SF David Lighty (Most Career Buckeye Wins, ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket - France)

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Rivals.com$ (Kevin Noon)

Becoming the leader................Lighty discusses being a leader on this team and bringing along the younger guys.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Bucknuts.com$

Bucknuts TV: David Lighty.................David discusses the upcoming season.

 

[osugrad21]

BN Free-No Doubt About It, Lighty Is OSU's Leader

 

[osugrad21]

Canton

OSU Basketball: Lighty a leader, ready or not
Junior provides experience on youthful team
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
BY MIKE POPOVICH
[email protected]

COLUMBUS The older, more experienced Ohio State basketball players have departed. Some of the marquee freshmen who arrived with David Lighty two years ago have even moved on.

Lighty was used to looking up to all those former Buckeyes. Jamar Butler, last year's captain, let his actions on the court speak louder than words. Ron Lewis was a catalyst for the 2007 national runner-up team that also featured first-year stars Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr.

This year, Lighty is the player Thad Matta's young team looks up to. The Cleveland native is Ohio State's top returning scorer and the only scholarship player left from the team that played Florida for the national title.

"It's a little different for me," Lighty said.

There's no hesitation in Lighty's voice when he talks about the ultimate leadership role he takes on this season. Handing over the reins to the junior guard was practically a no-brainer for Matta.

"David's best attribute is how he comes to practice every day," Matta said. "His motor, it never stops running. In some ways, I think that becomes a little contagious.

"I think he's really accepted the role of what we need to do and what we're striving for."

Lighty's leadership qualities are a little different than what Ohio State's returning players are used to.

Sophomore guard Jon Diebler remembers Butler as a quiet player whose emotions were the same if the Buckeyes were up by 20 or down by 30.

"That's his personality," Diebler said.

Diebler sees Lighty as a more vocal player who is not afraid to say what's on his mind.

"He has done a great job of showing everyone the ropes and getting on people when he needs to," Diebler said. "That's something that's going to make us better."

Lighty admits that he can be a little feisty if he has to get a point across. As far as he is concerned, though, it works both ways.
Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

Dispatch

OSU men's basketball: Shooting stats aside, Lighty brings court savvy to table
Missed shots don't weigh on experienced, competitive captain
Wednesday, December 17, 2008 3:15 AM
By Bob Baptist


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH



The few seconds it took David Lighty to bounce into an interview yesterday were all that was necessary to show that the shooting percentages behind his name don't seem to be bothering him like they are assorted fans, bloggers and e-mailers. "I have a short-term memory," he said with a smile.
And an apparent long-term appointment on the floor for the Ohio State men's basketball team, which is undefeated and ranked for the first time in two years in part because of all Lighty does when he isn't missing shots the way he has this season.
The No. 17 Buckeyes play host to Jacksonville tonight in Value City Arena.
"You see David doing things that probably most people don't see, (but) we see them," coach Thad Matta said. "I have great trust in David knowing not only what he's supposed to do but what everybody else is supposed to do.
"There was a segment in practice (Monday) where he literally stopped it and said, 'Look, here's what happened. You should have been here, you should have gone there, and then I would have gone there.' Where most guys just write it off and say, 'Well, I just hope the opponents don't do that,' he has that mentality of correcting it.' "
Lighty was one of the team's four captains last season. He is the only one this season, the only scholarship player left from the team that won the Big Ten championship and advanced to the NCAA championship game two years ago.
Cont...

 

[LitlBuck]

I still think David really needs to improve his shooting, including free throws, for Ohio State to make a serious run at the Big 10 title. I know he brings a lot of savvy and veteran leadership to the table but we really need his points.

 

[naptownbuck]

Props to David Lighty for the great game vs Jacksonville. This guy plays close to 40 minutes every game, but his motor never stops. In the next game I would suggest focusing on David in defensive possesions to see all the communicating he does. He's executing Matta's matchup zone to perfection right now. You can regularly see him yelling and pointing guys to the right spot. He guards 2s, he guards 3s, and now this season Matta has asked him to bang down low and guard power forwards. And then after he has exerted hella energy locking down dudes with his all conference caliber defense, he still has some gas left in the tank to be a capable scorer. (and it's odd that this is the aspect of his game that people want to nitpick..when it's been obvious that he has a defensive mindset) Lighty is still under-appreciated by much of the fanbase in my view considering the squad would be hurting without him. :osu:

 

[LitlBuck]

I agree that David brings great energy to the court every time he is out there but that is what is expected from the player who is the veteran of a very young team. David needs to bring his offensive game to the table every game like he did last night for us to have a very successful season. He also really needs to work on his free throwing a lot more during practice. I don't know if it is because lack of concentration or the fact that he is expended too much energy on defense but he really needs to improve that aspect of this game if he is going to have the ball in key situations.

 

[naptownbuck]

I agree that David brings great energy to the court every time he is out there but that is what is expected from the player who is the veteran of a very young team. David needs to bring his offensive game to the table every game like he did last night for us to have a very successful season. He also really needs to work on his free throwing a lot more during practice. I don't know if it is because lack of concentration or the fact that he is expended too much energy on defense but he really needs to improve that aspect of this game if he is going to have the ball in key situations.

I agree that more great offensive games from David would help in making this a special season, but by no means will it hinder on his scoring proficiency. In my opinion it is ultimetly Evan Turner who elevates this team offensively. We will need Turner, Jon Diebler, (players with great offensive potential) and to a lesser extent Buford to continue their progressions more than Lighty. Moreover, being one year under Lighty is not a big deal burden wise imo because the sophs played a lot of ball in their true freshmen years compared to Lighty. Evan and Jon now look comfortable, and poised to go off..

...Meanwhile Ohio State is currently winning via good defense. I would like to think their leader & best defensive player would be needed more in continuing that formula. I only saw one constant in the wins over Miami, Notre Dame, and Butler..defense. David Lighty is my favorite Buckeye, but even I would not hold my breathe over this ideal offensive consistency. As noted in the gamethread by jo and cfb40, these games won't happen every night. Especially against the likes of an MSU where he would be guarding a variety of guys like Delvon Roe and Morgan. And especially because he has a focused defensive mindset in the first place. (i.e..a freshmen locking down the Big East player of the year in the Final Four..that's how people came to know his name nationally in the first place)

He is what he is. An elite defender with offensive capabilities, (a first step, size, athleticism, high energy, work ethic). Yet as a three year player he has not displayed the offensive talent of a Daequan Cook, Evan Turner, or Buford. He won't give you a smooth consistent jumper. However, you better believe he is going to give you exceptional leadership and defense every single game out. It's time for people to come to that notion and give props to what we know he'll bring. Coach Matta is already there, and judging from some of the quotes he's embracing it. So we do not necessarily need David to be a scorer. We just need David to be himself. You know, disrupt, get steals, get out in transition, drive when he can, and pray that he hits the open J :). And if you noticed his court awareness was top notch last night..he found Simmons and Buford multiple times for open shots after diving and kicking or posting up.

With all that said, it would be fabulous if Lighty could turn into something like a college Artest and be more complete this season and next. But I would be content with a solid 10-14 pts a game with the occasional big time outburst.

I agree about the free shooting though...pretty flat shot at times. It's easy to just say 'bend ya knees' from an outside perspective, but hopefully it is something stressed in practice.

 

[bucknutz]

shitty news...get well soon Lighty...

Lighty to Miss 6-12 Weeks with Broken Foot

COLUMBUS, Ohio-David Lighty, a junior on the Ohio State men?s basketball team, will miss 6-12 weeks after undergoing surgery Thursday to repair a broken bone in his left foot, Thad Matta, head coach of the Buckeyes, said Thursday.

Lighty suffered the injury to the fifth metatarsal late in the game Wednesday against Jacksonville, an 81-68 Ohio State victory at Value City Arena.

Dr. Grant Jones performed the surgery Wednesday afternoon at the Ohio State Medical Center. The procedure was a success, Jones said.

read more...

 

[keeganbrick]

This sucks really bad, especially coming off his best all around game to date. Hope his recovery is speedy and he is back for our deep tournament run :). Well, heres to seeing what Mullens and Lauderdale can do on the court at the same time and Buford stepping up!

 

[BuckTwenty]

What a shame. Nothing he could have done different there. Get well soon, D-Light!! In the meantime, we're gonna need your leadership from the bench while you heal, man.

That timeframe puts his return somewhere in the late-Jaunary/early February to 2nd week of March range. His return should definetly give us a spark there later in the season.

 

[Jake]

Damn, this sucks, from a talent and leadership standpoint (not to mention depth).

Hope DL can make it back in February. :(

 

[fourteenandoh]

I agree that David brings great energy to the court every time he is out there but that is what is expected from the player who is the veteran of a very young team. David needs to bring his offensive game to the table every game like he did last night for us to have a very successful season. He also really needs to work on his free throwing a lot more during practice. I don't know if it is because lack of concentration or the fact that he is expended too much energy on defense but he really needs to improve that aspect of this game if he is going to have the ball in key situations.

looks like you get your wish. we'll see if these other guys can fill the defensive void left by david.

 

[billmac91]

everyone should keep in mind the advantage David gives this team. At 6'6 he's explosive and SMART enough as a defender to guard 4's and even 5's down low in the zone.

Offensively, even when he isn't playing well, he is defended as a 4. And David starts in the corner in most sets. He forces opposing 4's out to the perimeter.

If you substitute Buford for Lighty, I don't think you really lose much offensively. That is a testament to William b/c he is a great scorer. Defensively, it takes a special build and understanding of the game to play 4's and 5's at 6'6.

I just can't see Thad running our zone for long stretches of time with Simmons, Diebler, Turner, and Buford in the line-up. I'd imagine Turner replaces Lighty's normal spot, but then you're giving up defense on the wing.

When you run BJ and Lauderdale together, you can't really press b/c those guys aren't great in space in a 2-2-1 type press around half-court.

I think we'll see less pressing as a result of David's injury, and probably a lot of BJ and Dallas playing together. It will be more of a slow down game, with a lot of Evan Turner iso. We can still be successful, but I was enjoying the Rick Pitino type defense of a fullcourt press back to a zone.