Sibert and Weatherspoon transferring from Ohio (YTO)
JD Weatherspoon and Jordan Sibert have been granted their release by Ohio. The timing is great for schadenfreude because Ohio didn't have any schollies available so they weren't really recruiting anyone for this class and lost out on the few big names they wanted for Sullinger's assumed (now available) vacancy. They are only in play for one HS recruit, Della Valle is there starting today, and two transferring freshmen. It's a good thing Matta doesn't use his bench since he'll only have 9 scholarship players next year.
Jeez - I hope Della Valle isn't some white, Nevada bizzaro version of Trey Burke.
I know he held an offer Michigan when he was being recruited. I know we don't "need" another shooting guard, but at this point I'm all for depth behind our guards and when we have a spot open, why not take a look?
zero, since we can't give him a scholly.
Even so, I'm sure his release has stipulations about not transferring in-conference
We don't need a "shooting" guard that shoots 30 percent from the floor and 25 percent from 3.
Not to mention that he left ohio to transfer to a school where he could get playing time.
April 17th, 2012 at 10:05 AM ^
offering a transfer a scholly for 3 years when they can only play the last two isn't a very attractive deal.
April 17th, 2012 at 10:16 AM ^
Sibert is transferring to Dayton.
http://www.buckeyextra.com/content/blogs/hoops-and-scoops/2012/04/04-10-12_sibert-to-dayton.html
So we're now making fun of other teams for having players that never played transfer out?
I reserve the right to enjoy any Ohio pain. Oh, and Sibert averaged 8.3 and 11.4 minutes per as a Freshman and Sophomore respectively. Weatherspoon averaged 5.4 and 6. They did play, just not as much as they wanted, thus the transfers.
Average minutes are deceiving, especially when you don't play every game.
In the 3 games against us, they played a total of 7 minutes (mostly in the BTT blow out).
Don't confuse me with facts! All I need to know is that my Bucknut coworkers aren't happy about the losses and they are starting to doubt Matta, and that makes me happy. I just want to hate Ohio, is that so wrooooong?
April 17th, 2012 at 10:01 AM ^
You should laugh at Ohio fans who are doubting Matta. Actually, ignore the last 4 words of the previous sentence.
April 17th, 2012 at 10:35 AM ^
Your subject line did.
April 17th, 2012 at 11:22 AM ^
Mock the heathen barbarian whence cometh from Ohio, yea verily heap ridicule upon them without ceasing, making it known unto all the world.
First Schembechler, chapter 1, verse 2
I think it's the fact that they can't really replace the players they lost due to timing (at least with top rated recruits).
Highly ranked recruit that didn't pan out or work in their system and was probably not going to break into the rotation. May hurt their depth next year, but probably not much to see here. Smotrycz is a bigger loss than either of these two guys.
I don't think either of these guys are a huge loss but it looks bad for a program that is on the verge of being elite. I don't think this helps Matta's growing rep for not using his bench either. For some reason, Matta can get top 5 recruiting classes but he doesn't seem able to get them over the hump to win a championship. I think Calipari is slimy but somehow he gets these 5* guys to buy into his system and be happy with their role on the team.
Calipari gets kids to buy into his "system" by preparing them for the NBA. There is no pretense of "education" or even winning for the school. Calipari coaches to the players' self-interest; that means "if you do what I say, and we win a lot, you will be making a lot of money by this time next year."
Even more than they make from golden handshakes.
Well, I guess that is what I meant by "system". He gets them to keep their egos in check long enough for the team to win so the players can win in the NBA draft. I'm not trying to say Calipari is doing things the right way by any means. I just think Ohio fans see themselves on Kentucky's level and I was making a comparison of the coaching styles.
then doesn't it look bad for us too?
April 17th, 2012 at 10:00 AM ^
April 17th, 2012 at 10:15 AM ^
Motta got many of his great players from IN after Mike Davis pissed off all the IN highschool coaches in the mid 2000's. He started right around the time Davis angered the coaches and IU struggles started. He got Conley, Oden, Offett, and Thomas in a 4 year period. IU getting better is going to hurt Motta's recruiting.
April 17th, 2012 at 10:22 AM ^
April 17th, 2012 at 10:33 AM ^
Matta is 16-3 against Michigan.
Cooper was 2-10-1 (LOL). Let's say 2-10.
That would mean Matta has to go 16-80 to become John Cooper.
So that would be 77 consecutive loses. I think some where around 20 loses, they'd blow up their arena.
April 17th, 2012 at 11:26 AM ^
It was amazing how much all the Ohio fans tailgating at the Frozen Diamond wanted to get more into college hockey, since it was such a great sport and new to them, and then decided it was better left to Canadians on their way out that evening.
As for the transfers, they probably won't affect things much, but it is something to keep Ohio fans from laughing about Smot, Christian, and Brundidge.
They are also looking to snag a couple transfers, but at this point Della Valle is the only option to come in and play next season. They better be thanking their lucky stars that Thomas stuck around or else next year would have been brutal.
April 17th, 2012 at 10:28 AM ^
Not true about only being in on Della Valle. They are in the top 5 for big man Tony Parker who is expected to announce and sign this Friday. I'm not sure what there chances are relative to the other teams in there, but they're at least in the top 5.
April 17th, 2012 at 10:51 AM ^
April 17th, 2012 at 10:35 AM ^
Weatherspoon was fun to watch in high school. I'm curious where he'll end up because I always thought he could be a good player.
April 17th, 2012 at 11:08 AM ^
What does this make their starting 5?
April 17th, 2012 at 11:16 AM ^
These two likely weren't making the starting line-up. I'd guess we go Craft-Scott-Ross-Thomas-Williams, Ravenel will rotate into the 4, Thomas to 3, Ross to 2 if we need to go big.
April 17th, 2012 at 11:19 AM ^
Is Scott more a point guard though? Or is he a 2 who can handle the point when necessary? And what about Lenzelle?
Also, I've seen Amir Williams play in high school. I don't know how he will handle 25-30 minutes a game at least. Slow, and overall pretty turrible. However, I saw Jordan Morgan play in high school as well, and I thought he'd never see the floor at Michigan. So what do I know haha
April 17th, 2012 at 11:21 AM ^
April 17th, 2012 at 11:27 AM ^
Pretty sure Lenzelle Smith will start at the 2, considering he was the starter this year. Find it a little odd that a Buckeye fan wouldn't know that.
April 17th, 2012 at 12:37 PM ^
Well I guess I'm wishful thinking that Scott will finally step up. Yes Lenzelle will probably start, at least at first. But I know Matta wants Scott to start as badly as I do. He's half the reason we didn't have room for Trey Burke so he'd damn well better making the starting line-up next year.
1 - Aaron Craft
2 - Lenzelle Smith Jr.
3- LaQuinton Ross/Sam Thompson
4 - DeShaun Thomas
5 - Amir Williams
I can see Matta playing Craft and Thomas for 33-38 minutes/game next season. Ross and Thompson will probably split time pretty equally and they're both capable of playing the 2 & 3. Shannon Scott will be given a few more minutes next season in a similar line-up seen in the latter part of last season with Craft moving to the 2 and Scott running point. Evan Ravanel will come in pretty frequently to relieve Williams as well.
April 17th, 2012 at 11:26 AM ^
It was looking like a down-ish year for OSU anyway, and while I don't expect these guys to be terribly missed, they are still warm bodies on a short bench that could have spelled the starters. Will be interesting to see where they wind up.
April 17th, 2012 at 11:57 AM ^
Interesting that these guys retreat when there's a starting position opening for both the SG and PF/C position. Sibert would've had a definite chance to start next year with Buford's graduation, and Weatherspoon could've definitely competed for Sullinger's starting spot. Also, both guys are from Ohio and Weatherspoon is from Columbus. Wonder where they'll go.
April 17th, 2012 at 12:41 PM ^
Well, they sat the bench this year and watched Lenzelle Smith Jr., Amir Williams, and Shannon Scott all get more minutes then they did. They also had to hear LaQuinton Ross complain about playing time, and Matta had a decent excuse to not play him (the fact that he was ineligible until Dec.). Matta obviously couldn't convince them of a good enough reason that they weren't playing.