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Thad Matta (OSU's All Time Winningest Coach & 3x B1G COY, Butler HC)

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The problem with the discussions of Matta's potential departure is, of course, whom to replace him with. Dana Altman and Gregg Marshall are the only ones I think we unquestionably could get and that are probably upgrades to Thad as he is right now. Chris Beard might be a good choice, but this is his first year at Texas Tech and he's got family ties holding him to Lubbock (though enough coin might be sufficient magnet to bring him north).

Tony Bennett is a guy who would win here and we could probably get, but I don't want to watch that kind of basketball in Columbus. I'd actually love to see us chase Jeff van Gundy, but that's likely a pipe dream.
 
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Jake said:
34-3, 16-2 1st in the B1G
31–8, 13–5 T–1st
29-8, 13–5 2nd
25-10, 10-8 5th
24-11, 11-7 6th
21-14, 11-7 7th
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10-7, 0-4 (tied for last)

The downward spiral continues, and it's easy to see this year's team finishing below .500. Is it a blip? No. This has been coming for the last 5 years. Are there recruits coming who can have an immediate impact? Any Odens, Conleys, Lightys, Turners, Crafts, or Sullys? Not from what I've seen.

It's one thing to have a bad season. It's another to establish a downward trend, and to no longer be a player for top level recruits. I don't know the reasons for what has happened, but I'm not confident Thad can turn it around at this point. There's nothing to indicate it other than successes from years ago and hope. He's not getting the great players, and not developing the good ones. You get what we're getting when that happens.
 
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Jake said:
10-7, 0-4 (tied for last)

The downward spiral continues, and it's easy to see this year's team finishing below .500. Is it a blip? No. This has been coming for the last 5 years. Are there recruits coming who can have an immediate impact? Any Odens, Conleys, Lightys, Turners, Crafts, or Sullys? Not from what I've seen.

It's one thing to have a bad season. It's another to establish a downward trend, and to no longer be a player for top level recruits. I don't know the reasons for what has happened, but I'm not confident Thad can turn it around at this point. There's nothing to indicate it other than successes from years ago and hope. He's not getting the great players, and not developing the good ones. You get what we're getting when that happens.
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Yep. But, I'm past hope at this point. It ain't happening. All I have is looking around wondering what coach might come...And hopefully fix this mess. This is as bad as I can remember it. I'm well aware of the Ayers days, but to me this is worse. Mainly because what once had so much promise is crumbling at a devastating rate.
 
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I should add that its not just Thad. The whole coaching staff needs to be overhauled. Player development has been pretty much non existent. Its not like our roster is full of nobody recruits, i mean they arent Oden/Conley level but most of them were top 100 nationally.
 
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buckeyemania11 said:
The "just keep Thad because we cant do better" attitude that some have makes no sense to me.

The program clearly needs to do something, why keep riding a ship that has gone bad instead of trying something new?
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But..but...Ohio State has no resources at its disposal. It's not as if it's a highly-regarded public institution with great facilities, and pockets deep enough to pay top money for top coaching, playing in a competitive conference with lots of TV coverage. Oh wait, it's all of that.

Five straight progressively worse seasons, despite having one of the highest paid coaches in the sport? Nah, don't change a thing. After all, he used to have really good teams.
 
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Jake said:
But..but...Ohio State has no resources at its disposal. It's not as if it's a highly-regarded public institution with great facilities, and pockets deep enough to pay top money for top coaching, playing in a competitive conference with lots of TV coverage. Oh wait, it's all of that.

Five straight progressively worse seasons, despite having one of the highest paid coaches in the sport? Nah, don't change a thing. After all, he used to have really good teams.
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Honestly, even those who feel this way are changing their mind at this point. I think they can see that whatever it is that they're waiting for...aint happening.
 
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Remember when we all bought into the "no more BS" story this off-season? That was fun.

I know last off-season supposedly had a lot of house cleaning with bad attitude, guys that didn't want to be here, whatever, but clearly there either needs to be more addition by subtraction (which I think we would all agree with, without naming names)...or there is house cleaning at the top that needs done because it's a mess. Probably both- the basketball team is ready for reset.

$3.2M or whatever bump in budget OSU may be willing to give gets you a damn good coach.
 
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OHSportsFan said:
$3.2M or whatever bump in budget OSU may be willing to give gets you a damn good coach.
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*note- I've followed Thad since his days at Butler here in Indianapolis. I do believe he is a good coach, but the shine is off and the kids he is bringing in- due to health or whatever- are just lacking physically, mentally and in general basketball skills.
 
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I have been a die hard Matta supporter since day one. He has contributed enough to the program that I would like to see him leave on his own terms.

I swore I would support any BBall coach so long as our program was competitive in the B1G.

We are no longer competitive.

I have watched every moment of OSU BBall I could since 1959.

I did not watch the second half of tonight's game.

However good Matta may be as a coach the perception right now is that OSU is not developing players. In recruiting perception counts.

OSU is not the BBall program many of us would like to believe it is. We are not Kentucky or UNC.

But we are also not the Athletic Department we were 15 years ago. There are tremendous resources available to attract a solid coach. Even in that abomination of an arena. Bring in a good coach, keep the best from Ohio in Ohio, and we will be competitive in the B1G.


It is time for Thad to outline his terms.
 
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^^ THIS.

Thad brought the program to elite heights for multiple seasons without disgrace (O'Brien) and deserves respect. But something needs to be changed and new assistant coaches/players are not the answer. Thad should have a banner or something commemorative hanging in the Schott for his accomplishments. But the time to part ways is nigh.
 
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