The Front Row

Another great article, Lee. I always look forward to your insights on our Buckeyes. Over the past several years I have been surprised about how little it takes to get numerous Bucknuts posters to jump off the bandwagon of the roundballers. One or two losses and it seems as if half the folks with a computer are as skilled and insightful as Magic and Larry and MJ combined and Thad is suddenly some dolt from the hills that fell off the hay wagon. Well, I imagine that goes with the territory. I have followed the Bucks since the Jerry Lucas teams and I am really thankful we have Thad. He may be one coach that can rival Fred Taylor in skills and accomplishments when all is said and done. Anyway, it is fun to watch his teams.

docMike, I am not one to pick between Taylor and Matta, since the game has changed so, so much. Fred is in the HOF; Thad has had a great first eight years here, and has established a quality program for the future. I am thankful for both. However, Matta has an immediate problem in the post, which has to be solved through coaching, player development and recruiting.

goodsons, one major problem amplifies any minor problem. We have a major deficiency in the post, and have to cover it up every time we play a reasonable opponent. To be good, we have to minimize the problem in that area and excel at every other. If free throw shooting is any less than a plus, it is a big deal.

Lee: You provide more Big Ten and Buckeye basketball insight than I can find anywhere else on the internet. However, I am not as enamored with Nik's home video as you apparently are. It was on his backyard court. I can remember when even you shot like that in your own backyard. Though, your court wasn't nearly as nice as his.

Great article! I am not sure they will be able to sufficiently address the post weakness week in and week out. However, with Scott's development and maturity, they will be able to rely more heavily on the transition and perimeter game, as well as three-guard sets. They will need Lenzelle and Sam to attack the glass and hit the boards, or rebounding may be a challenge.
Love the additonal quotes from the various broadcasters, especially the one about TV Teddy Valentine! He (along with Eddy Hightower, Ted Hillary, and Jim Burr) officiated some of the games that I played in 30 years ago in the NAIA. He could put on a show then!

1buck, Thank you. As far as coaching goes, with experienced, skilled players, sometimes the best thing to do is get out of their way. It worked for Matta in 2011 for most of the year, and for John Wooden at UCLA for most of the 1960s. Last year, between games, Matta did a tremendous job of redirecting a team which could have gone into the tank at times. However, as I wrote last week, this year he does not have great skilled players. He must reach into that bag of tricks I requested for him from Santa and manufacture a win or two.

Remember that DT is limited in that he cannot make a move from the perimeter and get to the basket. This will hurt him in the NBA, and reduces ways for him to score here. I do agree with you that the coaches could find other ways to get him opportunities to score.