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Ohio State Basketball Fans Should Prepare Themselves for a Fun Ride
jcollingsworth via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
With Saturday’s victory over the University of Kentucky Wildcats at the Barclay Center in Brooklyn in the CBS Sports Classic Tournament (74-67) we as fans witnessed all the hoopla of this promising young team.
Prior to the matchup Coach Thad Matta was asked if he felt that his Buckeyes had any chance of staying close with the #4 Wildcats. His response, one you would expect from a Head Coach, though delusional in the minds of most in earshot, was that he expected to win. It isn’t necessarily his response that gathers focus; it is that this team who has seemingly faced difficulties in gelling as a team with their fantastic young talent did what “we” all never imagined.
They won.
The Buckeyes started their season by winning their first two games against Mount Saint Mary’s and Grambling. Then they hit the wall with a four game slide dropping two unexpected ones to UT-Arlington and Louisiana Tech., while also dropping to more highly regarded programs such as Memphis in OT and #10 Virginia. They would then win two more and then lose to Connecticut. They are now on a two game winning streak which includes the KY upset. This accounts for their 6-5 start.
The Ohio State University’s MBB Team is loaded with fresh young talent; Marc Loving a JR in 34.6 minutes of play is averaging 15.5 points per game with 6.5 rebounds. Keita Bates-Diop a FR in 32.6 minutes of play is averaging 12.1 points per game and 5.8 rebounds. Jae-Sean Tate a SO in 27.6 minutes of play is averaging 11.9 points per game with 7 rebounds. The rest of the team includes JaQuan Lyle a FR. Trevor Thompson a SO: Kam Williams a SO: Daniel Giddens a FR: David Bell a FR: and A.J. Harris a FR. Newly included Mickey Mitchell a FR whose eligibility was approved by the NCAA is now available for play any time. Austin Grandstaff a FR has decided to transfer out of OSU after averaging 11.4 minutes of play with 4.4 points and 0.3 rebounds. This is the best solution for both Grandstaff and the Buckeyes. With Kam Williams and now Mickey Mitchell Grandstaff stood to be the odd one out.
The Buckeyes have two more games before opening up in Big 10 Conference play against Minnesota on Dec. 30th. Those games are similar to the UT-Arlington and Louisiana Tech. games – perceived wins. On Dec. 22nd in Columbus they will take on a 9-2 Mercer from the Southern Conference – a Conference that includes VMI, The Citadel, and East TN ST. And on Dec. 27th in Columbus they take on a 5-7 South Carolina State of the MEAC Conference which includes NC A&T, Hampton, and Howard.
A horrible thought has presented itself – and that is after such a high as this victory was against KY that one of these two next teams, possibly both, could hand the Buckeyes a defeat. It is not uncharacteristic of this young and talented team to drop such frustration onto its fan base. But, in fact, such a catastrophe may only be reflective of what this season will signify.
This team has proven in their OT loss to Memphis that they can play with the big boys. Their losses to VA and CT may have deflated that perception but the win against KY should certainly reawaken the whole idea.
With Big 10 action looming – the Buckeyes may be just where they need to be. They undoubtedly will shoulder more losses as the season progresses. But they will indeed provide some thrilling victories as well. Michigan State at the moment appears to be Goliath. But Saturday early afternoon so did the Wildcats of KY. Purdue too seems like a game that most Buckeyes fans will not slap a bundle on in a bet for an OSU win. But what we have seen thus far this season should provide evidence that predictability of what team shows on the court come game day is not necessarily the one that will walk off the court.
The Ohio State University Men’s Basketball Team is a good and promising team. They will break your heart, have you shaking your head, and blaming yourself for their loss because you wore a new Buckeyes Jersey instead of the old and ripped one that carried the team with Greg Oden to the Championship Title match. But just as they will thwart hopes, they will have you jumping out of your lazy boy, spilling the bowl of pretzels all over the carpet, and cheering in a victory you jadedly never imagined.
I had previewed the KY game for tBBC. After each piece I write I read it back to my wife. As I ended with the summation of “…I simply see a matchup that will boost the Buckeyes in the right direction – win or lose.” I turned out right but only in the prosperity of a good state of mind this team must be experiencing. My wife would point out to me that where I was wrong was my inabilities of not only projecting a victory, but truly believing it. She, a Brooklyn girl, two days before the game told me with complete conviction that the Buckeyes would win. After the win I asked her how did she assume such a win for a team that appears often confused and unable to join together in a team effort? Her response was baffling, at the moment anyway, but after contemplation I saw the brilliance in what she said. And that was simply – “They want to win.”
This is a young team that is just beginning to comprehend each other. In some instances they are not the lone star on the court any longer, as they had been in High School. They are now a meshed together group of High School stars that need to gel in order to succeed. Perhaps the four game slide and the OT loss to Memphis is what was needed to beat KY. They wanted to win that game more than anything. If this pans out similarly for the rest of the year we as fans are on course for a joyous ride. But if it remains scattered, as it has been, it can still be fun to watch.
Wouldn’t it be great if this team headed to the Final Four? It is imaginable! There is no “great” team in College Basketball today. There are a ton of good teams … and these Buckeyes are one of them. But allow me to relax … its one game at a time! We as fans need to relax and refrain from the pessimism. The KY victory has shown me that this young team is indeed very capable. As the Buckeyes move into Conference play – just as the Big 10 often gets 4 to 6 teams in the NCAA Tournament – our Buckeyes have as much of a shot as any other Big 10 team. Why don’t we relax and just watch basketball. Thad’s guys will get their groove together – if they already haven’t. The KY game may have been the last hurdle they needed to gel in confidence. The loss of focus here isn’t the team’s … it’s us – the fan base. This is The Ohio State University. And our ride in any season for any sport is always better than elsewhere.
The post Ohio State Basketball Fans Should Prepare Themselves for a Fun Ride appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
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jcollingsworth via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
With Saturday’s victory over the University of Kentucky Wildcats at the Barclay Center in Brooklyn in the CBS Sports Classic Tournament (74-67) we as fans witnessed all the hoopla of this promising young team.
Prior to the matchup Coach Thad Matta was asked if he felt that his Buckeyes had any chance of staying close with the #4 Wildcats. His response, one you would expect from a Head Coach, though delusional in the minds of most in earshot, was that he expected to win. It isn’t necessarily his response that gathers focus; it is that this team who has seemingly faced difficulties in gelling as a team with their fantastic young talent did what “we” all never imagined.
They won.
The Buckeyes started their season by winning their first two games against Mount Saint Mary’s and Grambling. Then they hit the wall with a four game slide dropping two unexpected ones to UT-Arlington and Louisiana Tech., while also dropping to more highly regarded programs such as Memphis in OT and #10 Virginia. They would then win two more and then lose to Connecticut. They are now on a two game winning streak which includes the KY upset. This accounts for their 6-5 start.
The Ohio State University’s MBB Team is loaded with fresh young talent; Marc Loving a JR in 34.6 minutes of play is averaging 15.5 points per game with 6.5 rebounds. Keita Bates-Diop a FR in 32.6 minutes of play is averaging 12.1 points per game and 5.8 rebounds. Jae-Sean Tate a SO in 27.6 minutes of play is averaging 11.9 points per game with 7 rebounds. The rest of the team includes JaQuan Lyle a FR. Trevor Thompson a SO: Kam Williams a SO: Daniel Giddens a FR: David Bell a FR: and A.J. Harris a FR. Newly included Mickey Mitchell a FR whose eligibility was approved by the NCAA is now available for play any time. Austin Grandstaff a FR has decided to transfer out of OSU after averaging 11.4 minutes of play with 4.4 points and 0.3 rebounds. This is the best solution for both Grandstaff and the Buckeyes. With Kam Williams and now Mickey Mitchell Grandstaff stood to be the odd one out.
The Buckeyes have two more games before opening up in Big 10 Conference play against Minnesota on Dec. 30th. Those games are similar to the UT-Arlington and Louisiana Tech. games – perceived wins. On Dec. 22nd in Columbus they will take on a 9-2 Mercer from the Southern Conference – a Conference that includes VMI, The Citadel, and East TN ST. And on Dec. 27th in Columbus they take on a 5-7 South Carolina State of the MEAC Conference which includes NC A&T, Hampton, and Howard.
A horrible thought has presented itself – and that is after such a high as this victory was against KY that one of these two next teams, possibly both, could hand the Buckeyes a defeat. It is not uncharacteristic of this young and talented team to drop such frustration onto its fan base. But, in fact, such a catastrophe may only be reflective of what this season will signify.
This team has proven in their OT loss to Memphis that they can play with the big boys. Their losses to VA and CT may have deflated that perception but the win against KY should certainly reawaken the whole idea.
With Big 10 action looming – the Buckeyes may be just where they need to be. They undoubtedly will shoulder more losses as the season progresses. But they will indeed provide some thrilling victories as well. Michigan State at the moment appears to be Goliath. But Saturday early afternoon so did the Wildcats of KY. Purdue too seems like a game that most Buckeyes fans will not slap a bundle on in a bet for an OSU win. But what we have seen thus far this season should provide evidence that predictability of what team shows on the court come game day is not necessarily the one that will walk off the court.
The Ohio State University Men’s Basketball Team is a good and promising team. They will break your heart, have you shaking your head, and blaming yourself for their loss because you wore a new Buckeyes Jersey instead of the old and ripped one that carried the team with Greg Oden to the Championship Title match. But just as they will thwart hopes, they will have you jumping out of your lazy boy, spilling the bowl of pretzels all over the carpet, and cheering in a victory you jadedly never imagined.
I had previewed the KY game for tBBC. After each piece I write I read it back to my wife. As I ended with the summation of “…I simply see a matchup that will boost the Buckeyes in the right direction – win or lose.” I turned out right but only in the prosperity of a good state of mind this team must be experiencing. My wife would point out to me that where I was wrong was my inabilities of not only projecting a victory, but truly believing it. She, a Brooklyn girl, two days before the game told me with complete conviction that the Buckeyes would win. After the win I asked her how did she assume such a win for a team that appears often confused and unable to join together in a team effort? Her response was baffling, at the moment anyway, but after contemplation I saw the brilliance in what she said. And that was simply – “They want to win.”
This is a young team that is just beginning to comprehend each other. In some instances they are not the lone star on the court any longer, as they had been in High School. They are now a meshed together group of High School stars that need to gel in order to succeed. Perhaps the four game slide and the OT loss to Memphis is what was needed to beat KY. They wanted to win that game more than anything. If this pans out similarly for the rest of the year we as fans are on course for a joyous ride. But if it remains scattered, as it has been, it can still be fun to watch.
Wouldn’t it be great if this team headed to the Final Four? It is imaginable! There is no “great” team in College Basketball today. There are a ton of good teams … and these Buckeyes are one of them. But allow me to relax … its one game at a time! We as fans need to relax and refrain from the pessimism. The KY victory has shown me that this young team is indeed very capable. As the Buckeyes move into Conference play – just as the Big 10 often gets 4 to 6 teams in the NCAA Tournament – our Buckeyes have as much of a shot as any other Big 10 team. Why don’t we relax and just watch basketball. Thad’s guys will get their groove together – if they already haven’t. The KY game may have been the last hurdle they needed to gel in confidence. The loss of focus here isn’t the team’s … it’s us – the fan base. This is The Ohio State University. And our ride in any season for any sport is always better than elsewhere.
The post Ohio State Basketball Fans Should Prepare Themselves for a Fun Ride appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
Continue reading...