C Greg Oden (Portland Trailblazers)

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

cbs.sportsline.com

Center Rankings: Separating top four no easy task

Oct. 6, 2006
By Gary Parrish
CBS SportsLine.com Senior Writer
Tell Gary your opinion!


Four different guys could reasonably claim the top spot on this list, among them the first freshman to lead North Carolina in scoring, Florida's dominant figure of the NCAA Tournament who would've likely been the top pick of the 2006 NBA Draft, LSU's dominant figure who actually beat Florida's dominant figure for SEC Player of the Year honors last season and, of course, Ohio State's freshman phenom who should be the top pick of the 2007 NBA Draft.

Ranking centers = diff-i-cult.
But I did it, anyway. Because I embrace challenges. And if you think you can do better, I'd suggest getting your own web site and having at it.

Top centers

1. Tyler Hansbrough (North Carolina): Hansbrough was great last season, averaging 20.4 points and 7.6 rebounds in ACC games. He got 25 or more points five different times, including a 40-point effort against Georgia Tech, and his only really poor outing down the stretch came in the season-ending loss to George Mason. Rest assured, Hansbrough won't go out in the second round of the NCAA Tournament again. More likely, he'll be holding an MVP trophy on a Monday night in April.
2. Glen Davis (LSU): After huffing and puffing and blowing a huge opportunity in the Final Four, Davis got serious about his weight problem this offseason, reportedly losing anywhere from 25 to one zillion pounds, depending on who you believe. Bottom line, "Big Baby" is smaller, which means his potential is larger, and that he was already a force implies he could be in for an even better season than the 18.6 points and 9.7 rebounds per game recorded as a sophomore. Remember, Davis is the reigning SEC Player of the Year, not ...
3. Joakim Noah (Florida): How the guy who dominated the NCAA Tournament and would've likely been the top pick in June's draft is third on this list is beyond me, and I'm the one doing the stupid rankings. But in assigning this position, I relied on what Florida's Billy Donovan said over the summer. He said coaches, players and teams should be judged on what they do over an entire season, not by what happens in a three-week period in March. Using that as the criteria, Noah came in third, because despite his incredible NCAA Tournament run, there aren't many people who believed in February he was having a better overall season than either of the players above him. Still, Noah's averages of 14.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.4 blocks as a sophomore weren't shabby.
4. Greg Oden (Ohio State): How the guy who might be the best big man prospect in 20 years is fourth on this list is beyond me, and I'm the one doing the stupid rankings. Seriously, Oden, once he's recovered from that wrist injury, could be so dominant he leads Ohio State to a Big Ten title. I won't be shocked if that's the case. Defensively, he's going to be a nightmare for opponents. If I do postseason rankings, don't be surprised if he's No. 1. But for now, fourth will have to do, I guess.
5. Spencer Hawes (Washington): A consensus top five recruit, Hawes projects as the best post player in the West, and he should push for Pac-10 Player of the Year honors as a freshman. He's 6-11, can score inside and shoot it. You've heard of big white stiffs? Hawes is not one of them.
6. Nick Fazekas (Nevada): Fazekas averaged 21.8 points and 10.4 rebounds last season, then opted to return to Nevada for his senior season. Consequently, the Wolf Pack are the favorites to win the WAC, and Fazekas should record his third consecutive league Player of the Year award.
7.Aaron Gray (Pittsburgh): While shunning the NBA Draft, Gray said he returned to school because he thought the Panthers could make the Final Four. If the 7-footer averages a double-double again this season (he got 13.9 points and 10.5 rebounds as a junior), he just might be glad he thought that way.
8. Jermareo Davidson (Alabama): Davidson averaged 14.3 points and 8.9 rebounds last season, and he'd be a double-double guy if he didn't have to share the paint with Richard Hendrix. But because the 6-10 senior does share the paint, Alabama has a shot to win an SEC title, and then some.
9. Jason Smith (Colorado State): NBA scouts don't typically hang out at Colorado State. But this season they will, thanks to Smith, a 7-0 center who averaged 16.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.1 blocks as a sophomore.
10. Joseph Jones (Texas A&M): I'm not saying Jones is ever going to be a lottery selection, but in three meetings with Texas' LaMarcus Aldridge last season, he averaged 19.7 points and 5.3 rebounds. Aldridge's numbers in those games? Just 6.3 points and 6.3 rebounds. And he was the second overall pick in June's NBA Draft. I'm just saying.

[daddyphatsacs]

Man, those top 4 centers are all very good. If Oden ends up being the best of them all, were in for a treat this season.

[buckeye247]

Originally Posted by daddyphatsacs

Man, those top 4 centers are all very good. If Oden ends up being the best of them all, were in for a treat this season.

But the question is when will he play. One can only hope that he is ready by the N.C game in Nov. but i dont think he will be.

[Bestbuck36]

If Oden plays against UNC, Hansborough will not score 20 points.

[buckeye247]

Originally Posted by Bestbuck36

If Oden plays against UNC, Hansborough will not score 20 points.

I dont doubt that at all. The last high school player that got as much praise from former greats was Lebron James, and we all know how good he is.

[smitty03]

I seriously doubt that Oden will be ready for the North Carolina game. I am hoping for a return by the December 23 game against Florida. Matta cares about his players and isn't going to throw Oden out on the court if he is not fully healed and ready to compete. That is why I am saying a December 23rd return might be more realistic.

[akronbuck]

I've posted about this a lot before but, he'll be back when his wrist can handle the contact. Like Matta said, could be whenever. I'm still going through the same [censored] and I had my surgery 5 months before, ODEN.To get the wrist back to the way it was before is onething but, to get any type of the mobility back with no pain in it with any type of contact is the real story.

I Know onething FOR SURE he's lucky he is a 7 footer because, an injured wrist is like a paralyzed wrist with no movement. If he was an outside player like a sf,2g or pg he would be done. He would have to teach himself his shooting touch again with being able to use any type of the wrist's movement he still has left if any. Thats the worse part of it because, I can bend mine down now about half compared to the way it was before

[jwinslow]

Originally Posted by Bestbuck36

If Oden plays against UNC, Hansborough will not score 20 points.

Pretty sure that's not really a possibility at this point... they are hoping he could be back for Cincy & Florida.

[osugrad21]

CPD

Oden among silent 'Thad Five'



Friday, October 13, 2006 Doug Lesmerises

Plain Dealer Reporter
Columbus- The unveiling took place at 3:11 p.m. Thursday.
Freshman center Greg Oden stepped through a doorway into the practice gym at the Schottenstein Center for his first official appearance as an Ohio State Buckeye. The No. 1 recruit in college basketball took a few steps, then slowed down as junior guard Jamar Butler strode past him - and Oden let Butler lead the way to the other side of the gym for a team photo.
So it went on a strange media day, where Oden and his mates in Ohio State's highly rated freshmen class were the stars of the show, but forbidden to speak with reporters. With just four returning scholarship players and a five-man group of recruits that includes four freshmen and junior college transfer Othello Hunter, coach Thad Matta's roster is inside-out and upside-down.
"I think it's a unique situation," said Matta, the new additions long ago dubbed the "Thad Five" in reference to Michigan's "Fab Five" freshman class of 14 years ago. "But we always try to preach we don't care who gets the credit, we want wins."
The tone apparently has been easy to set in large part thanks to Oden, the currently injured 7-footer who would be an NBA star in the making had a new rule in the pros not forced him to college for at least a year.
"The humility he has, I don't know if there's anybody that has ever walked in his shoes that could be more humble than he is," Matta said.
Part of that humility is a vow of silence, Matta upholding his edict that freshmen can't do interviews until they've played a college game. The season opens with an exhibition game on Nov. 1.
Freshmen Mike Conley Jr., Daequan Cook and David Lighty were nearly as highly rated as Oden. The group became friends during their recruitment, and they joked and laughed during an hour of photos Thursday. Oden is expected to be sidelined until Jan. 1 after having surgery on his right wrist.

[osugrad21]

Link

Oden won't face Tar Heels
Ohio State freshman recovering from surgery on wrist

The Associated Press
Greg Oden, acclaimed by many as the best young big man in the country, won't play for Ohio State until January while he continues to recover from a wrist injury. The Buckeyes are scheduled to play at North Carolina on Nov. 29 as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
In the meantime, the Buckeyes -- featuring five newcomers -- will try to not let the season slip away.
"A coach once told me we're all a sprained ankle away from mediocrity," coach Thad Matta said Thursday.
Oden, the 7-foot-1 freshman out of Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis, underwent surgery June 16 to repair a torn ligament in his right wrist. He will not participate in full practices with the Buckeyes until a screw used to stabilize the wrist is removed surgically and he has gone through rehabilitation.
Oden is running and staying in condition. His recovery is right on schedule, but that doesn't make his absence any easier to take.
"He's a freak athlete," backup center Matt Terwilliger said of the mobile, aggressive Oden.
Oden's loss is particularly keen for a team that went 26-6, won the Big Ten's regular-season title and received a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Buckeyes lost in the second round to Georgetown.

[jwinslow]

I'm surprised to see him wear 20 (50 seemed like a better # for a center, especially one that reminds me of Robinson in character and athleticism).

No matter, the jerseys look great.

[crazybuckfan40]

Maybe he thinks he is a guard.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Link

OVERVIEW

Numbers game

13

The number of games Ohio State men's basketball coach Thad Matta predicts superstar freshman Greg Oden will miss after having had surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right wrist in June. The games he's expected to miss include national TV clashes with North Carolina and Florida in December. The 7-foot-1 Oden will probably be back in time for OSU's Big Ten opener against Indiana on Jan. 2.

[HilmerJ]

about the numbers...i think it is very strange...


Cook could wear #7, his aau number but doenst...he goes back to 31...his jr high number...
Oden could wear 50, but chooses 20..
Conley could wear 11, but chooses 1..
Lighty wore 35 in hs right?...thats not taken...but 23 aint a bad number
Hunter seems the only one who kept his HS/JC number..#45

[SanAntonioBuck]

Originally Posted by HilmerJ

Oden could wear 50, but chooses 20..

He didn't want to be confused with Ralph Sampson.