Browns Injury Update: T.J. Ward Could Miss Four to Six Weeks With Foot Injury
November 12, 2011While We’re Waiting…Indians Free Agent Targets, Browns Run Defense, Tribe Swagger
November 13, 2011The third ranked Buckeyes started their season with high expectations off by solidly beating the Wright State Raiders at Value City Arena by a 73-42 margin. The incumbent key players led the way for OSU, but the young athleticism of the freshman class as well as the seldom-used sophomores displays both unbounded promise and at the same time cautions fans that this team has a lot of growing up to do throughout the season.
I’ll go a little light on game stats and flow and focus a lot more on the Buckeye individual performances, considering the opponent. The Buckeyes did shoot 45% as a team, connected on 5-of-14 three point attempts, and out-rebounded Wright State 34-28. They held the Raiders to just 32% shooting, and went to the line an astounding 38 times compared to 15 times for Wright State as three Raiders fouled out in the contest. In other words, there was no real danger.
This team starts with Jared Sullinger. That was no different last night, as the now slimmer and trimmer 260-pound sophomore big racked up fouls on the smaller Raider frontline and dominated the glass. Sully led the team with 19 points on 4-of-7 shooting, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks. From his field goal attempts, it’s easy to tell that Sullinger did his heavy lifting at the free throw line, where he converted 10-of-12. Having a big guy that can convert free throws at a 75+% clip is so valuable, and I expect Sully to hit that mark after making at a 70.4% clip last season. Why? Because of the aforementioned weight loss. You didn’t need a broadcaster to tell you that Sully lost weight; you can clearly see it with your own two eyes. So, along with less fatigue (which will help those foul shots), Jared will be stepping out to the perimeter at times and playing more power forward minutes. Sullinger attempted two three pointers, making one, and while I hope he doesn’t get complacent out there, it does add a nice wrinkle to his game.
The other two returning key contributors, William Buford and Aaron Craft, were the other Buckeyes that reached double digit scoring. Buford is a bit of an enigma, and his shot selection irks me at times. However, there is no denying that the potential to dominate games for several minutes is there. He’s the best pure jump shooter on the team, he’s an excellent foul shooter, and he has loads of battle-tested experience. Buford was 5-of-10 shooting for 13 points, adding four assists.
As for Craft, his relentless peskiness is contagious, and he’s undeniably the defensive leader of this team now with the departure of David Lighty. Aaron’s statline was loaded as I expect it to be all season long: 10 points (7-of-8 from the foul line), 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals. With the newly infused talent on this team, I expect this team to become even more menacing on the defensive end, and that charge will be led by the floor-burn king himself.
While I expect Sully, Craft, and Buford to improve, we’ve seen a lot of what they can do. What really excited me was getting to know the freshmen as well as the sophomores who saw limited action last season.
Sophomore forward Deshaun Thomas could be the biggest wild card on this team. Thomas was the punchline last season for his Damon Jones-esque shooting conscience. But, Buckeye hoopheads will remember Thomas as the catalyst to at least two Big Ten victories with a key scoring burst. His unique mix of outside range and inside creativity will serve him and the Bucks well. There are, however, growing pains associated with Thomas’s play. He led the team with 4 turnovers and erased a likely bucket at the end of the half on offensive goaltending. He did add 9 points and 5 boards. I think we’ll continue to see Thomas fluctuate from hero to goat at times this year, but I’d rather have a player of his talent than go without.
One of the most intriguing storylines early on has been sophomore guard Lenzelle Smith Jr. taking the starting guard spot over Jordan Sibert, who saw more playing time last season than Smith, who was slowed due to injury. Lenzelle has shown a knack for hitting the glass last night as well as in the Walsh scrimmage. He grabbed 8 in that scrimmage and 7 last night, adding 8 points to the cause. I like Smith’s comments about wanting to be a defensive stopper first and foremost. He was just one of several young wings that I saw display fantastic team help defense. Diebler was not a real strong defender, and neither is Buford, so these guys getting minutes should improve the perimeter defense. Sibert was able to plug in without missing a beat on defense last season, but he really wasn’t asked to do anything offensively. This season, he’ll have to knock down shots when they’re swung around the arc. Sibert missed all three shots he took from the field last night in 14 minutes. The other guy in that mix is Sam Thompson, the 6’7″ freshman from Illinois. Thompson did a little bit of everything in the Walsh scrimmage, but didn’t do much to speak of in this one, posting 3 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists.
Now, a quick word about some of the guys that will be backing up Sully and Thomas underneath. Evan Ravenel was with the team on the bench last season after transferring from Boston College, and he’s shown that he is a capable backup that can do some of the things this team will miss from the departed Dallas Lauderdale. Ravenel saw 9 minutes of action last night, but I like what he can bring to the table in terms of post defense and rebounding. Highly touted freshman Amir Williams looked like a brick wall in the post defensively, and I thought he got picked on a couple of times by the officials with ticky-tack calls. The 6’11” center added 3 points, 1 rebound, and 1 steal. His defense is ready now, but I think the offense may keep him from getting big minutes initially. By season’s end, I’d love to see a 1-2 punch down low with Sullinger and Williams.
I didn’t forget about the sixth man, guard Shannon Scott. Scott, who was Mr. Basketball in Georgia, but he’s been a little quiet to start the season. Scott played 17 minutes, but had just 2 points on 1-of-4 shooting. Coach Thad Matta has said he’s not shy about playing a small, quick backcourt of Craft and Scott together. To do that, however, Scott has got to flash some scoring ability. Given the high praise for him, I fully expect him to do that and be a key contributor off the bench.
J.D. Weatherspoon had the play of the night on an alley oop slam, but he played just 3 minutes before twisting his ankle and not returning. Weatherspoon missed time last season due to becoming academically ineligible, and when he was present, he seldom played. I see ‘Spoon as being a guy like Deshaun Thomas last year who could provide a high-energy, quick-shot spark in a few games this season.
Finally, freshman Trey McDonald probably won’t be redshirting as discussed, due to the fact he played 3 minutes, committing 2 turnovers.
The season ramps up on Tuesday night when the Florida Gators come into The Schott.
(Photo: Terry Gilliam/AP)
1 Comment
so glad to have some ball in my life. i like the defensive intensity the Bucks had