Observations from Section 107

[MaxBuck]

1. This is not the #4 team in the nation right now. But with Greg Oden in the lineup it may be the #1 team. We have never had the kind of athleticism represented by Hunter, Cook, Lewis, Conley and Lighty (let alone Oden). And shooting from the perimeter continues unabated. This team will be terrific come March.

2. We will be in a world of hurt with only 8 players if a game gets called ticky-tack. We need a walkon or two, though I understand Matta hasn't found anyone he likes to take Sam Payne's place. (Payne has left the team to focus on academics.)

3. Conley will be the best point guard in the B11 this year, and one of the best in the nation. He is really gifted, very quick, and an excellent passer. When was the last time we had a point guard with 16 assists in his first two games, exhibition or otherwise? Butler will adjust quickly to his role as scoring guard.

4. Othello Hunter is much more impressive than I expected. Forget the Emonte Jernigan days; this guy can ball. He even hit a 3 today.

5. Rebounding is certainly a weak point for this team. We have now been out-rebounded by 10 in two sequential games against essentially D2 teams. Things will be a bit ugly on the boards until The Big Guy gets to play.

6. Lighty is very impressive. Nothing flashy, but solid D and good decision-making. Very quick for a 6-5 player.

7. Cook is phenomenally talented, but needs to play under control. 5 fouls in 16 minutes of play is problematic, to say the least.

8. Unbelievable quickness; we forced 25 turnovers, including I believe 11 steals. No team will feel secure bringing the ball upcourt against the Bucks.

9. Ivan Harris and Matt Terwilliger continue to struggle to find their place on this team.

Let's go Bucks!

 

[crazybuckfan40]

About the walk-on's. They had Payne and another kid by the name of Eddie Days. All Ohio last year.

The problem is now that Payne left for academics and Days found out he had a heart condition now we don't have the numbers.

We have to have 10 to at least be able to practice 5 on 5.

Everything else I agree with...

 

[MaxBuck]

VMI Game Notes:

1. Othello Hunter will be a beast for us this season. Granted he was playing against undersized opposition, but every game he has looked increasingly comfortable. Scoring will not be his forte, but an Oden-Hunter front line will persuade most B11 opponents not to try scoring in the paint; we'll see lots of 3s hoisted against us.

2. Mike Conley - wow. He continues to impress with his defense, his ball-handling and his decision-making. I really thought Butler would continue to be our top point guard this season, until I saw Mike play.

3. Dave Lighty played a sound game in all facets. Just a solid player. A real key to our early success this season.

4. DaeQuan finally got comfortable on the floor. He will need to be more cautious in the foul department, because we can ill-afford to lose him in a big game due to foul difficulty. He and Lewis are incredible athletes who also can play good fundamental hoop. DQ also rebounded well last night, and we'll need him to on a continuing basis.

5. Will Ivan Harris be the player we saw in the first half last night, or the one in the second half? I sure hope it's the latter; Ivan showed good aggressiveness after intermission, good defensive pressure, and more comfort level on offense after he hit a couple long shots. The first half was just painful.

One caution - VMI is not a good team. We will know a lot more about the Buckeyes tomorrow morning at this time.

(BTW, officiating last night was really terrible. The refs were completely unprepared to cope with the pace at which the game was played.)

 

[crazybuckfan40]

One caution - VMI is not a good team. We will know a lot more about the Buckeyes tomorrow morning at this time.

They are a team that could give a good team a run for their money if they are hitting their shots tho. Any team that averages 135/game has to be semi good.

They are also pretty quick and did a fairly good job in their press.

 

[coastalbuck]

They, VMI put alot of pressure on the opponent with the speed of their game. If you can handle it, you'll be fine, if not, problems.. Oh, and :scum3:

 

[MaxBuck]

Notes from the Loyola game:

1. Great night by Lewis (duh!). Played entirely under control, and took the shots that were given to him. Worked hard on the boards, also.

2. With no disrepect to Lewis, DaeQuan is our best defensive rebounder. When the ball is released by an opponent, you can almost see a gleam in his eye, figuring out where he needs to get to in order to pull down the board. And when he's able to get near the carom, he is relentless in seeking the ball. With his great hops, he can be effective rebounding against much larger opposition.

3. Ohio State is a seriously quick and athletic team. This may seem like belaboring the obvious, but no opposing guard so far has had any answer whatsoever to Mike Conley's offense. (Loyola had maybe the best approach in getting him in foul trouble; that won't likely work very often because of Conley's fundamentally sound footwork on D.) Conley's penetration continues to develop lots of opportunities for us on O.

4. Dave Lighty continues to impress on defense. Great intensity on D.

5. Ivan Harris is proving a quandary for me. Certainly he has at times been a very effective offensive weapon, bombing away from 3-land, and he typically works extremely hard at rebounding (results are spotty). He remains somewhat too gangly and uncoordinated to threaten a D off the dribble, and his own D is problematic (though through no lack of effort). He seems to improving, however.

 

[MaxBuck]

Notes from Valpo Game:

1. Greg Oden is even better than advertised. His ability to rebound with one hand (essentially) is amazing. And the effect he has on defense is remarkable. He basically fouled out 3 opponents single-handedly. Wow. Great to see him be able to get some time playing against a decent opponent, in preparation for some more-significant contests.

2. DaeQuan Cook continues to impress. His missed dunk was a little embarrassing, but we were up by like 25 points so who cares? I think his approach might be a bit different if we were up by 2. His defense is improving with every game.

3. Honestly, the rest of the team did not play all that well. They were kind of observing Greg much of the time, and as a result seemed tentative. The observing will likely pay dividends, though, in future games. These guys just need to figure out where each other is likely to be, at all times. That will come with experience.

4. One of the most fun things for me was seeing the Valpo fans join in the "O-H-I-O" cheer. Seems like this is becoming a tradition that everyone (even our opponents) enjoys. Neat!

 

[el mastiff]

I agree with all points, but I didn't notice no. 4. I thought the place was like a morgue (as usual). The students continue to be lame. The amazing thing was that this was the game where all of the other OSU student athletes were to show up. Didn't even fill student section. People keep talking about putting students around the court for better environment, but doesn't work without students. They must have all been busy on a Saturday at 4:00 P.M.

 

[OSUsushichic]

They must have all been busy on a Saturday at 4:00 P.M.

Watching the USC game would be my guess. In any case, that's sad. This team deserves a crazy crowd!

 

[crazybuckfan40]

I agree with all points, but I didn't notice no. 4. I thought the place was like a morgue (as usual). The students continue to be lame. The amazing thing was that this was the game where all of the other OSU student athletes were to show up. Didn't even fill student section. People keep talking about putting students around the court for better environment, but doesn't work without students. They must have all been busy on a Saturday at 4:00 P.M.

Ok I will take one more crack at this...

The students were sold tickets to 10 games...The only game b4 the new year was the friday b4 the michigan game.

That was the only home game I have not been to, but from all accounts it was our best crowd in terms of noise.

The problem I have is how you can have 17000 fans and still be quiet. You can't put this game on the students...What about the people were at the game...IMO this just shows that the noise level depends on the students...Would Duke be the same without the Crazies to make all the noise or would the IzzoDome be the same without the students.

I also think that there needs to be a little more organization from the band, cheerleaders and the people behind the scenes doing the scoreboard and stuff. They need to organize more oh-io cheers or things of that nature.

I also don't understand why people feel that they can't cheer when the game is going on. That is when you want to be at your loudest...Not just when a made basket or a rebound. There in the first half when we hit a dry spell and didnt score for awhile you could of fell asleep it was so quiet at times...

 

[rmjones25]

I was at the Valpo game and it was silent. Even when the fans cheered for Oden coming in, it was eerily quiet. I swear the stadium was made to suppress noise. A few more Big 10 championships and some NCAA runs will sway some fans from focusing only on football.

I want just once to be jumping up and down on theside of the court with my face painted Braveheart-style scarlet and gray. Maybe I can go to Duke for grad school. Oh wait, the ACC doesn't play football.

 

[jwinslow]

I was at the Valpo game and it was silent.

They must have miked the student section on the tv broadcast (which I rewatched), b/c the crowd was indeed silent quite often during the game.

I swear the stadium was made to suppress noise.

I dunno... it gets loud enough when someone dunks, or they throw out t-shirts

There have to be a lot of attendees who lose their voice cheering in the shoe all fall. It almost seems like a peer pressure thing... they feel awkward cheering because everyone else is silent.

 

[BuckeyeTillIDie]

hey you can't forget about the boos that people let out at half time when they make people awkwardly dance for concert tickets

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

I dunno... it gets loud enough when someone dunks, or they throw out t-shirts

Not even the dunks so much. Just the free t-shirts. It's beyond pathetic.

hey you can't forget about the boos that people let out at half time when they make people awkwardly dance for concert tickets

Not just any concert tickets, Justin Timberlake tickets. Apparently, he's bringing sexy back. Who the hell knew?

 

[crazybuckfan40]

Not just any concert tickets, Justin Timberlake tickets. Apparently, he's bringing sexy back. Who the hell knew?

Already got my tickets.

As for the crowd today, once again it was pathetic...It is pretty bad when the only people in the gym you can hear are the CSU cheerleaders. I mean out cheerleaders sit and twiddle their thumbs and don't do any cheering during the game.

I mean I don't think anyone even stud up when Oden had the alley-oop dunk. I just don't understand it.

Our best crowd all year was the game the night b4 the scUM game, and that is when the students were on both ends of the court. I can't wait till the Indiana game to see how the crowd will be...

BTW all games after Coppin St. are sold out already from what I have heard...