PF/C Kosta Koufos (CSKA Moscow)

[Best Buckeye]

I've hung back the last few months and viewed everyones comments, some make no sense and most are on point. I talk to Kosta everyday and he still doesnt no where he will be playing at the end of the year. The problem is not his confidence nor is it his lack of effort. The problem is he is the best player on the court the majority of the games the buckeyes will be playin this year and Matta isn't recognizing that. He starts the game and exits 4 to 5 minutes later and please tell me how anyone for that matter is suppose to get into any type of flow when your the starter/man and you have only averaged 22 minutes out of 40 the last 10 games. He is barely playing half the game. Matta is not using him properly. Kosta is frustrated. You as a coach are supposed to recognize who your best player is and work the offense around him. Meaning Koufos and Butler. Work the 2 man game a little. Stop using the best player on the team to set up picks. The problem is not Kosta, its Matta. Matta has Oden fresh in his mind from last year and is trying to use Kosta the same way and its not working. They are nothing a like. The only comparison is that they are 7 footers. Thats it.
The season is barely half way threw and im hoping Matta figures it out for my cousin. Thanks everyone and talk to you soon. Dino Alevras

Thanks for the update, Dino keep in touch ok?

 

[Mike80]

For once, KK started playing like the player I had anticipated seeing since the beginning of the season. Well, at least at the beginning of the second half. I don't know why we got away from him. I think his endurance might be pretty low because I don't think Matta would have taken him out when he was playing so well in the second half. I wish he would play closer to the basket more often.

It was interesting to hear Kellogg say that KK will play the 4 position next year alongside BJ Mullins. Maybe Clark knows something that we are wishing.

As a 4 KK would be devastating.....

Hell if Matta wanted (and if someone like Lauderdale could do it) they could put KK at the 3 on some offensive sets against certain teams with Mullins playing the 5.......

 

[akronbuck]

For once, KK started playing like the player I had anticipated seeing since the beginning of the season. Well, at least at the beginning of the second half. I don't know why we got away from him. I think his endurance might be pretty low because I don't think Matta would have taken him out when he was playing so well in the second half. I wish he would play closer to the basket more often.

It was interesting to hear Kellogg say that KK will play the 4 position next year alongside BJ Mullins. Maybe Clark knows something that we are wishing.

great point and I really like Kellogg comments :osu:

 

[EidoloN]

if KK keeps developing during the season, and gains momentum, with the incoming class this team will be special next year!

 

[Best Buckeye]

if KK keeps developing during the season, and gains momentum, with the incoming class this team will be special next year!

Only if someone suddenly hits star status as a a PG right away.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

I've hung back the last few months and viewed everyones comments, some make no sense and most are on point. I talk to Kosta everyday and he still doesnt no where he will be playing at the end of the year. The problem is not his confidence nor is it his lack of effort. The problem is he is the best player on the court the majority of the games the buckeyes will be playin this year and Matta isn't recognizing that. He starts the game and exits 4 to 5 minutes later and please tell me how anyone for that matter is suppose to get into any type of flow when your the starter/man and you have only averaged 22 minutes out of 40 the last 10 games. He is barely playing half the game. Matta is not using him properly. Kosta is frustrated. You as a coach are supposed to recognize who your best player is and work the offense around him. Meaning Koufos and Butler. Work the 2 man game a little. Stop using the best player on the team to set up picks. The problem is not Kosta, its Matta. Matta has Oden fresh in his mind from last year and is trying to use Kosta the same way and its not working. They are nothing a like. The only comparison is that they are 7 footers. Thats it.
The season is barely half way threw and im hoping Matta figures it out for my cousin. Thanks everyone and talk to you soon. Dino Alevras

Thanks for the insight, but I think a lot of what frustrates Matta is at times it looks like KK is playing soft, he is having guys get rebounds over him, he is a step slow to react on the defensive end, he forces some shot...

Just curious, but what do you think we should be doing in terms of playing around KK...I mean we try the pick n roll with him to have him either pop off and get a little jumper or a shot off of the roll...He seems to not assert himself in the post where he is solid, if he can get position, but he doesn't seem to want to get position at times and just fades...

I was wondering the same thing about the 4-5 minute spurts that he plays at times, but maybe they don't feel he is effective on both ends of the floor if they play him out there that long...

 

[Buckeye Will 1]

Just like left handed pitchers in baseball.

A 7 footer in basketball is just like a left handed pitcher in baseball. If the LH P throws 88+mph...SOMEONE will draft him and take the time to develop him. Some NBA team will always take a chance on 7 footer...even if the skills are mediocre. They will take that first couple of years to develop him.

 

[GrizzlyBuck]

I was another who thought KK was playing soft, but I'm starting to think maybe he is concerned about fouling out. He plays pretty tough, gets a foul called on him then gets timid, as if he is afraid his team will greatly suffer without his presence.

I noticed early in the MSU game that KK was being a little more aggressive, but something changed be it a foul, a substitution, or a loss of confidence from things not going his way. If KK can play like he did yesterday in the 2nd half and let it all hang out and not worry about when he'll get substituted for or when he'll foul, I think he can help this team really reach their potential.

When he is playing with aggression, going for blocks and going after rebounds, he is a definite presence that the other team has to account for and to a point fear.

Thanks Dino for your input.

 

[gefootball10]

A 7 footer in basketball is just like a left handed pitcher in baseball. If the LH P throws 88+mph...SOMEONE will draft him and take the time to develop him. Some NBA team will always take a chance on 7 footer...even if the skills are mediocre. They will take that first couple of years to develop him.

maybe its me but i don't think he would have been a five star if his skills were just mediocre..i just don't think he understands his role.

 

[Mike80]

A 7 footer in basketball is just like a left handed pitcher in baseball. If the LH P throws 88+mph...SOMEONE will draft him and take the time to develop him. Some NBA team will always take a chance on 7 footer...even if the skills are mediocre. They will take that first couple of years to develop him.

maybe its me but i don't think he would have been a five star if his skills were just mediocre..i just don't think he understands his role.

where did he say KK's skills were mediocre??

 

[gefootball10]

A 7 footer in basketball is just like a left handed pitcher in baseball. If the LH P throws 88+mph...SOMEONE will draft him and take the time to develop him. Some NBA team will always take a chance on 7 footer...even if the skills are mediocre. They will take that first couple of years to develop him.

after the dots

 

[Mike80]

after the dots

After what?

Where does he say KK's skills are mediocre?

I think you're reading something that isn't there......

 

[gefootball10]

well this would be his thread but i guess that means nothing.

 

[HabaneroBuck]

"Taking a chance on a seven-footer" with mediocre skills is not the same as using a lottery pick on him. Of course, someone will "take a chance". I don't think he has a lottery chance right now. Realistically, Kosta's skills against major college competition are "mediocre." And it's not ball skills that are mediocre. We all knew he had excellent ball skills. His positioning, aggressiveness, and defense are mediocre. His low-post skills are apparently a little below mediocre, which is not good for a seven-footer.

I agree with Dino. Kosta isn't being used right, the team isn't looking for him as a go-to guy anymore. He's an "option." He showed all kinds of signs in the off-season and early in the season of being "the" option. That has faded away. This is a comment on his college season, and not on his draft potential though. Playing as the "man" with people your age is a little different than being a talented player amidst some older guys on your team and the opposing team.

Much like Daequan last year, the decision of whether Kosta leaves early is not going to have so much to do with his comfort level with his draft status as it is going to have to do with his comfort level with Matta and the program.

 

[Mike80]

well this would be his thread but i guess that means nothing.

I think you're taking the mediocre out of context. What he's saying is essentially if you are 7 feet tall and breathing, the NBA will take a chance on you no matter the skill set.....

"Taking a chance on a seven-footer" with mediocre skills is not the same as using a lottery pick on him. Of course, someone will "take a chance". I don't think he has a lottery chance right now. Realistically, Kosta's skills against major college competition are "mediocre." And it's not ball skills that are mediocre. We all knew he had excellent ball skills. His positioning, aggressiveness, and defense are mediocre. His low-post skills are apparently a little below mediocre, which is not good for a seven-footer.

Actually I think it has more to do with KK trying to fit into whatever the team concept is instead of the other way around. When he gets the ball down low and stays aggressive, he can score pretty easily. However sometimes he allows himself to be pushed around. Of course I think we should all realize that in the past 5 years or so, we have all been spoiled by guys like Terence Dials and Greg Oden....

I agree with Dino. Kosta isn't being used right, the team isn't looking for him as a go-to guy anymore. He's an "option." He showed all kinds of signs in the off-season and early in the season of being "the" option. That has faded away. This is a comment on his college season, and not on his draft potential though. Playing as the "man" with people your age is a little different than being a talented player amidst some older guys on your team and the opposing team.

Much like Daequan last year, the decision of whether Kosta leaves early is not going to have so much to do with his comfort level with his draft status as it is going to have to do with his comfort level with Matta and the program.

I agree here too. And I still think his game is much more suited to the less-structured NBA than it is to the college game much like Daequan.....