There weren't any real significant developments on the hoops front in the last week but I rounded up a few nuggets for you to peruse.
While you're throwing down RBV's or ice cold brews on campus this Saturday, don't forget about the open hoops practice from 4-5pm in the Schott. Doors open at 3:30 so sway on over there if you can and show some love for the '08-'09 hoopsters. I'll be there - just have your lady look for the strikingly handsome dude wearing the 11W shirt stinking of Vodka and stop by to say hello. I kid. (I won't be drinking Vodka)
CBS Sports writer Gary Parrish recently released his preseason Top 25 and the Buckeyes are slotted 19th. Purdue (6), Michigan State (9), and Wisconsin (22) also made the cut.
Respected (at least by me) analyst Jay Bilas came out with his list of underrated/underappreciated players to watch and star-in-the-making Evan Turner got some love. As Bilas accurately notes, if Turner can improve his decision making leading to less turnovers, he will be a force. I personally expect Turner to blossom into a 14, 6 and 4 guy that Matta leans on heavily when the game is on the line. He can do it all. Might be a lofty comparison but he's got Jimmy Jackson type versatility.
Matt Markey of The Blade has a nice piece on Wil Buford and the Toledo pipeline to Columbus built on studs like JJ, Dennis Hopson, Kelvin Ransey and now Buford. I can't wait to see Buford play against D1 competition and fully expect him to play a major role on this year's squad with his ability to score from all over the floor. Man, how good was Hopson in college? Dude could score at will and had the fresh box cut to match. I never imagined he'd be such a bust in the NBA.
Of course, the biggest name in this year's freshman crop is big man BJ Mullens. He's a lock to start from day one and CollegeHoops.net expects big things. They've got Mullens on their Honorable Mention All-American list and expect him to be one of the most dominating freshmen in the NCAA.
Lastly, it looks like former Buckeye Othello Hunter has a damn good shot to crack the Atlanta Hawks roster. Hunter has impressed the Hawks with his defense, rebounding and work ethic. Coach Mike Woodson has compared him to a young Ben Wallace and Hunter even drew praise from hoops guru / bedouin Larry Brown helping Hunter get a shot with the Hawks summer league squad where he made a name for himself.
If you want to follow Hunter's progress, check out his training camp blog. I don't know about you, but I find him extremely easy to root for.
Comments
ill see everyone at the open practice! basketball season is just around the corner, buckeye fans...
oh yeah, and go bucks - beat penn state.
I agree Chris, Turner will be a key when games are on the line. I think he is going to be able to take is man down in the paint and hit a turnaround 15 footer which is not a bad last second shot. I also predict Mullens will be the Freshmen of the year in the NCAA and would love to see him swat and dunk on Hansbrough in the tourney. I like the upside of this year's team, i really think the Big Ten will be tough and physical which will make us better. I also think we might play some more man to man this year even though Thad's zone is nice. I am so glad we have two sports to get jacked up about now. On Hunter he has some talent to be a decent player for decade in the NBA and think he did not get enough credit he is very solid.
did u just compare him to JJ?!! way off dude he's not even Mike Redd at this point. He is to soft on d and doesnt take care of the ball. He has shown flashes but no way, Jimmy was special.
SEC!!! SEC!! SEC!!!
JJ was the smoothest mofo I ever did see.
we'll see, tampa....you are the same dude who sucks off pj hill every week so I'm content to see which of us is more crazy!
I just know the game of basketball Chris. I didn't know I was suckin Pj Hill off by saying he should start. Right now he's the best we have. He can handle the ball and push it up court. He'll be a good fit at point for this team because he won't try and look for his own shot.
Outside shooting will decide how far this team goes. Bj and Dallas should be monster inside.
Is it just me or was this the most contentious non-Michigan week commenting day in 11W history?
Tampa --- I'm just messin' with you. I know you know your hoops! I hope we're both right. I want the best players on the floor, period. I would love for you and Hill to prove me wrong.
Tampa - one more thing --- my original comments about you and Hill were truly intended as a joke but after an extended happy hour, they didn't come across as jokingly as I would've liked. I blame Labatt Blue.
I listened to Matta call in on 1460 around 1740 hours on the drive home. He didn't seem overly enthused when he talked to Hooley.
It sounded like he's happy with Offut's effort, but he sounded a bit underwhelmed with Buford's game awareness and management skills. Matta said that BJ was coming along, but had to get used to taking passes at the right points. I'm sure the college game is going to be a bit of an adjustment.
Still no word on Kecman, which is patently ridiculous. Matta said that he expected an answer shortly - maybe in the next week. He also gushed a bit about Kecman's shooting abilities. Hooley asked him if we might see a rotation with four guards on the floor, and Matta said he might well do that.
He had some good things to say about Jeremie.
Now's usually the time when I predict a 9-3 start to the basketball season, just to keep a trend. :)
Its all good chris. Let me know how they look at practice.
"Practice!, we talkin bout Practice! not a game! PRACTICE"
Eeyore Fox how many games does the bball team lose? 15, 20?
"Eeyore Fox how many games does the bball team lose? 15, 20?"
Football season's not over yet. I stand by my prediction, and hope to Gawd I'm wrong. C'mon, Bucks!
I was surprised to hear Matta sound a little down-in-the-mouth. Granted, it's late on a Friday afternoon, he's tired after a first week of practice, and he knows he's going to have about 500 drunken fans at his open practice, thanks to King Football, but he didn't sound overly excited about what he has right now.
I'm not sure what to think about this team. I'm going to try and get over to practice tomorrow, if I can, and see them in person. Based on what I read, and what I saw them do in high school, I could see them as a #6 or #7 seed in the tournament, or as champ of the NIT - again. It all depends on who grows up, and when.
I have high hopes for Kecman being eligible and helping out this year. Matta seems to like him quite a bit. I hope he comes through, because I'm really done with the whole "sweet-shooting European tall guy" thing.
Anyone see Jerry Sloan's comments about Koufos last week? BRUTAL.
What did Sloan say?
HAHA! Nice, Joe!
I heard Matta's comments yesterday and agree with your assessment of what he thought on Buford, especially. It's real early so I'm not too worried. As you all know, it takes a minute to get used to Matta's practices and adjust to the speed of the college game - just ask Diebler. I am more concerned about how fast kids like Buford and Mullens improve during the first six weeks of games. I think that will tell the tale of how good we can be.
Tampa - Glad we're on the same page. I cringed when I read my comment this morning! Trashed isn't a strong enough word for my inebriated state last night! I was about to go to campus and challenge Hill to a game of 1 on 1. I think I could take him.
"What did Sloan say?"
Koufos is getting some good press now, but last week he had an 0-5 game and was pulled off the floor after 8 minutes. Koufos is battling Fesenko for a spot. Sloan praised Fesenko, and then said this:
"Now Koufos is a little different story. I don't know what that was. He shot it every time he touched it."
A reporter asked Sloan if Koufos had been given a green light to shoot at will, and - apparently - he hadn't been:
"He's got a green light to go rebound. He's got a green light to pick up loose balls, and those things young guys should do when they step out on the floor. He can shoot the ball, and that's one of his strengths. When he's been open, he's probably been told to shoot it. But we'd like for him to fake to one of the other guys once in a while, just to let them know they're in the same game."
Yikes.
This team should battle for a big ten title this year. That translates into atleast a 4th seed. Im not overly impressed with Michigan State after last years tourney. Lucus is by far the best player they have but after that? We on the other hand have a future #1 pick in Mullens and guys that can lock up on the defensive side of the ball like lighty, Dallas, Turner(when he wants to) I just don't see this team any lower than a 4th seed coming in to the season.
Matta has taken young talent to the brink before. this year he has got a nice mix of guys that have been in the program and youthful talent.
Mullens will be a monster for this team on both sides of the ball. I've seen him play against top tier players and he doesn't just hold his own he dominates.
I still think Diebler has alot of upside and I think he could be the difference between sweet 16 and a final 4.
not surprised in the least with K.K. losing him alone should up Ohio State in the national rankings
I don't know exactly what Sloan said, but my guess is something along the lines of "soft" or "weak" or "wussy" or my favorite term for KK is "aloof"
"I still think Diebler has alot of upside and I think he could be the difference between sweet 16 and a final 4."
I agree that Diebler can really impact the team. Matta spoke well of him yesterday. I think he's difference in making one tournament or the other - not a difference in seeding in the NCAA tourney alone, though. They're just too young.
I would LOVE to see Diebs be a factor this year. We lose a lot defensively with him in there but looking at the roster, we could use a better three point shooting percentage from him this season.
Matta said the same thing about Diebler's defensive skills, Chris. I think he's thinking the same way you are; he's hoping for a few 3s.
Diebler will be fine. If he contributes 8pts a game and helps spread the defense by consistently knocking down a few 3s that would be fine. Hopefully he'll be much more comfortable out there now that he has a year under his belt. A big key for me is going to be the contributions of Crater & Lauderdale. I was glad to hear the recent good reports on Dallas. They will need him to be physical and finish strong around the basket. If Crater is the true point guard they say he is, then he could really benefit a number of players, especially Diebler & Mullins. I expect Turner & Lighty to be the leaders and to set the tone on defense. Let's hope they worked on their ballhandling over the summer. They could have a punishing fast break!
When you have a true shot blocker in the lane it makes everyone else a better defender. Diebler is without question the best shooter on the team but he might need another year to develop. I hope we get the Diebler from the UNC game all year though.
I believe we are to call Diebler "The Ghost" or "3iebler".
Right, Tampa...Hopefully, he'll be Threebler a little more often. I don't want to have to use this photo of him again..
http://www.elevenwarriors.com/...
3iebler it is! Hopefully, he'll get to the rack a little more this year. What do we know of Kecman? I hear he can shoot, but otherwise he's Kofus light. Always good to have shooters though.
Sounds like Matta likes him because "He can do what our other bigs cant - shoot" but definitely wouldn't expect much help from him on the glass.
As Joe alluded to earlier, I think it's a disgrace that the NCAA still hasn't given word on his eligibility. What the hell are they doing? If he does get busted, sounds like he could miss 8-16 games.
[...] in late October, I compared Evan Turner to that of a young Jimmy Jackson and said Matta would lean heavily on him with the game on the [...]