Watching this OU game, I can't help myself from thinking how much better our Buckeye team would be with a scoring threat like Offutt playing the 2 guard. It's exactly what were missing in that spot, yes I know Lenzelle plays tough defense and is very scrappy. But by the looks of it, that's exactly how Offutt plays plus he can score the basketball. I guess John Groce seen something Thad didn't.
PHONE'S RINGING -- IT'S URBAN ON THE LINE
•Football Schedule•Basketball Schedule•Forum•About•Contact
11W Poll
Buckshots
Buckshots Block
-
Gordon Gee's Retirement Life Comes into Focus
Meet the soon-to-be President Emeritus of The Ohio State University.
-
"The academic part, it's like you have to try to fail."
South Carolina's latest verbal commitment on his future academic track. He also loves his coaches.
-
Bielema Proposes Rule Change to Slow Down No-Huddle Offenses
"Woah, slow down, buddy. Let's savor that first down for a while."
-
Gene Smith Named to NCAA Council of Athletic Directors
Group will meet regularly with NCAA president Mark Emmert.
-
Matt Hayes' Ten 2013 Season Storylines That Don't Involve The SEC
1. Ohio State-Michigan.
-
Wilson Recaps Ohio State Visit
2014 cornerback Quincy Wilson talks about his recent visit to Ohio State.
Recent Blog Posts
- The Time Traveler: Analysis of Anger
- Gee, by the numbers
- Heritage and Tradition Revisited
- Would you let your kids go to scum?
- Field of Dreams, Buckeye Football, and Father's Day
- Johns Hopkins to the Big Ten from JHU President Ronald Daniels
- Meanwhile, at Penn State...
- I always thought the SEC was a Conference.... Has it morphed into something before unseen?
- Gordon Gee is Ohio State's Joe Paterno
- Perkins officially leaving OSU
Active in the Forum
- Jalyn Holmes is a buckeye! (*update - no official commitment yet)
- Which way is the NBA rigged?
- 2014 Brandon Harris vs. 2013 JT Barrett
- B1G APR Scores
- TTUN's interest in 11W?
- Odd/Interesting Historical Facts
- Dog Show!
- Knox: "UCLA is Leader"
- Update on 2014 QB Situation
- Derrick Green development
- BTN Interview With Tom Herman
- Michigan/OSU Recruiting Battles - Defense
- Quick Bits 6/18 (Demetrius Knox names a leader)
- NBA Finals
- Top 3 coaches not named Saban or Meyer
Want to say hello?
We love hearing from you! Whether you want to work with us, discuss advertising opportunities, or pass us a hot tip, you're more than welcome to drop us a line.
Hah, funny you say that because Offutt was originally at Ohio State, so obviously Thad saw something and gave him a scholarship. He just decided to transfer, probably because he didn't want to wait his turn at Ohio State (it it ever came) and because he could play with one of the coaches that recruited him at Ohio State in former assistant John Groce.
October 20th: National Kenneth Guiton Day
He's an average player on a MAC team. Maybe their 3rd best player.
Lenzelle has had 2 years to grow his game, Offutt's had 4 now.... wait till Lenzelle's career is over.
Favorite Buckeye: Obviously BJ Mullens
Do you think I didn't know Offutt and Groce came from OSU? That's why I made the post. I'm happy as hell for both of them. I was just stating my opinion because we have a major hole at the 2 guard position. Wait til Lenzelles career is over? I'm worried about now! He shouldn't get 30 plus minutes a night!
Average player on a MAC team? Maybe their 3rd best player? Well their "3rd best player" just led them to the sweet 16. He had over 20 points and made every hustle play. He is their most important player on the team!
I don't think the handling of Offutt was Matta's finest hour, and I suspect Matta would admit the same thing to himself. Remember how early he gave his commitment-- if Offutt had been confident of even getting 5 minutes a game at some point in his time in Columbus (which would still be less time than Jeremie Simmons was getting as the top guard off the bench), I don't think he would have left.
I figure Matta hasn't cared much about the guys who need some time to develop because he's been able to recruit his way out of trouble. If people transfer, no big deal because there's always been a hot new freshman to take his place. As the neighborhood gets tougher--the Michigan and Indiana situations have stabilized, and Illinois may be next--he might have to change his approach in that regard.
The most "loud mouth, disrespect" poster on 11W.
Thank you Buckeye Chuck. Note to everyone else Jeremie Simmons and PJ Hill was playing over Walter Offutt...I rest my case.
By the way Go Bucks!!!!!!
Well, yeah. Because of the comment you made about Groce seeing something Thad didn't. I would think Thad obviously saw something if he was on scholarship at a program like Ohio State. Simple mistake.
October 20th: National Kenneth Guiton Day
But, I agree with the general concensus. Just because Offutt is balling on a MAC team doesn't mean it would translate. Smith Jr. has played great all year.
P.S. I'm not too sure Smith Jr. isn't our 3 spot with Willie B. being the 2 guard. Maybe I'm wrong.
October 20th: National Kenneth Guiton Day
Well the 2 or 3 guard. Offutt plays hard defense just like Lenzelle but Offutt can also score. And I do think it would translate because you have to believe Groce's system is similar to Matta's. I do appreciate how hard Lenzelle plays, he makes alot of hustle plays for us. He will get better I know. I am simply impressed with how well Offutt has turned out. And it's not the same kind of comparison when you compare the MAC to the B1G. It would be in a sport like football, but in basketball lots of small schools have teams that can compete against "BCS schools." OU could of won the PAC 12.
Absoutely Alex. If Offut were here now he'd at best be the backup sg. Nowhere near the defender Lenzelle is. Or the rebounder. Both shot 34% from 3. The entire difference in their stats is that Offut gets 8.6 shots per game and Lenzelle gets 4.5. Talk to me next year about wishing Offut stayed at OSU.
LSj or Offut? I'll take LSJ. And Glory you forgot to mention he played in the B1G.
I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault.
JACK TATUM
I think Smith showed he can score and has had some timely buckets this tourney as well. He just realizes there are 4 other players before him.
I forgot Offutt was going to transfer to New Mexico, ended up at Wright State and then at OU. He left after four games into his sophomore season, because he wasn't playing as much as he thought he should, even though he was coming off an injury his freshman year.
Can you believe that Buford's recruiting class was B.J. Mullens, Noopy Crater and Offutt.
Of Ohio's top 3 usage guys, Offutt had the highest offensive efficiency. He is a major part of a MAC team that made a sweet 16 run. Obviously a great player and I wish Ohio State still had him. Smith had his moments this year, and is a much better rebounder than Offutt. In the end the Smith still has 2 years to show us how good he can be.
D.J. Cooper is more important to OU than Offutt...Offutt just had a bigger game today. Do some research before saying he's their most important player. He's also playing on a 13 seeded MAC team. Understand why he transferred and it's great that he's taking advantage of it.
Offutt was impressive last night. Good for him and OU
But who knows? I have seen him twice now. The more you watch a player against B1G oppenents the more their weaknesses are exposed.
2 torn acl's.
Look at who Lenzelle played against all season and look at who Offut played against. Also factor in that almost no one takes a game off against the Buckeyes. We are the jewel of people's schedules. Even MAC teams sleep through games against other MAC teams.
Lenzelle Smith is not a way better defender like some of you think. Has anyone seen Offutt play? He plays with the same tenacity that Smith plays with and he can score. Seems like its hard for people to admit that we let one get away. Offutt can play, he turned into a damn good basketball player. Lenzelle will get better I KNOW! But Offutt right now is an upgrade over Lenzelle.
If you didnt watch the Buckeyes all year and was reading this forum you would think Lenzelle Smith Jr is an All American.
So you wanted Offutt to stay and sit behind the likes of E.T., WB, Diebs, and Lighty - when would he have seen the floor exactly? Don't fault him for transferring.
He would of been riding the pine if he stayed ,and probably wouldn't of developed as much as he did anyway.
I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault.
JACK TATUM
He could of saw time last year as a role player then became a starter this year. But I dont fault him for transferring either, he did what was best for him. He has turned into a very good player and one of the main reasons OU is in the sweet 16.
In today's or 4 year's ago society, kids expect to come in and play--not come in and develop. They were HS rock stars that immediately think that they should come in and start even if they were coming off an injury their freshman year. Matta is notorius for playing a short bench, so players should do their research--and ultimately make a decision about what is the best fit for them--in the reverse of Offutt--we recruited the MAC Freshman of the Year--Ron Lewis from BGSU--and he turned into a decent guard and the savior of the Xavier game.
LSJ came off an injury last year--bought into Matta's system of strong defense and unselfish offense which was needed most games--when we needed him--he has stepped up. If you want to make the comparison, wait til he is a senior.
How many future NBA first rounders did Offut have to guard this year? Put Lenzelle on that Ohio team and he's their clear 2nd best player behind Cooper. Offut isn't very good. He's a product of shots. Almost every single player on every team who gets 9 shots a game will hit at least 40% of those. Lenzelle gets less than 5 shots a game because we are a stacked team with 4 better offensive options than him right now. Toss Offut on Ohio State and give him Lenzelle's minutes, he still isn't getting more shots. Offut is the same level of 3pt shooter as Lenzelle. Average. Neither are Diebler. I'd take Lenzelle any day no matter what OU doesn in the tourney. Cooper has the keys to that team.
I must say Lenzelle Smith played great tonight!!! Go Bucks!!!!
Agreed! I'm a little surprised how poorly some played but I can't come down hard on anyone.
GO BUCKS!
Maybe you should have wondered how we would be doing with Offut starting and Buford off to the NBA after his sophomore season.
Wow I rest my case about Offutt. The man can play! He has had a hell of a game vs North Carolina. Someone said he's OU's 3rd best player?? Think again, he's been the best player on the floor tonight between both teams!
Until it mattered. Last I checked Offut choked that game away. He's no Lenzelle.
Walter Oufutt = Jordan Sibert
Sibert should be seriously considering calling Groce after this.
Smith is much better. Oufutt is a MAC player. He couldnt hang in B1G.
Yup. UNC gameplanned to stop Cooper and he went 3/21. They left Offut be and he had a good game. If they gameplanned to stop Offut, he'd have gone 1/20.
Gotta say, Lenzelle came to play tonight; no doubts about it.
Lenzelle =clutch, offut MAC player. LSJ > offut.
" I went for two cause I couldn't go for three."
-woody Hayes
I'd much rather have Lenzelle shoot than Buford. He's not afraid to shoot any shot in any situation. Buford is scared these days to even toss an entry pass into the post. Lenzelle forever.
I think you're flat out crazy
Greg Jennings "I put my team on my back"
Lenzelle has been money in the tournament I must admit.