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

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Thad Matta (Official Thread)

SportingNews.com

9/14/05

Matta a lucky man
9/13/2005



The luckiest man in college basketball appears to be Ohio State coach Thad Matta. This might seem like an odd statement for a coach who took over a program coming off a 14-16 season and being closely scrutinized by the watchful, but not always helpful, eyes of the NCAA.

Matta left behind a nice two-year record of 48-15 at Xavier and dominated the Atlantic 10 for two years ago by winning 15 of 16 conference games. His first year in Columbus saw the Buckeyes post a 20-12 record and hand Illinois its only regular season loss. That much-improved effort gave Ohio State fans reason to be cautiously optimistic.

After several events in the off-season, however, the sky appears to be the limit. As the old adage says, "good recruiting heals a lot of wounds" (It's not actually an adage, but it should be) and nobody did it better this year than Matta and Ohio State. The coach and his staff raided neighboring Indiana -- putting Mike Davis' job in jeopardy -- and snagged the nation's top prospect in the class of 2006 in center Greg Oden and his running partner, point guard Mike Conley, one of the best floor generals in the senior class.

He also convinced Ohio products David Lighty and Daequan Cook, both athletic wing guards who know how to score, to stay at home and play. Those four prospects gave Ohio State a lock on the nation's top class, drawing comparisons to Michigan's famed "Fab Five" class, and it's possible they could add more talent or even may have to turn a top prospect or two away.

Luck is also half the recruiting game when you are focusing your efforts in-state and it appears to be on Matta's side. The 2007 Ohio class boasts O.J. Mayo and Bill Walker (Rivals.com's top two players nationally) along with Chris Wright, Kosta Koufas, Dallas Lauderdale and DeJuan Pursley all of whom will have plenty of big-time scholarship offers on the table. Koufas, who could be the top big man in the 2007 class, is giving the Buckeyes a long look.

If that wasn't enough, Matta has already has secured a verbal commitment from the top center in the 2008 class, B.J. Mullens from Harvest Prep in Columbus, giving Ohio State a shot at landing the nation's top center three years in a row.
There is talk of a dynasty and it appears the groundwork is being laid in terms of talent. Throw in that Matta has a reputation for getting the most out of his players and it is a scary situation for the rest of the Big 10.
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Player's Coach

Look up this term in the dictionary and find Matta's picture next to it.

Player's Coach (n):

1. One who displays consistent passion for the development and future success of his players.

2. One who implements schemes that excite and inspire players and recruits.

Great job, Coach Matta!!!
 
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I have been a huge Xavier basketball fan for nearly 20 years. Became a fan when Xavier and Loyola Marymont were putting up 250 points between the 2 a game. The Xavier Musketeers have had 3 exceptional coaches since I have become a fan (jury's out on the 4th) and Thad Matta may just be the best of the bunch. I'm glad he stayed here in-state because the buckeyes are my #2 favorite team when it comes to college basketball.( Football is a different story) Ohio State should lock Matta up for as long a contract as he would be willing to sign.
 
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What is happening in OUR program is absolutely story-book stuff. My first sports hero was Jerry Lucas when I was 9 years old and I have waited a loooong time for this.

With Matta - at least what I have seen so far - there simply is no down side. Enthusiastic, articulate, high energy, positive motivator - just everything you want in a coach.

That said, I keep telling everyone to savor this coming season. The rise to prominence is the most fun. Once you are there expectations get crazy and the won-loss record you only dreamed of a few years back is suddenly not good enough.
 
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Oh8ch said:
What is happening in OUR program is absolutely story-book stuff. My first sports hero was Jerry Lucas when I was 9 years old and I have waited a loooong time for this.

With Matta - at least what I have seen so far - there simply is no down side. Enthusiastic, articulate, high energy, positive motivator - just everything you want in a coach.

That said, I keep telling everyone to savor this coming season. The rise to prominence is the most fun. Once you are there expectations get crazy and the won-loss record you only dreamed of a few years back is suddenly not good enough.
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That last paragraph should be engraved at the top of the BBall forum this coming year. Another excellent post from Oh8ch.
 
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scout.com$

11/10/05

Matta Reacts To Recruiting Class
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Thad Matta

By Dave Biddle
Assistant Editor
Date: Nov 9, 2005

Wednesday marked the first time Ohio State head coach Thad Matta could publically discuss his 2006 recruiting class, better known as the "Thad Five." Matta received National Letters of Intent from Greg Oden, Mike Conley Jr., Daequan Cook, David Lighty and Othello Hunter and was more than pleased to discuss their recruitment and what they will mean to the program.
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Great article by Dave Biddle.
 
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