoonie and pay-for-play Serbian role players.
The Tressel-era football Bucks were the only game in town between late November and early January, and that's the way I liked it. When Brent Darby leads your basketball team to a 30-point loss at Duke and 5-point defeat at San Francisco, I want to hear about how many junior bacon cheeseburgers Nick Mangold can eat, how many times A.J. and Laura Hawk had sex last week or what Teddy Ginn does in his free time while the Buckeyes chill in a Phoenix-area water park. (By the way, Teddy is spending his time now looking for stuff to buy after the NFL Draft in April.)
But then came Thad Matta. Who the hell does this guy think he is? OSU football is king in this town, followed by the Browns, Bengals, Reds, Indians, Cavs and Blue Jackets. Can't forget about the Clippers or the Crew, either. Buckeye basketball really, truly hasn't meant that much to us since 1998-99 -- you know, the Year that Never Was. Before that, it was '91-'92, which is quickly becoming so long ago I can barely remember it, and I've been in college for eight years.
So here comes Matta, with his beet-red face, his wasp-like energy and his kangaroo-like players, most of whom are so young Jimmy Jackson is old enough to be their father. They play with a pizzazz that mirrors that of their coach, just as they had in the previous two seasons -- you know, back when Je'Kel Foster and Terrence Dials were considered the athletes of the team. They posses the ability to jump out of the gym at any given moment, but play with a poise and a knowledge for the game very few 18-year-olds can boast.
They are the real deal folks, and they will win a national title. And this year isn't out of the question.
We all know the beast sporting the snappy wrist brace on the OSU sideline will be trading in his sweater for a gray jersey soon, definitely after North Carolina this Wednesday and probably before Florida on Dec. 23. But Greg Oden isn't the answer to the championship puzzle this winter.
The answer lies with the hummingbird-on-crack quickness of Mike Conley Jr., the John Holmes-like scoring skills of Daequan Cook and the flies-on-s--t defensive ability of David Lighty. Throw in the raw but talented Othello Hunter, the experienced and heady Jamar Butler and the silky-smooth Ivan Harris, and you have one hell of a college basketball team. Just make sure to keep them away from bars, firearms and parking garages. Until after the National Championship, at least.
By Scott Woods, The Lantern
November 27, 2006
(CSTV U-WIRE) COLUMBUS, Ohio -- We can breathe now, folks.
The 12-week roller coaster ride that hit its peak with a twirling touchdown pass and dove to its plateau with an onside kick is finally over. I can relax now -- sit back, kick up my scarlet and gray Nikes and drink my Budweiser without worrying about paid-off refs, Mark May and the oh-so-obvious anti-Ohio State media bias. Smooth sailing for seven straight weeks.
Or so I thought.
Ladies and gentlemen, the 2006-07 OSU men's basketball team.
This time of year, I really miss the days of Randy Ayers and Jim O'Brien. Back when John Cooper was making every coach in the SEC and Lloyd Carr look like the spawn of Albert Einstein and Bill Belichick, Ayers' ballers were distracting us from our end-of-the-year football futility by getting drunk, breaking into cars and shooting out tires. Now those were the good old days.
Then came O'Brien. The raspy-throated Irishman refused to recruit players with egos or possies, instead preferring Matt Sylvester, a man named Scoonie and pay-for-play Serbian role players.
The Tressel-era football Bucks were the only game in town between late November and early January, and that's the way I liked it. When Brent Darby leads your basketball team to a 30-point loss at Duke and 5-point defeat at San Francisco, I want to hear about how many junior bacon cheeseburgers Nick Mangold can eat, how many times A.J. and Laura Hawk had sex last week or what Teddy Ginn does in his free time while the Buckeyes chill in a Phoenix-area water park. (By the way, Teddy is spending his time now looking for stuff to buy after the NFL Draft in April.)
But then came Thad Matta. Who the hell does this guy think he is? OSU football is king in this town, followed by the Browns, Bengals, Reds, Indians, Cavs and Blue Jackets. Can't forget about the Clippers or the Crew, either. Buckeye basketball really, truly hasn't meant that much to us since 1998-99 -- you know, the Year that Never Was. Before that, it was '91-'92, which is quickly becoming so long ago I can barely remember it, and I've been in college for eight years.
So here comes Matta, with his beet-red face, his wasp-like energy and his kangaroo-like players, most of whom are so young Jimmy Jackson is old enough to be their father. They play with a pizzazz that mirrors that of their coach, just as they had in the previous two seasons -- you know, back when Je'Kel Foster and Terrence Dials were considered the athletes of the team. They posses the ability to jump out of the gym at any given moment, but play with a poise and a knowledge for the game very few 18-year-olds can boast.
They are the real deal folks, and they will win a national title. And this year isn't out of the question.
We all know the beast sporting the snappy wrist brace on the OSU sideline will be trading in his sweater for a gray jersey soon, definitely after North Carolina this Wednesday and probably before Florida on Dec. 23. But Greg Oden isn't the answer to the championship puzzle this winter.
The answer lies with the hummingbird-on-crack quickness of Mike Conley Jr., the John Holmes-like scoring skills of Daequan Cook and the flies-on-s--t defensive ability of David Lighty. Throw in the raw but talented Othello Hunter, the experienced and heady Jamar Butler and the silky-smooth Ivan Harris, and you have one hell of a college basketball team. Just make sure to keep them away from bars, firearms and parking garages. Until after the National Championship, at least.
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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
Dispatch
OHIO STATE MEN?S BASKETBALL
OSU knows where it stands
7-foot Oden would have been presence against Tar Heels
Friday, December 01, 2006
Bob Baptist
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
</IMG> KARL DEBLAKER ASSOCIATED PRESS North Carolina?s Tyler Hansbrough, pursuing a loose ball with Ohio State?s David Lighty, top, spent most of his time around the rim during the Tar Heels? 98-89 win Wednesday. He had 14 rebounds.
Coach Thad Matta was disappointed to lose, obviously, but he was philosophical in defeat.
It helped his perspective to know what might have been had the big kid a dozen seats down from him on the bench been able to play for the Ohio State men?s basketball team. Instead, all 7-foot freshman Greg Oden could do Wednesday night was watch and, like everyone else, wonder what difference he could have made against North Carolina.
"I think this was a very good test for our guys," Matta said after the No. 3-ranked Buckeyes lost 98-89 to the No. 7 Tar Heels in the Smith Center. "I think we can come from here and say these are the areas that we?ve got to get better at, these are the things we?ve got to do better.
"The encouraging thing for us is, we?re waiting on Greg, and where they got us tonight were some areas where he?s going to help us a lot."
Oden, touted as the most intimidating defensive presence to enter college basketball since Patrick Ewing two decades ago, has yet to be cleared for games because his right wrist has not fully recovered from ligament surgery in June. Clearance could come in the next several weeks.
Without him against the Tar Heels, Ohio State (6-1) battled the best it could in the post with Othello Hunter and Matt Terwilliger. But North Carolina (5-1), which trailed by as many as 10 points in the first half and by four at halftime, scored nine of its first 11 field goals in the second half ? and 13 of 19 overall ? within 10 feet of the basket.
Bullish Tyler Hansbrough, who missed eight of his 11 shots from the field in the first half, made all five in the second, when he scored 14 of his 21 points. He had five of the Tar Heels? 16 offensive rebounds.
When the 6-9 Hansbrough and Oden matched up in high school two years ago, each had 16 points and Hansbrough outrebounded Oden 12-5. But Oden?s team won 56-40 as he exploded for 14 points after halftime, 10 on dunks.
Hunter and Terwilliger totaled six points, eight rebounds and three blocks Wednesday and incurred foul trouble while battling Hansbrough, who finished without a foul.
"They were bigger than us down low and they took advantage of that," OSU forward Ivan Harris said. "When Oden comes back, that will be a big key for us."
Ohio State neutralized Hansbrough in the first half by fronting him in the post with Hunter or Terwilliger and helping from behind with another defender or two. Matta said Carolina "did a better job of clearing out" space for him after halftime.
Hansbrough was the main force in two second-half runs that gave North Carolina control of the game.
He scored the first two baskets in a 9-0 getaway that gave the Tar Heels their first lead, 53-48. Later, with the Heels down 68-63, he muscled through a triple team to start a 17-2 run in the next four minutes. His three-point play midway through gave them the lead for good, 70-68, and he capped it by driving past Terwilliger for a layup and an 80-70 lead with 6:33 remaining.
Ohio State rallied to six points with 3:29 left and five at 1:54, but it could not get the stops it needed at the other end.
"I don?t ever like to lose," Matta said, "but the barometer here is, we can play. This was good for us."
[email protected]
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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
BSB$ (Adam Jardy)
More coverage of the UNC game and Coach Matta striving to take the program to the next level.
More coverage of the UNC game and Coach Matta striving to take the program to the next level.
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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
Dispatch
OSU INSIDER
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
ADAM CAIRNS DISPATCH Brian Bowen, of Whitehall, sees how he matches up with Ohio State center Greg Oden, a 7-foot, 280-pound freshman, by standing next to a life-size cutout of Oden in Value City Arena.
FOR THE RECORD: 7-1
The week that was
The Buckeyes gave North Carolina more of a game than expected Wednesday considering that their best big man wasn?t available to blunt the charge of the Tar Heels? moose, Tyler Hansbrough. Lo and behold, less than 72 hours later, 7-foot freshman Greg Oden made his surprise debut against, ahem, Valparaiso. A left-handed 14 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots later, everyone was wondering what might have been on Tobacco Road.
The week ahead
Final exams. Then it?s Cleveland State on Saturday. The Vikings are in their first season under coach Gary Waters, who made his reputation building Kent State (92-60 in five years) into a midmajor power. He had middling success the past five years at Rutgers (79-75). Now he?s back in familiar territory.
How good are they ?
The first loss of the season did not greatly diminish voters? regard for the Buckeyes. They fell two spots, to No. 5, in the Associated Press poll and three spots, to No. 4, in the USA Today-ESPN coaches poll. Were they overrated, as Tar Heels fans chanted near the end? North Carolina coach Roy Williams didn?t want to hear that. He sent an assistant to the scorer?s table to have the public address announcer implore the crowd to "behave like Carolina gentlemen and ladies." After the game, Williams said, "We don?t do that to people. That?s a sorry chant."
Who?s / what?s hot
Ohio State ranks fourth nationally in three-point baskets per game (10.8) and ninth in field-goal percentage (.524). Freshman Mike Conley Jr. is tied for sixth in assists per game (6.6). Ron Lewis? 30 points at North Carolina are his high in two seasons at Ohio State. Ivan Harris, coming off a 17-point game at North Carolina, got his first start Saturday in place of David Lighty at power forward. But coach Thad Matta indicated that was due to Lighty playing more on the wing with Oden?s arrival inside.
Who?s / what?s not
Did everyone else relax with Oden back? He gathered 10 rebounds with a hand and a mitt in his first game in eight months. Nevertheless, Ohio State was outrebounded 36-28 by a midmajor for the second time this season. Too many missed block-outs again. Too many missed free throws, too, even discounting those Oden bricked with his left hand. Also, a big "attaboy" to the Big Ten, which was flogged by the Atlantic Coast Conference for the eighth straight season. The score in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge this time was 8-3. Good thing Northwestern came to play.
Outside the lines
Fans entering Value City Arena through the southwestern rotunda Saturday had the chance to see how they measure up against Oden. Not in the flesh, but a life-size representation of him featuring four arms ? two raised, two stretched sideways (what he must have seemed like to Valparaiso). For the record, his vertical reach is 9 feet, 3 inches, his wingspan 7-2, his vertical leap 33 inches and his shoe size 19.
The Oden watch
It?s over, for the most part, except the uncertainty of when he will recover enough flexibility and strength in his right wrist to shoot free throws with that hand again. The goal is within two weeks. Oden is trying to shoot more with the hand, and from greater range, every day in practice. He will wear a smaller brace Saturday than he did against Valpo.
Quotable
"Of course." ? Oden, asked whether he is enjoying his first year of college enough to come back for a second.
? Bob Baptist [email protected]
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OSU_Buckguy
Head Coach
c'mon. i feel my leg being pulled. is that really true? damn impressive if it is.
it's not nice to tease like that.
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Originally posted by OSU BasketballJunkie
"Key Subs ? C Greg Oden, G Daequan Cook, F Ivan Harris."
.Think about that a min. :)
"Key Subs ? C Greg Oden, G Daequan Cook, F Ivan Harris."
.Think about that a min. :)
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PrincetonBuckeye
The eyes of Texas are upon you!
I know that we don't play Florida until Dec. 23rd but I saw this on ESPN and I thought it was a little interesting:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2687682&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2687682&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines
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Link
Brewer expected back for Dec. 23 game against Ohio State
By MARK LONG
Associated Press
GAINESVILLE, Fla. ? Florida coach Billy Donovan hopes to have forward Corey Brewer back when the seventh-ranked Gators host No. 5 Ohio State on Dec. 23.
Brewer missed the last two games with mononucleosis and probably will be sidelined for the next three, including Wednesday night against Providence.
"I do have a level of optimism that he could be back before Christmas if all goes well, which I'm hopeful, which would be pretty good, which would be a few weeks," Donovan said Tuesday.
Brewer, the team's best defender and most versatile player, started feeling sick before the Gators (7-2) played Western Kentucky in Las Vegas on Nov. 24. He had 20 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and six steals in the victory, but the viral infection caught up with him the following night as he struggled in a loss to Kansas.
Tests revealed mononucleosis, a white-blood cell disorder that typically causes flulike symptoms. The virus also causes glands, including the spleen, to swell. In rare cases, physical contact can cause an enlarged spleen to rupture.
"Corey's situation is positive because his spleen was not enlarged, but he's got to get better," Donovan said. "I don't even know if it's necessarily fatigue right now. He looks really good. He looks refreshed. He's eating well. He says he feels fine. I guess it's the blood work.
"I know the major thing they worry about with mono, with having contact, is the spleen issue. But his spleen wasn't enlarged. When those doctors tell me he can't go, he can't practice, I really don't even spend a lot of time during the day factoring him into anything. I just try to go with what we've got right now."
Florida has other health issues. Forward Joakim Noah, the team's emotional leader, has been slowed with an upper respiratory infection that has caused breathing problems during recent games.
"I'm feeling a little better," said Noah, who has 14 points in the last two games. "But we've still got to find ways to win games without guys being at 100 percent because that kind of stuff happens all the time during the season."
Noah will remain in the lineup and try to battle through his illness.
Brewer, meanwhile, probably won't practice for another week.
"He's going to class. He's walking around," Donovan said. "This is not a bedridden illness that he's on the flat of his back. He's up, moving around, walking around and he can do anything. It's just the sweating and being under physical stress and physical contact is not what they want him to do right now."
Donovan said Brewer was scheduled to have more blood work done this week. He hopes Brewer will then be cleared to start individual workouts without contact. After that, Donovan expects Brewer will be allowed to return to practice and eventually cleared to play.
"I don't think it is going to be a situation where without any practice I'm going to hear from the doctors, 'He can play today,"' Donovan said. "I think it's going to be a gradual buildup."
Brewer expected back for Dec. 23 game against Ohio State
By MARK LONG
Associated Press
GAINESVILLE, Fla. ? Florida coach Billy Donovan hopes to have forward Corey Brewer back when the seventh-ranked Gators host No. 5 Ohio State on Dec. 23.
Brewer missed the last two games with mononucleosis and probably will be sidelined for the next three, including Wednesday night against Providence.
"I do have a level of optimism that he could be back before Christmas if all goes well, which I'm hopeful, which would be pretty good, which would be a few weeks," Donovan said Tuesday.
Brewer, the team's best defender and most versatile player, started feeling sick before the Gators (7-2) played Western Kentucky in Las Vegas on Nov. 24. He had 20 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and six steals in the victory, but the viral infection caught up with him the following night as he struggled in a loss to Kansas.
Tests revealed mononucleosis, a white-blood cell disorder that typically causes flulike symptoms. The virus also causes glands, including the spleen, to swell. In rare cases, physical contact can cause an enlarged spleen to rupture.
"Corey's situation is positive because his spleen was not enlarged, but he's got to get better," Donovan said. "I don't even know if it's necessarily fatigue right now. He looks really good. He looks refreshed. He's eating well. He says he feels fine. I guess it's the blood work.
"I know the major thing they worry about with mono, with having contact, is the spleen issue. But his spleen wasn't enlarged. When those doctors tell me he can't go, he can't practice, I really don't even spend a lot of time during the day factoring him into anything. I just try to go with what we've got right now."
Florida has other health issues. Forward Joakim Noah, the team's emotional leader, has been slowed with an upper respiratory infection that has caused breathing problems during recent games.
"I'm feeling a little better," said Noah, who has 14 points in the last two games. "But we've still got to find ways to win games without guys being at 100 percent because that kind of stuff happens all the time during the season."
Noah will remain in the lineup and try to battle through his illness.
Brewer, meanwhile, probably won't practice for another week.
"He's going to class. He's walking around," Donovan said. "This is not a bedridden illness that he's on the flat of his back. He's up, moving around, walking around and he can do anything. It's just the sweating and being under physical stress and physical contact is not what they want him to do right now."
Donovan said Brewer was scheduled to have more blood work done this week. He hopes Brewer will then be cleared to start individual workouts without contact. After that, Donovan expects Brewer will be allowed to return to practice and eventually cleared to play.
"I don't think it is going to be a situation where without any practice I'm going to hear from the doctors, 'He can play today,"' Donovan said. "I think it's going to be a gradual buildup."
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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
USAToday
7. Greg Oden debuted for Ohio State over the weekend and was impressive in limited action against Valparaiso. What does his presence mean to the Buckeyes' chances at a national title?
Shannon Shelton: Quite a bit. OSU was very good, but had no big men that could really make a difference.
Tim Gardner: It means everything. And with him, they are serious title contenders.
Jeff Zillgitt: It's huge. I was mighty impressed with Grandpa Oden.
Shannon Shelton: Ha, ha. He looks like he could be my dad!
Shannon Shelton: Ohio State has plenty of scorers and the backcourt was fine.
Jeff Zillgitt: On offense he looked a little rusty, but still produced and on defense he was outstanding. I loved the one play where he blocked two shots from two different players in about five seconds.
APGreg Oden's presence in the paint should be pivotal to the Buckeyes' chances at a coveted national title.
Jeff Zillgitt: He is going to own the lane when Ohio State is on defense.
Shannon Shelton: Oden is that missing piece that makes them a championship contender. Of course, he is still a freshman.
Scott Boeck: I echo both of your comments. Don't need to repeat you all.
Jeff Zillgitt: On another block, he just didn't block it ... he controlled it, too. That's what makes blocked shots effective, when your team gets possession.
Shannon Shelton: But his age will have little to do with his success. But deep into the tournament, it could be a factor for OSU if they play a more experienced team.
Scott Boeck: Is this a one year and out for Oden? Silly question?
Shannon Shelton: I'm thinking that way.
Jeff Zillgitt: As for one year and done, Oden is saying the right things. He is not blatantly making this rule seem like a joke.
Shannon Shelton: Yeah, we wouldn't have even seen him this year if not for the new rule.
Tim Gardner: Like we talked about the UNC game, they just didn't have the bodies to guard people inside. But he fills that void and then some. He had a double-double and five blocks in only 24 minutes. Imagine 35 minutes...
Shannon Shelton: It's good for OSU that he came back before the start of conference play. He'll be even better when they need him most.
Scott Boeck: It's been a while since Oden has played a competitive game. First time in seven months. So if you like him now, just wait...
Tim Gardner: Exactly, Shannon. He'll be ready for conference play now and if they get rolling I'd be very scared to play them. I wouldn't be surprised if he notched a few triple-doubles with blocks.
Scott Boeck: Does anyone dare to put OSU at least in the Final Four?
Shannon Shelton: I would.
Tim Gardner: I do. I see them being in the title game.
Scott Boeck: So we have Pitt and OSU....
Tim Gardner: Kansas and UCLA
Tim Gardner: Take out Pitt, put in Wichita State! ... Wishful thinking for the little guys.
Shannon Shelton: Hey, they're bigger than George Mason!
Scott Boeck: You never know, remember Mason.
Tim Gardner: I know, I know.
Shannon Shelton: I'll go for UCLA in the Final Four. I think Kansas will implode.
Tim Gardner: I just think Kansas has the most overall talent in the country. If they can't mesh together by March, then there's not much Bill Self can do.
Tim Gardner: But with Oden back (and toss in Conley, Cook, Butler and Lewis), the Buckeyes are now nearly on the same page. They're going to be extremely dangerous.
Shannon Shelton: That OSU backcourt is just unbelievable.
Scott Boeck: Yes. Thad Matta's recruiting class is known as the "Thad Five."
Tim Gardner: And they're worth a nickname.
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