C Greg Oden (Portland Trailblazers)

[craigblitz]

Damn... Maybe he won't be back until the Big Ten tournament if at all.

[buckeye247]

he probably wont play and just go into the pros next year.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Greg Oden was just interviewed again, this time on Cold Pizza. He said the earliest he will be able to play is in 7-8 months.

That is a suprise to me, worst case was a full six months. Before we all jump off a cliff, lets be patient and see what is said after the screws are taken out.

he probably wont play and just go into the pros next year.

I highly doubt that scenario happens.

[BuckWrestler141]

Originally Posted by OSUBasketballJunkie

I highly doubt that scenario happens.

I wouldn't be that suprised, BUT.. even if it does happen, it'll be alright. Greg coming to OSU was a large part of Matta being able to bring in other big names after him, so can't be TOO disappointed if it does.

Edit: How awesome would it be if he is just messing with us and UNC, and he'll actually be fine in 3 months

[BuckeyeTillIDie]

man, if only this were treated when it happened in February, it wouldn't be an issue

[buckeye247]

This sucks so much just think about how good we could have been with oden playing, I know that Matta can make any team good hence last years team but i think all this inexperience withought a dominant bigman like Oden is going to hurt us, Will he be back by the time of the ncaa tourney.

[BuckeyeNation27]

[NFBuck]

Originally Posted by casey_buckeye

Greg Oden was just interviewed again, this time on Cold Pizza. He said the earliest he will be able to play is in 7-8 months.

This is incorrect. He was asked "when do you feel you'll be 100%" to which he replied 7-8 months.

[BuckWrestler141]

Originally Posted by NFBuck

This is incorrect. He was asked "when do you feel you'll be 100%" to which he replied 7-8 months.

Thank you! That is great news; as a big difference between the two quotes. As ExclusiveClothes has posted on the BN free boards he expects him to return for the beginning of B10 part of the scheduele, i'll take his word on that.

http://mb15.scout.com/fohiostatefrm3...art=21&stop=33 (Second post down is ExclusiveClothes quote.)

[BuckWrestler141]

Some nice words about Greg from Coach K.

USA Basketball Senior National Team Managing Director Jerry Colangelo announced today that consensus 2006 Prep Player of the Year and Ohio State University freshman Greg Oden (Indianapolis, Ind.) has accepted an invitation to attend the 2006 USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team training in Las Vegas, Nev., and that USA Senior National Team members Lamar Odom (Los Angeles Lakers), Paul Pierce (Boston Celtics) and J.J. Redick (Orlando Magic/ Duke) will not participate in the 2006 USA training camp set to open July 19.

"We're excited to have Greg attend our senior team training. He is one of the top young big men in basketball. Although he will not participate at this year's training camp because of his recent wrist surgery, we nonetheless feel it is important to have him attend so he can become more comfortable with the coaches, players and staff," Colangelo said.

Oden, an 18-year-old, 7-foot, 250-pound center, will attend the USA training July 18-20, but will not actively participate in practices. Oden underwent surgery on a torn ligament in his right wrist June 16 and is not expected to be back playing until late fall.
"We feel badly that Greg will not be able to train with the team this summer, but he has huge potential and will be a valuable player for the United States in the future. We're delighted that despite his surgery he can come and spend a few days and get accustomed to the culture of USA Basketball. He's a great young man and he will be a credit to our country and USA Basketball," said USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski.

http://www.usabasketball.com/seniorm...-changes1.html

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

link

7/14/06

Injured Oden uncertain for season's start

The only scary thing about having a 7-foot, 245-pound, 18-year-old freshman walking around on campus during the summer time is not knowing whether or not this goliath will be ready to play come time for the Ohio State men's basketball team's regular season tip-off.

It's been nearly a month since Greg Oden, OSU's prized recruit and former No.1 prep player in the country, underwent surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right wrist. Still no one - at least that's what they are saying - has the slightest idea if the freshman center will be ready to go by the OSU season opener in November.

"It's a week-to-week process," OSU spokesman Dan Wallenberg said. "Greg is being evaluated weekly, but as of right now, there is no update on his progress."

Some published reports have Oden out as long as mid-December as doctors expect about six-month timetable for the former Indiana Player of the Year to fully recover. An MRI scheduled for later this summer is expected to give a better indication of Oden's return.

According to the Buckeye Sports Bulletin, Oden is already rehabilitating with team doctors at OSU.

Attempts to reach Oden, who began classes at OSU this summer, were unsuccessful.

During Oden's surgery on June 16 at the Indiana Hand Center, OSU men's basketball coach Thad Matta paced the floor of the patient waiting room for two hours until the surgery was complete, according to the Associated Press.

"It seemed like forever," said Jack Keefer, Oden's head coach at Lawrence North High School, who was also on hand during Oden's surgery.

Oden, who shot 74 percent from the field and averaged 22 points and 10.5 rebounds a game during his senior season, first hurt his wrist during a state tournament game in February but played through the injury. He later went on to play in two national high school all-star games - the McDonald's All-American Game in San Diego, in late March; and the Roundball Classic in Chicago in April. Oden then was forced to drop out of the Indiana-Kentucky All-Star Game after a visit to the doctor and a follow-up MRI in mid-June showed the injury had not fully healed.

"It was a complete tear," Keefer told the Associated Press. "They put a screw in there, a clamp and whatever they do in there and (the doctor) felt very good about what took place."

Keefer has said in many reports that he is not totally sure if Oden, who won three consecutive Indiana high school Class 4A championships while at Lawrence North, will start the season for the Buckeyes or not, but says "he definitely will get in there somewhere down the line."

Keefer compared Oden's injury to a torn ACL and said the ligament in his right wrist is what gives a player the ability to grip the basketball.

"One thing's for sure: we're going to make sure he has a left hand once this is all over," Matta told The Sporting News.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ESPN.com

7/16/06

ESPN interview with Greg Oden

[JohnnyCockfight]

"One thing's for sure: we're going to make sure he has a left hand once this is all over," Matta told The Sporting News.

This will turn out to be a perfect example of how a good thing can come out of a bad circumstance. If Oden has a decent left hand to go along with an impressive right hand, it will make him all the more valuable to Ohio State, Team USA and the NBA team that obtains his services.

I don't remember the exact details, but Larry Bird once spent an entire summer shooting left-handed, for hours and hours a day, in order to improve his all-around game, after he was already in the NBA. The end result was perhaps the greatest NBA player with regards to being able to shoot with either hand.

[themongoose32]

i wish he wouldn't have said sleep 101, that didn't make me feel good!

the mongoose

[HilmerJ]

he may be a grown man, be im sure he's still got a little "kid" in him, just having a little fun on TV...