Please patronize our advertisers to help
keep theOzone.net free for everyone.
 |
|
||||||
Men's Basketball
Matta Abashed at Snub of Lighty
By Brandon CastelDavid Lighty was not named to the Big Ten all-defensive team by the coaches Monday, a fact that did not escape the head coach of the conference’s top-rated team Wednesday.
“The biggest one I’m shocked is Dave not being on the all defensive team,” Ohio State coach Thad Matta said during his press conference.
“Just knowing what he does for us, I’m blown away. I’m not trying to bash the balloting, I just love the kid and think he’s a heck of a defender.”
Matta, now in his sixth year at Ohio State, has always held Lighty’s defensive prowess in high regard back from the days he recruited the dual-sport athlete out of Villa Angela-St. Joseph’s High School in Cleveland.
“Evan (Turner) and I were laughing (about it) yesterday,” said Matta, who typically assigns Lighty to guard the opposing team’s best player in the second half.
“If there was five seconds to go and I had to pick one guy in this league to get the stop I’d put him on it. That’s for sure.”
After missing most of last season with a broken foot, Lighty saw his offensive numbers spike dramatically as a fourth-year junior in 2009-10. The 6-5 swingman who averaged 12.4 points and 4.6 rebounds this season posted career highs in field goal percentage, free throw percentage and three-point percentage during the regular season. He shot 38.5 percent from behind the arc during the regular season, and 41.5 percent during conference play, compared to just 26 percent last season.
But Lighty’s biggest contribution has always been at the defensive end, where he often guards power forwards and point guards in the same game. Sports Illustrated recently named him their national “Glue Guy” of the year, and Lighty said Wednesday he feels like he might have a little bit to prove to the Big Ten coaches who snubbed him during this year’s conference tournament.
“I guess you could say that, but I just go out there and keep doing what I’ve been doing. Play the game the way I’ve been playing the game and helping my team get wins,” the always smiling Lighty said.
Lighty wasn’t the only Buckeye to feel a little snubbed by the coaches. While Matta picked up the Big Ten Coach of the Year award from the media, the coaches tabbed Purdue’s Matt Painter as their man this season.
“I’ve always said you guys know a hell of a lot more than what we know,” Matta said with a laugh while addressing the media during his press conference.
“Believe me when I say this, I don’t do it for the awards.”
After losing Turner for a month of the season due to a broken back, Matta’s Buckeyes rallied to become the first Big Ten team in over 50 years to win the regular season title after starting the year 1-3 in conference play.
“I really believe this, that’s the players,” a gracious Matta said.
“Any time a coach gets any award…I don’t score, I don’t rebound, I don’t get stops. Those are the guys that earn coaches those awards. I’m as thankful to them as I can possibly be.”
But Matta’s players were quick not to let their coach diminish his role in the team’s 24-7 season and No. 5 ranking in the Associated Press Poll.
“His personality, his approach to the game and his feel for the game as well,” Lighty said.
“He allows you go to out and play basketball the way you like to play basketball. He doesn’t restrict you and it makes it fun.”
Matta also had a tremendous impact on the development of point guard Evan Turner, who took home Ohio State’s first Big Ten Player of the Year honor since Terence Dials in 2006.
“Were really close. I look at him a lot. He definitely knew I wanted to be a great player and he taught me how to be a great player,” Turner said, praising the job Matta has done during their three years together.
“He taught me the right steps and he helped me grow up. I’ll always appreciate him for that.”
While he did earn Player of the Year honors from both the coaches and the media, there was at least one coach who did not tab the 6-foot-7 Turner as the top player in the Big Ten this season, something that also came as a bit of a surprise to Matta.
“Yes I was. I think he’s very deserving of that, but that’s neither here nor there,” he said.
“That’s up to them and their judgment.”
Although the Naismith Award for National Player of the Year has yet to be announced, Turner has already been tabbed as the top player in the country by a number of publications. The Sporting News became the latest to select Turner over Kentucky’s John Wall. They joined CBS Sportsline, Fox Sports and Pat Forde of ESPN. Yahoo! Sports was the only major publication to side with Wall.
“I’m excited about the fact, player of the year in college and we’ve got the player of the year in high school coming in,” Matta said referencing Turner and Columbus Northland senior Jared Sullinger, who was named the Naismith National High School Player of the Year this week.
“That’s a heck of a feat for our program.”
Donate by Check :
Ozone Communications
1380 King Avenue
Columbus, OhioHelp us bring you more Buckeye coverage. Donate to the-Ozone.
Click here to email this the-Ozone feature to a friend...or even a foe.
(c) 2010 The O-Zone, O-Zone Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, rebroadcast,rewritten, or redistributed.
|
|
||||||