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SF William Buford - 4 BTT Title Games, most Buckeye starts (Virtus Roma - Italy)

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OSU men's basketball: Buford benefits from role models
Following father's advice, Jordan's example pay off
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
By Bob Baptist
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

The father of Ohio State freshman William Buford mentioned several times during a recent conversation a term almost as rare in college basketball anymore as the running hook shot.

William Jr. smiled when the term was repeated to him the next day.

"He always made me work on my mid-range (jumper) since I was as young as I can remember," he said.

The mid-range shot largely has been lost in the two decades since the three-point arc was drawn on basketball's floors. Guards come in two varieties now: three-point shooters who float around the perimeter, looking to catch and let fly, and penetrators who can get into the lane and either pass to the shooters or finish at the rim themselves. The best can do both.

A relative few have a pull-up jumper from somewhere between the arc and the rim. Buford has it, and has his father to thank for it.

William Sr., a Basketball Jones whose Toledo home sits across the street from a park with a court, was a Michael Jordan fan and owner of many M.J. videotapes. Buford Jr. was too young to appreciate Jordan's prime with the Chicago Bulls, but not the replays of it. He modeled part of his game after him.

"Everybody says they want to be like Mike," Buford said. "I wouldn't say I tried to do everything like him, but my mid-range, I always wanted my mid-range to be like his.

"Jordan's mid-range game was fantastic, and I guess my dad felt you need a mid-range game to get to another level because anybody can shoot a three."
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BuckeyeXtra - The Columbus Dispatch : OSU men's basketball: Buford benefits from role models
 
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Congrats to William on being named Big Ten Freshman of the Year by both the Coaches and the Media. He was also an Honorable Mention All-Conference selection by the Coaches.

Link

All-Freshman Team (Coaches)
Matt Gatens, Iowa
Delvon Roe, Michigan State
William Buford, Ohio State
B.J. Mullens, Ohio State
Lewis Jackson, Purdue

Freshman of the Year(Coaches and Media):
William Buford, Ohio State

Honorable Mention
All-Big Ten

Mike Tisdale, Illinois
Jake Kelly, Iowa
Raymar Morgan, Michigan State
Lawrence Westbrook, Minnesota
William Buford, Ohio State
Jon Diebler, Ohio State
Stanley Pringle, Penn State
Tr?von Hughes, Wisconsin
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Buford is so important to keep IMO.

He's just someone that understands the game of basketball and oozes talent. A year in the weight room and he'll be such a better all around player since I think he'll be able to drive and post up smaller players a lot more.
 
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In terms of team success next year, its vitally important for Buford to work on his all-around game this offseason.

If he and Turner can play well off each other, the Big Ten will have a serious three-headed monster in MSU, Purdue and the Bucks.
 
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I'm really looking forward to seeing Buford, Turner and Diebler this season. If we can improve the efficiency at PG our team could be really fun to watch.
 
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