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

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Updated: Aug. 2, 2006
Matta is excited about Buckeyes' upcoming transitionBy Andy Katz
ESPN.com
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Thad Matta got back into his office Wednesday -- fresh off of being away for 17 days -- and arrived to see a stack of messages some 19-deep.

The Ohio State coach is in high demand these days. No, he has nothing to do with Wednesday's ruling that the school owes $2.2 million after the way in which it fired Matta's predecessor, Jim O'Brien. Instead, the Buckeyes coach is managing a team -- correct that, a program -- that is in this unique situation: Despite losing three starters from a Big Ten title squad, it is projected to be even better this coming year with four freshmen and a junior college transfer coming on board.

In case you've been under a rock for the past year, Ohio State has a few pretty good pieces coming into Columbus this season, led by the best prep center in the country, and maybe in years, in Greg Oden.

The Buckeyes are being bandied about as a possible national title contender, even though they return only two starters.

"I don't think I've ever heard in sports of a team that loses [60] percent of its starters, is ranked sixth to end the year and is ranked higher the next year," said Matta. "We've got a long, long, long way to go. It's going to be a fun, interesting journey, but I don't even want to think about [what this team will become] until late February."

Projecting the Buckeyes is harder to do with the uncertainty of when Oden will return from June surgery on his right wrist -- an injury that kept him from participating with the U.S. Men's National Team last month in Las Vegas.

Oden was at the training camp for two days, soaked in the experience, and then went back to summer school. Matta said he's supposed to get the wrist X-rayed within the next two weeks to check on the progress.

"But there is no timetable [for a return]," Matta said.

Oden didn't get a chance to play ball with his fellow Buckeyes during summer school, but his presence was still felt.

"He's humble, quiet and down to earth, but he loves the game of basketball," observed senior guard Jamar Butler.

Oden watched the pickup games, according to Butler, but he's not one to bark out commands. Instead, he sat idle, with the team knowing the 7-foot center will be a dominant player not quite sure how it will all develop..

"He'll fit right in, but it's hard to say how since we haven't played with him yet," Butler said.

Matta is hoping he won't have to wait until 2007 for Oden to be a factor, but Matta is not going to push him. If "the franchise" isn't ready to practice, he won't. He certainly won't play until he's 100 percent ready. Meanwhile, Matta won't let him talk to the media (while he's on the OSU campus) until he plays in a game.

Until then, the Buckeyes will lean on seldom-used backup Matt Terwilliger inside. Still, the expectations for the Buckeyes, who lost their top two scorers, is for a Big Ten title and a top-five national finish, even as Oden watches his heralded freshmen classmates -- Mike Conley, David Lighty and Daequan Cook -- run pickup games without him.

"The only time I've seen him play is on ESPN," Butler said. "He's a big man that can run the floor, use the pick-and-roll, block shots, and you won't find too many athletic seven-footers like that."

All the talk about Oden overshadows the importance of Butler. In an informal poll of some Big Ten coaches, Butler's name continued to come up as the one Ohio State player who stood out on tape for doing the little things.

"We're looking to him for leadership," Matta said. "We've asked him to do that …we've got guys who have never even played with a shot clock. They'll pick it up, but what I like about our high school guys is that they all won, understand how to win. We just need to make the physical and mental adjustment."

Equally impressive this spring and summer is Ohio State's continued haul in recruiting. Usually, a school that is loaded with incoming talent can struggle to stockpile since there is no guarantee on playing time. That's not the case with the Buckeyes. Ohio State's 2007 recruiting class already is ranked in the top 10 by scout.com. Nabbing power forward Kosta Koufos, center Dallas Lauderdale and wings Evan Turner and Jon Diebler (all but Turner are from Ohio) shows the Buckeyes aren't being complacent. They're recruiting to continue building a national contender, with the thought that a player like Oden likely won't be around too long.

"Honestly, it's not much of an issue for us because Ohio State and Columbus are great places," Matta said. "We're trying to build something here and we're not even remotely close to arriving."

For the record, when ESPN.com's Summer Sizzling Top 50 comes out later this month, Ohio State won't be ranked No. 6. The Buckeyes won't be too far below that, though, and a lot of that has to do with its talent, its coaching and the overall atmosphere around this program. The culture in Columbus is ripe for winning.

Andy Katz is a senior writer for ESPN.com.
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http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=katz_andy&id=2537423
 
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cstv.com

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Matta Hosts Reunion Dinner



Sept. 12, 2006

Thad Matta, Ohio State head coach, played host to about 200 former men's basketball players and managers Sept. 1 in Columbus. It was the third time Matta has invited those responsible for the program's tradition and history to share the past with the current Buckeye coaching staff.
Players representing teams from as far back as the 1940s to members of Ohio State's 2006 Big Ten Championship team attended the social dinner at the Matta home.
Ohio State greats Arnie Risen, who lettered in 1944-45, Robin Freeman (1954-56), Brad Sellers (1985-86), Treg Lee (1989-91), current L.A. Laker assistant coach Jim Cleamons (1969-71), Michael Redd (1999-2001), J.J. Sullinger (2004-06) and Matt Sylvester (2003-06) were in attendance, just to name a few.
Matta spoke to the group about his vision for the program, about the family atmosphere the former players have built over the years and about the tradition and foundation formed throughout the program's history by those in attendance.
The event was first organized by Matta upon his arrival in the summer of 2004. This year, the Ohio State staff recognized the 1956 team, who had four of the team's starters present. That team was the first to play in St. John Arena when the historic venue opened on the OSU campus. Practice begins for the 2006-07 Buckeyes Oct. 13. The exhibition season begins Nov. 1 with the regular season set to get underway Nov. 10-12 in the BCA Classic in Columbus.
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Dispatch

Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith hopes to reach an agreement with men’s basketball coach Thad Matta on an enhanced contract before the end of the month.
"I want to look at a potential extension and where his base (salary) fits in in the (Big Ten) conference and nationally … and all the things that he needs to be successful here," Smith said.
Smith said other coaches also are in line for raises. The university routinely reviews personnel and bumps salaries in September and October, he said.
Matta, whose record and recruiting success make him attractive to other programs, is scheduled to receive a salary of $245,000 this year, but that is a small portion of his total compensation package of $1.09 million. Matta is in the third year of a contract that expires in 2013 and guarantees him an average of about $1.4 million per year, not including incentives. His package ranks second in the Big Ten, behind Michigan State coach Tom Izzo. Matta has a provision that could allow him to renegotiate the package after this season to one that puts him among the 16 highest-paid coaches in college basketball. The proviso is triggered if OSU finishes the season ranked 16 th or better in either poll or seeded fourth or better in the NCAA Tournament.
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Dispatch

Q &A THAD MATTA
OSU goal: Have Oden in the lineup by Jan. 1
Monday, October 09, 2006
Bob Baptist
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
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NEAL C . LAURON DISPATCH Ohio State coach Thad Matta is impressed with the athleticism of his newcomers.
The Ohio State men?s basketball team starts practice Friday night for a season fans are anticipating more than they have in a long time, because of one of college basketball?s top freshman classes. Coach Thad Matta sat down for 30 minutes to answer questions last week before catching a flight for another recruiting trip.
Q : Let?s start with the No. 1 question in every fan?s mind. What?s the latest prognosis for how soon Greg Oden will be cleared to practice and play?
A : Don?t know. The rehab (of his surgically repaired right wrist) is going great. ... As far as a date of return, there really isn?t one. I?m hoping we have him January 1 st. (That?s) where we?re focusing. I?ll take him earlier. But I don?t want him to come back and have any risk (of reinjury) whatsoever. I?m not going to do that to him.
Q : There is more preseason excitement surrounding the program than there has been in a long time. Are you more excited about this season than you have been about any other in your career?
A : Yeah, but probably for a different reason. My excitement stems from coaching a team that has one starter returning, four returning players (and) five new guys. I?m looking forward to the challenge of trying to bring all the pieces together and watching the daily progress. This team will always be a work in progress, of getting guys to understand the level they?re going to have to play at at the college level, at the places we?re going (to play), the teams that we?re playing. (That) is going to be the biggest challenge.
Q : With this young of a team, why did you get so ambitious with the nonconference schedule, playing North Carolina and Florida on the road?
A : When you?re going to recruit the best players in the country, you want to challenge them. I know full well the challenge ahead of us; at times it appears to be frightening. But hopefully it?s going to do nothing but make us better down the stretch. Early on, we?re going to be competing at the highest level, and I think it?s going to put a sense of urgency into not only the coaches but the players. Every second is going to count. Everything that we do is vitally important. I like that perspective.
Q : Because of the excitement around the program, if ever there was a year to start a Midnight Madness event here, this is it. But you?re not a fan of Midnight Madness. Why not?
A : The first few practices for me ... you?re trying to set a tone, you?re trying to set a tempo, you?re trying to set an understanding of how we do things. I think our upperclassmen know that our practices are very challenging. I don?t think (with) our maturity, both as a program and as a team, we?re ready for anything but hard work and a commitment to the time we?re on the floor.
Q : So once the program and the team mature, you might reconsider?
A : I think if I?m at Florida and I?ve got five returning starters that have just won the national championship, I could see that.
Q : You?ve started a landslide of high-profile recruits into the program. How do you plan to keep everyone happy?
A : I?ve always said I don?t determine playing time; they do. We always shoot kids straight: We?re going to play team basketball, all five guys are going to guard the ball, we like high-assist teams. With the low number we have again this year (nine scholarship players, including the injured Oden), we?re going to need everybody. Hopefully, they?re going to earn that right to get on the court.
Q : You have a policy of not letting your first-year players speak publicly until after they play in their first game. Why do you do that, and given the higher profile of the recruits you?re now bringing in, do you foresee relaxing it in the future?
A : No. My big thing is trying to keep this in perspective. My No. 1 concern when guys get to campus is that they get acclimated to college life. To let a young man talk to the media before he?s played in a game, he really won?t know what he?s saying until he?s gone through the practices and battled. Let them continue to adjust and get an understanding of what it?s really like as opposed to speculating on what they think is going to happen. I want them to live it first.
Q : The team has yet to start practice, but the coaches have been able to drill the players individually since Sept. 15. What are three things that have made an impression on you or your assistants?
A : Athleticism would be one, more of it, and (more) length (longer arms and wingspans). Another thing would be our lack of understanding defensive concepts; it?s a good thing we have a month of practice (before the first game). The third thing would be the job our upperclassmen have done bringing the new guys into the fold, welcoming them and forming relationships with them. They appear to be a close team at this point, which I?m very pleased with.
Q : Four freshmen and a junior-college transfer are expected to play major roles on this team, but none has played a minute of Division I basketball. Yet most preseason polls have Ohio State ranked in the top 10 nationally, and fans are saying if the Fab Five (of Michigan) went to the Final Four, the Thad Five can, too. How much do you think this team is capable of?
A : I?d really like to get to the final four of the BCA Classic, which means we have to beat VMI (in the season opener). That?s where my mind is.
[email protected]
 
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Dispatch

OHIO STATE MEN?S BASKETBALL
Matta agrees to new contract
Friday, October 20, 2006
Bob Baptist
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH



Ohio State and Thad Matta have agreed on a new contract that would replace the eightyear, $11.1 million deal the men?s basketball coach signed only 19 months ago.
Athletic director Gene Smith said yesterday that he could not divulge details of the agreement pending its approval by university trustees Nov. 3.
Two weeks ago, before negotiations were complete, Smith said he hoped to not only enhance Matta?s compensation but also extend the length of the coach?s contract, which expires in 2013.
Matta?s current compensation package, averaging approximately $1.4 million a year, ranks second in the Big Ten to that of Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, who makes an average of $2.4 million, according to a survey earlier this year by The Des Moines Register.
Matta, 39, is 46-18 in two seasons at Ohio State and is 148-49 in six years as a coach. The Buckeyes won the Big Ten championship and were a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament last season. Despite losing four starters, they enter this season picked among the nation?s 10 best teams. The recruiting class is ranked second.
A provision in Matta?s contract would have permitted him to renegotiate after this season to put him among the 16 highest-paid coaches in college basketball if Ohio State had finished 16 th or better in either poll or landed a fourth seed or higher in the NCAA Tournament.
Step forward for Oden

Freshman center Greg Oden had a screw removed from his surgically repaired right wrist, but Matta said the timetable for his return remains uncertain.
"Just because the pin?s out, he?s not back to normal. We still have a ways to go," Matta said.
Oden had surgery June 16 to reattach a torn ligament in the wrist, which he injured in February. The screw was inserted to stabilize bones while the ligament healed.
Matta said recently that he hoped to have Oden in the lineup by Jan. 1.
Tickets available

Tickets remain for eight of 10 nonconference games in Value City Arena in November and December.
Approximately 1,100 seats in the lower bowl and an unspecified number in the upper bowl are available for three games in the BCA Classic Nov. 10-12 and games against San Francisco on Nov. 20, Valparaiso on Dec. 2, Cleveland State on Dec. 9, Iowa State on Dec. 19 and Coppin State on Dec. 30.
Tickets may be purchased at ohiostatebuckeyes.com or by calling 1-800-GO-BUCKS.
[email protected]
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Friday, October 20, 2006
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Ohio State and Thad Matta have agreed on a new contract that would replace the eightyear, $11.1 million deal the men?s basketball coach signed only 19 months ago.
Athletic director Gene Smith said yesterday that he could not divulge details of the agreement pending its approval by university trustees Nov. 3.
Two weeks ago, before negotiations were complete, Smith said he hoped to not only enhance Matta?s compensation but also extend the length of the coach?s contract, which expires in 2013.
Matta?s current compensation package, averaging approximately $1.4 million a year, ranks second in the Big Ten to that of Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, who makes an average of $2.4 million, according to a survey earlier this year by The Des Moines Register.
Matta, 39, is 46-18 in two seasons at Ohio State and is 148-49 in six years as a coach. The Buckeyes won the Big Ten championship and were a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament last season. Despite losing four starters, they enter this season picked among the nation?s 10 best teams. The recruiting class is ranked second.
A provision in Matta?s contract would have permitted him to renegotiate after this season to put him among the 16 highest-paid coaches in college basketball if Ohio State had finished 16 th or better in either poll or landed a fourth seed or higher in the NCAA Tournament.
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CPD

OSU BASKETBALL

Details on Matta deal kept quiet

Sunday, October 22, 2006 Doug Lesmerises

Plain Dealer Reporter
Columbus- Athletic Director Gene Smith confirmed Saturday that Ohio State men's basketball coach Thad Matta has agreed to a contract extension. But Smith would offer no details of the deal, which won't become official until approved by Ohio State's board of trustees next month.
"Thad has done a great job here, he's a great teacher, he recruited great kids, he won a Big Ten championship last year and I think Buckeye Nation is really proud of his performance," Smith said. "So we want to keep him here as long as we can and help him feel secure."
Matta said last week that Smith had brought up the idea of reworking his current eight-year deal that's worth $11 million. Speculation had linked Matta to the coaching opening at Indiana last season, though Matta had never wavered in his commitment to Ohio State. He has a record of 46-18 at Ohio State and is about to enter his third season as head coach of the Buckeyes. He led an underdog team to a conference title and No. 2 regional seed in the NCAA Tournament last season.
Oden update:
Matta won't have freshman center Greg Oden for the start of the season, but he's looking for any sign of progress at this point as Oden returns from right wrist surgery. On Friday, Oden had a screw in his wrist removed by a doctor in his hometown of Indianapolis. Matta has said Jan. 1 is potential date for Oden's first game action.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
[email protected], 216-999-4479
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