Bucknutin' But Net

I agree with running more when we sub. I think our athletes on the bench can run, and it would give us some easy baskets in transition. We're one of the youngest teams in the Big Ten, with only 1 senior (Buford) and 1 junior (Ravenel). I do wonder why Sibert isn't in- Is he in the doghouse? Initially, he seemed to understand his defensive assignment and could make some shots (granted 13-50 from 3 pt isn't that great), but Sam Thompson is 1-12 from 3 pt and Shannon Scott is 1-16 from 3 pt! So out of our raw bench, it would probably be reasonable to give Sibert and J.D. Witherspoon some PT. Amir Williams gets abused on the block and Ross isn't there yet, though he seems to have a frame to build on.

Maybe we press more on defense to get some turnovers? Craft is the best on-ball defender in America, why not have him pester the ballhandler with traps on either side?

Sibert might be injured and that's why he hasn't been playing in games. Thompson beat out Sibert so it's easy to say that Sibert will likely transfer next season to a MAC school. Matta never uses his bench unless there's foul trouble. Matta hardly ever uses timeouts in games.
Buckeye's success depends on whether Buford, Thomas or Sullinger are hitting their shots. You have to have two out of these three players to make at least twenty or more points for OSU to win. The only thing I liked about the Northwestern game was Craft had 14 points and Smith had 12 points in the game. This needs to keep up. These guys need to keep this up for OSU to have a great shot at winning. OSU has to play better and communicate with one another on the court. Craft must become assertive and tell these guys what the hell to do on the court in other words he must become a leader.
Buford is a streak shooter, he was 3-10 versus NU. Hopefully, he will produde versus MSU but that is highly unlikely. He should hit his shots versus MSU but they are good competition. Buford doesn't produce versus good competition.
Scott and Thompson need to have some coaching from the assistant coaches. Both of these guys are way too athletic not to score points. Teach these guys how to shoot. Perhaps these guys are doing something wrong mechanic standpoint. Buckeyes are an average team right now and beating an average NU team doesn't mean much with only a two point win. Buckeyes beat NU by 25 points at the Schott a month ago and eke out a two point win.

Need to play Williams over Ravenel but it will never happen this season. I hope Matta gets Tony Parker out of Lithonia, Georgia next season if Sully leaves or doesn't leave. All the shooting guards are gone right now. I would love to see Marc Loving graduate from High school one year early and play for OSU next season.

I think a complete shift in thinking must occur. Make Thomas the focal point of the offense instead of Sullinger. Several times this year Matta has run plays that look like a modified triangle offense. (Probably put in by Jent). In this set Thomas is given the ball at a high post just outside of the free throw line. Every single time it seems to produce points. Either he turns to take an easy jumper or the defense reacts and he makes a good pass for an easy shot. Sullinger and Buford are usually at opposite sides of the paint during this set creating the triangle. It has been very successful whenever it is called.

Also, we need to consider what truly happens when we throw the ball in to Sullinger:
A. He turns and puts up a contested shot hoping for a foul call.
B. The defense sags and he does not react fast enough causing a turnover.(10 in 1 game)
C. He kicks it out to our non jump shooters to re set and try again.
D. He becomes frustrated and picks up a charge call.
E. He actually is fouled, but misses the free throws lately.
F. HE ACTUALLY TURNS AND MAKES A BASKET.

That is 6 possible outcomes with only one being good. It has become brutal to watch. Once you reach the Sweet 16, the average post player will be longer with more skill. IMO, in the Big Ten only MSU has the kind of post players that the better teams will have in the tourney.

Now when Thomas has the ball, more often than not, something good happens. Over the last few weeks, he has been our most consistent scoring threat and his defense has picked up.(No worse than Sullingers). He scores inside and out, hustles for rebounds and keeps his composure. When he is "on" he is unstoppable. He gets his shot up too quick to double team.

I'm not saying he is a better player than Sully, just saying ride the hot hand. This would let Sullinger be more George Reese than Greg Oden. I'm just tired of the whole throw the ball in to Sullinger and everyone stand around watching to see what happens.

The way the team has been playing lately I definitely don't have too much confidence that they'll get past the first few rounds but some suggestions I would offer are:

1. I don't like playing zone defense, but it has become obvious that this team struggles with playing consistent man-to-man. They are good in stretches but then seem to fall apart once they start getting tired. Playing zone will also help keep players fresh since we know Thad has no intentions of subbing much. Since we have not done it all this year I don't feel that this team can successfully switch over to zone, takes time and feel.
2. I think Thad will continue to feed Sully in the post and run a significant amount of the offense through him. That said, I think that Sullinger needs to make quicker decisions and not hold the ball. He clearly is waiting to see what the defense is going to do which is not a bad thought, it just seems as though he usually gets himself in a position to where he turns it over, takes a bad shot, or has to pass the ball. The last shot against Northwestern is a good example of getting the ball and making an immediate move before the defense has a chance to sag or double team.
3. I read somewhere Buford saying that when he is struggling with his shooting he just keeps chucking it up knowing that they will eventually start falling. That seems like a selfish way of thinking. A team only gets so many possessions in a game, if you're not on either start taking it to the hoop more or QUIT SHOOTING!!! I get so frustrated watching Buford and sometimes Thomas continue to shoot jumpers when they're ice cold. You could tell in the game at Michigan that Thad was also frustrated at Buford and was trying to convey to him that he's not playing smart like a senior should.
4. The bench minutes are limited, we all know that. But even when the bench is in, there is absolutely zero scoring coming from any of them. If Thad can't find a way to get some sort of production out of them it will be a short tourney run this year. I don't know that there's anything that can be done about this except for those players to take it upon themselves and be smart and aggressive when they are in there.

Play smart patient Basketball,this team does neither. Buford's bad decisions. Sullinger crying to officials. Craft getting in a hurry on the offensive end.
This team does not have an abundance of scorers,i think they need to grind games out score in the 50's take what the defense gives them stop firing up the first shot that looks open.
Play good defense.
I think last years team was a high powered offense this team is not.

You are an idiot!