Eleven Warriors

I'm hoping this will open a discussion about our Roundball Buckeyes, I'd like to know if people agree with me or certainly what your differing opinions are.  As you will see, there are some advantages to having us non-writers stick primarily to reading because I can't say this will flow very well. 

I realize that OSU is a football school but we are also a basketball school.  The only school who can compete with us for having a top notch program in both sports is Florida. With that being said, I understand the argument that there are only 12 regular season games for football and therefore each game is that much more meaningful.  However, the basketball team will play 30 regular season games which allows us to get to know them so much more before March Madness begins--and then we can watch them put it all together and make a run when it counts most. 

The B1G is the best conference in basketball.  I'm really looking forward to playing great teams like Michigan, Illinois, Michigan State and Minnesota in conference play.  (Isn't it refreshing to not have to hear about the SEC like we have to endure during football season?)

Here are some of my thoughts: 

Deshaun Thomas is a SCORING MACHINE.  He's the best pure shooter in our conference and he really makes it look easy.  I read on here that someone said he was slow; I also notice that he is often the last Buckeye down the court but maybe it allows him to see the court better because I don't think it affects his play at all.  His defense has improved tremendously and I believe we will have fun watching him in the NBA. 

Aaron Craft is the leader of our team.  His defense and ball distributing skills are great.  I am not in the camp that we need him to be our #2 or #3 scorer.  Let him focus on what he does best. 

Lenzelle Smith, in my opinion, is very undervalued.  He knows his role which is to step up and do whatever the team needs him to do that night.  He scores, rebounds, defends, handles the ball well, and passes well.  If I'm picking teammates, I'm picking Lenzelle.  He's a quiet leader and I love watching him play. 

Amir Williams has probably frustrated me the most so far this year but just because my expectations for him are so high.  He just seems weak at times.  And I think to go far in the tournament we need more of an inside presence which to me means we need Amir to have a breakout year.  (Right now, as I'm watching the Bucks play Nebraska, he's looked as good as I've seen him so far.)

Sam Thompson can dunk...Laquinton shows so much potential...Ravenel is solid...Shannon Scott has surprised me the most this year in terms of how much he has improved since last year...how about Amedeo developing into a Diebler-like 3 point threat next year?? 

Another thing that really impresses me about our team is how unselfish they are!  It seems like there are no ball hogs and they are all willing to make an extra pass to get a better looking basket.  Deshaun included and I think it'd be very easy for him to worry about his stats and take as many shots as he can and not make that extra pass. 

In summary, I would encourage you to get to know these Buckeyes because they are fun to watch, very talented, and they have two months to continue to improve before tournament time.  We are very fortunate to have both a basketball team and a football team who consistenly compete at such a high level. 

One last thing:  I think Thad Matta is a tremendous coach.

Wondering if anybody on here has thought that Aaron Craft reminds them a little of Braxton Miller and vice versa in terms of how they go about their business in their respective sports?

The main comparison that I note between the two is how cool they are under pressure.  It seems that Craft and Braxton have had this cool confidence since the first time they took the field/court.  I noticed it in that first big game of Craft's freshman season againts the Gators down in Gainesville.  I was wondering what Thad was thinking at first throwing a freshman at point for a lot of the game.  But man, it seemed like AC handled that game like a 3rd year starter right out the gate rarely turning the ball over (I actually dont remember one) aand playing tough D against a ranked opponent away from home.  The obvious "cool under pressure comparison" for Braxton came in that miraculous pass against Wisconsin his freshman year after sharing time with Bausermann through much of the season.  But even before that game, I was in awe with the way he handled alot of that pressure and seemed really confident under center like he had been there done that.

Another comparison I see between the two is the way they make you look like a fool if you are up against them.  Braxton does it all the time with his creative running style.  I call it creative running style cause he will make a cut or spin into a spot that you wouldnt even think of watching him from your big screen.  And your thinking in your head -- man, that probably wont work -- but then he makes another cut to space and opens up another 5 to 10 yards or makes a LB lose his shoes.  Craft obviosuly imbarrasses his opponents through his unrelenting defense and hustle.  I love it when he hustles down a guy on a one-on-none fast break then strips the ball right before the guy is about to throw it down. 

My last and perhaps most important comparison between these two players is that both seem to play the game the way its supposed to be played.  "What chu talking bout Willis?", you say?  I mean that both seem to have a hard-nosed, work your tail-off attitude without losing the cool necessary to lead their teams.  It seems like both have a similar demeanor regardless of whether they are up big, or down and running out of time.  Its got to be calming to have that leadership on your team.  Craft shows it with the big clap he is always working after a good hustle play by one of his teammates, and I see it in Braxton when he takes the field again after injuring his knee against Mich St. this year. 

There are other comparisons that I cant think of but these are the main ones that come to my mind when watching both these guys.  There are probably disadvantages that they both share as well, but I am slightly biased being a Buckeye Fan.  I dont know if this comparison has already been done on here or not, but I thought that I would throw this post out to see if anyone sees some of these similar traits between the two.