2005-06 BASKETBALL BUCKS LOADED?
Looking ahead to next basketball season, it could be a good year for Ohio State.
The three current seniors will not be missed – especially the running and gunning of Tony Stockman.
The entire starting lineup will return next year. The group is led by center Terence Dials, who is establishing himself as one of the top post players in the country. Dials is averaging 15.6 points and eight rebounds per game, and those numbers will likely rise next season with another year in head coach Thad Matta’s system.
Forward J.J. Sullinger will also be back. He is one of the most athletic players in the Big Ten and is playing more under control this year. He is averaging 10.1 points and 5.3 boards.
Also returning next year is the backcourt tandem of Jamar Butler and Je’Kel Foster, in addition to forward Ivan Harris.
But there is even more to be excited about if you’re an OSU hoops fan.
Junior guard Ron Lewis will become eligible and he will help the team right away. The 6-4 Lewis, a Columbus Brookhaven product, transferred from Bowling Green. He was the Falcons’ leading scorer in 2003-04 with 17 points per game. He has a knack for getting to the foul line and knocking down his shots. He was 191 of 233 (82 percent) from the foul line at BGSU in 2003-04. By comparison, Dials leads the team with 157 free throw attempts this season (shooting 61 percent). Next highest is Sullinger with 76 attempts (shooting 66 percent).
Yes, Lewis is a physical guard that will add a lot of positives to the team next year. Not only will he get to the line more than any other player, he will make a higher percentage of his shots.
Matta is also bringing in junior college transfer guard
Sylvester Mayes (PG/SG) and 6-10 forward
Brayden Bell. Both are having very good seasons this year and should be able to help right away. Matta also has two additional scholarships to hand out, one thanks to the transfer of guard Ricardo Billings.
Also, fiery forward Matt Sylvester will return next year. He won’t be invited to any graduation parties in East Lansing, Mich., but he will provide scoring off the pine.
KUDOS TO MATTA
With this year’s basketball Bucks sitting at 18-9, it’s pretty clear that Andy Geiger made his final big decision as athletic director a good one.
Matta is closing in on the record for most wins by a first year coach at OSU (Gary Williams with 20 in 1986-87).
Considering the team did not have an NCAA bid to play for this season makes the 18-9 mark even that more impressive. If Matta can get these guys inspired to play, imagine what he will do when there is a tournament bid on the line.
What is there to like about Matta? There’s his intensity, his knowledge of the game, his ability to relate to the players, his belief in practicing shooting until your arms fall off, the importance he places on defense, and his ability to make in-game adjustments.
But other than that, there’s really not much he brings to the table.
