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Men's Basketball
Buckeye Hoops Outlook
By John Porentas

The OSU Men's basketball season begins with an exhibition game November 13, and for the second-straight season OSU Head Men's Basketball Coach Thad Matta has welcomed a team that is dominated by new faces.

The faces may be new again, but if there is a difference between this year and last it is the sheer number of quality players Matta will have at his disposal. Matta will have 12 scholarship players available in 2008-09. A 13th scholarship player will practice but will not be eligible to play due to transfer rules.

Matta will have not only more numbers, but a far more athletic team that in theory will be able to play in ways that last year's team could not.

"Hopefully we'll have more depth and be able to play a little bit faster and bring more pressure defensively than maybe we were last year," Matta said.

Matta will rely heavily on his incoming class which includes two junior college transfers in point guard Jeremie Simmons and forward Nikola Kecman and four true freshmen in point guard Anthony "Noopie" Crater, guard Walter Offutt, center B. J. Mullens and guard William Bufford. Transfer center Zisis Sarikopoulos will be on the roster but will not be eligible to play.

The Newcomers- The Jucos:

Simmons (6-2, 170) is a true point guard who has earned the nickname A.O. (Automatic Offense) from his teammates. He played the last two seasons at Mott Community College in Flint, Michigan and led Mott to national championships in both years. He will have two years of eligibility with the Buckeyes. Last year he averaged a team-high 21.2 points per game, making 48.3 percent of his field goal attempts and 122 of 289 three pointers for a 42.2 percent success rate from three. He also made 125 of 139 free throws (89.9 percent). Just for good measure, he added 185 assists and 110 steals.

"We all him, A.O., automatic offense, he can really score the ball," said Jon Diebler. "He can really shoot the ball and get to the basket. He's a great scorer."

"He can score," said Matta. "What we have to see is if he can maintain his focus on defense," Matta said.

Kecman (pronounced Ketz-man) (6-8, 220) is a Serbian who played one year of junior college basketball at Eastern Arizona.He averaged 13.4 points per game on 170 of 301 shooting from the field (56.5 percent) that included 35 of 80 (43.8 percent) three-pointers. He is a shooter who can also rebound and play defense.

"He's been everything we had hoped he would be," said Matta.

Kecman's eligibility is still technically in question, though Matta does not seem overly concerned. The NCAA is looking into his last team in Serbia and whether any of the players on that team were professionalized by payments to the players. Kecman has assured Matta that he did not receive any benefits. Matta said that OSU was aware of the investigation when they began recruiting Kecman.

The Newcomers - The Frosh

When it comes to physical skills, Noopie Crater (6-1, 170) has simply wowed his teammates.

"I see a comparison to Mike Conley as far as he has a 45 inch vertical, he can dribble with both hands, he's quick, he can defend, he can pass, he sees the floor," said Evan Turner.

"I think his skill set is in that class, they have similar games," Turner said.

"Anthony is probably one of the fasted people I have ever seen," agreed Jon Diebler. " He's so quick and he gets in the lane so well to create for other people."

The comparisons to Conley are intriguing, but while he didn't dispute that Crater might compare physically with Conley, Matta said there is a big difference between Crater and Conley at the same point in their careers.

"From what I've seen he is quick, he is explosive. He's got good speed. Just getting him to understand how to use that and still play under control will be the challenge," said Matta. "Anthony has never played with a seven footer before, where Greg played every day with Conley. There's something to that. I think physically maybe, but where's the mind at. I think time will tell on that."

Bufford (6-5, 190) comes to the Buckeyes as a big guard who can score in a variety of ways. He can get his own shot off the dribble and is a very capable three point shooter. Like Crater, Bufford can run and shoot. He averaged 23 points and 11 rebounds his senior season and was named a McDonalds and Jordan Brands All-American. He is a two-time first team All-State selection in Ohio while playing at Toledo Libby. As a junior he averaged 28 points and 12 rebounds per game.

Bufford was named Mr. Ohio Basketball in his senior season.

Offutt (6-3, 190) comes to OSU from Indianapolis and is coming off knee surgery. His knee seems to be fully recovered, but his lack of basketball activity during his rehab has left him somewhat behind in his conditioning. He is a shooting guard who is extremely athletic and brings a trait that has Matta smiling.

"Walter Offutt defensively at times, and I said this about David Lighty a couple of years ago, could be one of the best defenders ever to play here because he's got great toughness," said Matta.

Offutt's skills go beyond defense. He averaged 17.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.1 steals as a junior playing in the same league in Indianapolis that Greg Oden and Mike Conley played in as well as former Indiana Hoosier Eric Gordon. In his three years as a starter he amassed 824 points, 290 rebounds, 240 assists, and 136 steals. Had he been able to play his senior season, he probably would have been the statistical leader in all four categories for a career.

Mullens (7-0, 265) is a true post player whose size is definitely impressive.

"I think he's the biggest one we've had here physically so far in size and physical stature," said Matta. That would include Greg Oden, and not by just a little.

"Probably about an inch," said Matta when asked how much bigger than Oden that Mullens is. "He's about 265-270."

Mullens is large, but he is anything but a stiff. He can both run and jump and has an athleticism that belies his stature.

"B. J. is very effective around the basket," said Matta.

"He can finish with both hands. I think defensively is what I want to see. I think that's were Greg made his biggest impact in college basketball is on the defensive end of challenging or blocking shots and rebounding our of his area. Greg had a tremendous mind for what was going to happen next. We haven't really put B. J. in that position yet," Matta said.

Mullens averaged 27.4 points and 15.1 rebounds as a senior. He shot 71.2 percent from the field and was runner up to Bufford for Mr. Ohio Basketball honors.

The Returners

Point guard P. J. Hill, swing men Evan Turner, Jon Diebler and David Lighty and baseline players Kyle Madsen and Dallas Lauderdale return from last year's squad. Lighty, Madsen and Hill will be a juniors, Lauderdale and Diebler sophomores. The Buckeyes will have no seniors on the roster.

After a slow start last year Lauderdale (6-8, 255) came on as the season progressed to show flashes of effectiveness down low as a defender, rebounder and cleanup man around the basket. According to his teammates, he is a much more polished player offensively this season and is likely the most improved player on the roster.

"Dallas has gotten so much better," said Diebler.

"I think last year you saw glimpses of his ability because he's so athletic. Now he's really worked on his post moves and I think you'll see a dramatic change," Diebler said.

"Dallas had gotten a lot better in a lot of different ways. He's more aggressive now and he's come along with his hook shot in the post. On defense he's just crazy," added David Lighty.

"He has the highest vertical on the team and the longest arms on the team. He's blocked Evan a couple of times at practice. That's something that's going to be great for us, helping us with rebounding and clogging up the paint," Lighty added.

Lauderdale has improved his skills and has improved his body as well.

"I came at 269. I'm 252 right now," said Lauderdale.

"I lost a lot of weight. I came from high school with a lot of body fat. Working with (basketball strength coach) Coach Richardson here I just lost a lot of weight. I've been working hard and it has made me a lot faster, a lot more agile. My vertical has increased. Last year I was a 36 inch vertical. This year I'm a 40," said Lauderdale.

Along with Lauderdale's new athleticism has come some new offense. He has developed both a left and right handed hook that will make him a threat in the paint, something that was not true last season.

Turner (6-7, 205) began last season as a backup but eventually earned a starting role as a small forward, replacing Jon Diebler. He is athletic and long and can get to the basket, but was plagued by turnovers last year. He is a year older this year, and also bigger.

"He's grown a little bit. He's right around 6-7," said Matta of Turner who played at 6-6 last year.

"You saw flashes last year of double-double games, that he could rebound the ball, that he could score," Matta said.

"One of the big things we've been on him about in the off season is his assist to turnover ratio was 1:1. We want that at more assists than turnovers, to be a playmaker, because that's what he's capable of doing."

Lighty (6-5, 220) is the lone returner to the OSU lineup who played with the NCAA final-four team of two years ago that featured Greg Oden, Mike Conley and Daequan Cook. He will be expected to assume a leadership role this season both on and off the floor.

"I'm the guy that people want to look to when we're going great, and I'm the guy they want to look to when we're doing bad," said Lighty.

"I just have to stay focused and make us as good as possible every day."

Matta is pleased with Lighty's response to his leadership role.

"I can't define leadership but I know it when I see it. David has been great with that really since the season ended last year," said Matta.

Diebler (6-6, 205) began last season as a starter but lost his position when his shot simply would not fall for him. The all-time career scoring leader in Ohio High School basketball, Diebler's season was frustrating for him and his coaches.

"In high school I was more shooting off the dribble and shooting in transition," said Diebler.

"Last year having to shoot a set shot was something I never did in high school. I never had wide open shots. That's where getting my feet ready, getting my feet set and making everything the same, that was something I had to work on."

It's no secret that Diebler's shot must be better if he is to contribute the way the OSU coaching staff had envisioned.

"We need John to shoot the ball well," said Matta.

"His numbers this fall have been great, last spring they were great, hopefully that's something that comes to fruition for this team because we'll be a lot better if that happens."

Madsen (6-9, 240) played sparingly last season but Matta would like to see that change this year.

"He hasn't played much up to this season but we are counting on him," Matta said.

A Dublin, Ohio native, Madsen began his career at Vanderbilt in the 2005-2006 season where he redshirted. He then transferred to the Buckeyes and sat out the 2006-2007 season to satisfy NCAA transfer rules. His return to action last season after sitting out two seasons was one of re acclimation to competition. The 6-9 center averaged 16.7 points and 8.2 rebounds his senior season at Dublin, Coffman in Columbus.

Hill (6-1, 165) is the lone returner on the roster with any point guard experience.

"P. J. is kind of the leader of the point guards right now because he's so energetic and he brings so much energy and excitement to the court, he gets everybody fired up," said Diebler.

Hill will have to also bring some stability, particularly in the early season as things sort themselves out at the point with Crater and Simmons.

A native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Hill averaged 18 points, seven assists, three steals and three rebounds as senior in high school. He played one year of junior college basketball before joining the Buckeyes last season with three years of eligibility remaining.

"P. J. Hill is really competitive, really quick," said Turner.

"He wants to win at everything. He's there for the squad and he's a good defender."

How They'll Play: Matta will have depth, speed and athleticism in 2008-2009, and he wants to make use of it.

"We're going to hope to get up and down. We've conditioned our big guys to run the floor. Hopefully defensively we'll be able to get up and extend and put pressure on guys and get easy opportunities for ourselves," Matta said.

"I always want to play fast. I think that's a fun way for our guys to play, an effective way to play," Matta said.

The Buckeyes could very well be 10-deep this season, and that lends itself to the up and down game that Matta favors. What remains to be seen is how they will deploy, and Matta has plenty of options in that area as well depending on matchups. During the Terrence Dials era, the Buckeyes played with four players on the perimeter and one player on the block. Matta has also utilized a more traditional alignment using two baseline players and three perimeter players. He seems to have the horses to run either of those races. The charts below are guesses as to how the talent would shake out in both the four out/one in system and three out/two in system.

Four out/One in depth

Three out/Two in depth

* Transfer Student not eligible this season.
# Eligibility still in question but expected to be able to play for the Buckeyes.
& Non-scholarship players

2008 - 2009 Roster

Schedule

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