Y-Town Steelhound;1086470 wrote:Apparently LaQuinton Ross is not very happy to say the least about his playing time and took his frustrations out on Twitter after the game (since been deleted). Can't say I blame him given OSU's lack of a consistent 3 point threat.

vball10set;1086491 wrote:Yes, sloppy. Any win on the road in the B1G is a good win, and Minny is usually a solid team--but not last night. Too many peaks and valleys by the Buckeyes last night IMO, at least for a team that has the potential to go deep into the tourney. As I stated in my post, Craft & Sully played good, and Buford did indeed hit some shots--I guess I'm just looking for more consistency--maybe my expectations are too high?

Tiernan;1086503 wrote:OSU is not looking like a no. 1 seed right now. KY, SYR, KS, MZ I'm afraid would nudge them out right now.

centralbucksfan;1086505 wrote:Agree. Which really isn't that big a deal. And maybe not having that #1 pressure might be good for this team. 1 or 2 seed really makes no difference in big picture.

vball10set;1086506 wrote:my thoughts exactly...btw, I don't have a good feeling about Saturday against tsun (at all), but that sometimes translates into a big win by OSU--so maybe that's a good thing :thumbup:

Tiernan;1086503 wrote:OSU is not looking like a no. 1 seed right now.

FatHobbit;1086511 wrote:I agree with that as well. This team is not as good as last years team.

centralbucksfan;1086495 wrote:There is A LOT more to the game of basketball than just sitting outside and shooting 3's. The few times Ross has seen the floor, I have seen very little effort from him. He jogs up and down the court. The shots he made, were against other team bench or bad teams. I think the guy will eventually be very good. But he isn't ready to play yet based on what I have seen.

vball10set;1086491 wrote:Yes, sloppy. Any win on the road in the B1G is a good win, and Minny is usually a solid team--but not last night. Too many peaks and valleys by the Buckeyes last night IMO, at least for a team that has the potential to go deep into the tourney. As I stated in my post, Craft & Sully played good, and Buford did indeed hit some shots--I guess I'm just looking for more consistency--maybe my expectations are too high?

se-alum;1086795 wrote:Consistency is absolutely the key. I think we have high expectations because we know what this team is capable of. They basically dismantled Duke, and Florida didn't threaten outside of the first 10 min of the game. Buford is what he is, and hasn't been consistent at any point in his career, so I expect the ups and downs from him. Thomas has shown the same ability to be inconsistent that Buford has. Those 2 guys will be the key to how far this team goes in March.

se-alum;1086791 wrote:Guys getting in the game at the final minute of a 20pt blowout, never give max effort.

Heretic;1086799 wrote:Yeah. Those two have stereo 2-12 nights during a tournament game and, well, a lot more teams besides Mich State will beat them.

se-alum;1086795 wrote:Consistency is absolutely the key. I think we have high expectations because we know what this team is capable of. They basically dismantled Duke, and Florida didn't threaten outside of the first 10 min of the game. Buford is what he is, and hasn't been consistent at any point in his career, so I expect the ups and downs from him. Thomas has shown the same ability to be inconsistent that Buford has. Those 2 guys will be the key to how far this team goes in March.

centralbucksfan;1086808 wrote:No question. During the season, we have rarely seen Thomas AND Buford both have off nites. OSU can "survive" when two of the three are consistant. They go to a completely other level when all 3 are on their game. When only 1 of 3 is on, we get MSU result.

centralbucksfan;1086802 wrote:Good comments from Seth Davis. Along with some stats about bench minutes. Some facts.

http://www.cnnsi.com/2012/writers/seth_davis/02/15/Hoops.mailbag/index.html?eref=sihp&sct=hp_wr_a1

Apparently, Matta showed his players video of the loss to Michigan State and pointed out their facial expressions and body language. Said Sullinger, "Honestly, we looked like spoiled brats out there if you look at the tape -- arguing with one another, complaining about calls." Maybe they learned a valuable lesson.

centralbucksfan;1086804 wrote:lol really? You believe that? Games I see from HS on up, those guys typically come in to try and prove a point. Effort is usually not an issue.

se-alum;1086831 wrote:They usually come in to try to get up a shot. You can't find out a players worth in the final minutes of a blowout. Effort in practice is more indicative of a players value than blowout game situations.

centralbucksfan;1086860 wrote:I don't disagree with that. Although it all depends on how late they get into the game. The comment on practice is on the money. But Ross missed so much time, entire preseason into the first handful of games. I said back then he wouldn't see the floor. There is more to the game than just being able to shoot. Which we all know he can do. I realize Matta isn't one to trust his bench. But again, he isn't the only coach in the country and there is usually pretty good reasons for that. Game time is earned in practice. Offense usually isn't the issue with young players. Its what goes on on the other end of the floor where they don't get it as quickly or consistantly.

se-alum;1086869 wrote:I just think on a team that lacks scoring off the bench, you gotta give a scorer the opportunity to play, even if you are giving up something defensively. How many great scorers were great defensively early in their careers? Practice is great, but nothing takes the place of real game action, and I think you have to at least give a guy a chance to play meaningful minutes, especially if he's as talented offensively as Ross.

centralbucksfan;1086873 wrote:How do you really know how great he is? And what good does it do to play him on offense, if he is going to be a major liability on the defensive side? Scores a few, but gives up more? IDK. You gotta play defense at this level, at least some. And again, with the time he missed..I said from beginning he wouldnt' see floor. Who knows what goes on at practice. There are 3/4 guys coaching who know more than me, you and everyone combined. I'll trust their judgement based on past success. It is what it is as this point in season. And unlikely to change this late.

se-alum;1086886 wrote:Oh, I know it won't change. I wasn't referring to Ross when I said "great", just making a point that not many kids who were known as scorers coming out of HS are good on the defensive end. Like Dakich stated yesterday, scorers stay on the court, even if they aren't good defensively. Look at a guy like Kendall Marshall, he's terrible defensively, but he plays because he can pass the ball and run an offense. I'm not saying we need to give the kid 25 minutes a game, but no coach, no matter how great they are, know exactly what they have until a guy plays meaningful minutes.

centralbucksfan;1086890 wrote:I think there was some tongue and check in what Dakich said. He was with Knight for years. If you didn't play defense for them, you didn't play. Not sure Marshal is a great example as UNC has no backup PG to put any pressure on him.