Category: OSU Basketball (Page 7 of 11)

The Ohio State University has a tough couple weeks ahead of them. Thad Matta and his Buckeyes are playing their best basketball of the year. The Bucks are heading toward a Big Ten championship and a high seed in the NCAA tournament.

The school, on the other hand, is facing possible sanctions, removing past awards, and a large financial setback. Seth Davis of SI lays out the endless scenarios, with one being OSU losing both Matta and their star studded recruits. Let’s all hope the NCAA does the right thing here and doesn’t punish the players.

Ohio State basketball coach Thad Matta is not commenting on the open basketball coaching position at Indiana University. Under Matta’s contract he won’t be able to discuss this job with Indiana till the end of the season. This is an awful tough situation for Matta to be in. He has many ties back to Indiana, but also has a top recruiting class coming in next year at OSU.
The only way I could imagine Matta even considering this move is if Ohio State faces some stiff post season sanctions next year. According to sources close to the situation, this is very unlikely. Let’s hope OSU basketball and Matta have a long and successful career together.

A judge ruled that Ohio State improperly fired head basketball coach Jim O’Brien, despite ruling that O’Brien violated his contract when he gave $6,000 of his own money to a foreign player.

Clark wrote in the ruling that the possible NCAA sanctions and damage to Ohio State’s reputation from the loan would have been relatively minor, while O’Brien’s loss of salary and benefits was substantial.

This ruling shows how ridiculous the whole system has become. Despite the judge’s opinion on how the NCAA would have ruled, Ohio State simply did not have the luxury of taking any chances.

Let’s hope the NCAA doesn’t go any further next week when a final ruling on penalties is expected so the Buckeyes can play in the NCAA tournament this year and welcome their awesome recruiting class in the fall.

Thad Matta is proving that it’s his coaching and not just his recruiting that will bring the Ohio State basketball program to the next level. Tonight, Matta and the Buckeyes went into the “state up north” and put a sound beating on the Wolverines. Ohio State offset a poor rebounding night with an unbelievable night from the 3-point line by hitting 15-24 from behind the arc. These types of road victories are tough to come by in the Big Ten this year and displays just how much Matta has changed the Ohio State basketball program.

The Ohio State basketball team is starting to show that it’s turning the corner and becoming one of the top basketball teams in the Big Ten. Yesterday, Je’Kel Foster scored 25 points and was 7 of 8 from 3-point land as OSU defeated Minnesota 67-53. Terence Dials added 15 points and 9 rebounds. Coach Thad Matta has this program on the right track a year earlier than expected. The 2006 class (Thad Five) could be the best ever for OSU. I’m starting to get excited about OSU basketball for the first time in years.
This Thursday, the Buckeyes travel to Michigan to play a nationally televised game on ESPN. This will be another opportunity for Coach Matta to win a road game, which are critical if OSU has any chance to win the Big Ten title.