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OHIO STATE MEN?S BASKETBALL
Matta views Michigan game as plus for recruiting plans

Basketball players get a feel for fervor of fans

Friday, November 17, 2006

Bob Baptist
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH




The coaches of Ohio State?s two highest-profile sports have made it a habit the past couple of years to textmessage each other before big games.
Thad Matta remembered yesterday that he had yet to message Jim Tressel and the football team. Matta had not even thought of what to say. But he knew what not to say.
As much as Matta wants every seat in sold-out Value City Arena filled tonight for his men?s basketball team?s game against Eastern Kentucky ? not just sold but actually occupied ? he won?t do the one thing that might guarantee that: ask the undefeated and No. 1-ranked football Buckeyes to attend. Fans would be out the door to get a look.
No, Matta knows Tressel?s young men have more important things to do, such as watch more tape of No. 2 Michigan.
"I wouldn?t want to be held responsible if they lose," Matta said.
Matta is hoping, however, to take advantage in other ways on the most hyped Ohio State-Michigan game in history. He expects to have a dozen or more prime recruiting targets in town to experience the fervor of Buckeye Nation. Some also will be at the basketball game tonight.
"I know two years ago, my first rivalry game between the two teams, I never felt anything like that," Matta said. "Hopefully, a little bit of that will rub off in the (Schottenstein Center) on Friday night, kind of use it for the fans to get ready for the game on Saturday."
From what some of the players have seen on campus, the students have been ready all week.
"I can?t even describe how different it is to see a whole city just go crazy over a rivalry like this," said freshman guard Mike Conley Jr., who said he was thinking of attending the students? traditional dip in Mirror Lake last night. But only to watch ? can?t have the starting point guard catching pneumonia.
Conley said Indianapolis, where he grew up, has nothing that compares with Ohio State-Michigan.
"I thought it was good to see Indiana and Purdue in basketball. I thought that was crazy," he said. "This blows that out of the gym. I?ve never seen anything like it."
Neither had Jamar Butler when he was a freshman. Now he?s a wiser junior.
"I saw some cars get flipped," he said. "I said, ?Why are they flipping them?? Someone said, ?Because they?re blue.?
"I have a blue Explorer. I?m parking it at the Schott all weekend."
None of the four players interviewed yesterday said he planned to attend the game. None has tickets ? although freshman David Lighty said he was looking for one ? and NCAA rules prohibit them from using any from the allotment the coaches have for recruits.
Moreover, the team has practice a few hours before kickoff, and Butler, Conley and senior Ron Lewis said they would rather chill after that with teammates and watch the game on TV in the players? dormitory rather than be part of the mosh pit in Ohio Stadium.
"If guys want to go, they can go," Butler said. "I?m going to stay out of it.
"There?s going to be a lot going on. I don?t want to say bad things (going on), but a lot of things going on that I don?t think we as players should be around."
bbaptist@dispatch.com