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Men's Basketball
Buckeyes Will be Better in 2005-2006
By John Porentas
"I know this, we are better on paper, and in physical talent, than we were last year." -----Ohio State assistant basketball coach Dan Peters
There is quiet optimism in the Buckeye basketball program.
In Thad Matta's first season as head coach OSU put together a 20-12 season that included an 8-8 Big Ten record and a thrilling last-minute win over top-ranked and then-unbeaten Illinois in the season's last regularly-scheduled game. Matta and his coaches think this year's squad should be better.
The Buckeyes open this season minus four players from last year's squad; reserve center Mat Marinchick, guard Tony Stockman and guard Brandon Fuss-Cheatham were all lost to graduation, and forward Jermyl Jackson-Wilson elected to transfer. Returners include guards Jamar Butler (sophomore, 6-2, 200), and Je'Kel Foster (senior, 6-3, 210), J.J. Sullinger (senior, 6-5, 215), forwards Ivan Harris (junior, 6-7, 215) and Matt Sylvester (senior 6-7, 230), and centers Matt Terwilliger (6-8, 230) and Terence Dials (6-9, 260).
Joining OSU's seven returners are junior college transfer guard Sylvester Mayes (6-1, 190) who will have two years of eligibility, transfer guard Ron Lewis (6-4, 195) who will also have two years of eligibility, and true freshman forward Braydon Bell (6-8, 255).
The Buckeyes will play the season short two players as a voluntary penalty for the NCAA infractions which occurred during the coaching tenure former OSU Head Coach Jim O'Brien. Despite the shortage in numbers, the Buckeyes, at least on paper, are a deeper team this season.
"We're 10 deep, but we just so happen to have just 10 guy," said Sullinger.
"It's kind of a unique situation in that we have ten guys all who can play, who are good players, and with coaches system guys are going to be running in and out all the time anyways," added Sylvester. "We're going to be able to get up and down and really surpise some teams I think," Sylvester said.
The Buckeyes do in fact appear to be more athletic than last season, and will have a core of returners, including Lewis who practiced with the team last season while sitting out a year after his transfer, who have had a year in Matta's system.
"I like the fact that eight of the ten guys have been in the program before," said Matta.
"I think honestly this time last year I didn't know much about our players, so I think we go in with little better base of what these guys are capable of, and by the same token, I'm looking forward to seeing how much they've improved in the off-season. I think having a familiarity with them as players, as people, maybe the buttons to push, those are key to the impact of being in a program for a while," Matta said.
Where the Buckeyes need to get better
There is absolutely no hesitation in his answer when Matta talks about his team's most glaring weakness last season.
"I think rebounding and defense are two of the things we have to do a better job of," said Matta.
Matta and his staff think the defense will improve as their players become more and more familiar with their defensive system. What concerns them the most is the team's rebounding.
"On defense, if we don't do anything, we're going to be better just because we have better athletes," said Peters.
"I thought that last year of all the teams I've been around it was the poorest rebounding team I've ever been around," Peters said.
"If we can improve in our rebounding and guarding the ball, I think we'll right, because we share the ball pretty good, and we've got kids that are pretty smart and they work pretty hard, so I think those would be the two areas we need to work on."
The coaching staff has gotten the message through to their players, the rebounding must be better.
"We definitely need to rebound," said Sullinger.
"We didn't rebound at all last year. I think we were like 10th. It's our goal to be in the top half, if not the best rebounding team in the Big Ten."
Sullinger listed the keys to improvement in that area.
"I think it's between your ears. You've got to be mentally tough and always go to the board and rebound. You can't pick and choose, you always have to go, you have to be consistent. It also comes along with the weight room, and we've worked extremely hard in the weight room this summer," Sullinger said.
"I think honestly I hope everybody can rebound the ball, because we're a team that is going to have to gang rebound the basketball. I don't think we have a David West or a Dennis Rodman that I can so on any given night, he's getting 12 rebounds," said Matta.
"I think that has to be something that we have to do a better job of teaching , of getting guys to pursue rebounds and coming up with them. I think last year we led the country in balls that hit our hands that we didn't come up with. Getting them to understand the term 'Snatch it' and come down with the ball. That has to be a huge priority with these guys," Matta said.
If the Buckeyes can indeed rebound, they could be a very good team in 2005. Thats because the Buckeyes will have strength on the perimeter and will likely go with a three guard lineup. Here is a breakdown of each position and the players available to fill them.
Point Guard
Brandon Fuss-Cheatham is gone but Jamar Butler returns for his sophomore season. Butler had a solid freshman year, but expects to be an improved player this season.
"I'm a lot more comfortable because I know what to expect now to be out there playing when the lights are on. I know what to expect now, I know what it's like, so I'm a lot more comfortable," said Butler.
"I think Jamar last year had a tremendous freshman year," said Matta.
"Some people look at points or that sort of thing as how he did, but I think he established himself as a good defender and I hope he's even better this year. He worked very hard this summer on shooting the ball. I think Jamar can be a 33%+ three point shooter. Last year he was at 23%. Getting that up is going to be huge for him, and I think he's more comfortable with what he's doing," said Matta.
"I'm going to be looking to score, get to the rim, try and make plays this year instead of just run the team," said Butler.
"I'm going to look to make a lot of plays and make things happen. That's why I've worked on my shot so much. Last year I had a lot of teams sagging off on me because my shot wouldn't fall."
The good new for the Buckeyes is that Butler probably really is an improved player. The bad news is that this position is the only one on the team at which there is no real backup to the starter.
"There's no doubt that Jamar is really critical, because he's probaly the only pure point guard we have," said Peters.
Butler's ability to avoid foul trouble will be a real key for the Buckeyes this season. When he is off the floor, the Buckeyes will probably have a patchwork system in place. An off guard like Foster or Mayes or Lewis will probably bring the ball up the floor, but none of those players is especially adept at running an offense. Instead, the Buckeyes will probably look to a point forward to make plays at the offensive end when Butler is off the floor.
"(Last year) One of our best ball handlers and passers was Mat Sylvester. Last year we put him in positions where he was handling the ball," said Matta.
Sylvester said he would welcome that role.
"I don't know that you guys would ever want to see me bringing the ball up court against a little quick guy, but I think in a way that became my role last year. A lot of plays were run through me because I feel like I have good passing ability. I would love that role because I feel like I could get it done. Point forward, that just sounds good," Sylvester said.
Two Guard
Je'Kel Foster returns at the two guard and newcomer Sylvester Mayes will definitely see time at that spot as well. Mayes is a pure scorer who has the ability to shoot it from outside and can also put it on the floot and take it to the rack. Foster brings strength and toughness to the position, is a good three-point shooter and a ferocious defender.
"What Ja'Kel has meant to this program has been invaluable from the standpoint of leadership and competitiveness,"" said Matta.
"We wanted Ja'Kel to become a little bit more athletic and explosive, and I think he's done that," Matta said.
"I think that Sylvester Mayes is a kid that has played at a great junior college, has played at the highest level of junior college basketball, won a ton of games there, competed for a national championship," Matta said.
"He's (Mayes) very quick, very quick, and he can get to the rim," said Butler. "He's a scorer. He can really score."
Three Guard
Two athletic and talented players will man the three guard spot, Sullinger and Lewis.
Sullinger brings extreme athleticism to the position and showed flashes of brilliance last year, but sometimes disappeared at critical times during the season. Lewis is perhaps the most potent scorer on the Buckeye roster this season. Like Sullinger, he is extremely athletic and can score both inside and out. Both Sullinger and Lewis will be called on to rebound as well, and both have the athletic ability to get that job done. It remains to be seen if Lewis can defend, and he did have some turnover problems while playing at Bowling Green in his freshman and sophomore seasons.
Power Forward
Last year's starter at power forward, Ivan Harris, and the number one sub at that position, Mat Sylvester, both return this season. Harris' season last year was disappointing from the standpoint of defense, rebounding, and the ability to play in close to the basket. Harris settled for threes, and when they were falling, he was a weapon. Too often, however, he was a no-show from the outside and had no other aspect to his game to fall back on. Harris says that will not be the case this season.
"I'm trying to get to the rack, trying to get to the bucket instead of pulling up for the three. I know I can shoot the three, but I'm trying to put more into my game, round out my game," said Harris.
Harris did work on those aspects of his game in the Worthington Summer League and in that setting looked like he had the tools to improve his game. If he does, the Buckeyes will be much better off for it. If he doesn't, he could find himself on the bench next to the coaching staff much of the time this season. Harris says not to look for him on the bench.
"I'm doing it. I'm not just saying, I'm doing it," said Harris. "That's the main focus for me."
Sylvester was OSU's sixth man last season, but could very well be the starter at forward this year.
"Mat is coming off what I thought was a very good year last year," said Matta.
"I thought that he played more consistently down the stretch, but he was one that had to get himself in better shape to be able to compete at the level we wanted him to compete at, and I think he's done that. I think he feels more comfortable in how we play and what we're trying to do and use him as an offensive threat.
"Even last year I had started talking to Matt when he started playing well and he said 'Coach, I don't want to start. I like my role on this team.' I hope for him that it has changed. The great thing I know about Mat is that whatever we need for him to do, he's going to do for us to have a chance to win. In my mind, I hope he's come in saying 'In my mind, if startting spot is there, I want a crack at it,'" Matta said.
Also available at forward is incoming freshman Braydon Bell. Bell will have trouble taking minutes from Sylvester, but if Harris does not become more physical on the glass and get to the rack, Bell may get significant playing time this season. He needs some work in the weight room, but can shoot it from three point range.
"I think Braydon comes in and brings some size and skill level that we can use," said Matta.
Center
The discussion at center starts with Terence Dials this year, but Dials may actually have a little help at center this year. Matt Terwilliger is back for his sophomore season, and Terwilliger says he is an improved player.
"I thought I was playing hard last year, and I wasn't. I had no idea what hard work was. I've been pushing myself to that next level in everything I'm doing just so I'm ready this year. I feel real good about it. I'm in much better shape than I was in last year. I feel like I could run all day," Terwilliger said.
Terwilliger did not log much playing time last season, but went to Europe with the Big Ten all-star team this summer. Terwilliger says that trip was very good for him.
"That was a wonderful trip. It was unbelievable," said Terwilliger.
"We stayed right across the street from the beach in Barcelona. It doesn't get much better than that, and it gave me some great experience playing. I got like 30 minutes a game," Terwilliger said.
According to Matta, Dials has done what he needs to do to have a good season, but still has room for improvement in his game.
"I think with Terence it all starts with his conditioning and getting him in great shape, both physically and mentally. I hope that Terence can continue to develop. I think his game will expand a little bit more and be a little more productive in the post, and maybe he'll step out a little bit more, but we need Terence to be a very good defender down on the block," Matta said.
The Buckeyes will open their exhibiton season this Sunday at the Value City Arena with a game against the University of Findlay Oilers at 2:00 PM.
