Something going on in Columbus? 4/5 2015 players transfer
With the announcement that AJ Harris is transferring, Ohio St has now lost four of the five players from its heralded 2015 basketball recruiting class - Austin Grandstaff, AJ Harris, Daniel Giddens, and Mickey Mitchell. While none made a particularly large impact this past year, there was obviously opportunity to contribute down the line.
I should probably be eating some crow here, as I was convinced that class was going to be really special. Guess not.
The team will be fine next year, with the majority of their playing time and points returning, but sure seems like there may be some internal issues. Also, Thad Matta has had some health issues. Maybe the grind of B1G bball, coupled with that, is starting to wear him a bit thin.
Land Grant Holy Land's take here: http://www.landgrantholyland.com/2016/3/29/11322174/ohio-state-basketba…
It's possible that all four players realized that OSU fans suck. They are over-identified with a college team, and generally loathsome.
Plus, how many mornings can you walk to class and see a poop-laden Igloo LunchMate and try to ignore it? When you become numb to that sort of thing, it's time to go.
Past time, really. Good luck and godspeed to these young men. May they thrive elsewhere.
March 30th, 2016 at 10:11 AM ^
As we were watching USMNT last night I told him, "they look like a totally different team than Friday...........playing a lot faster". He replied, "Dad, they probably want to get the game over with and get out of Columbus........"
I had a "thats my boy" moment!
March 30th, 2016 at 10:58 AM ^
Awesome! As a dad, I am proud for you as well. You have done well, good sir. Keep it up. He will be indebted to you later.
March 30th, 2016 at 12:28 PM ^
When I have children, I hope I do as good of a job as you have. +1 to you sir.
get that kid a scholarship! I don't care what for, but get him a scholarship!
my family was driving by a farm that smelled terrible, and my daughter (5 at the time) said, "It smells like ohio here"
March 30th, 2016 at 12:31 PM ^
Even after they leave that cesspool in Columbus, they tend to keep that filth on them. Case in point: their former 2nd overall pick thought it was a good idea to secretly video tape a teammate talking about cheating on his girl, and then post it online. He's about to find out that snitches get stitches.
Thad Matta is the college coach that looks most like the school's mascot
No, taking over for Gene Keady
March 30th, 2016 at 10:01 AM ^
Jerry Kill used to DOMINATE this distinction.
March 30th, 2016 at 10:28 AM ^
He did. Seems like a Big Ten thing.
March 30th, 2016 at 12:36 PM ^
Bret and his pigface deserves a nomination.
I should have been surfing this site a little earlier I guess.
Uncanny
Actually, that picture was probably drawn to resemble Jim Harbuagh. Which came first?
I've always thought Llyoyd Carr looks awfully similar to the wolverines on the helmet stickers.
I give that sacred honor to either Turgeon the Turtle or Kill when he was a Gopher.
That's a good one, but I still need to go with Krzyzewski:
March 30th, 2016 at 10:26 AM ^
K does look a lot like the blue devil, but he is more of a god in my eyes :)
you are "reacting erroneously."
I think Thad looks more like a Billiken.
March 30th, 2016 at 10:06 AM ^
For those intetrested, if you don't know the origin story of the Billiken and how it came to be not only an extant thing but also the mascot of a university (as well as a high school in St. Louis, as I recall), it's fairly unique as stories go. If you've got some time, it's definitely worth the research and reading.
March 30th, 2016 at 10:25 AM ^
It's basically a little elf or gremlin that an artist at SLU just saw in a dream and drew one day correct? I need to look it up again, it might be the most unique mascot story.
when did they change their mascot to the Goblins?
I mean, he doesn't look blue most of the time, but other than that.
Matta took Gene Keady's place for second as Jerry Kill wins it hands down.
Maybe they didn't get the free tattoo they expected.
basketball program is stagnant. They are caught in this uncomfortable world between roster building and one and done and the recipe is not working. They never appear particularly coached, as they are a mix of just getting to campus impact players and experienced role players that never seem to fully adapt to each other. I don't think Matta is going to be around there very much longer. They seem "bogged down" and in need of a fresh start. Just my take.
I suppose it's the nature of message boards, but IMO people are way too quick to give up on coaches.
It makes me cringe to say positive things about anything related to OSU, but Matta has been great for them. He inherited a program reeling from NCAA violations (sound familiar?), yet made the NCAA's his second year, and 9 of his 12 with OSU. They made the final four in 2012.
They were pretty dysfunctional this year, but they improved over the course of the year. They started 2-4 with losses to Tx-Arlington and Louisiana Tech, and from then went 19-10.
Instability is rarely a good thing. Both Matta and JB are in similar situations - hoops coach at a football school, inherited damaged programs, have had consistent winners and some glory years.
IMO, Matta is the superior recruiter, while JB is the better coach. I think institutional differences contribute to the recruiting disparity (OSU cares less about academics, more willing to look the other way re boosters).
Both schools could do much worse.
Sorry to be so cynical, but since Calipari got to UK and they have abandoned all pretense of not buying players, OSU doesn't have that one great player to get them over the hump anymore. I would NEVER accuse OSU of EVER buying a player, but it could certainly be argued that they are simply getting outbid by UK boosters for the players they really need.
doesn't really match reality. Matta's had 2 sweet 16's, an elite 8 and a final four since Calipari's been at UK.
I'll agree with you that at least for hoops, nobody's boosters have deeper pockets than Kentucky.
March 30th, 2016 at 10:54 AM ^
I wouldn't know, I didn't actually get to see it. Thanks ESPN.
next two years are going to be very interesting at Michigan State. This is not a typical Izzo class, or even typical of the way he usually recruits. Particularly if Jackson commits, I see both the possibility that there is simply not enough ball to go around, and also possible issues getting "premiere" young scorers to accept other roles, particularly with the intensity that Izzo preaches them. I could see Michigan State winning the national championship next year. I could also see them fracturing almost immediately and Izzo with a mess on his hands. That recruiting class is both a statement by Izzo but also a risk. He is going to have tons of talent but also a difficult coaching job on his hands.
I'm not sure in this day an age who would want to play for a coach like Izzo screaming in your face all of the time. He is a good coach and his players obviously don't leave in droves, but if you had a choice - why play for a screaming control freak?. Great coach but I don't get it.
I know Belien is not loved by many around here but I much prefer his style if not always his results.
bringthewood, but it's obvous Izzo's players love him. I'm not a kid (guessing you're not either), and find myself baffled by the decisions and preferences of teenagers.
That said, I think Izzo is great at the "father figure" role. More than any other top hoops coach, he seems to get kids to wait their turn, take their lumps early, improve, and fit into a team concept. He's annoying as hell, but the fact is he's had spectacular long-term success.
Next year he'll have a whole new and different type of team and players. Will be interesting to see how it works out. Calipari has proven over and over that he can bring in the talent and babysit , but IMO he can't coach a lick. Izzo's style is completely different.
March 30th, 2016 at 10:00 AM ^
commits, they officially have a high end "Kentucky class" coming in. It is entirely possible they could win it all if they gel right away. It would be "flash in the pan" variety becaue there are possibly 1-2 one or done guys in the class, but I would not be that dismissive. They will open the season in the Top 10.
As to the poster right above you, I don't like Izzo, but by and large his players do. There is no question he can be a little bit overbearing but really the players that go there respond to his style of coaching. He does not usually recruit these kind of players though as until now I think he has mostly resisted "paying max contracts" (if you will), so I going to be interested to see if a host of five star talent will buy into it.
March 30th, 2016 at 10:05 AM ^
March 30th, 2016 at 10:12 AM ^