I promised and then muttered to myself that I’d pass on anything Greg Oden in the wake of Ohio State’s game with Cleveland State game. However, I’ve read the reports of Oden’s performance against Cleveland State by journalists, (including CBS Sportline’s Gary Parrish) who couldn’t have possibly watched the game as “magnificent,†“dominant,†and “powerful.†As Hoopraker is the only counterpoint to the canonization of Oden, I’m compelled to become the master of the obvious: Oden was being guarded, and I use that term loosely, by a 6’5†forward. Oden is a large man and he certainly knows how to dunk but he hasn’t played against anyone yet. He’s shown no back to the basket technique and he has no jump shot.
In a nod to March, Oden is the only post threat on the Buckeyes’ roster assembled by Thad Matta. The only one, with a cursory nod to Othella Hunter, who Matta relegates to backing up jump shooter Ivan Harris. Such a shallow frontcourt may pose a problem down the line, when Wisconsin, Michigan State and Illinois come knocking, with at least three big men and fifteen fouls to hammer on Oden. If you’re a Buckeye looking for a run into March, pray St. Oden stays out of foul trouble. “Oh, but why?†Matta fans ask. “We’ve got shooters!†On the contrary. Since Oden made his debut, Daequan Cook’s shots and points have taken a swan dive. To a lesser extent, same goes for Jamar Butler and David Lighty. For the guards who have been the three point shooters in Matta’s perimeter offense, it may not be so easy to flick the switch and find instant confidence in their jump shots when Oden heads to his cushioned seat on the bench, as he surely will.
All hyperbole aside, what is clear at this point in the season is this: Oden hasn’t competed against talent worthy to categorize any performance as “magnificent.” More importantly, after two games with Oden, Ohio State is still looking for a rhythm and balance with him on the floor. That said, Oden will indeed one day have a Debutante Ball, whether it’s in Columbus or in the NBA, and Ohio State may indeed win a meaninful game with him, but let’s get serious, it hasn’t happened yet.
[…] Lost in a Zone If Tommy Amaker can’t decipher how extract a passionate effort from his team, perhaps he should call Ed DeChellis. For the second time in a week, Penn State outplayed Ohio State but lost. It can’t be overstated, but Ed DeChellis’s ability to motivate his team to play as hard as they do with little on the line other than pride is called heart and worthy of more than a nod of the head.Not only is Penn State in dead last place having lost 12 in row, they may be the statistically worst defensive team in the Big Ten. No matter, they played with alacrity, taking it to Ohio State and a stony silent Columbus audience for thirty-five minutes. As the season sadly reaches its endgame, Ohio State can’t seem to solve Penn State’s, or any other team’s, zone defense. As predicted by Hoopraker, the three-pointers Ohio State has fallen in love with are starting to clank around the iron in February. Interestingly, another lackluster performance against an inferior team was lost on Thad Matta who, after the game sarcastically dismissed the notion that his offense needs to run through Greg Oden or, at the least, get more touches for the once in a generation big man. In a sign of tension within Ohio State, Mike Conley “told the team, ‘If you’ve got to pass up open shots to get the ball to Greg, you’ve got to do it sometimes.’ I hope everyone takes that to heart.” Thus far, as it has all season, Conley’s approach is falling on deaf ears, including his coach’s. Without question, the canonization of Greg Oden has been premature. […]
Left by Hoopraker · Loose Balls: February 22 on March 5th, 2007