C Greg Oden (Portland Trailblazers)

[jwinslow]

2006 OSU BBall Gallery (captions/photographer found below enlarged image)

(click the thumbnails)

[OSUsushichic]

The Onion headline:
Greg Oden On Final Four Appearance: 'I'm Happier Than I've Been In 30 Years'

http://www.theonion.com/content/from..._on_final_four

[OmahaBeef]

For what its worth, Oden wasnt in his Bio lecture today. Doesnt necesarily mean anything, but thought I'd just throw it out there. (I wouldnt say it means he's declaring for the draft, but IF he was I dont think he'd be showing up for class.)

[BUCKYLE]

I used to be a Celtics fan as a youngster due to my father. I later followed Sir Charles after he went to the Suns. After Chuck retired, I almost entirely quit following the NBA. Whenever (hopefully after next year) Greg gets drafted, that team will get my full fan support, i.e. I'll be buying that team's logo.

[Oh8ch]

For what its worth, Oden wasnt in his Bio lecture today.

One class doesn't mean much, but overall attendance is a key indicator. Keep us posted (no pun intended).

[Flocka]

I would love for him to stay, but after his performance against UF, I think he should go pro.

[zBuckeye10z]

Any path of basketball he chooses, I'm quite sure he will be successful.

[bkochmc]

Originally Posted by BUCKYLE

I later followed Sir Charles after he went to the Suns. After Chuck retired, I almost entirely quit following the NBA. Whenever (hopefully after next year) Greg gets drafted, that team will get my full fan support, i.e. I'll be buying that team's logo.

I was also a fan of the "Round Mound of Rebound" and followed him from the 76ers to the Suns to not following the NBA at all since he retired.

Hopefully Greg has people around him that will give him good, solid advice. Obviously I'd love for him to come back for one more year but I definitely understand if he jumps to the NBA. Thanks for the great year Greg!

[OSUNorthCampus]

The prospect is fascinating. Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr. returning next season to finish the job they let slip away in Monday night's title game loss to Florida. "It would be great to come back and play with the same group of guys," Conley said. "Hopefully everything works out."
Yet even Conley likely knows it won't.
"It will be very hard when Greg's not here next year," Conley told the Indianapolis Star. He quickly corrected himself in saying, "If he's not here next year."

considering it looks like mike conley sr. is going to be working closely w/ oden, it seems like conley would know some inside info.

source: http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaab/news?s...wire&type=lgns

[hutch]

It should be noted that was before the game on Monday.

[jwinslow]

Hoopsfan already chimed in on this subject in the last article that included Conley's quotation... his credibility & connection to Oden is well established on this thread/board.

Originally Posted by hoopsfan

I think Mike and most people ASSUME that Greg is going to the NBA, but he honestly has not made that decision. I don't think it is as much a slip as just the assumption that he will be gone.

Originally Posted by hoopsfan

I can tell you for certain that whatever the agent said is total bull. Greg has truly not made a decision what to do and will spend time with those close to him over the next couple of weeks to decide. He is receiving NO pressure from family and CLOSE friends -- they have all told him to follow his heart. He has had more to deal with emotionally the past two months than he has let on and needs the "down time" to really decide what is best. When he says he has not sat down and thought about what he is going to do, he is being very honest.

[jwinslow]

Originally Posted by hutch

It should be noted that was before the game on Monday.

Yep, that was (intentionally) sloppy journalism. Conley made those comments before the loss, whereas Oden has started the 'no comment' response afterwards.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Bob Hunter commentary: Oden won't ask, but here's input on staying put

Wednesday, April 4, 2007 7:57 AM
By Bob Hunter


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Because some alert readers have blamed me for pushing Greg Oden toward the NBA, it seemed like a good idea to write a column fully explaining the merits of his staying at Ohio State.

(Full disclosure: A source showed me the young center's personal list of the top 1,000 people who will have the biggest effect on his decision, and for some inexplicable reason, I wasn't on it. Knowing I ranked well below Consultant No. 987, a guy who once sold Oden two breakfast burritos in a Kokomo, Ind., McDonald's, hurt me deeply.)
Still, the debate over whether the fantastic 7-foot freshman stays or goes figures to dominate discussion in these parts, at least until football coach Jim Tressel announces that he can't decide which untried quarterback has the "inside track" at topping the depth chart for that all-important jersey scrimmage. So it's imperative for me to prove once and for all I'm on the side of all that's good and right.

Continued....

[kn1f3party]

Originally Posted by bigballin2987

I would love for him to stay, but after his performance against UF, I think he should go pro.

I don't know if that is as great as an idea as it may seem. For one, his tremendous performance against Florida was worthy of praise--but it isn't what Durant did day in and day out throughout the season. The reason I say this is Oden wanted to dominate the college level before moving to the professional level. He was regarded as one of the best players, but not the best by many. I see a lot of reasons why he would want to play another year for the Buckeyes.

If not for any other reason, so that when his--albeit amazing--NBA career comes to a close he won't have to campaign hemorrhoid cream for a living. I'm waiting for the day the three year rule--which I agree with completely--is instituted in basketball. It is a shame that a free education at a premier university is merely a minor league for professional athletics.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

Oden could return to OSU

Championship loss to Florida could delay center's NBA plans

By Marla Ridenour

Beacon Journal sportswriter

ATLANTA - Ohio State still might be feeling the teeth marks of Monday night's 84-75 loss to the Florida Gators.
But falling in the national title game in the Georgia Dome might help persuade 7-foot freshman center Greg Oden to spend another year in Columbus.
``He wanted to put this on his resume, to win the national championship, and we fell short,'' said Mike Conley Jr., Oden's teammate since the sixth grade. ``This may be a key factor in making him come back.''
Oden, the likely No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft on June 28, has until April 29 to announce whether he's making himself available. He then would have until June 18 to withdraw his name, provided he hasn't signed with an agent.
The first pick in the NBA Draft is guaranteed $10 million for two years.
Against Florida, Oden turned in his best performance of the season with 25 points, 12 rebounds and four blocked shots in 38 minutes. After the game, he declined to answer any questions that included ``next year'' in them, usually responding, ``Next question.''

Continued....