mullins, one and done.

[rickyleach]

another one bites the dust ,bj mullins has said he is finished at ohio state, the 5 th buckeye in 3 seasons to play one year, bj wasnt getting the coaching he needed and didnt feel like part of the team, typical matta style.

[hail2mich]

That's funny. Everyone was saying OSU would be good next year with Lighty back, but Mullins leaves and probably Turner is next.

[1OSUNUT]

Turner and Buford already said that they are staying.

[bigboyBlue]

Oh phish, they'll reload as always. Don't forget their deep history.

[Wolvrin704]

I've said it once and I'll say it again. If you want to build a long term program you have to get the guys who are willing to stay 3-4 years and quite getting the super "can't miss, 1 year and done" guys. Those kind of guys tend to make coaches lazy as well since they don't really have to develop them, they just have to motivate them to win.

[rickyleach]

yes .it almost seems matta is as lazy at coaching these players ,as mullins is playing, not a good sign for a coach.

[Don Unverferth]

I've said it once and I'll say it again. If you want to build a long term program you have to get the guys who are willing to stay 3-4 years and quite getting the super "can't miss, 1 year and done" guys. Those kind of guys tend to make coaches lazy as well since they don't really have to develop them, they just have to motivate them to win.

Any player needs to be coached and developed. Regardless of how well they performed in high school. It's ridiculous to think that Matta is touting tOSU as a "1 and out" professional minor league team and signing these guys so that he doesn't need to earn his paycheck.

Matta is one of the top 5 recruiting coaches in the NCAA and he will continue to recruit the best players in the country. Don't expect him to lie and tell them that they will be drafted lower than the league projects in order to keep them an extra year or two. The last couple of years may have left a bad taste in our mouths about one and done players, but remember that one and done players led Ohio State to an appearance in the Final Four and championship game.

The "Tyler Hansbrough phenomenon", where a guy increases his relevance in the college game but continues to see his draft stock fall is something that I am sure all of these guys are very cognizant of.

[Silver Bullet]

another one bites the dust ,bj mullins has said he is finished at ohio state, the 5 th buckeye in 3 seasons to play one year, bj wasnt getting the coaching he needed and didnt feel like part of the team, typical matta style.

That has absolutely no bearing on his decision and I would like to see a quote where Mullens said anything like that. Kufos ran his mouth about that when he left, but he just got sent to the D-league so maybe Matta was right about his skills. Even Cook spent some in the Developmental league. It proves that these guys have an over-inflated view of themselves.

Read this and then you will know why Mullens (notice the spelling) left to get to go to the NBA. He's not ready but I can't blame him.
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2009/03/08/bj_mullens_3-8.ART_ART_03-08-09_C1_BDD54JP.html?sid=101

[Mike Furley]

I don't begrudge any kid who wants to pursue their career - especially if the financial reward is that which can be found in the NBA.

That being said, I think there is something terribly wrong with the one & done phenomenon we now see in college basketball. It distorts and bastardizes the mission of universities who welcome these types of "student"-athletes onto campus.

I'm not sure of what the solution should be, but the current format needs to be altered.

[Silver Bullet]

I don't begrudge any kid who wants to pursue their career - especially if the financial reward is that which can be found in the NBA.

That being said, I think there is something terribly wrong with the one & done phenomenon we now see in college basketball. It distorts and bastardizes the mission of universities who welcome these types of "student"-athletes onto campus.

I'm not sure of what the solution should be, but the current format needs to be altered.

It's going to happen soon and it's going to come from the NBA. I'm guessing they are going to institute a 2 or 3 year eligibility rule as opposed to the 1-year rule currently in place. The revenue situation in the NBA is terrible and the owners and league are going to be able to get in whatever they want in the next CBA because the players are going to want to avoid a prolonged lockout. I hope anyway. I can barely watch college basketball anymore.

[rickyleach]

BULLIT , YOU MIGHT BE CORRECT , BUT HEY WHO IS THE GUY RECRUITING THESE TYPES OF PLAYERS AND WHY , BECAUSE HE PRETTY MUCH KNOWS UP FRONT WHO WOULD BE LEAVING EARLY , again what good coach takes these kids on , you guys talk about ohio state bball tradition , is this your idea of that, and why cant your 3 million dollar coach get his players to play. you can say what you want ,but matta wont stay with ohio state to many more seasons.

[Wolvrin704]

BULLIT , YOU MIGHT BE CORRECT , BUT HEY WHO IS THE GUY RECRUITING THESE TYPES OF PLAYERS AND WHY , BECAUSE HE PRETTY MUCH KNOWS UP FRONT WHO WOULD BE LEAVING EARLY , again what good coach takes these kids on , you guys talk about ohio state bball tradition , is this your idea of that, and why cant your 3 million dollar coach get his players to play. you can say what you want ,but matta wont stay with ohio state to many more seasons.

I agree Ricky, the first time a bigger bball program or the NBA comes callin watch out cause Thad will be gone. He's shown that his whole career, heck he couldn't even stay true to his alma mater.

[Silver Bullet]

I agree Ricky, the first time a bigger bball program or the NBA comes callin watch out cause Thad will be gone. He's shown that his whole career, heck he couldn't even stay true to his alma mater.

This is tongue-in-cheek right? Do you know who your football coach is? Remember 2 years ago when there were MANY rumors about Matta going to UK or Indiana? He took neither job and that's when his stock was high. UK might not even be interested any more. He's the basketball coach at OSU. Let's be honest, there aren't a lot of expectations. He runs a clean program and recruits well. He had no idea that Conley would be a one-and-done and they haven't had a decent PG in 2 years because of that. Nobody expected Mullens to stay and I bet that includes Matta. They have Lauderdale next year and Sullinger coming in 2010. Mullens and his 8 points, 4 rebounds and countless defensive lapses won't be missed that much. I'm more excited that Evan Turner is coming back. So yes, the complete domination of Um will continue for at least another year.

[rickyleach]

bullit we are not talking about osu beating michigan in football or b ball, i think you know this , again why does your coach recruit kids with talent that wont stay , why not get a solid team player and build your tradition , i have a feeling your fans know thad matta is a short term coach , 3 or 4 more years and he is gone , tradition is not built on coaching staffs like matta and players he recruits , on a serius note ,traditions are built and maintained by the way coach tressel does things, but matta is a not that way , and the media and fans in c/nus are feeling it too.

[1OSUNUT]

Every big time program in the country is recruiting kids that are not going to stay. That is what it has become. Look at Memphis and Kansas last year and Ohio State in 06. It's hard to tell a kid to stay when teams are dumb enough to throw millions at them. Would you stay ? Teams like Purdue get kids that are a step lower recruiting wise - but stay four years. By the time the kids are juniors or seniors they have jelled into a good unit. All the Big Time programs are going to have this. One day you will have a Big Time program (maybe) and you will understand better.

[hail2mich]

Every big time program in the country is recruiting kids that are not going to stay. That is what it has become. Look at Memphis and Kansas last year and Ohio State in 06. It's hard to tell a kid to stay when teams are dumb enough to throw millions at them. Would you stay ? Teams like Purdue get kids that are a step lower recruiting wise - but stay four years. By the time the kids are juniors or seniors they have jelled into a good unit. All the Big Time programs are going to have this. One day you will have a Big Time program (maybe) and you will understand better.

We all know OSU is a big time program. :rolleyes:

[rickyleach]

nut . this is your typical school grade response , your post s remind me more and more of a spoiled little 16 year old brat, can you not say anything with out sounding like a child, thad matta is a quick fix as coach ,gone bad , and no all big time programs dont recruit your type of player , the bottom line is the chain of communication between your coach and players must be poor. how else can you explain the continued exits of your players, and you are wrong when you think this is what schools are going too, ,your school is and its to bad, plus the fact that matta doesnt seem to be developing his players, both on d and team play.

[The Michigan Man]

Every big time program in the country is recruiting kids that are not going to stay. That is what it has become. Look at Memphis and Kansas last year and Ohio State in 06. It's hard to tell a kid to stay when teams are dumb enough to throw millions at them. Would you stay ? Teams like Purdue get kids that are a step lower recruiting wise - but stay four years. By the time the kids are juniors or seniors they have jelled into a good unit. All the Big Time programs are going to have this. One day you will have a Big Time program (maybe) and you will understand better.

Big Time? Yeah, a program that hasn't won an NC in 49 years, was 5th place in the conference this year, and got bounced out of the NCAA tourney in the 1st round by an unknown team is Big Time! Hahaha...you jokester, you!

[Silver Bullet]

nut . this is your typical school grade response , your post s remind me more and more of a spoiled little 16 year old brat, can you not say anything with out sounding like a child, thad matta is a quick fix as coach ,gone bad , and no all big time programs dont recruit your type of player , the bottom line is the chain of communication between your coach and players must be poor. how else can you explain the continued exits of your players, and you are wrong when you think this is what schools are going too, ,your school is and its to bad, plus the fact that matta doesnt seem to be developing his players, both on d and team play.

Quick fix gone bad? This guy has been mentioned in a lot of big time job openings, he's not a nobody hired off the street. Look at you guys throwing stones....what has your program done lately? Matta has been to a National Championship, an NIT championship, 2 Big 10 Championships and 20 wins every year. Is he the best coach in the nation? No. Would I trade him for John Beilein? Hell no. Look, when Um can do more than pull a few regular season upsets and make it past the 2nd round of the tourney, then your opinions may carry some water.

[The Michigan Man]

Quick fix gone bad? This guy has been mentioned in a lot of big time job openings, he's not a nobody hired off the street. Look at you guys throwing stones....what has your program done lately? Matta has been to a National Championship, an NIT championship, 2 Big 10 Championships and 20 wins every year. Is he the best coach in the nation? No. Would I trade him for John Beilein? Hell no. Look, when Um can do more than pull a few regular season upsets and make it past the 2nd round of the tourney, then your opinions may carry some water.

I'll stick with Beilein - he never spit his gum out on a filthy, disgusting gym floor and then put it back in his mouth again... I can only imagine the mental defect it takes to do something that bizarre.

[Wolvrin704]

This is tongue-in-cheek right? Do you know who your football coach is? Remember 2 years ago when there were MANY rumors about Matta going to UK or Indiana? He took neither job and that's when his stock was high. UK might not even be interested any more. He's the basketball coach at OSU. Let's be honest, there aren't a lot of expectations. He runs a clean program and recruits well. He had no idea that Conley would be a one-and-done and they haven't had a decent PG in 2 years because of that. Nobody expected Mullens to stay and I bet that includes Matta. They have Lauderdale next year and Sullinger coming in 2010. Mullens and his 8 points, 4 rebounds and countless defensive lapses won't be missed that much. I'm more excited that Evan Turner is coming back. So yes, the complete domination of Um will continue for at least another year.


Yes its tongue-in-cheek. Your compadres have decided to start making up rumors about Beilein doing this so I turned it around because its even more true about Matta than it is Beilein. He spent 2 whole years at his alma mater, 3 years at Xavier and now 5 at OSU. Going by his track record he could possibly be looking to leave.
Also the very arguements everyone tries to make about RR, which are untrue, going where the money is or where the next big opportunity lies run true for Matta as well. Both guys coached their alma mater in their first big time college job and left only RR stayed for 6 years instead of 2. RR also did not take the Bama job when offered, nor did he have any other offers that I am aware of; just like Matta with IU and UK previously. Do you guys not see the irony?

[Wolvrin704]

Every big time program in the country is recruiting kids that are not going to stay. That is what it has become. Look at Memphis and Kansas last year and Ohio State in 06. It's hard to tell a kid to stay when teams are dumb enough to throw millions at them. Would you stay ? Teams like Purdue get kids that are a step lower recruiting wise - but stay four years. By the time the kids are juniors or seniors they have jelled into a good unit. All the Big Time programs are going to have this. One day you will have a Big Time program (maybe) and you will understand better.

Most big time programs don't get kids that stay only 1 year and leave. True Kansas had one last year but its the first one I can ever remember doing it. Schools like Duke, UNC, UCLA (you know, BIG TIME schools), to my knowledge have never had a big time talent leave in anything less than 2-3 years. Don't kid yourself into thinking OSU has a BIG TIME Program yet. Maybe they could eventually but at this rate they're going to become the next Cincinnati.
Purdue gets kids a step lower? They signed the top class in 2006. At least you can count on Purdue to make it to the 2nd round, they've done it in 11 straight appearances going back to 1994.

[rickyleach]

i dont think ohio state is one of the elite basketball programs, they thought that thad matta was going to take them ,but a coach who cant keep his players in school for longer then 1 or 2 years is doing somthing wrong, thad matta knew greg oden was leaving early ,thad matta knew b j mullins was leaving early , but still chose to recruit these types of players, his plan has backfired and the program is no further a long then it was 4 years ago , this is the sign of a coach that is trying to pump up his coaching record ,only to move on , it is not the sign of tradition ,that some posters believe.

[rickyleach]

is bj mullins related to andre the giant because they look alot alike