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

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repost from Thad 5 to sign thread...

11/9/05 - M Basketball
Five Student-Athletes Added to Men's Basketball Program
Press Conference Video (.wmv)
Thad Matta, Ohio State head coach, announced the addition of five student-athletes to the Buckeye men's basketball program Wednesday. The class of four high school seniors and one junior college transfer is rated by some analysts as the No. 1 class in the nation. The quintet will be eligible to play for the Buckeyes in the fall of 2006.
 
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Matta's the man.

Matta on verge of top class at Ohio State
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Jeff Goodman / Scout.com
Posted: 7 hours ago

Thad Matta's players mock him when he strolls into the gym and call him "Ken Reeves," after the old "White Shadow" TV show. It's because he's wearing the same cotton sweats he sported back in the days when he was an assistant under Herb Sendek at Miami of Ohio. His wife chides him about getting rid of the ancient charcoal Weber grill he's had for more than a decade.

Matta doesn't like change — and that's one of the reasons he's enjoying so much success during his short time at Ohio State.

"He has a genuine gift with people," Xavier head coach Sean Miller said of his former boss. "He's very likable and puts people at ease. Parents, coaches and young kids all seem to gravitate to him. He appears to be what he is — a regular guy.

"In this day and age with college basketball, when coaches are bigger than the program, Thad takes the opposite approach. He's just a very even-keel and mild-mannered guy."

"He's an old-fashioned guy, and success hasn't spoiled him," St. Andrew's High School (R.I.) coach Mike Hart added. "His work ethic and values haven't changed at all."

Matta put up 20 wins in his first season in Columbus and ended the regular season with a shocking one-point victory against previously unbeaten Illinois.

Five of his top six starters are back, but that isn't what has Buckeyes fans so excited.

Matta has Ohio State in a photo finish with North Carolina in a battle for the top recruiting class in the country. Right now, the Buckeyes are a close second to the Tar Heels, but considering the history of both programs, it's remarkable that Matta is within putting distance when it comes to being able to lure recruits.

First, Matta landed small forward David Lighty, a two-sport star from Ohio who missed the entire spring and summer with a torn ACL. Then it was Daequan Cook, Scout.com's second-ranked shooting guard in the nation behind UNC-bound Wayne Ellington. High school and summer teammates Mike Conley, a consummate point guard, and the nation's biggest prize, 7-footer Greg Oden, followed shortly thereafter.

All are consensus top 50 recruits, and all could be McDonald's All-Americans.

"I don't think I got these kids," Matta said. "I think it's Ohio State and the power and the magnitude of the university. We have incredible facilities and (an incredible) fan base.

"These guys were our targets from the day I got this job. A lot of it was about timing and location."

There's no question. Conley and Oden never would have played for Matta if he'd still have been at Xavier, where he won 26 games in each of his three seasons. They wouldn't have given Matta the time of day had he been back at Butler, where he was 24-8 in his first coaching job back in 2000.

"This is not about me, it's about the kids," Matta said. "I'm the luckiest guy in the world. I just try and keep it as real as possible and get these kids a good education and make them the best players they can be."

Kids are drawn to Matta and his staff. Even the youngsters.

Matta already has early commitments from two of the Midwest's elite players in the Class of 2008 — guard Walter Offutt and big man B.J. Mullens.

"I just think he cares about more than just basketball," said the 16-year-old Offutt, who gave his pledge to Matta last month. "I think he'll be there for me, and he'll also help me develop and hopefully get to the next level."

"People keep telling me I'm too young, but I don't worry about it," Offutt added. "I know Thad Matta and Ohio State are right for me."
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Thad Matta (Official Thread)

The ONLY way Matta leaves for Indiana is if the NCAA hands down stiff penalties - which may be more likely if Myles Brand still has a strong affiliation for Indiana. Think about it. If the NCAA hands down a postseason ban for next year, we lose Oden and Conley at the very least. Indiana has a job opening, and Ohio State's job doesn't look too enticing anymore, so Matta takes off for Indiana. Then Oden and Conley go to Indiana. It would be a huge 180 for both programs.

If there are no penalties, Matta isn't going to walk away from this class. No way. No how. He put too much time and effort into recruiting these kids to leave them. So Indiana would be forced to hire someone else. And if that someone else does a good job at Indiana, then we won't have to worry about Matta bolting at all any time.

What Indiana should have done was can Mike Davis mid-season last year before Matta officially inked his contract with Ohio State. IU almost would have been assurd of getting Matta, and a strong recruiting class that included Oden.

Now we just have to wait for the NCAA ruling to find out what happens to these two programs. I think Matta's gone if we get a postseason ban next year.
 
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Now we just have to wait for the NCAA ruling to find out what happens to these two programs. I think Matta's gone if we get a postseason ban next year.
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A post season ban is highly unlikely at this point.....but Indiana has made it known it wants Alford, so we will have to wait to see how that plays out. Matta's name being tossed around is just the media creating interest. The OSU program is on much better ground than Indiana's right now.

Speculation is fun but the reality is that the timing is off for Matta to even consider it. I don't believe he would be a serious candidate unless Indiana cannot get there top 2-3 choices.
 
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StadiumDorm said:
The ONLY way Matta leaves for Indiana is if the NCAA hands down stiff penalties - which may be more likely if Myles Brand still has a strong affiliation for Indiana. Think about it. If the NCAA hands down a postseason ban for next year, we lose Oden and Conley at the very least. Indiana has a job opening, and Ohio State's job doesn't look too enticing anymore, so Matta takes off for Indiana. Then Oden and Conley go to Indiana. It would be a huge 180 for both programs.

If there are no penalties, Matta isn't going to walk away from this class. No way. No how. He put too much time and effort into recruiting these kids to leave them. So Indiana would be forced to hire someone else. And if that someone else does a good job at Indiana, then we won't have to worry about Matta bolting at all any time.

What Indiana should have done was can Mike Davis mid-season last year before Matta officially inked his contract with Ohio State. IU almost would have been assurd of getting Matta, and a strong recruiting class that included Oden.

Now we just have to wait for the NCAA ruling to find out what happens to these two programs. I think Matta's gone if we get a postseason ban next year.
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Remove the aluminum foil hat, turn off ESPN and step AWAY from the bong.:wink2:
 
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redskinbucksfan said:
Remove the aluminum foil hat, turn off ESPN and step AWAY from the bong.:wink2:
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You can dispell it all you want. And I don't think NCAA sanctions are likely. But if they come, what is the reason for Matta to stay? Why wouldn't Indiana want to go after someone like Matta who has proven that he can both coach and recruit?

People can throw around Alford and Wittman's names as the top candidates, but neither of those guys has proven that they can recruit, and in Wittman's case, that he can coach.

This may be the ultimate "sky is falling" scenario, but given Matta's history of upgrading quickly from job to job, it's not out of the question. If someone can think of a reason why Matta would want to stay at Ohio State if postseason sanctions come, then I'm all ears. If someone can think of a reason why Matta SHOULD NOT be a the top candidate for the Indiana job in that situation, then I'm all ears.
 
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This may be the ultimate "sky is falling" scenario, but given Matta's history of upgrading quickly from job to job, it's not out of the question.
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You are correct it is the ultimate "sky is falling". I don't think anyone is arguing with that. I see no reason to speculate on Matta's intentions in a very, very unlikely hypothetical situation.
 
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bucknuts44820 said:
You are correct it is the ultimate "sky is falling". I don't think anyone is arguing with that. I see no reason to speculate on Matta's intentions in a very, very unlikely hypothetical situation.
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I didn't bring up the speculation. And if you read my prior post, I'm just giving an analysis of the ONLY way that Matta leaves Ohio State. It all comes down to the NCAA ruling, that's all I'm saying.
 
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He stays, for a myriad of reasons:

1) He is building a program
2) Said program is being built at one of the most desirable schools in the country. It's not like he's been coaching at Southwest Missouri State.
3) Everything he's touched has turned to gold so far
4) Why clean up a mess and build something up to leave for another mess when the results of his current work are just about to start paying big dividends? Even Larry Brown tastes and savors success before moving on.
5) The cupboard here is getting really full. Don't you think tOSU represents his best chance to make a tournament run in the near future?
6) Top notch facilities, and as rabid as our fanbase is, IU hoops fans are lunatics.

One of the reasons Davis never had support is that he pulled a Cooper in many ways. Never respected the tradition, didn't put enough of a fence around the home state in recruiting, didn't know what it was to be a Hoosier (whatever the hell that means)...etc. That's why the fanbase turned on him.
 
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redskinbucksfan said:
He stays, for a myriad of reasons:

1) He is building a program
2) Said program is being built at one of the most desirable schools in the country. It's not like he's been coaching at Southwest Missouri State.
3) Everything he's touched has turned to gold so far
4) Why clean up a mess and build something up to leave for another mess when the results of his current work are just about to start paying big dividends? Even Larry Brown tastes and savors success before moving on.
5) The cupboard here is getting really full. Don't you think tOSU represents his best chance to make a tournament run in the near future?
6) Top notch facilities, and as rabid as our fanbase is, IU hoops fans are lunatics.

One of the reasons Davis never had support is that he pulled a Cooper in many ways. Never respected the tradition, didn't put enough of a fence around the home state in recruiting, didn't know what it was to be a Hoosier (whatever the hell that means)...etc. That's why the fanbase turned on him.
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I agree with everything you just said. I think we're all in agreement here that Matta goes nowhere unless in the unlikely scenario that the NCAA bans us from the postseason next year.
 
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I didn't bring up the speculation. And if you read my prior post, I'm just giving an analysis of the ONLY way that Matta leaves Ohio State. It all comes down to the NCAA ruling, that's all I'm saying.
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No one has blamed you for the speculation and as previously stated, I agree with you on your analysis of this hypothetical situation.

That's why the fanbase turned on him.
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I agree with some of your points, Davis was sending out "feelers" to other schools after he took Indiana to the Finals in I believe his second year. He saw the writing on the wall back then.
 
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redskinbucksfan said:
I don't even think that. While that would have severe ramifications on the incoming recruiting class, he is still filling it up beyond that.
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Well, not to beat a dead horse. But if we go on postseason ban next year, this program loses a lot of the momentum (not to mention recruits) that it has built up over the last year. I don't know how enticing Ohio State looks if that happens.
 
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StadiumDorm said:
The ONLY way Matta leaves for Indiana is if the NCAA hands down stiff penalties - which may be more likely if Myles Brand still has a strong affiliation for Indiana. Think about it. If the NCAA hands down a postseason ban for next year, we lose Oden and Conley at the very least. Indiana has a job opening, and Ohio State's job doesn't look too enticing anymore, so Matta takes off for Indiana. Then Oden and Conley go to Indiana. It would be a huge 180 for both programs.

If there are no penalties, Matta isn't going to walk away from this class. No way. No how. He put too much time and effort into recruiting these kids to leave them. So Indiana would be forced to hire someone else. And if that someone else does a good job at Indiana, then we won't have to worry about Matta bolting at all any time.

What Indiana should have done was can Mike Davis mid-season last year before Matta officially inked his contract with Ohio State. IU almost would have been assurd of getting Matta, and a strong recruiting class that included Oden.

Now we just have to wait for the NCAA ruling to find out what happens to these two programs. I think Matta's gone if we get a postseason ban next year.
Click to expand...


Brand is not on the infractions committee he will have nothing to do with the sanctions. Secondly, there is no way the NCAA can skate on allowing Michigan a 1 year probation and a few scholarships taken away for PAYING PLAYERS $650,000.00

We arent getting a post seasons ban. Michigan fought the NCAA every step of the way and it took YEARS for the real truth to come out with what was going on. Michigan then fought the NCAA when they handed down a 2 year suspension and got it reduced to a 1 year suspension.

OSU has cooperated every step of the way and been proactive in impossing a post season ban, everyone from the AD down involved is gone. I cant see how they can be so lienient with Michigan and hammer OSU... wont happnen
 
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