OSU MEN'S BASKETBALL
Matta complimented, not commenting
Saturday, February 18, 2006 Doug Lesmerises
Plain Dealer Reporter
Columbus
-- Ohio State men's basketball coach Thad Matta said he's most concerned with his team playing better defense today against Northwestern.
While brushing aside speculation Friday about the new job opening at Indiana, he also fell short of an "I'm staying" declaration.
Indiana's Mike Davis officially announced his resignation Thursday, effective at the end of the year. Matta, who played and coached in the Hoosier State, already has become a favorite candidate of IU fan message boards.
"I think it's a tremendous compliment to our players and our staff that that would happen," Matta said Friday morning. "It acknowledges what these kids have done here. I'll never comment on another job or rumors or speculation or anything like that."
According to his contract, Matta can't say anything to the Hoosiers at this time. He can negotiate with other schools only in the window between the end of the regular season and April 15, and only after giving written notice to Athletic Director Gene Smith. Matta, or Indiana, would have to pay OSU a $500,000 buyout if he left. Indiana does not plan to name a coach until after the NCAA title game on April 3.
The first name in the Hoosiers rumor mill is former IU star Steve Alford. In Matta, fans find a candidate with state connections who is not part of the Bob Knight coaching tree.
Matta, 38, grew up in Hoopeston, Ill., 6 miles from the Indiana border, and his father was a fan of Knight. Matta finished his college playing career at Butler University in Indianapolis, then started his coaching career as an assistant at Indiana State and later at Butler.
The second-year Buckeyes coach is in the midst of an eight-year contract worth $11 million.
He is earning $820,000 this season in guaranteed salary and will earn an extra $40,000 if the Buckeyes make the NCAA Tournament. Among other incentives, he also will earn an extra $20,000 if the Buckeyes win the Big Ten title, $40,000 if they win the Big Ten Tournament and he will have an extra year added to his contract with either title.
Davis was making $800,000 plus incentives this season.
With one of the top two recruiting classes in the country coming in, centerpieced by Indianapolis stars Greg Oden and Mike Conley, it would seem an unlikely time for Matta to bolt. The Buckeyes enter today's game at 18-4 and 7-4 in the Big Ten, tied for third in the conference and ranked No. 12 in the country. The collapsing Hoosiers are 13-9, 5-6, and several of their best players have indicated they will transfer.
One factor, the final NCAA decision on future sanctions for the OSU program over violations committed under previous coach Jim O'Brien, still is weeks away.
The Buckeyes are not anticipating a postseason ban, but if one comes down and the Buckeyes can't go to the 2007 NCAA Tournament, the recruits could exercise an out that Matta put in their letters of intent. That ban could make leaving a more viable option for him.
Though Ohio State has the bigger budget and better facilities, Indiana offers what Columbus never can: a place where basketball is king.
If the IU administration likes Matta as much as some of the fans do, he may have a choice ahead of him.
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