Men's Basketball
Fuss-Cheatham Returns as Buckeyes Open Season vs. Towson State
By John Porentas
Brandon Fuss-Cheatham has returned to the Buckeyes.
Following the sudden and tragic death of his mother
in an auto accident OSU senior point guard Brandon Fuss-Cheatham has
returned to practice after taking some time off to grieve his loss.
Fuss-Cheatham is happy to be back on campus and with the basketball
team, but says the effects of the tragedy still linger.
"It was a tragedy to me and my family," said
Fuss-Cheatham."It really hurts."
For Fuss-Cheatham, the return to the court is therapy...and
a way to honor the memory of his mother.
"When I'm on the court, that's what I love,"
said Fuss-Cheatham
"That's what my mom loved about me and she loved
watching me play. She got enjoyment out of it when I got enjoyment
out of it, so when I'm out there, I feel that it's my place to be
at ease with myself.
"I can let stress out out there.
"It's also a good feeling to be out there with
my teammates.
"They have so much love for me and I have so much
love for my teammates."
Fuss-Cheatham's return will be good for his soul. It
will also be good for the Buckeyes.
OSU is still in the process of adapting to the Thad
Matta style of play, a style which is fast-paced and dependant on
running the floor in transition.
In the Buckeye exhibition game against Northern Kentucky,
that running style was not as prominent as many had expected. According
to the Buckeyes, there were two reasons for that. One of those was
the way that Northern Kentucky played their defense.
"They did a real good job of setting the tempo.
They almost played a prevent defense," said OSU forward J. J.
Sullinger.
"They only sent two people to the offensive boards.
They kept three people back every time. Trying to run against them
was a little tough," Sullinger said.
While that slowed the Buckeye running attack, Matta
was happy with the way his team reacted to NKU's strategy.
"Northern Kentucky didn't send too many guys to
the boards. They were back. Fortunately for us they we didn't try
to make too much happen when it wasn't there," Matta said.
Northern's style of play slowed the Buckeyes, but the
absence of Fuss-Cheatham also slowed down the Buckeye attack.
Fuss-Cheatham came to the Buckeyes a much-heralded player
out of high school, but his career at OSU has been somewhat disappointing.
A series of injuries has slowed him, and a not-so-perfect fit of his
skills with the style of play of the Buckeyes has slowed his development.
Both Fuss-Cheatham and Matta are hoping that the uptempo game the
Buckeyes will play this season will allow Fuss-Cheatham to blossom.
"Fuss coming out of high school, he was rated pretty
high, and that was because of the style he was playing," said
Sullinger.
"When he came to Ohio State, the style didn't really
fit his bill quite like it could have."
"That's been my game my whole life, running up
and down," said Fuss-Cheatham
The OSU coaching staff has been encouraging him to do
just that.
"They're always reinforcing that to me, but I have
to reinforce that to my teammates, too," said Fuss-Cheatham.
"I can't run up and down all by myself, so I'm
always telling my wings and my big men to get down the floor. When
we've got the rebound, run. My first job is to get you guys the ball,
so if you guys get out there and run I'm definitely to get it to you."
Matta said that he was very pleased with Fuss-Cheatham's
play before his time off, and that he has picked up right where he
left off since his return.
"The four practices we've had we've been very pleased
with what he brought back. He was playing well before the tragedy.
He's been solid for us," Matta said.
Fuss-Cheatham, as well as his teammates, were seeing
definite improvement in his game as preseason drills progressed.
"Fuss has been playing extremely well," said
Sullinger.
"I think his assist/turnover ratio since he's been
back has been something like 21:2. He's been distributing the ball
real well."
Maybe it's the system, but it's my senior year,"
said Fuss-Cheatham.
"It's my last year. I have nothing to lose. I want
to go out and have the best year I could possibly have."
Fuss-Cheatham feels he was on his way to a good season
when the tragedy of his mother's death interrupted his progress.
"I was shooting well. Everything was going good
for me. I just had to go home for my mom and everything," said
Fuss-Cheatham.
"I didn't play that much when I was home. I think
I only played once. I was a little rusty when I came back, but the
last two days of practice have gone pretty good. I got my shot back
and everything else. I'm a senior. I want to win," he said.
Life, and basketball, will go on for Fuss-Cheatham,
beginning with the opener tonight against Towson State. He will
not, however, forget his mother while pursuing his basketball career
this season.
"I have something in my locker, just a little grievance
card that I have in there to remind me, and I read it every day,"
said Fuss-Cheatham
"It says 'Though I had to leave you, through my
love to go along the silent way, grieve not, nor speak of me with
tears, but laugh with me, as though I am beside you.' That's what
I read every day."
If you see Fuss-Cheatham giving a little laugh after
a successful fast break this season, chances are he won't be laughing
at the opposition. He'll be sharing a laugh with the mother that was
so dear to him, and who loved to watch him play his game,
a fast one.
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