Online Now 3240

The Front Row

The place to discuss inside information, the latest rumors and scoop on the Buckeyes

On this Board 2036
Record: 6110 (2/14/2012)

Online now 3353
Record: 10904 (2/4/2012)

Boards ▾

The Front Row

The place to discuss inside information, the latest rumors and scoop on the Buckeyes

Around the 'Shoe

Anything and everything football related that has to do with your Buckeyes

The Best Damn Recruiting Board

If it's football recruiting, OSU-style, it's cussed and discussed here

Bucknutin' But Net

Talk a little Buckeye basketball with your fellow Ohio State hoopsters

The Bucknuts Hot Spot

The place to be for topics too hot for any place else

The Buckeye Babe Thread

Share your favorite pix, a special lady in your life or someone else's life

Reply

Caryer: Sullinger and the NBA

  • I would have to agree with those who think that Sullinger will be no more than an average/support player in the NBA. Though his sheer physical ability allows him to score under the basket in college, his lack of height and "playing above the rim" will limit him in the pros. He'll eat the ball regularly in the pros. Hopefully, people close to him, will be truthful with him. He's still not ready to move on unless he really needs money. My gut feeling is stay in college, get a degree and then try the pros.

    buckeyerevenge ●

  • AlphaBuckeye06 said...

    Hope I'm wrong but I think Sullinger will be average to below average in the nba. If he was 2-3 inches he could be a All Star.

    But he won't be able to score on NBA bigs and won't be able to guard NBA small forwards on the perimeter.

    I'm afraid that you may be right. Sully seems a little soft and he needs to completely change his body if he wants to make it in the NBA.

    He will have to change into a pure power forward/ small forward in the NBA and he will need to learn how to shoot those mid range jump shots better.

    davebucknut

  • babyshakes said...

    That's why Tyrus Thomas goes 4th and Paul Millsap goes 47th. You take the guy who can jump out of the gym, I'll take the guy with solid game.

    Cool take Millsap and I take Blake Griffin.

    AlphaBuckeye06 ●

  • AlphaBuckeye06 said...

    Amare is like 2-3 inches taller then Sully. If sully had his height I think he would be dominate in the NBA.

    I watched Amare for 10 years in Phoenix - he's 6'10" and way, way more athletic than Sully. And not because Sully is heavier, but because Amare is more athletic.

    Sully has to go to the right team - Amare struggled at times in Phoenix because he's a 4 and was forced to play the 5's like Tim Duncan, and got his lunch eaten on the defensive end of the floor. If Sully gets in the right system and can play as a 4, he's got a shot IMO. If he has to play 5, he's a goner on both ends of the floor (even assuming his jumper continues to improve).

    You can't handle the truth

    mrmrclark ●

  • This post is for members of Bucknuts or All Access VIP members only. Start Free Trial

    Timber

  • Sullinger got beat up pretty good last night. Is he going to be OK for MSU?

    Nutbuck1

  • AlphaBuckeye06 said...

    Cool take Millsap and I take Blake Griffin.

    Congrats on missing the point.

    Griffin was a 22/14 player in college. I'm talking about drafting on "potential", which is why Tyrus Thomas went 4th, and what you would have to be doing if you're dropping Sully into the 15-25 range. Show me 24 guys you would take over Sully, and I'll show you about 15 guys with "potential" that haven't accomplished nearly as much as Sully.... and likely wont accomplish as much on the next level either.

    babyshakes

  • babyshakes said...

    Congrats on missing the point.

    Griffin was a 22/14 player in college. I'm talking about drafting on "potential", which is why Tyrus Thomas went 4th, and what you would have to be doing if you're dropping Sully into the 15-25 range. Show me 24 guys you would take over Sully, and I'll show you about 15 guys with "potential" that haven't accomplished nearly as much as Sully.... and likely wont accomplish as much on the next level either.

    Griffin was drafted off potential too. Not many guys in a nba draft makes the NBA. There are some foreigners and other guys who will be better NBA players IMO unless sully gets a killer jump shot.

    AlphaBuckeye06 ●

  • AlphaBuckeye06 said...

    Griffin was drafted off potential too. Not many guys in a nba draft makes the NBA. There are some foreigners and other guys who will be better NBA players IMO unless sully gets a killer jump shot.

    A guy who averages 22 pts and 14 rebounds a game is definitely not drafted on potential. With those kind of numbers he was about as proven as a draft prospect can get.

    signature image signature image signature image

    ng164300

  • I have to disagree. He will be a star power forward in the NBA. He plays the post exclusively now, but has shown the ability to face the basket and score. He is close to a 50% 3 point shooter, although he hasn't taken a great number. He is always double and sometimes triple teamed on the post from which he has shown himself to be an excellent passer. I really love Lenzelle Smith's game, but there is no way he scores 28 in a game without three people guarding Sully. Also you can see what happens when a team tries to guard him one on one by viewing the Wisky first half. That was the B1G top shot blocker that was trying to guard him. He is becoming a better defensive player and he doesn't just guard the block. Put that together with a pair of soft hands and you have a much better than average journeyman in the NBA.

    MrTbuck

  • Lee;

    I wish you would analyze the tapes closely and determine why Smith and Craft were beaten so often on guys going to the basket. It wasn't an accident or a case of our guys getting slow all of a sudden. I think it was because they were getting caught in screens and also their first proirity was protecting on the three pointers. Normally, no one gets a first step on Craft or Smith. You can bet future opponents will be watching tape and they will be copying Purdue's tactics until we figure out how to stop it.

    Old Buckeye

  • Big Baby Davis was very good in college. Two things Kevin Love has going for him is he can hit the NBA 3 pointer consistently and he is nasty! The latter can't be underestimated. He plays mean which you have to if you're an un-athletic big. I think Sully will refine his body as he gets grown. I think he'll be at the least in between a Big Baby and KLove. Hell Samardo Samuels gets plenty of minutes for the Cavs and he can't hold Sully's jock. Would I draft him in the top 7 or 8 - nope. Right under that, no question.

    roc1507

  • Very interesting comment made by Dan Dakich during the Purdue game last night. He coonted that Purdue's center played above the rim, while Sullinger plays below the rim. Sullinger is a 6'9" player who doesn't have much of an outside game. can't block shots, and doesn't play good interior defense. Yes, he can rebound, score inside against inferior opponents, and makes a good percentage of his free throws. If I were a NBA GM, I would draft Sullinger in the first round. The bad partof it all, he will never physically be able to do the things he can't do now, no matter how long he stays in college.

    rwkosu72

  • bones10 said...

    I have to disagree Alpha. Do you think Paul Millsap is more talented than Sully? He is the exact same size and no more athletic than Sully and he is a borderline all-star. You can't base everything on measurements. It's not like he is Kenneth Faried and playing 90% of his college games against overwhelmed opponents. Sully is going up against the best big men in college hoops and putting up consistent numbers.

    He will be able to score against NBA PF's because he has extremely soft hands, a high IQ and can finish after contact. He will also be very effective in the pick and roll hitting mid-range jumpers which is so much more a part of the NBA than college.

    Sully could end up a Charles Barkley type player. Not extremely tall, but very powerful.

    MidloBuckeye

  • IMO Sully certainly does not resemble Barkley in any way. I don't think his game is like Love's either. I believe Jared is really about 6'8". He can make the perimeter jumper when open, but can't really create his own shot. A lot of the calls he gets now, he won't get in NBA.
    I think Jared should stay and enjoy being the toast of Columbus. He would leave OSU as one of the all-time greats and then his NBA career can be whatever it turns out to be. It would be sad if he left early and then struggled at the next level. He'll probably go after this year, but I would love to see him stay.

    jjguth

  • This post is for members of Bucknuts or All Access VIP members only. Start Free Trial

    Chuckhead

  • This post is for members of Bucknuts or All Access VIP members only. Start Free Trial

    Chuckhead

  • ng164300 said...

    A guy who averages 22 pts and 14 rebounds a game is definitely not drafted on potential. With those kind of numbers he was about as proven as a draft prospect can get.

    Forget averages, regardless if Griffin dropped 30 a game, his potential to be a NBA star was still through the roof.

    Just because you can score doesn't mean you are proven or not proven or do or don't have potential.

    Was Adam Morrison proven when he averaged 30 points a game?

    I just have to see Sully play more outside and above the rim before I envision him playing against the Dwight Howard's, Andrew Bynums, LaMarcus Aldridges, Blake Griffins, etc. His shot gets blocked way too many times at this level for me to be confident he will succeed in the NBA. But if being average is succeeding to someone then he will have success.

    This post was edited by AlphaBuckeye06 on 2/8/2012 at 9:38 PM

    AlphaBuckeye06 ●

  • This post is for members of Bucknuts or All Access VIP members only. Start Free Trial

    Chuckhead

  • I think Sully playes one more year works on a few things his jumper will get better his foot work he will get stronger !!! And then he will move up to a top 3-pick next year enjoy your College career first !!!

    ohiobigtee

  • This post is for members of Bucknuts or All Access VIP members only. Start Free Trial

    AlphaBuckeye06 ●

  • jjguth said...

    IMO Sully certainly does not resemble Barkley in any way. I don't think his game is like Love's either. I believe Jared is really about 6'8". He can make the perimeter jumper when open, but can't really create his own shot. A lot of the calls he gets now, he won't get in NBA. I think Jared should stay and enjoy being the toast of Columbus. He would leave OSU as one of the all-time greats and then his NBA career can be whatever it turns out to be. It would be sad if he left early and then struggled at the next level. He'll probably go after this year, but I would love to see him stay.

    This really how i feel, but i hope he proves me wrong.

    This post was edited by Dirtnasty on 2/9/2012 at 12:16 AM

    signature image signature image signature image

    Y'all don't know me.....Dirt Nasty.

    Dirtnasty ●

  • I have posted a few things about Sully and the possibility of him staying......he continues to struggle getting his shot off around the basket if he has to actually go OVER someone.

    The thing that Sully will absolutely HAVE to improve is his quickness on defense as well as on the offensive end. It feels to me like he tends to force the ball too much if he is frustrated etc....If you have a big guy all you have to do is keep him in front of you (I know, easier than it seems) and make him try and shoot over top.....

    Like any other player he will continue to develop his skills and he will not be double and triple teamed like he is now which will allow him freedom to manuever with the ball.

    My biggest concern is his ability to defend......he is far from quick which will make him a liability given certain match-ups in the NBA if he is at the 4 spot.

    No doubt he will be a contributor in the NBA and wish him the best (i want him to stay one more year!! :)) but depending on how this season ends as well as the feedback he gets from experts in the NBA game will determine if he stays or leaves.

    signature image
    signature image
     signature image

    bcroft

  • I watched Tristan Thompson play in high school and college (the top five pick for Cleveland), and, while long and athletic, he was not the same impact player as Sully.

    Keep in mind that Sullinger has played against THE elite big men at every level so far, and has more than held his own. The one thing that NBA scouts cannot seem to predict is heart, work ethic, and competitive drive. Count Sully (along with Craft) as one of the most competitive athletes out there!

    I see 17 and 10 for alot of years if he stays healthy and plays alongside a decent center. That is worth a top ten pick.

    neil111

  • Lee,

    Thanks so much for answering our questions!

    Do you see anyone more dangerous to our Bucks than Kentucky in the current field (if the tournament started today)?

    Thanks, Neil

    neil111

Ohio State
247Sports
Features
Resources
Connect

247Sports In partnership with CBS Sports