OSU players and staff devastated on loss

[RU MAN]

Matta is on the ropes....a coach that is secure with his job, fanbase and players, gives credit to the opponent.....when you've been beaten up in the press, have an underachieving team and have 5 Top 150 kids recruited and signed 2 years ago and 4 of the 5 transfer before the end of their freshman season, you have the results of what took place today.

My only fear isn't that RU doesn't recruit better players....my biggest fear is when you increase the talent of the recruiting, the players that you land, with all that talent, don't buy in.....they don't get 9 rebounds like Mike Williams....they don't get putbacks by Freeman, CJ, Laurent and even Candido Sa, outworked for a put back.

Indiana, Ohio State and to a lesser extent Michigan State for this year, all have talented rosters, but they have entitled kids/players and it is impossible to win consistently, when you don't have buy-in....

Matta won't admit it, because he's on a standing 8 count, but his tenure at Ohio State isn't necessarily over, but it needs a reboot....Can he flush out the talented kids and get the kids that he used to land at Ohio State....that dove for loose balls....the Chris Jent's or Mike Conley Jr. types...the grinders that used to gobble up rebounds......the guard that no one could figure out in Aaron Craft, who symbolized the scrappy Buckeyes, was a four year starter and a pain in the neck to deal with......was followed up with the one and done DAngelo Russell.....and Russell is an NBA talent but they haven't looked or felt the same since Craft and Shawnell Scott left Ohio State....that backcourt wasn't DAngelo Russell talent, but there is no way Craft or Scott would allow the erosion of what Matta has allowed in the last 2-3 years....

I'm glad RU was down 15-5 and rallied to win and closed the game out comfortably....Matta has lost his fire to coach and needs to get back to his roots of finding a Craft or someone that will not allow lax play........maybe it's the bad back of Matta....maybe it's too many wins and maybe it's the bad mix of players....

He looked and sounded like a coach that has been defeated, not just by RU, but by the process of college basketball and the expectations at Ohio State.....Pitino Jr. Collins, Pikiell and now others like Pat Chambers are just hungrier than Matta right now....their staffs are hungry....the have players looking for someone else to grab the rebound, we have three people going for the same rebound.

It's coaching and players not being hungry....Matta took a body blow and instead of manning up, he passed the Bucks....

You just described why Wisconsin is so successful. Wisconsin is what Ohio State used to be. And it's one thing to bring in talent and have the kids buy into the system. It's another thing however, for all of the pieces to gel. And they haven't all season for them. I'm just thrilled we got another crack at them and beat them, like we should have in Ohio.

 

[RutgersRaRa]

http://ohiostate.247sports.com/Bolt...o-State-recruit-Thad-Matta-was-dying-51653998

I read the article--good find. I feel bad for Matta and that he had a surgery gone wrong. And it is revolting that that other coach said he was dying.

 

[Rhuarc]

Honestly, they were an 11 seed with an overall record a few wins about .500. They were not a "typical" OSU team. If that doesn't tell you that your season is in trouble and you can lose to anybody, not sure what to tell you.

 

[BillyC80]

It appeared that, as OSU missed all those shots in the second half, they didn't have the kind of fight in them to find another way to win. RU has that fight, and we are the better team for it.

 

[gef21]

wow cannot believe he is only 49? I never ever thought he was that young. He does look 60 plus...has he had any health issues

this is him in 2004 when he was hired at 36

here is him today

He is only 49? wow.

 

[KnightsofChrome]

Matta showed zero class in the press conference.... he not once gave credit to our coach nor our players for being the better team. Our coach always acknowledges the other coach and team when we lose. So happy with have Steve who represents RU with class and dignity.

To me the interesting statement from Matta, was not the one after the game(which was classless in itself), but his interview prior to the start of the game, where he stated how the last time they played Rutgers, it was the worst game they played all year. This with them winning! The implication was that they should have crushed Rutgers by a much wider margin.
Well, I guess THIS was the worst game of the year!

 

[srru86]

Cleveland Plain Dealer
Ohio State basketball: The big change that isn't happening, and the little changes that must

Ohio State basketball bounced early from Big Ten Tournament in 66-57 loss to Rutgers

5 things to know from Thad Matta after Ohio State's Big Ten Tournament loss to Rutgers

Columbus Dispatch
Men’s basketball Rutgers 66, Ohio State 57: A shocking early exit

Ohio State men’s basketball | Matta won’t commit to NIT

The Lantern
Ohio State men’s basketball suffers embarrassing loss to Rutgers in first round of Big Ten tournament, 66-57

 

[beaced]

Couldn't agree more. He looked like a beaten man after the game. The guy is only 49 years old but looked closer to 69.

As an expert on age,I would never have thought that he was only 49. Coaching surely ages one.

 

[soundcrib]

Couldn't agree more. He looked like a beaten man after the game. The guy is only 49 years old but looked closer to 69.

That guy is only 49?!!!

 

[TheB1GTerp]

Yeah but you forget how great defense, with a great coach switching defenses neutralizes that better talent and makes it look ordinary. Have you heard about a team like Virginia , that plays some of the uglier games to watch, but neutralize UNC, Duke and Louisville talent every year.

http://www.espn.com/ncb/recap/_/gameId/400915451

The lost 65-41.

One of ugliest games in the history of basketball, if you are trying to get fans, you're doing better now than that. That pack line defense is worse to watch than Wisconsin. No one would watch basketball if Wisconsin and Virginia styles were on TV in NBA.

At that point, watch soccer.

 

[TheB1GTerp]

wow cannot believe he is only 49? I never ever thought he was that young. He does look 60 plus...has he had any health issues

this is him in 2004 when he was hired at 36

Yes something with his back.

 

[rulaw87]

The OSU players walked off the floor with time still on the clock. They were already in the handshake line before the final buzzer sounded.

 

[wheezer]

It appeared that, as OSU missed all those shots in the second half, they didn't have the kind of fight in them to find another way to win. RU has that fight, and we are the better team for it.

----
I respectfully disagree.... to me it looked like both teams gave it their best efforts, just that neither had a good shooting day, which is pretty much
standard for our team
Ohio state had problems with our switch to a zone.... a common thing in a game when a team changes defenses, the other team then has trouble scoring.....not a lack of effort

 

[UMRU]

OSU basketball should be proud - unlike their football team, at least they scored in the postseason.

 

[RUJMM78]

----
I respectfully disagree.... to me it looked like both teams gave it their best efforts, just that neither had a good shooting day, which is pretty much
standard for our team
Ohio state had problems with our switch to a zone.... a common thing in a game when a team changes defenses, the other team then has trouble scoring.....not a lack of effort

The difference in the game was the offensive rebounds by Rutgers resulting in put back baskets and the foul shots by Johnson in the last 2 minutes.Both teams had poor shooting performances which makes some fans think lack of effort.The lack of effort by Ohio State was not crashing the backboard after missed shots.In many cases Rutgers had 3 players around the basket for the rebound.

 

[mikefla]

:cool2:[jumpingsmile]:cool2:[jumpingsmile]I think we will recruit even BETTER players than we have now.:cool2:[jumpingsmile]:cool2:[jumpingsmile]

[cheers]We have generated a BUZZ plenty of kids want to play B10 ball but stay close to home.[cheers]

:chairshot:As for reading "too much into what people say"...sure lets close down the site LOL:chairshot:
What people SAY means a LOT...esp when a coach loses & doesnt give respect to who beat them...

I will enjoy BOTH the win and that Matta was tongue tied,,,
[sick]and he looks like he is in his 60s!!!!![sick]

 

[nirrad]

Congrats on RU win. They finally hit free throws to seal a game.

 

[jmc11201]

It appeared that, as OSU missed all those shots in the second half, they didn't have the kind of fight in them to find another way to win. RU has that fight, and we are the better team for it.

Seemed obvious Rutgers cared and wanted to be playing the game. Ohio State, as an 11 seed, which is bad for them, looked ready for the season to be over once they knew Rutgers was hungry and wanted to win.

 

[wheezer]

The difference in the game was the offensive rebounds by Rutgers resulting in put back baskets and the foul shots by Johnson in the last 2 minutes.Both teams had poor shooting performances which makes some fans think lack of effort.The lack of effort by Ohio State was not crashing the backboard after missed shots.In many cases Rutgers had 3 players around the basket for the rebound.

----
I can agree with your point that Ohio state did not crash the boards as they should have, and maybe right there, a bit of lack of effort....I think they tried to win, aside from this

we HAVE been out rebounding a lot of teams, enough to be ranked in that department.....so, some of it was just a continuation of that, and a bit
with Ohio state not going for it enough, or consistently

I credit our coach for instilling effort....and a bit of a black mark for the OSU
coach not having his team totally hungry...... I do think they wanted to win bad enough, but maybe just didn't sell out for the win.

 

[RUich]

Asking a player if the opponent mailed it in is insulting. I, too, was really surprised with the attitudes of the three guys on BIG.
Although, I would not argue that we are not at their talent level, a lot of other things come into play when you actually match up on the court. RU simply out hustled them.
My thought is that they just looked at the #14 in front of Rutgers and figured they would win this without much effort. Bad decision.

 

[bowlgoal]

The OSU players walked off the floor with time still on the clock. They were already in the handshake line before the final buzzer sounded.

If that's the attitude you want to have as a team maybe Thad should move on. The guy has a great record of success but Pikiell is young and hungry and if you don't come prepared for a street fight when you play Rutgers, you are going to lose.

Here's a coach who has a game plan for every team and clearly has our guys playing defense and rebounding with unbridled enthusiasm. If he can recruit talent who buys into hard work, we hit the jackpot with this guy.