OSU players angry and confused at administration

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Buckeyes feel Ohio State pulled the plug too soon ;
Recorder




AP



COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Two months after Ohio State banned its men's basketball team from the NCAA tournament for violations committed under another coach, there is lingering resentment, anger and confusion by the Buckeyes players.

Team captain Terence Dials said Tuesday that some of his teammates believe Ohio State President Karen Holbrook and athletic director Andy Geiger were premature in imposing the postseason ban.

"Especially since we're a tournament-bound team, we believe, and they took that away from us," Dials said. "I don't think some guys really understand why. A lot of guys feel like maybe they (Ohio State administrators) could have waited a little longer and maybe nothing would have really come of all this."

At the time Holbrook and Geiger announced the self-imposed sanction in early December, the Buckeyes were a struggling team. Give up an NCAA berth? Few people thought the Buckeyes could come close to getting one anyway.

"There were people saying we couldn't win 10 games," swingman J.J. Sullinger said.

But now Ohio State is 16-7 and has won four Big Ten games in a row heading into Wednesday night's game at Michigan State. In a down year in the conference (with the clear exception of No. 1-ranked Illinois), the Buckeyes are one of at least three or four teams that could finish around 20 wins. That would all but assure Ohio State of a spot in the NCAA field -- were it not for the December decision.

"It's tough. It's tough to think about," Dials said. "We're going to be a bunch of sad puppies when March comes."

Geiger maintains that there was no choice, that Ohio State had to get out in front of what the NCAA would eventually have forced upon them.

"It was self-imposed because in our view it was inevitable," Geiger said. "It was thought by all parties involved that it would be better for us to be taking it now."

The NCAA is investigating the program after it was revealed that former coach Jim O'Brien gave a recruit $6,000 in 1999. O'Brien was fired last summer and has since sued Ohio State for up to $6 million for what he terms a wrongful termination of his contract. He does not believe that any NCAA sanctions would have resulted from his actions.

Another lawsuit between non-university parties includes allegations that players had their classwork done for them, regularly met with agents and improperly were given regular payments.

Ohio State has won each of its last four conference games by double-digit margins.

The Buckeyes have road games left against Michigan State (15-4), Penn State (7-14), Minnesota (16-6) and Iowa (15-6), along with home contests against Indiana (10-10), Wisconsin (15-5) and Illinois (23-0).

Geiger said he is pleased by the way the team has responded to the news of the ban.

"It's bittersweet," he said. "I hope for these players' sakes that they don't dwell on the postseason ban and instead continue to play like they have been playing."

Coach Thad Matta has tried to be positive around his players, avoiding any hint of being critical of the ban while motivating his team.

He cites the words of former UCLA legend John Wooden.

"I'll never forget the answer he gave when he was asked what's wrong with college athletics. He said, 'Too many people put too much into the last game of the year,"' Matta said. "My hope is that these guys enjoy the journey, enjoy the season, because the season is a hell of a lot more important to me than the ending to it."

Email this story Originally published Wednesday, February 9, 2005

Its a very tough situation, I never understood punishing players for things that happened when they were in high school.

 

[coastalbuck]

It is indeed a tough situation. To be able to work yourself into a position of getting an automatic bid and then not to be able to recieve it is really too bad. However, I do believe the decision to not go to the post season was made with the best interests of The Ohio State University and its basketball program in mind. It's just a shame kids get punished for things they had no control over. Everyone has to remember that the program as a whole is a much more important than any individual player or group of players. Decisions must be made considering the entire situation and program. Those are frequently not easily made nor widely agreed upon. That being said, I hope it doesn't effect their attitude or effort. Go Bucks tonight at MSU!!!!!!!!!! :osu:

 

[Misanthrope]

Its a very tough situation, I never understood punishing players for things that happened when they were in high school.

I agree it's unfair to the players, but how else can the NCAA punish the school?

The other unfortunate thing about all of this is the scrutiny placed on the football team - take it to the bank - influenced the administration's decision to act as quickly as they did. We've been under the radar the last couple years and it's almost always better to police yourself than to wait for the NCAA to do it.

Hopefully, this year will be enough to satisfy the NCAA, because I think we can be even better next year.

 

[jimotis4heisman]

i dont care what anyone says, to quote major league theyve made us eat "one giant shitburger" i never thought they would play as well as they have with the team they have and the sanctions. i give these kids a helluva a lot of credit. they have made me proud no matter how the season ends

these kids need some credit and i wish the article would have been written in a more positive manner.

 

[Sport]

Getting it done!

These players have shown everyone who actually watches the games that they are very poised individuals. It is very unfortunate that they do not get a bid to the tourney but look at there success. To the players, Great job! I feel your pain as a fan, I never expected this season to be such a great one. I've enjoyed every minute of every game I've been able to watch.

With this season and our record I want to see us (tOSU) succeed in the BigTen but show the nation that tOSU doesn't quit no matter what obstacles are in the way. I also feel it was with good intentions that tOSU imposed the ban but I also think they thought ahead and said what if? the only problem is you can't have what if's? because they can bite you more often than not. hind site is 20/20 although we could be looking at much worse penalties but we'll never know. Lets not point fingers because players, administrators and fans are all on the same team striving for the same goal....Excellence!!!

GO BUCKS!!!!!

 

[Misanthrope]

I guess the Bucks will just have to settle for beating #1 and unbeaten Illinois the last game of the season and running the table in the Big Ten tourney.

How fun would that be?

 

[smitty03]

Ive been saying for the last week that tOSU is going to knock off Illinois at home. The Bucks play real well at home, and it seems Illinois may be slowing down a bit (I watched the Michigan game). It might just be wishful thinking, I guess we will all have to see. Regarding the article, im kind of suprised Dials is the one who was talking, he's only a junior, I would of figured Stockman and Fuss would have been talking. I know Dials is the captain, but lets just finish the season strong, and make some noise in the Big 10 tourney. I still say the ban being this year will help them out in the long run. Next years team will much improved from this years, and I would much rather have the ban on them this year then next year.

 

[tsteele316]

The sad part is that they may end up having to take a pass on the tourney next year as well if the situation gets worse. hopefully it will just require some repayment of tourney cash to the NCAA and the removal of the 99 final four banner. The problem is that the NCAA wont take any action until late this summer or sometime in the fall.

 

[IrontonBuck]

If I remember correctly, Jim O'Brien's public statement at the time his suit was filed said that he gave money to the player AFTER the NCAA had ruled that he was not eligible to play NCAA basketball because he had played for money in Europe. Does anyone remember this?

 

[Sambuck]

I think more of us are worried about what will come of the whole Boban Savovich set of allegations that came out around the same time. If the only issue were OB giving the money to the recruit that was ineligible, it would be in the past already. These other allegations take things to a whole new level and there is a huge uncertainty around them since it all sounds like a soap opera.

 

[tsteele316]

I think more of us are worried about what will come of the whole Boban Savovich set of allegations that came out around the same time. If the only issue were OB giving the money to the recruit that was ineligible, it would be in the past already. These other allegations take things to a whole new level and there is a huge uncertainty around them since it all sounds like a soap opera.

and quite the soap opera it is. osu swiftly fired o'brien and banned itself from postseason play already. hopefully a scholarship reduction for a few years, returning of tournament money from 99, and removal of the banner will be enough. it would be a shame to see kids getting punished continually years after an entirely different coaching staff, and one player engaged in wrongdoings.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

Its a very tough situation, I never understood punishing players for things that happened when they were in high school.

There are many examples of members of an organization or community paying for the actions of others in the name of good order and discipline...theirs is hardly a unique situation. Does it suck for the current players? Yeah. Does it send the intended message out that if you break the rules and get caught, you will pay? Yeah.

 

[Xevious]

I'm not as anxious to just give up the f4 banner as it seems many people are. Just as the post season ban is unfair to the current players, how is it fair to strip Scoonie, Mike, KJ, Singleton, Coleman and others of their accomplishments? Those individuals were not involved in any infractions. They worked their butts off and earned the F4 and B10 Tourney championship.

While I do feel bad for the current players I would probably feel worse if our current group had shown a history of taking advantage of their past opportunities. It's probably that I just have more sympathy for a group that scratched and clawed for every win.

 

[Walletboy]

returning of tournament money from 99, and removal of the banner will be enough.

If OSU is forced to remove a banner, of forfeit and games, or worse offer this option as some kind of resolution, then I wil never pay one slim dime to watch anotherOSU basketball game, again!!!

I invest a lot of emotional energy into watching games. I'm not going to cheer a victory only to wonder if it won't be taken away in a few years. I don't like my memories being whitewashed away.

I like to follow records and statistics, too, as part of the experience of being a fan. Taking away games distorts decades of records, more than some kid getting a few hundred bucks from a booster. And, I am sure that open to complete scruitany, every college in America would have some violation.
Maybe everyone should be 0-0-0. I guess that they don't have ties in BB.

 

[BloowdBuck]

If OSU is forced to remove a banner, of forfeit and games, or worse offer this option as some kind of resolution, then I wil never pay one slim dime to watch anotherOSU basketball game, again!!!

I invest a lot of emotional energy into watching games. I'm not going to cheer a victory only to wonder if it won't be taken away in a few years. I don't like my memories being whitewashed away.

I like to follow records and statistics, too, as part of the experience of being a fan. Taking away games distorts decades of records, more than some kid getting a few hundred bucks from a booster. And, I am sure that open to complete scruitany, every college in America would have some violation.
Maybe everyone should be 0-0-0. I guess that they don't have ties in BB.

Your handle is very fitting