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DDN
Matta proud of his high-profile players
By Mark Gokavi
Staff Writer
Thursday, April 12, 2007
COLUMBUS ? One reason big-time recruits are drawn to Ohio State basketball coach Thad Matta is how he relates.
After Wednesday night's team celebration, Matta addressed the NBA-or-college debate about freshmen Greg Oden, Mike Conley Jr. and Daequan Cook.
Cont...
Matta proud of his high-profile players
By Mark Gokavi
Staff Writer
Thursday, April 12, 2007
COLUMBUS ? One reason big-time recruits are drawn to Ohio State basketball coach Thad Matta is how he relates.
After Wednesday night's team celebration, Matta addressed the NBA-or-college debate about freshmen Greg Oden, Mike Conley Jr. and Daequan Cook.
Cont...
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LitlBuck
Kevin Warren is an ass
OSU_Buckguy;811945; said:
However, those remarks were made before the championship game and Greg did get quite a few looks in that game. I just wish all ex high school coaches would keep their pie holes closed. If they are so smart why aren't they coaching in college?
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OSU_Buckguy
Head Coach
if greg was truly frustrated, i doubt that one or two games would have made that much of a difference, especially when one of them was a 4-of-23 exhibition from dowtown.LitlBuck;812102; said:
hey now. there are countless exceptional high school coaches.
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OSU_Buckguy
Head Coach
they may have to get in line behind the throng of college coaches.LitlBuck;812127; said:
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Today's Meeting/ Matta Meeting
Just wondering on opinions as to whether todays meeting is really going to be moot, and that the players meeting with Coach Matta will be the determining factor in their immediate future plans.
This guy obviously has selling skills that are rivaled by very few of his peers. He sold these kids once on TOSU, can he do it again? My feeling is that when he meets with all three kids, he'll go over the pros and the cons of leaving, but will likely stress to them some particulars about each of their games that they can improve TOGETHER-stress TOGETHER- to help them all be more prepared to go to the next level. Also, I'd hope that Coach really tries to get it into their heads that although the money will be there, that they should consider what their respective contributions would be at the NBA level in the next year or two. I'd use Michael Redd as an example, or even Gilbert Arenas, who are NBA superstars that sat buried on the end of their repective benches for a few years before refining their games to be "NBA ready." I think if Coach can get this into their heads, coupled with the fact that they could possibly be undefeated National Champions TOGETHER on their way to refining themselves, that he may be able to pull this off and get them all to come back.
Thoughts? Or is it just gonna be about the $$$?
Just wondering on opinions as to whether todays meeting is really going to be moot, and that the players meeting with Coach Matta will be the determining factor in their immediate future plans.
This guy obviously has selling skills that are rivaled by very few of his peers. He sold these kids once on TOSU, can he do it again? My feeling is that when he meets with all three kids, he'll go over the pros and the cons of leaving, but will likely stress to them some particulars about each of their games that they can improve TOGETHER-stress TOGETHER- to help them all be more prepared to go to the next level. Also, I'd hope that Coach really tries to get it into their heads that although the money will be there, that they should consider what their respective contributions would be at the NBA level in the next year or two. I'd use Michael Redd as an example, or even Gilbert Arenas, who are NBA superstars that sat buried on the end of their repective benches for a few years before refining their games to be "NBA ready." I think if Coach can get this into their heads, coupled with the fact that they could possibly be undefeated National Champions TOGETHER on their way to refining themselves, that he may be able to pull this off and get them all to come back.
Thoughts? Or is it just gonna be about the $$$?
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I definitely don't think this is "just going to be about the $$$ with these guys". I don't believe today's meeting is moot either. Actually, though I think they will all listen intensely to Coach Matta, I think today will play a large role in 'sorting through' things.
My gut tells me that Oden is looking for "an excuse" to come back. By that I mean, can he find enough reason to justify coming back to school to his family, friends & advisors (as well as himself) who believe moving on to the NBA is the most logical/prudent thing to do. But I think he is a 'heady' kid who really does want to make the 'right' / 'best' / 'smart' decision for himself and his family...and in the end I'm confident that no matter what he chooses, it will ultimately be what's best for him. (even with obvious benefits to both decisions)
With Conley I think he ends up doing whatever Oden does (or maybe you phrase it, 'Oden does whatever Conley does') I think he is putting alot of weight in coming in with Oden, and going out with Oden whether that be this year or next. I believe he truly intended on coming back to school regardless of whether Greg stayed or left after this year, but the possibility of being a Lottery Pick opened up a possibilty he hadn't considered before...Conley & Oden, high school teammates; Conley & Oden, AAU teammates; Conley & Oden, the Ohio State University...NCAA Tourney...Final Four...National Title Game...Conley & Oden, Super Sophs...or...NBA Lottery Picks?
With Cook, I think the 'coming in together / going out together' theme plays a role, but I think if Matta would tell him that he was going to be the center piece of next year's offense (with his slide in the draft) I think he'd come back. But even if he's looked at as a second round pick I think Cook believes his game translates better in the NBA and he could go the Michael Redd route, i.e. find stardom as a later pick and prove himself in the NBA just as well as coming back to school.
I think all three have several motivations playing into their decision, maybe the money / security of an NBA contract is weighing a bit more heavily, but other factors are up there as well.
I don't believe Matta will necessarily try to "sell" coming back as much as present that there are positives to coming back as opposed to the media hype proposing that there is no other logical choice (at least for Oden & Conley). I think he wants them to be able to see the "value" of the college experience (even off the court experiences), the value of the shot at a National Championship, etc. Let them know that if even part of them wants to come back, not to dismiss that simply because ESPN, USA Today or whoever else may try to make them believe that would be a "rediculous" decision: that choosing to come back, if they really enjoy school and playing college ball, and being at tOSU, then those are completely legitimate feelings, and that would be a completely legitimate decision no matter what the 'talking heads' say.
As Conley Sr. has been saying, I think they all declare for the draft if for no other reason than to give themselves an extra 2 months to do as much research as possible and make the best decision for themselves they can based on as much info as they can get.
This will make it more gut wrenching for us for another 2 months, but I say until one or all signs with an agent (Conley Sr.), then we (the fans) have a chance they come back...and that's all I can ask for.
Just my (long-winded & jumbled) opinion.
My gut tells me that Oden is looking for "an excuse" to come back. By that I mean, can he find enough reason to justify coming back to school to his family, friends & advisors (as well as himself) who believe moving on to the NBA is the most logical/prudent thing to do. But I think he is a 'heady' kid who really does want to make the 'right' / 'best' / 'smart' decision for himself and his family...and in the end I'm confident that no matter what he chooses, it will ultimately be what's best for him. (even with obvious benefits to both decisions)
With Conley I think he ends up doing whatever Oden does (or maybe you phrase it, 'Oden does whatever Conley does') I think he is putting alot of weight in coming in with Oden, and going out with Oden whether that be this year or next. I believe he truly intended on coming back to school regardless of whether Greg stayed or left after this year, but the possibility of being a Lottery Pick opened up a possibilty he hadn't considered before...Conley & Oden, high school teammates; Conley & Oden, AAU teammates; Conley & Oden, the Ohio State University...NCAA Tourney...Final Four...National Title Game...Conley & Oden, Super Sophs...or...NBA Lottery Picks?
With Cook, I think the 'coming in together / going out together' theme plays a role, but I think if Matta would tell him that he was going to be the center piece of next year's offense (with his slide in the draft) I think he'd come back. But even if he's looked at as a second round pick I think Cook believes his game translates better in the NBA and he could go the Michael Redd route, i.e. find stardom as a later pick and prove himself in the NBA just as well as coming back to school.
I think all three have several motivations playing into their decision, maybe the money / security of an NBA contract is weighing a bit more heavily, but other factors are up there as well.
I don't believe Matta will necessarily try to "sell" coming back as much as present that there are positives to coming back as opposed to the media hype proposing that there is no other logical choice (at least for Oden & Conley). I think he wants them to be able to see the "value" of the college experience (even off the court experiences), the value of the shot at a National Championship, etc. Let them know that if even part of them wants to come back, not to dismiss that simply because ESPN, USA Today or whoever else may try to make them believe that would be a "rediculous" decision: that choosing to come back, if they really enjoy school and playing college ball, and being at tOSU, then those are completely legitimate feelings, and that would be a completely legitimate decision no matter what the 'talking heads' say.
As Conley Sr. has been saying, I think they all declare for the draft if for no other reason than to give themselves an extra 2 months to do as much research as possible and make the best decision for themselves they can based on as much info as they can get.
This will make it more gut wrenching for us for another 2 months, but I say until one or all signs with an agent (Conley Sr.), then we (the fans) have a chance they come back...and that's all I can ask for.
Just my (long-winded & jumbled) opinion.
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Padraig;812722; said:I definitely don't think this is "just going to be about the $$$ with these guys". I don't believe today's meeting is moot either. Actually, though I think they will all listen intensely to Coach Matta, I think today will play a large role in 'sorting through' things.
My gut tells me that Oden is looking for "an excuse" to come back. By that I mean, can he find enough reason to justify coming back to school to his family, friends & advisors (as well as himself) who believe moving on to the NBA is the most logical/prudent thing to do. But I think he is a 'heady' kid who really does want to make the 'right' / 'best' / 'smart' decision for himself and his family...and in the end I'm confident that no matter what he chooses, it will ultimately be what's best for him. (even with obvious benefits to both decisions)
With Conley I think he ends up doing whatever Oden does (or maybe you phrase it, 'Oden does whatever Conley does') I think he is putting alot of weight in coming in with Oden, and going out with Oden whether that be this year or next. I believe he truly intended on coming back to school regardless of whether Greg stayed or left after this year, but the possibility of being a Lottery Pick opened up a possibilty he hadn't considered before...Conley & Oden, high school teammates; Conley & Oden, AAU teammates; Conley & Oden, the Ohio State University...NCAA Tourney...Final Four...National Title Game...Conley & Oden, Super Sophs...or...NBA Lottery Picks?
With Cook, I think the 'coming in together / going out together' theme plays a role, but I think if Matta would tell him that he was going to be the center piece of next year's offense (with his slide in the draft) I think he'd come back. But even if he's looked at as a second round pick I think Cook believes his game translates better in the NBA and he could go the Michael Redd route, i.e. find stardom as a later pick and prove himself in the NBA just as well as coming back to school.
I think all three have several motivations playing into their decision, maybe the money / security of an NBA contract is weighing a bit more heavily, but other factors are up there as well.
I don't believe Matta will necessarily try to "sell" coming back as much as present that there are positives to coming back as opposed to the media hype proposing that there is no other logical choice (at least for Oden & Conley). I think he wants them to be able to see the "value" of the college experience (even off the court experiences), the value of the shot at a National Championship, etc. Let them know that if even part of them wants to come back, not to dismiss that simply because ESPN, USA Today or whoever else may try to make them believe that would be a "rediculous" decision: that choosing to come back, if they really enjoy school and playing college ball, and being at tOSU, then those are completely legitimate feelings, and that would be a completely legitimate decision no matter what the 'talking heads' say.
As Conley Sr. has been saying, I think they all declare for the draft if for no other reason than to give themselves an extra 2 months to do as much research as possible and make the best decision for themselves they can based on as much info as they can get.
This will make it more gut wrenching for us for another 2 months, but I say until one or all signs with an agent (Conley Sr.), then we (the fans) have a chance they come back...and that's all I can ask for.
Just my (long-winded & jumbled) opinion.
I don't think I ever had anyone agree with me by disagreeing with me more than this post. The 6th paragraph, you say Matta doesn't necessarily have to "sell" yet your points that follow are nothing but selling. I guess we agree on some things, disagree on others, yet share the exact same opinion.
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Maybe just different ways we think of the word "sell". I usually view it in a negative / self-serving light (i.e., 'He could sell ice to an eskimo'), but I guess many don't see it that way, so maybe we do agree more than disagree.
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