Program in turmoil (maybe not)

[jwinslow]

"If only there were a talented PG from Cleveland that could be recruited to fill AJ's scholarship, and play alongside Lyle (as well as in relief of)"

I wasn't aware he committed and he had officially been reclassified.

Was there something confusing about the word "recruited?" I realize you crave drama and histrionics but it was a pretty basic sentence.

Schools like Louisville want Markell. I sincerely doubt the same suitors will be chasing AJ. As Birm said, if you can make that trade, you do it all day.

"Call me a half full guy but if there is an entitlement culture then let's shine a light on it and fix it."
Interesting way to fix it, by having 3 of your top 4 in terms of competitiveness, motor, S&C bolt.

There have been a LOT of tweets hinting at the fact that these guys did not have the right attitude at OSU, but hey, they ran around hard on the court, so clearly you know the full story based on their willingness to play hard during the easy part of their craft: game action.

There's also the matter of whether they played effectively. I'd submit the answer is "no, not really and only in one area" for the 3 departures.

 

[cdiddy70]

"There have been a LOT of tweets hinting at the fact that these guys did not have the right attitude at OSU, but hey, they ran around hard on the court, so clearly you know the full story based on their willingness to play hard during the easy part of their craft: game action."

Tweets from who? "OSU4EVABUCK"

My sense is your default is to defend.
You doth protest to much.

If Lyle and Loving were the ones transferring you would celebrate the "new hardscrabble culture, booya".

 

[jwinslow]

If Lyle and Loving were the ones transferring you would celebrate the "new hardscrabble culture, booya".

On the off chance that you are not Murph from Mr. Deeds, would you mind translating this into English?

 

[jwinslow]

"There have been a LOT of tweets hinting at the fact that these guys did not have the right attitude at OSU, but hey, they ran around hard on the court, so clearly you know the full story based on their willingness to play hard during the easy part of their craft: game action."

If you cared to listen to something besides your own voice, you would have read this thread.

Others in the media have hinted at this as well, and Thad laid it out pretty plainly in the media. Obviously folks can disagree on this topic, but you live in a dramatic echo chamber with the dean so there's no point in discussing it further.

You doth protest to much.

I'm pretty sure that's the only thing you do.

As for your garbled ending, I'll leave this here:

 

[cdiddy70]

That's my point.

Thad throwing kids under the bus (4 top 100 prospects) less than a year in the program can't be spun as a positive.
And I'm not giving credibility into what he or the cherubic sportscaster tweets.
No way.
Not when one ends up at Oklahoma, the other 3 actually had motors (Giddens and AJ will end up at better or comparable) programs.

I look forward to the new intense culture where if you don't compete everyday you don't play. Practices will be intense for PT.
Commence winning! Peace out!

 

[jwinslow]

That's my point.

Thad throwing kids under the bus (4 top 100 prospects) less than a year in the program can't be spun as a positive.

No one is claiming this is a positive situation. The question is whether it helps to have two mediocre prospects move on along with an offensively challenged center who was disgruntled with the OSU scheme (which doesn't fit your narrative about how wonderfully they tried for OSU). I vote yes.

And I'm not giving credibility into what he or the cherubic sportscaster tweets.
No way.

We know. You are very discerning with your hero worship.

Not when one ends up at Oklahoma, the other 3 actually had motors (Giddens and AJ will end up at better or comparable) programs.

Why not have your cake and throw it at other people too? Bash current buckeyes for their lack of effort, but hey, if you can sweeten the trolling by lumping in a player who didn't want to put in any effort, why not?

I look forward to the new intense culture where if you don't compete everyday you don't play. Practices will be intense for PT.
Commence winning! Peace out!

I hope that transpires too, and perhaps that starts with better coaching below Thad. Either way, I don't see any chance of Mickey or AJ pushing any starters in front of them. Now if you bring in better talent that can execute instead of win fan participation awards, you have a chance to return to the stingy defense and opportunistic offense found under Thad Matta.

Hopefully the days of suffocating defense return soon.

 

[OSUK]

Any concern that the purge consisted this week of 3 kids with the highest motors (along with Tate) and earlier of a kid who has signed with a final 4 outfit?
It is a screwed up culture if so.

Another concern is the assumption that is will be easy to back fill.
I dissent.
The "productivity" remains as in the 5 starters.
Greg Oden and Michael Conley aren't walking thru the door (elite recruits not worried about depth chart) and transfers are looking for PT and the path of least resistance.

We have a mess on our hands. Matta deserves a chance to fix it, but I'm not optimistic.

I don't think we are a tourney team next year and we are an injury away from not being an NIT team.

Basketball fortunes can turn with one or 2 elite players.
We have no momentum, buzz, swai da vi in regards to procuring the top shelf talent.

Matta needs to draw a flush on the river card next year.

Well, happy guys don't transfer. I guess your point may be it is up to Matta to make them happy, and that would be a good debate question.

I would assume that Matta made some attempts to make these guys happy, or at least tried to get them to be content to develop and wait their turn. When it doesn't work, it can be because, among other things, the coach hasn't established a close enough relationship with the player to get it done. Another reason is some people can't be pleased - can't make them happy no matter what. Regardless, it doesn't help anything to keep unhappy people around. Bad attitudes are poisonous and infectious.

 

[Buckeye86]

It's pretty much confirmed that @cdiddy70 is Dave Biddle, right?

 

[cdiddy70]

I have an important month end meeting with my staff so I must depart.

Let me conclude with the following:

Given who remains I posit "The days of suffocating defense" will not return next year.
Other than Diop we don't have a plus defender.
We lack toughness and fast twitch.
I would expect our defensive efficiency rank to be sub 150.

What is troubling is that there had yet to be any movement to make sure "the right coaches return".

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

Too early for the high-end happy hour?

 

[twister55]

you guys over reacting.jesus christ look how many players have left early thru the years. fyi rivals think there ready to challenge the big 10 next year.

 

[colobuck79]

Too early for the high-end happy hour?

What do you have against high end happy hours? Snob.

 

[buckeyesin07]

Not when one ends up at Oklahoma, the other 3 actually had motors (Giddens and AJ will end up at better or comparable) programs.

There's much I could dispute in your posts, but if you think AJ will end up at a better program, then you must not have been watching many games this year. Besides speed, he brings little to the table; he has no jumpshot, he turns the ball over too much, and he's tiny. He might be able to make some noise in the MAC. Beyond that, no way.

 

[buckeyebri]

There's much I could dispute in your posts, but if you think AJ will end up at a better program, then you must not have been watching many games this year. Besides speed, he brings little to the table; he has no jumpshot, he turns the ball over too much, and he's tiny. He might be able to make some noise in the MAC. Beyond that, no way.

I need to go back and read his recruiting thread and what was being said about what he brought to the Buckeyes. Not that I disagree at all with your take here, but it definitely is pause for concern about what the coaches and recruiting services saw in him.

Edit: Pretty good insight reading back through AJ's thread....

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

What do you have against high end happy hours? Snob.

Nothing at all. Just wondering if it was too early for one. Maybe if I'm on Greenwich Standard I can justify it?