[Buckskin86]

Another Buckeye set to use NBA's one-and-done rule
RUSTY MILLER
Tuesday, June 30, 2009

COLUMBUS, Ohio - John Wooden won 10 NCAA championships at UCLA by stockpiling incredible talent and developing it.

Ohio State coach Thad Matta has never won a national title. Yet in his dreams he ponders what it was like for the Wizard of Westwood, back in the days before players could leave school early for the pros.

"I've often said this to my wife: 'Can you imagine what John Wooden felt like every night when he went to bed?'" Matta said with a laugh.

Had all of Matta's recruits stayed with the Buckeyes instead of using the NBA's "one and done" rule that allows players to jump to the pros after a single college season, he might have a UCLA-sized juggernaut of his own.

"I'd have a little smile on my face," Matta said.

Over the last two NBA drafts, no fewer than four Ohio State players have spent one year on campus before being taken in the first round. B.J. Mullens, the third 7-footer of the bunch, is expected to make it five in three years in Thursday night's draft.

Matta hates the rule but shrugs. It's not his choice.

But the list of those opposing it is growing. The National Association of Basketball Coaches, which represents college coaches, is lobbying the NBA and its players association to change the rule when its next contract takes effect in 2011.

Matta's teams have gone 35-4, 24-13 and 22-11 the last three years. Next year's club will be built around Evan Turner, a junior who was an honorable mention All-American last season while averaging 17.3 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4 assists a game.

But what Matta sees when he drifts off to sleep is a tall and talented lineup of veterans that includes 7-foot Greg Oden (No. 1, Portland, 2007) at center, Mike Conley Jr. (No. 4, Memphis, 2007) running the point, 7-0 Kosta Koufos (No. 23, Utah, 2008) at power forward, Daequan Cook (No. 21, Philadelphia, 2007, then traded to Miami) at shooting guard and Turner at small forward.

Another Buckeye set to use NBA's one-and-done rule / nwi.com