A rare 2 pointer from DiebsI know we're in the heart of football season but the hoops squad is only six weeks removed from their first exhibition game and seven weeks from the season opener against Delaware State. This, coupled with Dickie V recently naming Jon Diebler as a sophomore who will have a greater impact this season got me thinking some roundball.
As long as worthy updates persist, I'll use my Thursday afternoon slot for hoops related happenings leading up to tip off.
There's no doubt Diebler took his lumps in last year's up and mostly down season. He did manage to bury 48 triples, good for 2nd all time for OSU freshmen, however he needed 166 attempts to do it meaning he shot a meager 28.9% from beyond the arc.
The campaign also saw him struggle to get his own shot against college defenders and his ball handling (43 turnovers against 45 assists) was still on the high school level resulting in 80% of his field goal attempts coming from deep.
His limited skill set was further diminished by a lack of confidence meaning he needed a summer of major growth to avoid significant bench time this season considering Matta's glut of perimeter players including wings Evan Turner, David Lighty and William Buford combined with point guards Jeremie Simmons, PJ Hill and Noopy Crater.
I'm not convinced Diebler has a ceiling above being a spare part streak shooter but I would like nothing more than to see this kid prove Vitale right. Personally, I think Diebs showed enough physical and mental flaws in his game to have me thinking Vitale needs to lay off the Patron.
What do you guys think? Will Diebler breakout this year or will he struggle to get minutes?
Comments
I'd like to see him live up to his potential. You dont know how many times I said "this is going to be his break-out game"..! It's not H.S. any more Diebler.... you have to play with the big boy's. Get that confidence back, that swagger... Mr. Ohio Basketball...!
I think your "spare part streak shooter" is a good guess at this point. It's all up to him. If he really worked hard on other parts of his game (def/ball handling) then he could play a bigger role, but there are so many guys with more natural versatility in their game it will not be easy for him.
If he does struggle to get minutes I still think he can have a big impact off the bench. It's nice to have some instant offense off the pine in a tight game when starters might be having an off night. I think he can really impact some games come tourney time when 3 point shooting can often determine the outcome.
There should be less pressure on Diebler this year and a summer going up against Conley and Cook should have helped him.
I think Ohio State will have a tougher inside presence in Mullins and Lauderdale and when the ball goes into them, hopefully they can pass it back out, because Koufos never did that.
I have never been a Dickie V. fan, but if he is right on this prediction, I may have to change my mind.
what happened to my comment about Evan Turner being the guy thats gonna break out?
If Diebler is on he is a great shooter. He looked great against UNC last year and then I believe Butler froze him out and pretty much every other shooter last year. Poor shooting was the only thing that held that team back. This year with a true big man in BJ Mullens I think Diebler will get alot of wide open looks and it will be up to him to relax and shoot it with confidence.
Anyone have a starting 5 yet? I think it will look like this.
Mullens C
PJ Hill PG
Turner SG
Lighty G
Buford F
Diebler Could start at SG and move Turner to the point. I'm curious good Crater as a freshman and he might see some big mins by mid season. There really are alot of unknowns with all the transfers and incoming freshman.No Question though BJ Mullens will be a star.
Hill won't start...Simmons will likely be the starter at PG, I think.
Thad's team is in serious trouble if PJ Hill is the starting point guard. I think we saw Turner being groomed for that position during last year's NIT run.
I'm trying not to be down on PJ here, but I think he is no more than an energy guy who can come in off the bench and give some defensive pressure at the point. Any scoring or assisting he may rack up is just bonus.
I see it this way:
Mullins C
Lauderdale PF (Matta is tired of being outrebounded)
Lighty SF
Buford SG
Turner PG
PG Turner
SG Diebler
SF Lighty
PF Lauderdale
C Mullins
Lauderdale came on strong at the end of the year & Diebler's stats were almost identical to Butler's from his freshman year, I'm expecting the same big jump in his 2 season as Butler had.
I think Vitale's on crack (or maybe he needs MORE crack) if he thinks Diebler is going to "break out" this year. Hopefully he will, but yikes last year was rough for him.
That's the problem with signing guys from the sticks who dominated mostly other kids from the sticks in high school - sometimes they end up being Jay Burson, but other times they end up being Dan Christie.
No way Buford doesn't start, dood is sick nasty on the slash drive, I predict he is the season's MVP over Mullens and is one-and-done into the first round.
Diebler's shooting percentage was not great but his shot was fluid and you can tell that he can score. I think Diebler will be decent i think he can average around 10 points which is decent. I think a big problem was Butler's 23 foot three points attempts when offense was still running down the floor. I think Turner was up and down also and i think Lighty is overhyped. I do think Mullens and Buford are the real deals. I think Diebler will be better along with our team. I know we will have a legit center who will rebound, plus kick it out from the post that will give great looks and if Diebler is confident it will make a big difference.
Starting Lineup
PG Simmons
SG Diebler/Buford
SF Lighty
PF Lauderdale
C Mullens
John Cooper -- you are too busy selling hot tubs if you dont think Turner is starting. He is by far the best returning player.
my bad Turner will start over simmons
LOL at anyone thinking the Predator should start at PG
If you rub mud on your body you can easily dribble around Hill.
Matta loves to play one big guy, Mullens, and then 4 smalls that spread out. He can do it with BJ or with Dallas. Throw it in to them kick it out to the 3 line. The freshmen from last year need to grow up quick. Lighty needs to lead them and keep playing defence. I was a little upset when Wallace left b/c that guy really wanted to play but there was just no room for him. This team will be defined by how much last years class can improve.
With the amount of talent they brought in this year in the guard spots I really dont see Diebler starting. He would be a great 6 man if he can play better D and learn how to handle the ball. I remember watching him in a high school game and all he did was run down the court and shoot a 3. Now granted he made most of those but he cant do that now. It showed last year. Also, I think it is funy when they talked about how he could drain 10 3's in a row or more during practices last year. But, the question I have is how often was a guy in his face. Probably not a lot. I want to see him do it in a game. He has the shot to do it, lets see if he can now. But, I would rather him play stout defense and not turn the ball over so much. Maybe its to much to ask for but lets see what happens.
I see most of you think Dallas will start but who will come off the bench if BJ gets in foul trouble? Dallas won't start for that reason alone. I believe he will be a force down low and might have a break out season.
I suprised that most of you hate of PJ Hill he is a pure point guard and that is what we need Not a shooter (Butler).
Tampa...I agree 100% that Dallas won't start due to foul trouble / post depth concerns. I do think they chould share significant time together, however, if we play as much zone as last season. I also agree Dallas could breakout, moreso on rebounding that scoring, but a pleasant surprise either way.
As for PJ Hill, I couldn't disagree more. I respect where you are coming from in the fact that we need a true distributor versus a combo guard but Hill isn't the answer. He is simply overmatched at this level in that he turns the ball over at the same rate as our leading turnover guy last season (Turner) but provides nothing to offset that fact. His asst/turnover ratio was essentially the same as Turner's (ET: 1/1, PJ: 1.1/1) in 842 less minutes. Plus, I think it's fair to say the majority of Hill's 162 minutes were in mop up duty against the opponent's second and third string point guard. As for scoring, he doesn't give you that either. I know it was limited minutes but he shot just 25% from the floor, 23% from deep and 54% from the stripe. You can't put that guy on the floor unless you have to. Why do you think Matta brought in Simmons? I think it was to have Noopy and Simmons battle it out for PT because he knows Hill isn't a rotation player on a decent Big Ten team.
I think we're confusing the term "pure point guard" with "guy who can't score". Again, I respect your opinion but the numbers and my eyes just tell me something completely different than what you see. Lord, I hope you're right and I'm wrong because if not, we're gonna have a true frosh (Noopy) and another juco transfer (simmons) running the point because it would be a waste of Turner's scoring and rebounding skills (plus he's got his on TO issues) to slot him at the point.
I see what you are saying Chris i think it could work out with Turner and Lighty playing as 3 and 4 sometimes. Turner does have turnover issues as we know so PG could be a strech but untested Juco player and a freshmen is a riskk to unless he is Conley like. I think this year could be a good sleeper year for us. I think Mullens will be a great addition i never liked Kufos and it proves the NBA scouts have no more smarts then a true basketball fan. He can shoot but in the NBA you better create your shoots including jumpers, all this being said i think this could be a surprising year for us in a good way. I think Diebler to be more affective will have to create some of his own shots and not wait for the kick out three. I do think Diebler will have to be improve for us to make a run in the Tourney
Hard to see how this team will be improved from last year. They lost their top 3 players (Butler, Hunter & Koufus), and will be relying on very young players. Granted, there is some talent, and they could be fun to watch, but they will probably be inconsistent and turnover prone. The big question mark to me is Crater. If he can distribute the ball and get the team some easy baskets, they could develop and be decent by years end. Lighty will assume a strong leadership role, and hopefully the younger guys will respond and get after it a little more than they did last year. Dallas will play a much bigger role this year as well. They need some toughness and someone who can get a rebound when the game is on the line. Looking forward to the season!