C Greg Oden (official thread)

[SanAntonioBuck]

Oden, the first Ohio State All-American since Jim Jackson in 1992

Wow! I didn't know it had been that long! Congrats Greg!

[LitlBuck]

Originally Posted by Zurp

Congratulations to him.

Not to sound like Mr. Negative, but I just don't see it. Maybe, with all his hype, I was unfairly expecting more of him. But I don't see him dominating any games for any lengthy stretch. He can't stay on the floor for any length, either.

Granted, a 7-foot guy is going to be carrying around some weight, and for him to run up and down the court for 5 minutes, is much more to ask then for someone who's only 6-feet tall. And for someone who was supposed to be the #1 draft pick in the NBA last year (if it weren't for the one-year rule), I don't see him dominating the way I would have thought.

But I don't want to take anything away from him. I'm definitely more of a football fan than a basketball fan, so I won't argue with anyone (regardless of whether he calls himself an "expert") about whether he should go to the NBA, or whatever.

Again, congratulations to Oden. I'd love to see him at Ohio State for some more years.

He really does make a great impact on the game defensively. You just don't see it because a lot of guys will not drive the lane because they know he will be there. He also grabs his share of rebounds but the numbers are not overwhelming because so many players are shooting 3s that many rebounds go along.

I don't think he dominates as much offensively as I thought he would but maybe that's because he is so unselfish and really doesn't get that many touches during the game.

If he would listen to Len Elmore, who graduated from Harvard Law school and played in the NBA, he would stay for a while. During the Florida game yesterday, Elmore stated that you've learned the game in college and not in the NBA but I know $$$.

[BuckeyeTillIDie]

Congrats, Greg!

He more than deserves this. It shouldn't even be questioned.

[osugrad21]

Fitting with today's announcement:

Memphis Flyer

FROM MY SEAT: Turn the Page
BY FRANK MURTAUGH | MARCH 26, 2007



OSU's Greg Oden




Frank Murtaugh
"You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it." -- Margaret Thatcher

As the son of University of Tennessee alumni and a Memphian for 16 years now, let me go on the record as saying the Boston Celtics can have Greg Oden. Seldom in this state's history -- sports or otherwise -- has a single force done such damage to hearts and minds from Knoxville to Memphis in so brief a period of time. Even in foul trouble, Oden was enough to keep the Vols a win shy of their first NCAA regional final and the hometown Tigers a win shy of their first Final Four in 22 years. So when the Grizzlies' brass is weighing draft options this June, I say let Oden wear green.

Cont...

['BusNative]

Sports Guy: Oden and the Mailbag

Oden and the mailbag

By Bill Simmons

Page 2

The Greg Oden-Kevin Durant battle took a turn at the end of the OSU-Tennessee game Thursday night, with the Vols trailing by one in the waning seconds and Ramar Smith driving for the game-winning bank shot. For a split second, it looked like Smith might get off an easy 4-footer that had a chance, only Oden was already flying over to contest the shot ... and he jumped ... and he kept going up ... and up ... and then he had both hands raised ... and it seemed like he was 12 feet in the air ... and then he swallowed up the shot with both hands and swatted it out of bounds before nearly breaking his neck falling over Mike Conley on his way down. Game over. Then Oden broke into his Robert Parish routine and that was that. I don't even think he pumped a fist. We might as well start calling him "The Chief" now and get it over with...

[rocketman]

Passed by the Penn Station on High and they're offering the "Greg Oden Special." Discounts on large Philly cheesesteaks!