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Which Thad 5'ers start next year?

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Thump said:
And what do you base that on?
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I'll weigh in with jo4h. Hunter has great size, juco experience, and would be someone who can play a true power four. If Hunter brings a physical game at that spot, then he has something that we're missing right now in Harris. I'm having trouble with the idea of Twigs as a full time four. His game is improving greatly, but more as a center, in my observation.

I'd want to see Hunter play in Worthington this summer before saying, "Yeah, he'll start at some point this year", but I think that he's got a shot just due to need.

Otherwise, Oden and Cook are the obvious picks. Conley would have to be utterly amazing to push past Butler the way he's playing right now.
 
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I think there's a better than average chance Mayes will not be with the team next year. But anything's possible.

If it were me (have to stress that, since I have about 1/1,000,000th the basketball knowledge that the staff does), I would start Conley, in the interest of keeping him and Oden on the floor as a cohesive unit. They've played together for four years already, I see no reason to break that up. Butler is too good of an on-ball defender to sit down, and he has shown that he has the offense to play off-guard. You're giving up a little size with him at the two, but not much, and not always. Frankly I love the idea of having two ball handlers and talented passers at the guards to facilitate getting the ball into Oden. Lewis is the three - he's clearly earned it. I'd like to believe that Harris could step into Syl's spot next year and salvage a disappoint career, but he'll need to work on his passing and learn how to draw fouls from time to time (anyone know what the record for fewest free throws attempted in a four-year career is?). Oden at five. Really this is just an excuse for me to blubber about how excited I am for next year. Every worthwhile big man in the conference, with the exception of Courtney Sims, is graduating. Augustine, Davis, Killingsworth, Hansen, Brunner, Keifer, Vukusic...gone. Brian Butch and Courtney Sims will be all that stands in the way of Oden being first team All-Big Ten as a freshman. The kid could seriously average 12 points, 10 boards, 5 blocks and 3 assists. Can not wait.

Funny thing, though...I really don't see them performing better than this year's team. Can't say enough about the way we're playing right now. At any rate, I don't think it will ultimately matter who starts. Whoever earns playing time will get it. Simple as that.
 
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Butler - There is no way Conley takes over Butler's starting job next year. I truely believe Butler will be an All-America Candidate next year. I know Conley is a hyped up recruit, but Butler was Mr. Basketball his senior year. The only reason he was not that hyped up was due to his early verbal to Cincy his sophomore year. (We all know that didnt pan out.)

Lewis - I say Lewis is a lock to start at the 2 or 3.

Cook - Cook is a HUGE talent. He was overshadowed in this recruiting class by Oden. If Oden was not in this class, everyone would be talking about Cook. The kid is a pure scorer, and makes it look easy.

Harris/Twig - I think this all depends on what type of offense Matta wants to run next year. If he sticks to the 4 out 1 in offense, I say Harris starts. If he decides to go with the more traditional 2 big man offense, I say Twig will start. This position could also depend from game to game on match-up problems.

Oden - Oden is pretty much a lock to start at the 5 for the Buckeyes next year.
 
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While a JUCO transfer, I think Hunter will be starting fairly quickly if he is as good as anticipated. He is being brought here to play immediately, and he will be given a shot to earn signifcant minutes quickly. Beating out Twig and Harris for the 4 spot is not an impossible task. Cook will take over Sullinger's spot defensively, defending the opposite 3 immediately. While I could see a lineup of Butler, Conley, and Lewis on the floor along w/ Hunter/Twig/Harris, and Oden, having Cook at the 3 and Lewis at the 2 would be much better defesively.
 
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Starters
Butler, Cook, Lewis, Hunter, Oden

Butler, Lewis and Oden are locks to start IMO. Butler & Lewis are the most talented at their position IMO, and have excellent experience to back that up. Oden is an obvious choice over Terwilliger.

I like the possibility of Conley on the floor. He will never start over Butler, but running a double PG could work, tho I believe Cook will be the main starter. Mayes has to prove he can contribute against tough competition (other than VT, that has not been the case).

Cook is a greatly overlooked talent around the buckeye nation. I expect him to be a regular contributor, much like Lewis was this year (my early pick for 6th man off of the bench).

The 4 is the hardest position to determine. Twigs is not a 4. Brayden Bell has not proven he is good enough to contribute at all during the game. Until bell improves, Twigs is not even an option at the 4 IMO. Imagine if twigs were to get in foul trouble, or winded. Who would spell oden?

Harris came on strong during a few games, but he will have to do it consistently. He is a bit of a soft 4, which seems to be the opposite of Hunter from the limited intel I have seen on him. Perhaps Oden will be dominant enough in a thin Big10 frontcourt that we will not need a strong 4. I believe the 4 is completely up in the air. I'd love nothing more than for Harris to continue stepping up this year, and create a controversy for next year vs Hunter.
 
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Everyone is throwing out good ideas, and it will be fun to follow.

Just wanted to note that Terwilliger has a great chance to make a leap next year similar to the one that Butler has made this year. All of the PT he is getting this year as a backup 5 should help his confidence and abilities next year if he proves himself worthy of starting at the 4. We don't really get to see what he can do this year at the 4, because we have too many other good players who warrant the playing time, and thus, he only comes in to spell Dials. He could be pleasantly surprising next year playing alongside Oden rather than just breaking him out. That's my hope, anyway.

Conley and Butler on the floor together? Yes. The majority of the time? No, I don't think so. You are looking at Butler, Cook, and Lewis getting close to 30 minutes a game, I think. Throw in 30 for Oden. That leaves 80-90 to split between Conley, Harris, Twig, Hunter, Mayes (?), Lighty, Bell, and Payne (:p). Conley will be interesting to follow, in terms of how much of those minutes he assumes as the year goes on. I would be surprised if he becomes a starter at any point, though.
 
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this is how I think it will look:

PG- Jamar Butler
Butler is becoming just the floor general we need. Starting to show the knack of being able to pentrate inside. Can light it up from outside as well. VERY GOOD DEFENDER. Somebody will have to pack a lunch to get him out of this spot.

SG- Ron Lewis
Not really sure how good Ron can handle being the off guard. Love his offensive game. If he possibly couldn't handle being an off guard, switch him and Cook. I think his role, as somebody else previously mentioned in this thread will be similar to Sullinger's this year.

SF-Daquan Cook
Very good player. Have heard comparisons to a young Ray Allen. I think he comes in and starts immediately. Very skilled offensive player who is a threat to score at any time. You know what they said about Ray and you could say it about Cook, too. HE GOT GAME!

PF-Harris/Hunter
I am like many other people wondering about this position. I think Twigs stays at the 5 to releive Big Greg. Harris has shown spurts of being good but is too soft rebounding and on the defensive side of the ball. Don't know much about Hunter but I hope he can bring what Jason Singleton brought to the 4, toughness.

C-Greg Oden
The second coming of Bill Russell. Dominant defensive player and very skilled offensive player. Cannot wait to see Big Greg in Scarlet and Gray. GREAT PLAYER, period.

That leaves a bench of Twigs, Conley, Harris/Hunter, Lighty, Bell, Mayes, and oh yeah, Payne:wink2: . You could say things are looking bright in BuckeyeLand boys.
 
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they guy who told me othello would committ a month before he announced it says his style reminds him of a junkyard dog, something this team seriously lacks.

i wouldnt be suprised to see conley play a fair share at the off gaurd too, similar to darby under penn.
 
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Keeping in mind Matta's 4 out, 1 in approach, here is my take..on the opening game starting 5....

Butler, Cook, Lewis, Harris and Oden...

I think Conley, Mayes and Hunter will see their minutes along with Twigs. Hunter could suprise some people next year.
 
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Its not always who's starting, but who's finishing and who's bringing a spark off the bench. I could see Conley, Butler, Cook, Harris (if he can average more than 1 rebound every 40-50 minutes) and Oden, with Lewis coming off the bench to provide a calming effect, senior leadership and explosive scoring. This would give Matta his 4 out 1 in offense.

Before you guys think I'm a moron though, I figure it will be Butler, Lewis, Cook, Twig (if his outside shot continues to develop) and of course Oden.

I agree that we may not be better next year than this, but we'll have a little more depth inside and with Oden we will not be overmatched against anybody like Dials maybe was against scum.
 
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I agree that we may not be better next year than this
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I think talent wise we will be very much improved just with Oden. Everyone has to realize just how dominate he will be next year in the Big Ten. Experience will be a weakness, but with Butler, Twigs, Mayes and Harris they can help Cook, Conley, Lighty and Hunter grow. I don't see how anyone can think we will not have more talent next year.
 
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