Men's Basketball Buckeye Tidbits 2007-08 Season

[crazybuckfan40]

I would not count Turner out when you start talking about a starting 5. He probably is better ball handler then Diebler. I also think that Jon might play some SF with Lightly sliding down to the 4 position. That would be a pretty potent offensive team but it might lack in the rebounding area. However do not forget Turner

Can't say I disagree, about the first part, but with as deep as we are in the front court with KK, Hunter, Twig, Madsen, and Lauderdale I don't really see the need to slide Lighty to the four, unless tehre are certain matchups we are trying to get out on the court...

There really isn't much leadership in the 5 and there is a significant decrease in talent at the C and PG spot from Oden and Conley

Also don't sell Butler short, and saying he is a huge decrease in talent from Conley at the PG...

 

[MaxBuck]

... I look for Lighty to be the best player by far on this team. Tremendous finish to the season that I hope leads to a breakout season.

I look for Jamar Butler to be our best player, though I also expect very good things from Lighty, Othello Hunter, and Kosta Koufos. My expectations of Turner, Diebler, Wallace and Lauderdale are quite a bit lower than most posters here, at least for the 2007-08 season. I think all these players are likely to need more development time. Frankly, I think Madsen might be an important key for how well our season ends up.

Outside shooting overall is likely to be a weakness for this team IMO. We lost a lot of horsepower in Lewis, Harris, and Cook.

 

[mooktarr]

I think our best player will be Lighty or Turner. One of those two will shine this coming season.
Our most important player will be Twigs. He will have to play very well until KK is ready.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

I look for Jamar Butler to be our best player, though I also expect very good things from Lighty, Othello Hunter, and Kosta Koufos. My expectations of Turner, Diebler, Wallace and Lauderdale are quite a bit lower than most posters here, at least for the 2007-08 season. I think all these players are likely to need more development time. Frankly, I think Madsen might be an important key for how well our season ends up.

Turner, Diebler, Wallace and Lauderdale are all very good players, of course they are going to struggle, but with the fact that they are going to have to see the floor and at least one of them is going to start the improvement will be huge...I would put them no farther behind Lighty in terms of ability, and if he would of had to play as many minutes as these guys are going to have to this year, you can only imagine how fast his game would of progressed, as we saw where he ended at the end of the season getting around only 20 minutes or less a game...

Also Diebler, Turner, and Wallace bring more on the offensive end of the court, which is where Lighty struggled last year...Also they are all very long and athletic so they should be able to defend, at least as well as what Cook did last year, but I expect Turner to be a very good defender as he has done well for himself in matchups with Derrick Rose and other guys in AAU...

Outside shooting overall is likely to be a weakness for this team IMO. We lost a lot of horsepower in Lewis, Harris, and Cook.

We still have Butler, who with the ball in his hands will up his percentage IMO...We have Diebler and we all know how well he can stroke it, and I don't think that Turner and Wallace get enough credit for their outside shot, and also Lighty is the first guy in the gym shooting the ball all the time, so you can only imagine a whole off season and how it will improve his jumper...

 

[OmahaBeef]

We still have Butler, who with the ball in his hands will up his percentage IMO...We have Diebler and we all know how well he can stroke it, and I don't think that Turner and Wallace get enough credit for their outside shot, and also Lighty is the first guy in the gym shooting the ball all the time, so you can only imagine a whole off season and how it will improve his jumper...

I'm of course very excited for guys like Kosta coming in, but I think I'm more excited to see guys like Diebler develop. It sounds like he'll be here for at least 3 years (well thats what it sounds like, am I right?) and I think it will be fun to see him develop into a team leader. In a couple years it should be fun to have Diebler be an experienced shooter like Nietzel was for MSU this year/will be for them next year. (Or at least thats what it sounds like Diebler can be for us. Am I right? He is a great shooter, but it sounds like he'll stick around for a few years.)

 

[crazybuckfan40]

I'm of course very excited for guys like Kosta coming in, but I think I'm more excited to see guys like Diebler develop. It sounds like he'll be here for at least 3 years (well thats what it sounds like, am I right?) and I think it will be fun to see him develop into a team leader. In a couple years it should be fun to have Diebler be an experienced shooter like Nietzel was for MSU this year/will be for them next year. (Or at least thats what it sounds like Diebler can be for us. Am I right? He is a great shooter, but it sounds like he'll stick around for a few years.)

Diebler is a totally different player than what Neitzel is...

Yes he is the type of guy that will be here 4 years, and he has range when he steps inside interstate 270 loop...

He took an abundance of shots at the high school level leading to his high volume of points, but his ability to get a shot off with just a little crease and when he is going to have guys creating shots for him, where he is able to just catch and shooot something he didnt have much of in high school he will be deadly...He will stretch the defense out and open things up in the paint...

 

[LitlBuck]

Yes he is the type of guy that will be here 4 years, and he has range when he steps inside interstate 270 loop......

 

[Buckskin86]

Ohio State and Syracuse are slated to headline the Preseason NIT event this season. It will be interesting to see Thad Matta's team after the loss of Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr. Believe me, my friends, this Buckeye team will have a lot of talent thanks to an outstanding recruiting class. Jim Boeheim was also very happy with his newcomers, plus Paul Harris and Eric Devendorf return.

http://espn.go.com/dickvitale/070525roundballchatter.html

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Link

ASU's Miller expected to join Ohio State staff

Pera likely to take vacated men's basketball spot

Norm Frauenheim
The Arizona Republic
May. 25, 2007 12:00 AM
Arizona State assistant men's basketball coach Archie Miller is expected to join Ohio State coach Thad Matta's staff.

Miller, who was on the ASU staff last year for coach Herb Sendek's first season in Tempe, has been considering the move since a shuffle on the Ohio State staff.

Miller, who played for Sendek at North Carolina State, cannot comment until a deal is done.

Continued.....

 

[EastSide]

...when he is going to have guys creating shots for him, where he is able to just catch and shooot something he didnt have much of in high school he will be deadly...He will stretch the defense out and open things up in the paint...

i agree.

It will be another fun season definitely

 

[OmahaBeef]

He took an abundance of shots at the high school level leading to his high volume of points, but his ability to get a shot off with just a little crease and when he is going to have guys creating shots for him, where he is able to just catch and shooot something he didnt have much of in high school he will be deadly...He will stretch the defense out and open things up in the paint...

Ya I didn't really mean to make too much of a comparison, but it will be kinda nice being able to watch a player develop into a great player and lights out shooter over the next few years. Don't get me wrong, I am greatful for and love all the talent Matta is bringing in, but I think theres something special about watching a player mature over four years.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

BSB$ (Jeff Rapp)

Rapp Around: 10 Keys To Next Season

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

NBA spotlight beckons
Ohio State's Matta left to wonder what might have been

Thursday, June 28, 2007 3:41 AM
By Bob Baptist


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

NEW YORK -- Talk to Thad Matta for any length of time about the Ohio State men's basketball program these days and it's not long before he sighs and reveals his envy of John Wooden, who during his unparalleled career as UCLA coach never had to worry about one of his star players leaving early for the NBA.
"Man," Matta says. "Can you imagine the team we would have had next season?"
He can only imagine.
Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr., who in their one season at Ohio State led the Buckeyes to their first NCAA championship game in 45 years, are expected to be among the top 10 picks in the NBA draft tonight in Madison Square Garden. The 7-foot Oden is projected to be the first Ohio State player ever chosen No. 1. Another former teammate, Daequan Cook, also could be a first-round choice.
"I don't think there's ever in the history of the draft been a program that's lost three freshmen in the first round, let alone two lottery picks," Matta said.

Continued...

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

FOX Sports on MSN - Sports News, Standings, Stats and more

ODEN?S HACKING

Thad Matta?s first reaction when he found out that former Ohio State star Greg Oden committed 10 fouls.

"They?re calling it too close,? Matta joked.

Matta did say that he feels like the biggest adjustment for the big man in the NBA will be spacing.

"That will be huge for him,? he said. ?Getting low-post position and passing out of the double-teams.?

Look for the Buckeyes to go with a starting lineup of Jamar Butler moving back to the point, David Lighty at small forward, talented 7-foot freshman Kosta Koufus at power forward and Othello Hunter in the middle.

What about shooting guard? Daequan Cook left after his freshman season.

"He was adamant about his desire to go to the NBA and we supported it as long as there was a realistic chance,? Matta said. ?At one point, we thought he should come back, but he went 21st overall and made a good decision.?

"Losing him, we?re going to have to have someone step up and score for us,? he added.

Look for freshmen Jon Diebler, Eric Wallace and Evan Turner to compete for the wing spot vacated by Cook.

 

[LitlBuck]

FOX Sports on MSN - Sports News, Standings, Stats and more

I thought that I would see Wallace playing at the SF along with Lightly with Diebler and Turner sharing time at the off guard with even Lightly getting a little time there with Turner sliding to the PG when Butler needs a rest.