C Greg Oden (Portland Trailblazers)

[jwinslow]

Originally Posted by exhawg

We really need Greg to play 30+ minutes tonight.

Or 38 :yow:

Truly an epic performance by our big man, despite three tremendous bigs being thrown at him... all three coming away worse for it (w/ 4 fouls).

Greg's play is well noted, but he has ushered in a new era at Ohio State. His character and humility has made him a tremendous ambassador, and taken Matta's program to another level.

If he turns down the dream of playing in the NBA to return, we'll be dancing on High Street. But he has already done far more than anyone could ask of one man.

Thanks Greg.

[NFBuck]

Despite Oden's effort, Gators double their pleasure

ESPN.com






ODEN'S OPUS
By Andy Katz

ATLANTA -- No one has an idea if this was Greg Oden's last college game. He won't say. Ohio State coach Thad Matta said they haven't discussed it once.
If it was, Oden left with an exclamation point. And if he elects to return next season, the rest of college basketball better duck. Oden was everything he was billed to be in this Final Four, and saved his best for last in the national title game. He scored 25 points (on 10 of 15 from the field), grabbed 12 boards, and had four blocks in 38 minutes. Continued...
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/ncaato...herim/20070402

Good article from Andy Katz. I particularly like the bold part.

[OSU_Buckguy]

Stock Up

Draft Express

If you were in the camp that was waiting for Greg Oden to put in dominant performance on both ends of the floor for an entire game before anointing him as the next great center prospect, wait no longer. Oden's season has been full of ups and downs, but it turns out that he truly would save his best for last. In the ultimate twist, his breakout performance came against Florida, the same team he truly struggled with back in December.

Continued...

[ScriptOhio]

So long Greg, but the NBA won't love you like college hoops does


Greg Oden put up an NBA-style performance in the title game. (AP)

ATLANTA -- The damage from Greg Oden's final collegiate game: 25 points, 12 rebounds, four blocks and one Brazilian rain forest.

The equivalent of which was wiped out recording his exploits over the past six months. What Ohio State's teenage center gave us with his steady, season-long rise, he took away in global warming.
What we were left with Monday night after the Gators got done hoopin' it up is that maybe the big man is back. Or maybe we're being cheated by an NBA rule that serves only to tease us. But at least half the buzz after Florida's domination of not only the game but college athletics was Oden.
In his last game, he had his best game.
The best thing that happened, rabid Ohio State fan, is that your guys lost. A win would have split the Thad Five up forever. For sure. What more was there to accomplish?
So what about now? Oden's mate, guard Mike Conley Jr., was already talking about getting the band back together next year.
"Yeah, I do," said Conley, when asked if the loss would influence his teammates' decisions about leaving for the NBA. Change teammates to Greg Oden and you've got the correct translation.
"The way things worked out tonight will change people's minds and get the team back together next year because we love playing together."
Conley? "A hundred percent sure," he is returning.

Entire SI Article: http://www.cbs.sportsline.com/colleg...story/10104941

[Cornerback6]

Balls to the wall performance by Greg last night. Really hoping he comes back but of course, no harsh feelings if he bolts. If he does return though, I think we are the instant favorite for the NC.

[ScriptOhio]

Another article:

Oden outstanding in defeat

Depth trumped a Dominator in last night's national championship game.

Even as Greg Oden closed out his freshman season with a supreme effort at the Georgia Dome, the bruising Gator Boys had too much in their arsenal and eventually wore out the Buckeyes, 84-75.

"Coach (Thad Matta) told me after the first media timeout, `Welcome to the second part of the first half.' I just wanted to try to stay in there and contribute to my team.''

"We had guys come in and fight and hit shots but they had an answer for everything,'' said Oden. "They got all the hustle plays that we needed to get. They were destined to win. Every time we came back they had an answer.''

As Oden was surrounded by members of the media in the Ohio State locker room, he was asked about the pain of losing his first championship game since his freshman year of high school.
"This is what we wanted. We wanted to get to go to Atlanta and have a chance to play for the national championship. We also wanted to win it, too. That was the top goal. So we accomplished everything we wanted except that top one,'' he said. When someone asked if the defeat would effect his pending decision on whether to jump to the NBA, the stone-faced 19-year old answered, ``Next question, please.''

"Coach told us earlier that in sports people usually just remember the last game,'' Oden said. "He told us, `It was a heckuva ride and we had a great year.''

Entire article: http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/6638936

[OSU_Buckguy]

Originally Posted by ScriptOhio

The best thing that happened, rabid Ohio State fan, is that your guys lost. A win would have split the Thad Five up forever.

the line between sportswriters and baboons is so very thin. my apologies to the baboons.

[lilnape26]

It's funny how Dennis Dood spun Oden's words in the CBS article by making it seem like he was hinting on going by saying "it was a heck of a ride" when Oden was just quoting what Matta said.

[hutch]

People hate OSU so they want Greg to leave, because they know if he stays, the rest of college basketball is in serious trouble next year.

And I doubt half those guys even know that we've got five (Six with Madsen) coming in next year.

Back to Greg: Thanks for the ride, Greg. I hope you stay, but regardless thanks and good luck.

[JohnnyCockfight]

I think that offensively, Greg Oden played so well, and at times his teammates played so poorly, that Thad Matta found himself in a Catch-22. Oden should have been rested in the second half, but doing so would have meant taking the only consistent scorer out of the game, and thus potentially euthanizing the Buckeyes right then and there. Oden consequently fatigued and played on tired legs. Late in the game, when the Buckeyes were making a run and cutting into the lead, Mike Conley, Jr. threw what appeared to be an alley-oop in the general vicinity of Oden and another Buckeye teammate. Ordinarily, Oden would have jumped and dunked the ball, no matter how high or how far he needed to go. But on this night and on those legs, he was unable to complete the fast break. He missed the first attempt and then the put-back as well. But the effort was beautiful.

It was like watching a great heavyweight go the distance in a title fight. When lightweights and middleweights go the distance in a title fight, sometimes they are still able to circle around the ring and productively box and defend--sometimes. With heavyweights, the opponents tend to hold on to one another at the end, hoping to muster one final fury of power that might result in a knockout. But unlike a boxing match where the fighters are matched one on one, Florida threw a revolving door at Oden of four heavyweights of their own: Al Horford, Joakim Noah, Chris Richards, and Marreese Speights. Together, the Florida big men leaned, held and pulled on Oden the entire game, and in the end were called for 15 fouls collectively. But still, Oden dunked on them. All of them. Repeatedly.


Thank you Greg.

[OSUsushichic]

Originally Posted by jwinslow

Or 38 :yow:

Truly an epic performance by our big man, despite three tremendous bigs being thrown at him... all three coming away worse for it (w/ 4 fouls).

Greg's play is well noted, but he has ushered in a new era at Ohio State. His character and humility has made him a tremendous ambassador, and taken Matta's program to another level.

If he turns down the dream of playing in the NBA to return, we'll be dancing on High Street. But he has already done far more than anyone could ask of one man.

Thanks Greg.

Well said. Greg was amazing last night. Not that his draft stock needed help, but he really showed scouts what he's all about. I selfishly hope he's all about returning for another year.

[scooter1369]

Originally Posted by OSUsushichic

Greg was amazing last night.

Wow. He got to Boston rather quickly..

[OSUsushichic]

Originally Posted by scooter1369

Wow. He got to Boston rather quickly..

Faster than a speeding (silver) bullet.

[exhawg]

Originally Posted by scooter1369

Wow. He got to Boston rather quickly..

That could be taken two ways. I hope he doesn't end up in Boston because I would hate for him to have to play for a team that I hate. How about he declares for the draft, doesn't sign with an agent, and says he'll only play for the Cavs. That way whoever drafts him has to trade him or he could come back to OSU and play out his career. Win win situation for me.

[OSUsushichic]

Originally Posted by exhawg

That could be taken two ways. I hope he doesn't end up in Boston because I would hate for him to have to play for a team that I hate. How about he declares for the draft, doesn't sign with an agent, and says he'll only play for the Cavs. That way whoever drafts him has to trade him or he could come back to OSU and play out his career. Win win situation for me.

Sounds good to me, although I wouldn't mind seeing him in Boston. That would give me an excuse to like the local team. I could care less for them otherwise.