Thad Matta

By Lincoln -06 March 2013
28 Comments
- Basketball

Peaking when time is right. I think he is an ok coach.

Hovenaut on 6 Mar 2013 - 12:24am #

He's good people in my book. Proved his mettle tonight....whaddaya say Tom Crean?

"Success - it's what you do with what you got" - Woody Hayes

TheBadOwl on 6 Mar 2013 - 12:24am #

Ok as a coach? Try fantastic.

I know there's a vocal minority that doesn't like Matta. Two sub-par recruiting classes will do that to a fanbase. And admittedly, sometimes he gets outcoached out of the half. But I'll always be a huge Matta supporter. Dude is a legend IMO.

I wouldn't cheer for Michigan if they were playing the Taliban.

Lincoln on 6 Mar 2013 - 12:31am #

Ok may have been a little sarcasm. I think it could be the hopslam and happy mixed!

D. Anthony on 6 Mar 2013 - 12:29am #

The low points for OSU under Matta are still way better than what Buckeye basketball was 90% of the time prior...Did we expect to compete year in and year out for B1G titles? Did we expect to make The Dance every year? Nope

D. Anthony

faux_maestro on 6 Mar 2013 - 2:26am #

You make a good point. Matta's worst team (arguably) won the NIT.

bigbadbuck on 6 Mar 2013 - 12:29am #

Where are all those folks who just a week ago or so said he lacked passion?...BTW.........Great win for the Buckeyes!!!!!!!!!

Battles are sometimes won by generals; wars are nearly always won by sergeants and privates. Football is no different, the guys down in the trenches win the games, not the coach.

RollBucks on 6 Mar 2013 - 12:47am #

Best coach I have seen at OSU in my life. With that being said I don't quite understand why Jent seems to be the one drawing up plays end of game now. Is he the offensive coordinator now?

Roll with it.

Toilrt Paper on 6 Mar 2013 - 1:04am #

One of the most important attributes of the leader of an organization is to be a good deligater.

osu07asu10 on 6 Mar 2013 - 1:01am #

I believe Jent has had a major impact on the buckeyes in game changes and ability to adapt during play. This is something Thad was not the greatest at for years, but it has really improved since Jent joined the staff...just my take.

O-H-I-Owe-U on 6 Mar 2013 - 1:04am #

Thad has adapted to the talent on this team. Took longer than expected, but he's doing it and the guys are responding at a key team. Damn it's fun to be a Buckeye!

O-H-I-Owe-U on 6 Mar 2013 - 1:05am #

key time, sorry

LouieG on 6 Mar 2013 - 1:12am #

Thad has done a great job this year and this game was the perfect example. They had a long break to prepare and they came out with a plan and executed pretty well. Also, look at how Ravenel played after Thad chewed him out during the NW game. Looks to me like he is pushing all the right buttons right now. Also, props to Ravenel for responding to the verbal lashing by having one of his best games as a Buckeye. Didn't pout but went out there and played his ass off.

ATXbucknut on 11 Mar 2013 - 12:43am #

For anyone who isn't thrilled to have Thad as our coach, please consider this FLIPPIN AMAZING stat:

Ohio State finishes the year as the only team to have at least 1 win over every Big 10 team. 4th year in a row the Buckeyes have done it

— Matt McCoy (@MattMcCoyWTVN) March 10, 2013

Hovenaut on 11 Mar 2013 - 4:35am #

Considered, that's crazy....to do that in this conference. Matta has done another fantastic job this year.

"Success - it's what you do with what you got" - Woody Hayes

buckeyestu on 11 Mar 2013 - 5:00am #

Coach matta is one of the top coaches. Imo the best basketball coach ever at osu.

LouGroza on 11 Mar 2013 - 5:50am #

Matta should be COY without question. They will probably give it to Crean even though he should have won the league with that center and surrounding talent and was fortunate to do so without sharing it.

Lincoln on 11 Mar 2013 - 7:43am #

He has pushed all the right buttons this year. The Craft / Scott combo took a while to really take off, but he stuck with it and that guard play is now one of the strengths of the team.

Everyone wants more Ross, but Thad has seen what we all couldn't - He just doesn't give a winning effort enough to warrant taking minutes.

The small lineup used this week, limiting Amir, his even-headedness after terrible losses (Illini/Badgers). I could go on and on. I am just happy he is our coach.

Poison nuts on 11 Mar 2013 - 8:50am #

This year, more than any in recent history should prove to people that Matta is a truly great coach. Not just a good recruiter & ok coach...one of the best coaches in CBB! I know that until the He wins an NC, there will be haters, that's just the nature of this fanbase. We all have high expectations. But if this recent run hasn't proven something to the Matta detractors (and there are plenty of them out there) then there's just no pleasing some people.

BTW - I'm all for discussion & debate about things. People are entitled to question a coaches decisions & ability. I'm talking about the folks who want/wanted Matta fired, not the people who make rational critiques...if you would prefer to see another BBall coach at OSU after seeing this season come together, well, you're certifiable IMO...

The world is full of kings & queens who'll blind your eyes & steal your dreams - it's heaven & hell - Ronnie James Dio.

MN Buckeye on 11 Mar 2013 - 9:05am #

UMN hired Tubby Smith after being fired from KY. While I think Smith is a good guy and a pretty good coach, his teams have started strong but tanked at the end. I will take Matta any day.

tennbuckeye19 on 11 Mar 2013 - 10:58am #

Tubby wasn't fired from Kentucky. He resigned and accepted the Minnesota job. I lived in Lexington at the time and while the feeling was that if he hadn't resigned he might've been fired, he had 4 years left on his contract and the support of his AD. Most UK fans were completely shocked when he was announced as the HC @ Minnesota because he had interviewed, accepted the Minny job and resigned @ UK very quickly and without many knowing.

MN Buckeye on 11 Mar 2013 - 1:38pm #

I stand corrected!

tennbuckeye19 on 11 Mar 2013 - 1:58pm #

I didn't mean to call you out or anything. I just know most people think he was fired, and it was a crazy time in KY. I remember being at work and getting a call from one of my friends who is a huge UK fan and he says, go to Minnesota's athletic website. There on the front page was a picture of Tubby Smith in a Minnesota jacket announcing him as their new coach and the announcement that he had resigned from Kentucky hadn't even been made yet.

The funny thing is that while most UK fans thought he was a great guy, they didn't like him as a coach. And then while he was there they were calling for his firing every chance they got, but when he actually left, some were sad, many were shocked, and a lot were mad. Ha.

AllDay028 on 11 Mar 2013 - 9:26am #

Thad has done an amazing job this year. As long as we don't make an exit before the sweet 16 or semi's of the BIG tourny I would say this may be his best coaching job ever.

joshhersh on 11 Mar 2013 - 9:31am #

I will admit to doubting him early. With that said, the turnaround this team has accomplished just screams "Matta is one hell of a coach".

ohhiyo on 11 Mar 2013 - 3:42pm #

ATXbucknut on 11 Mar 2013 - 11:22pm #

His recruiting and development ain't bad either.

Ohio State has had a first-team All-Big Ten player 8 straight years. The next longest streak in the conference is … one year.

— Doug Lesmerises (@PDBuckeyes) March 12, 2013

dubjayfootball90 on 12 Mar 2013 - 3:51pm #

^^^THIS! I really like Matta and have a lot of trust in what he has built/is building in Columbus. Love him as a coach and as a person, and he has the Buckeyes peaking at the right time man. Five straight wins? Thank you very much, Coach.