Blog Archives
The Bucks Stop Here
OH-NO.
In conference play, particularly in a conference as difficult top to bottom as the Big Ten, a streak of 3-games is either impressive or alarming.
Unfortunately for The Ohio State Buckeyes, the latter has proven true.
What’s wrong with Thad’s group?
After a stinging defeat in East Lansing to Michigan State in a top-5 battle (after an outstanding late second-half comeback) 72-68 in OT, a stunning home loss to Iowa 84-74 and last night’s collapse in The Barn at Minnesota 63-53, the Buckeyes need a new plan. Whatever is currently in place is not good enough and is not working. They can’t score, turnovers are happening in devastating bunches at critical points in games and there’s a lack of awareness and spontaneous creativity from a team with very talented athletes and players.
This is not Ohio State basketball.
Perhaps the most frustrating complaint from Buckeye Nation is that fans know the team is better than what they’ve seen the past three games on the hardwood.
What to do?
Here are a few suggestions for a mid-season comeback and identity resurrection for the 2013/2014 Ohio State Men’s Basketball Team:
- Design plays for C Amir Williams to score a solid 7-10 points a game (baskets and free throws) by establishing a post-presence with him for occasional spurts during the game
- Design and force more isolation plays for Q, Sam Thompson, Aaron Craft and Marc Loving. The athleticism, wingspans and/or quickness of all of them (a difficult 1 v. 1 match-up for most any player in America) could directly result in 2s and 3s or a pass inside for a 2 or a pass outside for a 3-point basket.
- To mask the fact they don’t have a solid 20-25 point scorer and a 10-15 point accomplice every game, the Buckeyes need to make more 3-pointers. Bottom line. Pure and simple. Making lots of 3s is a cornerstone of every successful Thad Matta team. As simplistic as this reads, it would go a long way to restoring overall confidence in the Buckeyes.
- Finally, they need to make steals and turnovers matter. Defense is an obvious strength of Ohio State and they need to maximize this supremacy in every outing with every turnover. They need to punish their opponents with points and momentum shifting dunks (Sam Thompson, anyone?) off of turnovers. Again, it’s become a necessity because of the team’s lack of reliable, quality offense.
Defense wins championships, but you need offense to win games.
The above suggestions would help Ohio State rebound for the second-half of the season. It will not solve all of their problems in the micro, but it’s a start.
Because as everyone’s seen in the last three games, it’s clear the Buckeyes need to go back to the beginning at square one.
Happy Monday!
For four teams in the Sweet Sixteen (Ohio State, Arizona, Wichita State and La Salle), the Staples Center in Los Angeles will be their venue this weekend. Be sure if you’re going to watch that you not only have a ticket, but also that you’re sitting in the right seat…or else.
And this goes for everybody!
“Don’t you, forget about me…”
12:15 p.m. Pens, pencils and fingers down. Let the madness begin!
March 21st is not only the day the NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament starts (sans play-in games), but is also the second day of Spring. An important question to ask ourselves before the sealing wax is impressed on the envelope containing our acutely examined NCAA bracket is, “Which team will be ‘reborn’ during this tournament?”
There is no consensus “best team” in the nation. Number one seeds are naturally perceived as the favorites and most likely to win. However, Louisville, Indiana, Gonzaga and Kansas have not been dominant throughout the entire season. Each has had its stumbles and one, in particular, has endured embarrassing losses (cough cough–Kansas). Neither of these teams have a “golden ticket” to the National Championship or the Final Four.
In terms of being ‘reborn,’ this references to a team or teams that are very good, but have had a couple bad setbacks and therefore lost the attention of the country and commentators. One of the vital factors, if not the most important in making this determination, is the man who sits second in from the scorers table. A college head coach, more so than in the NBA, can spark an improbable comeback and maintain composure with his players in the most frantic and stressful situations.
The evening of January 19th was a prime example of the magic that is yearned for every year in college basketball. The game was close throughout and literally came down to the last play of the game. Relive the madness, January edition.
Brad Stevens is the coolest coach under pressure in college basketball today. His teams are fundamentally sound and he is refreshing in his demeanor. Stevens is grateful in victory and gracious in defeat. The Bulldogs did lose five games in conference and finished third at the conclusion of the Atlantic 10 regular season. Even despite their past success, most have put them in the, pardon the pun, “doghouse.”
I am not predicting Butler to win the national championship, but they did beat Gonzaga (#1 seed) and Indiana (#1 seed) in close games this season. Usually, victories in late March come down to a final shot or defensive stand…
And is it just me, or does it seem like Brad Stevens was born for this.
Jimmy's Daily Planet 