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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
Dispatch
OHIO STATE MEN?S BASKETBALL
Butler still adjusting to new shooting role
Focusing on scoring different game from passing all the time
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Bob Baptist
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
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The line in the box score detailing Jamar Butler?s junior debut did not befit someone who finished last season playing as well as, if not better than, any point guard in the Big Ten.
Three field goals attempted, one made, all from outside the three-point line. Three assists. Four turnovers.
There could be at least a couple of reasons for that. The most significant is that Butler is not the primary point guard anymore for the Ohio State men?s basketball team. He is a shooting guard who will play the point when freshman Mike Conley Jr. does not.
"It?s something I?ll have to get used to," Butler said.
He did not say it with a tone of resignation.
"I kind of liked it. It?s not a bad position," he said. "I think once we get our sets in, I?ll be fine."
That?s the second reason Butler looked a little lost on offense Wednesday in the Buckeyes? 80-57 exhibition win over Findlay.
"I think we called three sets," coach Thad Matta said. "That was, quite honestly, by design."
The Buckeyes play their second and final exhibition today in Value City Arena against Walsh University, NAIA Division II national champion two years ago and a quarterfinalist last season. They open the regular season Friday night. This early in the season, three weeks into practice, Matta is more interested in fundamentals, rebounding and defense, and he was more than satisfied with Butler?s defense Wednesday.
As far as Butler?s offense is concerned, he spent the offseason working on getting it with the ball out of his hands rather than in them, coming off screens in set plays for open jump shots. Few of those sets were in the game plan against Findlay; rather, the Buckeyes spread the floor in their halfcourt offense and tried to beat the Oilers off the dribble, which Butler does not do as well as fellow guards Conley, Ron Lewis and Daequan Cook. Fifty-four percent of his career shots from the field have been threes.
"Being a point guard, you?re looking to pass first. With him moving over to the two spot, he has to look to shoot more, and that?s one thing he just has to get in the mind-set of doing," Lewis said.
"It?s going to come with time. I think it?ll help him when we start putting in more sets (because) then he knows it?s coming to him instead of him (having to get) it for himself."
Matta said another factor Wednesday was that Butler and Conley had played together in practice just a few times before the game because they are the only point guards on the roster.
"I?m not going to say I had one of my best games," Butler said. He also said that doesn?t make him feel that he has something to prove today.
"I just want to get (the team?s five newcomers) used to playing the college game, for the road we have ahead of us," he said. "It?s a long season. I want them to be prepared.
"I?ll be fine. I?m not worried at all."
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[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]OSU turns to Butler for leadership[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]BY JIM NAVEAU - Nov. 10, 2006[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]COLUMBUS ? Maybe the first two years of Jamar Butler?s basketball career at Ohio State could be viewed as a CD you have to play a few times before you start to appreciate it.
The more the junior point guard from Shawnee played last season, the more Ohio State fans liked what they saw. He averaged 10.1 points a game for the 26-6 Buckeyes and earned the designation as ?probably the most improved player in the country? from OSU coach Thad Matta.
Now, as the junior leader of an Ohio State team packed with precocious prospects, all he has to do is add the vocals.
Butler has always leaned in the direction of silence and rarely changed expression on the court. But this year, Matta wants him to speak up and Butler wants the same thing.
?He wants me to step up and be a little bit more of a leader, be more vocal,? Butler said.
Butler is the only returning starter for Ohio State, though guard Ron Lewis (11.2) started six games and was fifth on the team in minutes played last season. Junior forwards Matt Terwilliger and Ivan Harris played in backup roles.
OSU opens its season tonight at home against Virginia Military Institute at 8 o?clock.
Despite the Buckeyes? limited experience, the arrival of four much-heralded freshmen and a junior college transfer has them listed in most preseason Top Tens.
Those newcomers, like 7-1 Greg Oden, Daequan Cook, David Lighty and Mike Conley Jr., will be scorers. But the 6-2 Butler could also be a bigger part of the Buckeyes? offense this season.
Matta said there is ?a strong possibility? Butler and Conley, a 5-11 point guard, could play at the same time, with Butler moving over to the shooting guard?s position.
?Mike and I are going to get a lot of minutes together on the court,? Butler said. ?This two guard thing is going to be good for me. I think we can get out and press some teams this year and make it a little hectic for them.?
Butler?s biggest improvements last season came on offense. He shot 44 percent overall and 41 percent on 3-pointers after hitting only 33 percent overall and 23 percent from long range his freshman season.
Ohio?s Mr. Basketball in 2004 had already added defense to his game. Matta says besides leadership, he is looking for more off-the-ball movement from Butler this season.
Butler is looking forward to the addition of the heavily hyped recruits.
?These freshmen are really good, some of the best freshmen I?ve ever seen,? he said.
?They all came in with confidence. They?re all great players but I think they need a little bit of leadership because they?ve never played a college basketball game.?
Oden had wrist surgery in June and isn?t expected back until January. Some people wonder if he will ever suit up for Ohio State before moving on to the NBA next year. But Butler says he will return on schedule.
?He?s gonna play. He?s gonna play. He wants to get out there,? Butler said. ?He?s going to add everything. He?s going to score, he?s going to rebound, he?s going to block shots. He?s going to draw the defense toward him and leave us open on the perimeter.
?Greg is a hard worker. A lot of kids, if they?re the No. 1 high school player in the country, you wouldn?t see them working too hard. But he came in over the summer and he?s been working hard ever since he?s been here,? he said.
Ohio State plays at defending national champion Florida and at North Carolina before the start of the Big Ten schedule. The Buckeyes will play Cincinnati on Dec. 16 in Indianapolis in the first game between the two schools since the 1962 NCAA championship game.
?There?s no question guys are going to get thrown into the fire early and guys are going to have to develop quickly,? Matta said.
Terwilliger, who goes back several years with Butler, says OSU?s point guard will be able to lead all the young talent.
?He?s always been able to lead by example, he?s always done real well with that. This year he?s just going to have to be vocal. All the younger kids are going to be looking to him, coming back as a starter for a second year,? he said.
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[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]OSU turns to Butler for leadership[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]BY JIM NAVEAU - Nov. 10, 2006[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]COLUMBUS ? Maybe the first two years of Jamar Butler?s basketball career at Ohio State could be viewed as a CD you have to play a few times before you start to appreciate it.
The more the junior point guard from Shawnee played last season, the more Ohio State fans liked what they saw. He averaged 10.1 points a game for the 26-6 Buckeyes and earned the designation as ?probably the most improved player in the country? from OSU coach Thad Matta.
Now, as the junior leader of an Ohio State team packed with precocious prospects, all he has to do is add the vocals.
Butler has always leaned in the direction of silence and rarely changed expression on the court. But this year, Matta wants him to speak up and Butler wants the same thing.
?He wants me to step up and be a little bit more of a leader, be more vocal,? Butler said.
Butler is the only returning starter for Ohio State, though guard Ron Lewis (11.2) started six games and was fifth on the team in minutes played last season. Junior forwards Matt Terwilliger and Ivan Harris played in backup roles.
OSU opens its season tonight at home against Virginia Military Institute at 8 o?clock.
Despite the Buckeyes? limited experience, the arrival of four much-heralded freshmen and a junior college transfer has them listed in most preseason Top Tens.
Those newcomers, like 7-1 Greg Oden, Daequan Cook, David Lighty and Mike Conley Jr., will be scorers. But the 6-2 Butler could also be a bigger part of the Buckeyes? offense this season.
Matta said there is ?a strong possibility? Butler and Conley, a 5-11 point guard, could play at the same time, with Butler moving over to the shooting guard?s position.
?Mike and I are going to get a lot of minutes together on the court,? Butler said. ?This two guard thing is going to be good for me. I think we can get out and press some teams this year and make it a little hectic for them.?
Butler?s biggest improvements last season came on offense. He shot 44 percent overall and 41 percent on 3-pointers after hitting only 33 percent overall and 23 percent from long range his freshman season.
Ohio?s Mr. Basketball in 2004 had already added defense to his game. Matta says besides leadership, he is looking for more off-the-ball movement from Butler this season.
Butler is looking forward to the addition of the heavily hyped recruits.
?These freshmen are really good, some of the best freshmen I?ve ever seen,? he said.
?They all came in with confidence. They?re all great players but I think they need a little bit of leadership because they?ve never played a college basketball game.?
Oden had wrist surgery in June and isn?t expected back until January. Some people wonder if he will ever suit up for Ohio State before moving on to the NBA next year. But Butler says he will return on schedule.
?He?s gonna play. He?s gonna play. He wants to get out there,? Butler said. ?He?s going to add everything. He?s going to score, he?s going to rebound, he?s going to block shots. He?s going to draw the defense toward him and leave us open on the perimeter.
?Greg is a hard worker. A lot of kids, if they?re the No. 1 high school player in the country, you wouldn?t see them working too hard. But he came in over the summer and he?s been working hard ever since he?s been here,? he said.
Ohio State plays at defending national champion Florida and at North Carolina before the start of the Big Ten schedule. The Buckeyes will play Cincinnati on Dec. 16 in Indianapolis in the first game between the two schools since the 1962 NCAA championship game.
?There?s no question guys are going to get thrown into the fire early and guys are going to have to develop quickly,? Matta said.
Terwilliger, who goes back several years with Butler, says OSU?s point guard will be able to lead all the young talent.
?He?s always been able to lead by example, he?s always done real well with that. This year he?s just going to have to be vocal. All the younger kids are going to be looking to him, coming back as a starter for a second year,? he said.
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Lima
Butler?s move a big assist for OSU
BY JIM NAVEAU - Jan. 26, 2007
COLUMBUS ? Greg Oden?s left-handed free throw shooting has gotten more attention, but the biggest adjustment by an Ohio State men?s basketball player this season might be the one made by Jamar Butler.
At the end of last season, Butler was one of the top point guards in the Big Ten. Coach Thad Matta said he might have been the most improved player in college basketball.
But before this year?s first game, the 6-2 junior from Shawnee High School knew he would be changing positions and surrendering the majority of the point guard duties to incoming freshman Mike Conley Jr.
Continued...
Butler?s move a big assist for OSU
BY JIM NAVEAU - Jan. 26, 2007
COLUMBUS ? Greg Oden?s left-handed free throw shooting has gotten more attention, but the biggest adjustment by an Ohio State men?s basketball player this season might be the one made by Jamar Butler.
At the end of last season, Butler was one of the top point guards in the Big Ten. Coach Thad Matta said he might have been the most improved player in college basketball.
But before this year?s first game, the 6-2 junior from Shawnee High School knew he would be changing positions and surrendering the majority of the point guard duties to incoming freshman Mike Conley Jr.
Continued...
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DDN
No matter the backcourt position, Butler stays productive
By Mark Gokavi
Staff Writer
Friday, February 02, 2007
Purdue University men's basketball coach Matt Painter said Wednesday he thought Jamar Butler was the Big Ten's best point guard last season.
Now, Butler doesn't even start at the point for Ohio State. After giving way to freshman Mike Conley Jr., Butler has settled in at shooting guard.
Continued...
No matter the backcourt position, Butler stays productive
By Mark Gokavi
Click-2-ListenStaff Writer
Friday, February 02, 2007
Purdue University men's basketball coach Matt Painter said Wednesday he thought Jamar Butler was the Big Ten's best point guard last season.
Now, Butler doesn't even start at the point for Ohio State. After giving way to freshman Mike Conley Jr., Butler has settled in at shooting guard.
Continued...
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Fungo Squiggly
Mortal enemy of all things Bucky
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Through the first eleven games (up to the ISU game), when he was held scoreless, Butler was averaging 6.6 points, had hit double figures twice, and was shooting 35.7% on his threes. In the fourteen games since then, he is averaging 10.8 ppg, has hit double figures nine times, and is shooting 42.9% from three.
In the last five games, he has 18 assists, 7 steals, and just 2 turnovers.
In the last five games, he has 18 assists, 7 steals, and just 2 turnovers.
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I agree with this data. He has been playing better recently which, IMO has been due to his getting familiar with his new role.Bucky Katt;749172; said:
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jimotis4heisman
Banned
that data underestimates his play of late. the timing of his buckets have been perfect. ive said it in how many game day threads lately that hes become a run killer...
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crazybuckfan40
Head Coach
jimotis4heisman;749186; said:
Exactally and he has actually done a little more off the dribble than what he was doing early in the season...
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I wonder if Butlers mind was a little bit elsewhere this afternoon. He seemed a little bit frustrated at times. I'm not worried about him one bit, he's a rock and we'll lean on him yet before this season is over but he just seemed a little flustered today. We'll see how he plays tomorrow against Purdue. Conley has completely taken over this team but I think Butler needs to be the leader both for our teams sake and his own.
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jimotis4heisman
Banned
take a look at dion harris' stat line...
http://ohiostatebuckeyes.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/stats/2006-2007/030907.html
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