Mid-Season Grades, March Madness Predictions - ScarletBuckeye

PHATBUCK13 · 01-12-2012, 12:02 PM

After Tuesday night's loss at Illinois dropped OSU's overall record to (15-3, 3-2) and 2-3 on the road, is it time to start worrying about this teams mental toughness and focus?

We are now right around the halfway point of the season. Here are OSU's nation rankings through 18 games....

Points Per Game - 28th, (77.8)

Rebounds Per Game - 77th, (37.7)

Assists Per Game - 11th, (17.0)

Field Goal Pct - 11th, (49.5%)

*Prior to Tuesday's game at Illinois, OSU led the nation in point differential, I believe they were right about (+23 PPG).

Here are my mid-season grades on the team.....

Offensive Production - B+

Defensive Production - A-

Rebounding Production - B+

Three Point Shooting - C

Foul Shooting - C-

Late Game Production - C-

Here are my mid-season grades on the players....

William Buford - B-
Aaron Craft - A-
Lenzelle Smith Jr - A-
Jared Sullinger - A
Deshaun Thomas - A-
Evan Ravenel - B
Jordan Sibert - C
Sam Thompson - B-
Shannon Scott - B+
J.D. Weatherspoon - B-
Amir Williams - C+
LaQuinton Ross - N/A
Trey McDonald - N/A

Keep in mind that Thad Matta has raised the expectations for this program so it's not exeptable to just be average, or even good. We're searching for greatness.

As we sit at the mid-season mark of this journey towards the Final Four, where do you think OSU is ranked among the nations elite teams and where do we need to improve the most?

Which players have over-achieved, which have under-achieved?

And most importantly, where do you see this team finishing up in March? Are they Sweet 16 good? Elite 8? Final Four? Nation Champions?

Killer Nut91 · 01-12-2012, 01:54 PM

Right NOW, I only see a sweet sixteen birth at best.

We need 3 point shooting or we will not go anywhere

We need leaders (looking at you WB)

And we need Craft to start shooting the ball to keep the defense honest

Without these I don't see any better than the sweet sixteen. The talent is there, the work ethic and hustle need to get here sooner rather than later

PHATBUCK13 · 01-12-2012, 10:57 PM

I think we'll get it together befor March even starts. We should be able to finish the season with about a 19-2 record from here on.

That would put us at 34-5 on the season and I'm predicting we lose in the Finals to Baylor or North Carolina

McKraut · 01-12-2012, 11:17 PM

I have to agree with Phatty. And the one thing I see as a positive is Matta will not let this much talent regress... he'll get things turned around and this team will get into full swing as the season comes to a close, something different from what they've done the past few years we're we were hot all season and fizzled out in late March. I was critical after the Illinois loss, because they didn't execute and close out the game again, but probably more from having put back a few while watching the game. This team isn't too far off from getting red hot though. They just need to flip one or two more switches, and there's still about half of the season left. In fact, getting into the tournament as a 3-6 seed might actually help us out. We seemed a little complacent the last trips as a #1 seed. Stiffer competition earlier on just might be the thing they need to stay focused the whole tournament.

Craft0Sully would probably say I'm nuts, and I'm a "blind homer" but I'm always a true fan, and I think this team has the potential to be NC this year, so to hell with it. I see that as their level of potential they can reach this season, and I hold them to it. Go get it done boys, and bring home Buckeye Nation our first title since my dad was in 6th grade.

PHATBUCK13 · 01-12-2012, 11:37 PM

We will be a 1 seed. If not, we'll be the top #2 seed at the very worst.

A lot of our issues are minor.

*Buford has to be more consistent.

*Lenzelle needs to shoot more and be a bit less unselfish.

*Sully's injuries really set us back. He's getting more healthy by the day.

*Sam Thompson and Shannon Scott will be better in March than they are now.

*Deshaun needs hit the boards better on the defensive end of the floor. He's solid on the offensive glass, but needs to step it up on the defensive boards.

*Free Throw Shooting needs to improve and be consistent.

*We need to establish a go to guy late in games, I'm talkin to you Buford.

All of these issues are minor and can be corrected with good coaching. We are a very young team that should develop as the season goes on. If we can correct half of these issues, we will a very difficult team to beat in March.

Block "O" · 01-12-2012, 11:50 PM

I still think Matta will get this thing going in the right direction. But if we entered the Tourney right now I would say Sweet 16 at best. I trust our coach and I'm still optimistic about a National Championship.

PHATBUCK13 · 01-12-2012, 11:57 PM

Our 3 losses were all on the road.

One at Kansas, without Sully

One was at Indiana with ridiculous foul issues

And the other was at Illinois where Paul hit 8-10 from 3 and he came into the game shooting under 30%

This team could go the rest of the season and not lose another game. Our starters minutes are significantly down; Matta is saving his players legs for later in the season and he's still expierementing with different rotations.

I really think this team is a top-3 team in the country. If we can catch some small breaks and make clutch shots, we will be very difficult to beat on a neutral court.

Block "O" · 01-13-2012, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PHATBUCK13

Our 3 losses were all on the road.

One at Kansas, without Sully

One was at Indiana with ridiculous foul issues

And the other was at Illinois where Paul hit 8-10 from 3 and he came into the game shooting under 30%

This team could go the rest of the season and not lose another game. Our starters minutes are significantly down; Matta is saving his players legs for later in the season and he's still expierementing with different rotations.

I really think this team is a top-3 team in the country. If we can catch some small breaks and make clutch shots, we will be very difficult to beat on a neutral court.

I hope you're right. Not making it to the championship will be a disappointment and not making it to the Final 4 will be an outright failure of a season.

bucknutz021891 · 01-13-2012, 05:43 AM

Elite 8 for sure based on talent alone....Dont think we can get a worse matchup in the Sweet 16 than we got last year...