PG Aaron Craft (B1G 6th MOY '11, Def POY '12, Acad AA, Dolomiti En. TR - Italy)

[Tanner]

I love Craft but hopefully he won't try to play like Allen Iverson again like he did against Duke

 

[Buckskin86]

OSU point guard's shooting in slump
Dec 8, 2012
Written by
By Rob McCurdy
News Journal

Ohio State's Aaron Craft, left, is fouled by Rhode Island's Mike Aaman during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Nov. 17, 2012, in Uncasville, Conn. / AP Photo

COLUMBUS ? Aaron Craft is a scholar, becoming the first basketball Buckeye since Bill Hosket in 1968 to earn a spot on the first-team Academic All-American team.

He holds a 3.889 grade point average and aspires to be a doctor one day. But could all that brain power is holding him back on the basketball court?

?Anytime you miss some shots, you?re going to overthink some things,? Craft said this week in preparation for today?s noon game with Long Beach State. ?I?m a thinker, and I like to do that probably a little too much whether it?s on the court or off it.?

Through four games, Craft looked every bit the offensive sidekick to preseason All-American forward Deshaun Thomas and his more than 20 points per game average. The junior point guard was shooting 49 percent from the field and 47 percent from the 3-point arc, while making 16 of 19 free throws. His 14.3 points per game was second on the team.

But then came a forgettable night at Duke where he was 3-for-15 from the field, missing open jumpers, runners and layups. He followed it up against a Northern Kentucky team playing Division I men?s basketball for the first time this season, making just 2 of 9 shots and missing all four 3-point attempts.

The averages after six games have plummeted to 37 percent shooting from the field and 35 percent from the arc. He?s still second on the team in scoring, but the production has dropped to 12 points per contest.

cont...

http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com...TS/312080007/Buckeyes-Craft-his-best-defender

 

[LitlBuck]

He also said he was not concerned that Aaron Craft’s scoring slump continued for a fifth game.

After averaging 17 points in the Buckeyes’ first three games, Craft has averaged 5.2 since. He was scoreless tonight for the first time in 49 games, since an NCAA Tournament win over Texas-San Antonio his freshman year. He did have a team-high six assists.

“I’ve got no problems with Aaron,” Matta said. “I don’t know, as a coach, if you ever have more of a secure feeling knowing he’s out there and what he’s doing.

“Yeah, I want him to score more. He wants to score more. Our team is probably going to need him to score more. But that’s going to come back for him, there’s no doubt in my mind. He’ll get that going.”

Hoops

 

[LitlBuck]

Aaron Craft can solve a Rubik?s Cube faster than he can answer the question he was asked yesterday.

How old was he the last time he got upset about not scoring?
He thought for a second, sighed and said, ?It?s been awhile. ? I can?t remember, to be honest.?

Then he added: ?We got a win. That?s all that really matters.?
Although those outside Craft?s circle dwell on his continuing struggles to make shots and how it could affect Ohio State this season, the junior guard?s focus remains on the No. 7 Buckeyes? bottom line, which shows seven victories in eight games entering today?s against UNC-Asheville at Value City Arena.

The latest victory came on Wednesday over Savannah State, a game in which Craft was scoreless for the first time in 49 games dating to his freshman season. In the past four games, beginning with a loss at Duke, he has made 7 of 33 field-goal attempts, his lowest percentage (.212) in a four-game stretch in his career.
He said he is oblivious to such numbers.

?I don?t know any percentages, I don?t know points or anything like that,? he said.

?I do know that the last couple games we?ve gotten better as a basketball team, and that?s the biggest thing for us. The worst thing we can do is start trying to think individual and ? I didn?t score as many as I should have. As a team, as a whole, we?ve gotten better, and that?s the biggest thing we need to do in December and throughout this winter break, continue to get better and get ourselves ready for Big Ten play.?

More Dispatch

 

[Buckskin86]

Published: 12/16/2012
Crafts work on their games, develop special bond that started in Findlay, continues in Columbus
BY DAVID BRIGGS
BLADE SPORTS WRITER

COLUMBUS ? The easy storyline is the kid sister trying to live up to her big brother.

Cait Craft knew this in June when she arrived at Ohio State, where her brother, Aaron, is a junior star for the men?s basketball team. Comparisons of the two guards who wielded game and smarts in equal measure ? both had 4.0 grade-point averages at Liberty-Benton High School ? were sure to follow.

"I told her that is a legitimate concern," said their father, John Craft. "You would be foolish if you didn't think after the Final Four last season and some of the things Aaron had accomplished grade-wise as an academic All-American that people would do that."

In truth, though, the sibling rivalry ended in their high school gymnasium at Liberty-Benton in Findlay, where brother and sister once seemed to spend every free day together.

Before Aaron and Cait became the first family of Ohio State basketball, they were threatening family dinner with summer hoops sessions that began in the morning. They often arrived with friends, but left alone. There was always one more shooting game, one more game of "P-I-G," one more game of one-on-one.

"I won only one time," Cait said, smiling. "I normally don't tell people this part, but he was going by half points and one point, and I was going by twos and threes."

Today, the Findlay natives beam in discussing the others? accomplishments.

cont...

http://www.toledoblade.com/Ohio-Sta...started-in-Findlay-continues-in-Columbus.html

 

[MaxBuck]

I'm going to take some heat for saying this, but I think it's time for Craft to get a break from the starting lineup. Shannon Scott is playing much better on offense right now, and Craft's struggles are starting to bleed over to D.

The strong game by Ben McLemore of KU can largely be attributed to Craft's defensive lapses and shortcomings. Several times Craft lost him completely on switches, leaving McLemore wide open for 3's. And no way should he have been able to get to the rim on the baseline out-of-bounds plays.

Finally, McLemore just blew past Craft several times; Aaron's vaunted "lateral quickness" was nowhere in evidence yesterday. Maybe starting a few games on the bench will allow him to act as a spark when he does come into the game. But right now I think he's a liability.

 

[Mike80]

If anything, the laughable debate about Craft being a 2 guard is dead and buried and unburied, burned and reburied.

I do think Max has a point - Craft's offensive struggles are clearly in his head. Whether or not it's affecting his defense is for the coaches to decide.

 

[buckeyes_rock]

I'm going to take some heat for saying this, but I think it's time for Craft to get a break from the starting lineup. Shannon Scott is playing much better on offense right now, and Craft's struggles are starting to bleed over to D.

The strong game by Ben McLemore of KU can largely be attributed to Craft's defensive lapses and shortcomings. Several times Craft lost him completely on switches, leaving McLemore wide open for 3's. And no way should he have been able to get to the rim on the baseline out-of-bounds plays.

Finally, McLemore just blew past Craft several times; Aaron's vaunted "lateral quickness" was nowhere in evidence yesterday. Maybe starting a few games on the bench will allow him to act as a spark when he does come into the game. But right now I think he's a liability.

You know, I've thought about this quite a bit as well...I think Craft could be a fantastic 6th man because of his ability to create a spark but let's face it, I don't think he's ever going to be a pure scorer and his shooting has been a liability lately. Although, to be fair, there isn't a pure shooter on this team not named DT...could be a rough run in the big ten if Thad doesnt find some answers on offense.

 

[Onebuckfan]

Craft is 'pressing' he knows this teams weaknesses as well as anyone and he tries too hard to fill them even though thats not his game. If DT wants to be an NBA starter he needs to do more off the dribble. We have no inside offense presence and that won't change this year, so Ross, DT and Thompson need to do more going to the rim if they can. Teams that are jump shooting teams look horrid when shots aren't falling and open shots are harder to get against top 10 teams.Those teams have the length and quickness to close out on shooters.

 

[OhioState001]

I'm going to take some heat for saying this, but I think it's time for Craft to get a break from the starting lineup. Shannon Scott is playing much better on offense right now, and Craft's struggles are starting to bleed over to D.

The strong game by Ben McLemore of KU can largely be attributed to Craft's defensive lapses and shortcomings. Several times Craft lost him completely on switches, leaving McLemore wide open for 3's. And no way should he have been able to get to the rim on the baseline out-of-bounds plays.

Finally, McLemore just blew past Craft several times; Aaron's vaunted "lateral quickness" was nowhere in evidence yesterday. Maybe starting a few games on the bench will allow him to act as a spark when he does come into the game. But right now I think he's a liability.

Problem is Scott isn't a better shooter than Craft right now although I will admit Scott is doing a better job creating offense for others.

I'm not sure where to go with this team. Smith has been great shooting this year but couldn't do anything yesterday. Sam knocked down a couple 3's then went ice cold.

It would just be hard for me to take Craft of the court when he makes so many hustle plays he does get to a lot of loose balls that others couldn't.

 

[MaxBuck]

Problem is Scott isn't a better shooter than Craft right now

Craft 2012-13: 36% FG; 33% 3FG

Scott 2012-13: 44.4% FG; 42.6% 3FG

Right now Scott is the better shooter, and by a significant margin.

 

[dragurd]

I'm not sure about his defense but his lack of offense is getting to his head in making offensive plays. he's pressing driving in to deep throwing ill advised passes etc.

 

[LitlBuck]

I think some of you guys are going off of the deep end if you really want to put Craft on the bench at the start of the game or for more than 10 minutes in any one game

Also, FG percentages at this time of the year can be very deceiving. You have layups and you have jump shots (short and long) and until those can be broken down I don't put much stock in FG percentages.

 

[MaxBuck]

... FG percentages at this time of the year can be very deceiving. You have layups and you have jump shots (short and long) and until those can be broken down I don't put much stock in FG percentages.

How the heck else are you going to evaluate how someone is shooting?

Craft has shot like a drunken buffalo this season, whether layups or otherwise. He obviously has the physical ability to score hoops, so it appears to be a mental issue at this point. Or maybe his mechanics have gotten out of whack. I don't claim to know why, but it's obvious he's not effective right now on the offensive end.

 

[LitlBuck]

How the heck else are you going to evaluate how someone is shooting?

Craft has shot like a drunken buffalo this season, whether layups or otherwise. He obviously has the physical ability to score hoops, so it appears to be a mental issue at this point. Or maybe his mechanics have gotten out of whack. I don't claim to know why, but it's obvious he's not effective right now on the offensive end.

I guess with a shot chart My point was that FG % is really a shot in the dark at this time of the season play because of the quality of opponents that we have played. The only really good defensive teams that we have played so far are the two that we have lost to. Some guys get a lot of freebies because they are at the other end on a fast-break. I know we are not talking about Sam Thompson but take away his dunks and his % would probably go way down. I know that Craft is not shooting the ball very well but to put him on the bench and not start him is not a good idea IMO