...and by bad, I mean good, like Michael Jackson's Bad (ok bad example), like bad as in badass.
When you look at these "great coaches" at schools with considerably more blue blood than tOSU in the basketball program, like Kentucky, North Carolina, you see higher rated recruits brought in, you see rebuilding/reloading years... but what you don't see is those other coaches being able to coach-up their teams and get max effort from the guys like Thad Matta gets.
We have every reason to have had a regular season like Kentucky and North Carolina this season. Sure we knew we had 2 solid pieces with Thomas and Craft, but we lost a huge portion of of our team and our identity as a play from the inside first team with Sullinger. Frankly we were over-rated at the start of the season.
Thad, most years, won't have recruiting classes rated up with Kentucky and NC, but he gets his guys to buy in...I've not seen those blue bloods work on D like a Matta coached team. Sure a long athletic team like Kentucky had last year might be solid defensively, and with a athletic 7 footer patrolling the paint your D can put up solid stats even if your not a defense-first team, but virtually all of Thad's teams have bought in to playing their butts off on D. It doesn't matter if it's a team loaded with freshman with NBA talent (Thad 5) or in his not as talented teams. He will always get more out of his guys, and find guys like a Lighty and Craft to lead the way with D and demand max effort from their teammates.
Ohio State teams will rarely, match the UK's and NC's talent level or players star ratings man for man, but as long as we have Thad we will continue to compete with them and have our share of better seasons. If getting the most out of your players and getting them to play together is the best way to rate a coach. I'm not sure any team has a better one.
In the words of Michael: Who's Bad?
http://youtu.be/afD_xkDUsgc?t=1m6s
Nice write up. I couldn't agree more. This season has really proven to me what you just said. I thought we were overrated to start the season, but we really came on as the season progressed. I thought the team might quit after the wisky loss, but they toughed it out and matured as a team. This team has TEAM players and I would rather see that then selfish talent.
Good point Buck...I'd rather have 2-3 high school all-American types surrounded by 2nd tier guys who aren't selfish and work like crazy for the team vs a team full of 5 star guys hoping to be 1 and done.
D. Anthony
It's funny you wrote this I was thinking about that as I was watching the Kentucky game last night. I would hate to be in their shoes with 1 and done players every year that would get old excellent write up.
I agree to a point. I mean prior to this year Cal lead teams have done no worse than the elite 8 the last 6 years with 3 Elite final fours. Thad had an NIT season after winning a national title too. Cal also beat us in the tournament with a team that depended on 3 freshmen and we were the number 1 overall seed with guys like Diebler and lighty.
Next year would be an awesome year to match up against them. They'll have 5 great recruits coming in. If Thomas ends up coming back, Ohio State will have a team of all Jr's and Seniors, plus a couple decent recruits coming in. I'd be interested to see how that played out on the court.
I do completely agree though, Thad is a great coach and has made basketball more than just a pass time til the spring game at Ohio State. That's no easy feat.
It's worth pointing out that last year's UK team won it all on the backs of more than just Freshmen. True, 3 freshmen bolted for the NBA, but 2 sophomores and a senior were also on that team. In 2010 when they beat us, they had 3 Freshmen players, 2 juniors, and a senior who led them to the final four. Only one of those Freshmen bolted to the league.
So it's not as if, he brings in 5 freshmen, the start, and all bolt. The 2010 team pretty much did that, but 2011 didn't, 2012 had 3 freshmen starters that left, but they lost experience too. If we are to believe the 3 guys last night, three of their 4 freshmen are coming back.
The question I pose to people who say they don't want 1 and dones is this. If you knew in a 4 year period you would make an Elite 8, final four, win a title, lose in the first round of the NIT, and win a title, would you take that? We may not like his method, and you will have years like this year from time to time, but if you only have a terrible year once every 5 years wouldn't you take it? This class he has coming in, plus the guys coming back(if they do, I'm skeptical) will win a lot of ball games. They aren't going to an NIT next year.
Thad has learned so much the past 7 years. I feel he's really put it all on display this season, showing us what's to come in the next 5 to 7 years. D. Anthony is right, he gets the most from his guys. Plus he's a smart, classy, tough ass competitor who treats everyone with respect.
Now consider the returning team next year: the most returning depth he has ever had. Add to this the promise of the 2014 class (please, Okafor). Thad is stacked.
I wasn't saying UK has all 1 and done... but they generally have te cream of the crop recruits, many of which might hope to be one and done.
I'm not against having some of those guys, but you have to hope you get the good team-first guys which can be hard when many expect to shine so much right away and get to the pros quickly.
D. Anthony
Micheal Jackson bad?
How about LL Cool J bad
I'm a friend of thunder is it any wonder lightning strikes me