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

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Just bumping Buckskin86's post...this is from Barbara Matta...He needs our help



Subject: Vote for David Lighty for Senior Class Award
Seniorclassaward

Hello!
If you are stuck inside with ice all around you like we are today, please take a moment to vote for David Lighty...our 5th year senior who is up for this neat award. He is a great leader and a fun guy to be around...always has a smile on his face( ok, maybe not at Northwestern Saturday with 3.4 seconds to go!!) But a HUGE one when the buzzer sounded!!!

all you have to do is check the box next to his name and put in the code - then push vote now.

Be safe today and thanks for voting!

Go Bucks!
Barbara
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Injury report: Lighty's broken foot in 2008?09 a blessing in disguise
By Ben Axelrod
[email protected]
Published: Tuesday, February 8, 2011

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Cody Cousino / Asst. multimedia editor

When Ohio State men's basketball coach Thad Matta thinks his team needs a boost, he'll sometimes show highlights of former OSU players to amp up his Buckeyes. One of Matta's favorites involves a player still on his roster.

During the final minutes of an 81-68 win against Jacksonville on Dec. 17, 2008, then-OSU junior David Lighty raced up the sideline and stole a pass to help move the then-No. 16 Buckeyes to 7-0 ? all while playing on a broken foot.

"He broke his foot in that game and continued to play the last five minutes," Matta said, "and played harder than anybody I had ever seen."

At the time, Lighty's injury was a blow to a Buckeye team looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2007?08 season in which it didn't make the NCAA Tournament. With Lighty's foot recovering in time for a potential return to OSU at the tail end of the season, Matta debated bringing back the forward for a potential postseason run.

"Part of me wanted to see how good that team could have been," Matta said. "He was such an intricate part of it."

Matta ultimately decided against bringing back Lighty during the 2008?09 season, and the Buckeyes went on to make the 2009 NCAA Tournament, falling to Siena in the first round. With Lighty being granted a medical redshirt for that season, Matta recalled realizing that the injury could end up paying dividends for OSU in the long run.

"I remember when he broke his foot and you're visualizing ahead, and we knew we were going to have a big incoming class coming in that year," Matta said. "I remember saying to myself, you know, this could be good to have David Lighty as a fifth-year senior guiding those guys."

Matta's prophecy has turned into a reality this season, with Lighty playing a key role on a Buckeye team that is 24-0 and ranked No. 1 in the country. Lighty said there was never any doubt in his mind that his injury two seasons ago was a blessing in disguise.

"I always look at it as a positive thing," Lighty said. "Being with these guys one more year and being able to develop my game another year and especially having the chance and opportunity that we have right now to leave Ohio State, hopefully, as a national champion would be great."

Cont...
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http://www.thelantern.com/sports/in...t-in-2008-09-a-blessing-in-disguise-1.1968571
 
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Ohio State 89, Illinois 70: Lighty steals spotlight
Buckeyes senior earns high praise from Illini coach after nearly winning the game single-handedly during 13-2 run in the second half
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
By Bob Baptist
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
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Neal C. Lauron | Dispatch
David Lighty comes up with one of his career-high six steals against Demetri McCamey and Illinois. His 13 consecutive points for the Buckeyes in the second half were the backbreaker for the Illini.

The race for Big Ten Player of the Year has boiled down to one between two players: JaJuan Johnson of Purdue and Jared Sullinger of Ohio State.

Illinois coach Bruce Weber saw Sullinger up close and personal last night for the second time this season and came away with no doubt that the award should be shipped to Columbus for the second year in a row.

In care of David Lighty.

"I think he's the MVP," Weber said after Lighty's 13 consecutive points and three steals in less than three minutes of the second half broke open the game and led the No.2-ranked Buckeyes to an 89-70 victory over the Illini in Value City Arena.

"Sullinger is tremendous. The other guys are great. But Lighty to me is their heart and soul and the reason they win," Weber said. "He probably won't get it because people aren't smart enough."

Cont...
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http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2011/02/23/lighty-steals-spotlight.html?sid=101
College basketball: Ohio State's Lighty for MVP (with videos)
Published: Wednesday, February 23, 2011
By John Kampf
[email protected]

COLUMBUS ? Illinois coach Bruce Weber on Tuesday punched his Big Ten MVP ballot in favor of David Lighty.

Ohio State coach Thad Matta thinks a statue should be erected in front of the Schottenstein Center in honor of the fifth-year senior from Villa Angela-St. Joseph.

Anyone who watched Lighty almost single-handedly dismantle the visiting Illini would be hard-pressed to disagree with either assessment.

Lighty scored 17 of his game-high 21 points in the second half, had six steals and grabbed four rebounds, leading second-ranked Ohio State to a 89-70 victory over the Illini.

"He's the MVP," Weber said matter-of-factly. "He probably won't get it because people aren't smart enough.

"He's their heart and soul. Nothing against Jared Sullinger. He's tremendous. But Lighty is their heart and soul, and he's the reason they win."

Cont..
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http://news-herald.com/articles/2011/02/23/sports/nh3678864.txt?viewmode=fullstory

The most persistent of Buckeyes, David Lighty demonstrates his worth in win over Illinois: Bill Livingston
Published: Wednesday, February 23, 2011
By Bill Livingston, The Plain Dealer

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The beauty of college basketball is not the Next Big Thing, although everyone is always chasing after that player, eager for a glimpse, lingering if possible, before he is gone.

Such stars are here, touching fans lightly, then they are gone. What might have been is the discussion point for many of them at Ohio State -- Greg Oden, Mike Conley, Kosta Koufos, B.J. Mullens, even Daequan Cook.

The real beauty of college basketball, though, is the few who stay the course. They are denigrated as not skilled enough, big enough, quick enough, whatever enough, to have the NBA general managers throwing bullion their way. The good ones, returning year after year, are not static. They develop, hopefully they get their degrees, and they accumulate more layers of experience, further strata of wisdom, additional tiers of move and countermove.

No one ever wonders what might have been. They have given their all.

David Lighty, a fifth-year senior, has more staying power than most. The 6-5 swing man from Villa Angela-St. Joseph came in with Oden and Conley when they were all freshmen, and he will be leaving, perhaps, with Jared Sullinger, the Buckeyes' latest freshman Player of the Year candidate.

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http://www.cleveland.com/livingston/index.ssf/2011/02/the_most_persistant_of_buckeye.html
 
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"He's the MVP," Weber said matter-of-factly. "He probably won't get it because people aren't smart enough.

"He's their heart and soul. Nothing against Jared Sullinger. He's tremendous. But Lighty is their heart and soul, and he's the reason they win."
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Some high praise from Weber, and deservedly so. He might not be the Big Ten MVP but I do agree with Weber, his leadership is what makes the Buckeyes go.
 
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Dave has indeed done & seen it all, including playing for the United States in international competition

Short clips of a 19 year old Lighty at the 2007 U19 Championships in Serbia. This game was played in a very tough environment because it was against host Serbia in the Finals.

Think of all the talent David has played with. This tournament was in the Summer after the NCAA run with the Thad Five, then he joins a U19 team with the likes of Stephen Curry, Johnny Flynn, Mike Beasley ect..

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkvciYW_ZMo"]YouTube - David Lighty U19 Final in Serbia[/ame]
 
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Departing with distinction
Seniors have one thing in common: lots of wins
Sunday, March 6, 2011
By Bob Baptist
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

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Neal C. Lauron | DISPATCH
David Lighty - The glue guy

Six years ago, an NCAA investigation made the ground under the Ohio State men's basketball program so unsteady that coach Thad Matta gave a once-in-a-lifetime class of recruits a chance to opt out of their commitment.

If the NCAA ruled the Buckeyes ineligible to play in the 2007 tournament, the four incoming freshmen would be free to go to another school, according to the agreement.

"Don't send me the letter," Matta said David Lighty told him. "I want to be a Buckeye."

It never came to that, of course, and Greg Oden, Mike Conley Jr. and Daequan Cook came to Ohio State for one season and left for the NBA. Lighty stayed for five, and he will leave with more victories than any other player in the history of the program.

That and many other memories no doubt will flood Matta's mind today as Lighty and three other seniors - Jon Diebler, Dallas Lauderdale and Eddie Days - are feted before the Buckeyes' final game of the season in Value City Arena.

The Buckeyes clinched their third consecutive Big Ten championship - the fourth for Lighty - when Purdue lost at Iowa yesterday. They have a 28-2 record and a No.1 ranking.

Lighty, Diebler and Lauderdale are the first players Matta recruited and has seen through their eligibility. Jamar Butler and Matt Terwilliger played four years for Matta but were recruited by his predecessor, Jim O'Brien.

Of Matta's 184 victories as Ohio State coach, Lighty has been there for three-fourths of them, Diebler and Lauderdale for more than half.

"For me," Matta said, "it'll be very emotional."

The glue guy

The least hyped of the 2006 freshmen, Lighty remembered something his middle-school coach told him before his freshman year of high school.

"He told me guys were going to be stronger, faster and just as athletic as me, so I had to affect the game in other ways," Lighty said. "With the recruiting class we had, and the players we had already, for me to get on the court defense was my calling."

While Oden sat out the first seven games because of injury, Lighty started at power forward. When Oden returned, Lighty became a defensive stopper off the bench, notably shutting down 6-foot-9 Jeff Green in the Buckeyes' NCAA semifinal win over Georgetown.

In four seasons and part of a fifth that was nullified by a broken foot, he has had as many as 30 points, nine rebounds, eight assists and six steals in a game and been recognized as the "heart and soul" of the team. That was the estimation of Illinois coach Bruce Weber, who said after a loss to the Buckeyes on Feb. 22 that Lighty is "the reason they win."

"That's what I'm all about, trying to get the win," Lighty said. "Not being boastful or anything, but without players like me, it's hard to win. If you don't have those 'glue guys' to bring whatever you need at the time, things don't work out as well."

Matta said Lighty never has received "close to the credit he deserves."

"They should put a statue in front of the Schottenstein Center of David Lighty (for) what he's meant to this program," Matta said.
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http://www.dispatch.com/live/conten...03/06/departing-with-distinction.html?sid=101
 
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With everyone talking aout the chemistry of this team lately, I really think it's David's demeanor, unselfishness and maturity (think of what he's experienced) that keep others on the team grounded. He's the reason for the make-up of this team.

That plus the story of the Thad 5 letter from his freshman year (Thad was going to send a letter to all of them indicating they would be released of their LOIs if a post season ban was instituted - Lighty said don't bother sending the letter) make David my all time favorite Basketball Buck.

Thanks for 5 of the best years of Buckeye Basketball in my lifetime Dave!
 
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