Thad Matta (OSU's All Time Winningest Coach & 3x B1G COY, Butler HC)

[wigmon]

The ceiling for any basketball program is based on the coach they have. Duke was maybe a top 20 basketball program prior to coach K, now they are a blue blood and one of the top 2 programs in the country. Indiana was considered a blue blood (top 6) under Knight, but since his departure is probably looked at as roughly a top 25 program.

I understand its not realistic to have that as an expectation, but I don't see any reason with the resources and cache that OSU has as an institution and national brand that we can't be in the next tier of teams and at or near a top 10 program nationally.

 

[wigmon]

I remember when Shaka Smart was the name on everyone's lips a few years ago. Now take a look at him down at Texas. Just saying… Be careful what you wish for.

Texas had very poor recruiting in '13 and '14 (would be juniors and seniors this year) before Smart took over. They are struggling a bit this year, but with the talent coming in, I suspect it to be a one year blip. Smarts career at VCU is roughly the equivalent of Thads prior to coming to OSU, though a tad longer as a head coach.

Obviously some coaches work out and some don't. We seem to be at a point where there's very little risk to making change.

 

[LitlBuck]

Obviously some coaches work out and some don't. We seem to be at a point where there's very little risk to making change.

Matta will be here next year unless he quits and I do not see him doing that. We shall see what happens next year before we start talking about the following year.

 

[BA84]

I think it will come down to the attendance and the dropping of it because basketball is considered a revenue sport. Yes football is the big one but B-ball falls into that money stream. I think back to the women's coach Foster got canned quickly by OSU.

 

[NFBuck]

Matta will be here next year unless he quits and I do not see him doing that. We shall see what happens next year before we start talking about the following year.

I agree, he'll be back next year. But, the roster makeup and the trends of the last four years don't provide a favorable outlook. Loving going may well be addition by subtraction, but he is the #3 scorer. I think there's a good shot TT goes pro, and he's your top rebounder and #4 scorer.

Lyle is mistake-prone and doesn't have a very good basketball IQ, which is a bad thing when he's your PG. Williams is one dimensional. KBD is probably an upgrade over Loving, assuming he takes those minutes. Can he stay healthy? I'd assume K. Wesson splits time with Potter. K. Wesson, like I said last night, looks like he could be a good complementary player, but he'll be a true frosh, and Potter is a nightmare on defense. I'm not impressed with Beverly as much more than an end of bench guy. Speaking of the bench, it's woefully thin. Jackson is a good energy guy, but doesn't provide much beyond effort. Neither A. Wesson or Bell should be seeing any significant minutes on a team with hopes beyond scrapping for a postseason berth.

Now, you could say that maybe guys like Lyle, Williams, or KBD make a leap...but the same was expected this year and it ain't happening. This staff has done a poor job of developing players over the last several years, and I don't see how that magically changes next year. Maybe Matta shakes up his staff. Maybe Thompson comes back again, improves some, and gives a boost to the interior. But given the trends of the last few years, those seem like long shots.

I said last night, my gut tells me he's back next year, the team continues to struggle, and after the season he's offered a chance to resign and takes it. I like Matta. He runs a clean program and made tOSU basketball a lot of fun for the better part of a decade. I want to see him prove us all wrong and turn it around. But as hard as I'm trying, I just don't see how he's gonna do it. The recruiting isn't good, and the coaching hasn't been good either for a few years now.

 

[MaxBuck]

I just want better than a bottom-tier B1G basketball team.

My aim is a lot higher than that.

 

[NFBuck]

My aim is a lot higher than that.

Me too, but my point is, at this moment, that's what we are and I want better.

 

[buckeyebri]

I really don't see any advantage to the program to bring Matta back. It is a utter and total dumpster fire at this point. It is obvious the players have no respect for him and are just going through the motions game to game. The lack of player development over the past few seasons speaks to why he can't bring decent recruits in anymore. Most players stand still or regress in their time here. Watching him dismiss a majority of last years recruiting class yet coddle Loving for four years is maddening at best. Would those players have made the team better, I don't know but I have been less than impressed with Loving's sporadic play, lack of leadership. and moodiness in his four years in S&G.

'I would love nothing more than Thad bringing the program back, but nothing points to that being a realistic possibility. Go ahead and keep him, but for those who say be careful what you wish for in getting rid of him I say be careful what you hope for in keeping him.

 

[wigmon]

Matta will be here next year unless he quits and I do not see him doing that. We shall see what happens next year before we start talking about the following year.

I don't know whether he will be here or not. Whether he should or not is a good topic for discussion.

Resignations can be forced or voluntary. Thads unlikely to step away without some sort of deal (too much money on the table).

We aren't going to be very good next year no matter who the coach is (my working assumption is that Lyle and/or TT will move on), so any discussion should revolve how to get the program turned around as quickly as possible, whether thats with Matta or someone else. If someone else appears to be the better option, then best to move on sooner rather than later.

 

[NFBuck]

I don't know whether he will be here or not. Whether he should or not is a good topic for discussion.

Resignations can be forced or voluntary. Thads unlikely to step away without some sort of deal (too much money on the table).

We aren't going to be very good next year no matter who the coach is (my working assumption is that Lyle and/or TT will move on), so any discussion should revolve how to get the program turned around as quickly as possible, whether thats with Matta or someone else. If someone else appears to be the better option, then best to move on sooner rather than later.

If they lose both Lyle AND Thompson, we'll be lucky to sniff 10-12 wins total, IMO. That could be the disastrous season.

 

[Jake]

Matta will be here next year unless he quits and I do not see him doing that. We shall see what happens next year before we start talking about the following year.

Matta will probably be here next year, but you seem more optimistic than I am of a happy turnaround from a six year decline and no five-star recruits heading to Columbus. Other than hope, what evidence is there to expect it?

The B1G isn't even looking that strong this season, and the only team we lead in the standings is Rutgers.

 

[LitlBuck]

Well, for the first time not on this site, I have heard someone reputable, sort of, call for Matta's firing.

This morning on WTVN in Columbus, Tony White said that as much as he loves Thad Matta, Gene Smith needs to pull the plug on him. I have not seen anyone on other websites or on the radio call for Matta's dismissal and I think that that will have to be quite a bit more chatter before Smith pulls the plug.

Maybe I am blinded by my appreciation for Thad because it seems I am in the minority but maybe a new face on the program is needed. Just do not know where that new face is going to come from.

 

[NFBuck]

Well, for the first time not on this site, I have heard someone reputable, sort of, call for Matta's firing.

This morning on WTVN in Columbus, Tony White said that as much as he loves Thad Matta, Gene Smith needs to pull the plug on him. I have not seen anyone on other websites or on the radio call for Matta's dismissal and I think that that will have to be quite a bit more chatter before Smith pulls the plug.

Maybe I am blinded by my appreciation for Thad because it seems I am in the minority but maybe a new face on the program is needed. Just do not know where that new face is going to come from.

As the losses mount, I think you'll see more.

Bottom line, this program is in it's fifth year of depreciating returns:
2013: 29-8, 13-5 (t2nd) // NCAA Elite Eight
2014: 25-10, 10-8 (5th) // NCAA 1st Round
2015: 24-11, 11-7 (6th) // NCAA 2nd Round
2016: 21-14, 11-7 (7th) // NIT 2nd Round
2017: 13-10, 3-7 (13th) // Clawing for NIT-berth?

My guess is we end up 16-15 (6-12) or 15-16 (5-13) neither of which gets them into any postseason.

That's what you call a steady decline, and recruiting doesn't provide much hope for improvement next year. In fact, if Lyle/Thompson go (and why shouldn't they?), next year might be a good bit worse.

Again, I think Matta gets next year; but personally, I think now is the time to move on. Waiting another year is simply a wasted season in trying to turn things around. I don't see him ever getting fired, but probably a mutual parting of the ways when it happens. His legacy is cemented, the question is does he want to remembered as a guy that hung on too long, or way too long?

 

[LitlBuck]

Again, I think Matta gets next year; but personally, I think now is the time to move on. Waiting another year is simply a wasted season in trying to turn things around. I don't see him ever getting fired, but probably a mutual parting of the ways when it happens. His legacy is cemented, the question is does he want to remembered as a guy that hung on too long, or way too long?

Well, if Gene Smith is thinking about removing Matta from the HC position I would rather him do it this year rather than wait until next because it will only hurt recruiting. I am trying to think of someone I like, who would be a national recruiter, and I am drawing a blank.

 

[wigmon]

I don't think you see a lot of public grumblings because a lot of people really respect Thad as a person and have empathy for him. I don't believe just because their aren't a lot of things being said publicly that they aren't being said in private.

There is always going to be some questions about any new hire. There were a ton of people scratching their head when Matta was hired here. IT worked out OK, until the health issues arose. There were questions when Ayers was hired. That didn't work out so well. There will most likely be questions when the next coach is hired.

I agree with your point and have stated previously that if you don't plan to extend his contract in 2 years, its best to cut ties now.