731 replies to this topic

[a flock of tbirds]

Thad Matta didn't get to the position he's in today by being a fool. If he recruits a kid you can bet your bottom dollar the kid can play....... Period ............ And the fact that Tennesee wanted Craft before his junior year pretty well explains the fact that Craft`s a D-1 player with no explanation needed. ........... Any time a kid from this area gets a D-1 offer and takes it I'll root for that kid every day of the week no matter where he goes. Even if he goes to that team up north .................... Some people forget who their neighbors are. But by choice I'm pulling for the guy that busts his butt and plays the game the way it was intended. And Aaron Craft is a perfect example of a kid who gives it his all every time he steps on the floor................. There's no doubt in my mind he'll have a memorable 4 years in Columbus........ And he'll give people in the Findlay area something to be proud of for years to come.

I like most of your post bandido but without getting emotional about things are you really convinced that the guards at OSU last year could play? I mean at the Big Ten level sir.Simmons,Hill and Offut all were less than adequate for Big Ten comp. IMO.I like Thad but his only Final Four appearance came with 2 top 5 picks and a guy who went 22nd I think.He gets the credit for recruiting those gents but I am not ready to just say Thad says it makes it so.He has hits and misses also.I am PULLING for AC and only have stated that he will go thru an adjustment period and even with his early success i still think so.I am glad to see him doing well and wish him continued succeess!!Man, PJ Hill stunk and you know it!!LOL

[Bandido]

I'm talking about a kid that was recruited to play D-1 baskletball not join the Miami Heat.

There are over 200 D-1 schools..... Now let's do the math........ 200 schools and all those school carry at least 5 guards......... 200 time 5 equals 1000 division 1 guards...............By what Aaron Craft has accomplished in his high school career I have a hard time believing he's not qualified to be a guard in the Big Ten, but then again I for one am not qualified to say who is a D-1 player and who is not, especially when the kid hasn`t even hit the floor yet. It's easy to get on a message board and blow the wind when no one knows your name. It's also very easy while going uncover to speak as if every word out of ones mouth is gospil. But the bottom line for me is this, Matta has more wins than I do. It's his business and there's a reason why he's where he is and why we all sit here and speak to each other on a message board. Sure, we can all disagree with the guy that's a constant thing is the world of sports. But I don't agree with the chest ponding about how this kid and that kid can't do this and can't do that............. Let the kid play it out and if some people are sooooooooo jealous or so much smarter than Thad Matta, John Wooden and Peter Pan so be it........... All I'm saying is that I'm not hating or doubting some kid that lives 25 miles away from me..... Some people do that very thing. In fact they do it so much it becomes the expected in many cases. And to me it says volumes about that person speaking on the other end........................ And by the way, yes Matta will make a mistake or two now and then, heck even the great Bobby Knight recruited Steve Eyl (read the book "Season On The Brink") but ripping a kid before he even sees some action seems like a jealousy thing to me. Or maybe it's just that wholesome negative (SmackDaddy) attitude that some love to show off from time to time. Which makes me wonder, oh well, doesn't matter what I wonder cause it's never going to end.

[a flock of tbirds]

I'm talking about a kid that was recruited to play D-1 baskletball not join the Miami Heat.

There are over 200 D-1 schools.............. I for one am not qualified to say who is a D-1 player and who is not, especially when the kid hasn`t even hit the floor yet. It's easy to get on a message board and blow the wind when no one knows your name. It's also very easy while going uncover to speak as if every word out of ones mouth is gospil. But the bottom line for me is this, Matta has more wins than I do. It's his business and there's a reason why he's where he is and why we all sit here and speak to each other on a message board. Sure, we can all disagree with the guy that's a constant thing is the world of sports. But I don't agree with the chest ponding about how this kid and that kid can't do this and can't do that............. Let the kid play it out and if some people are sooooooooo jealous or so much smarter than Thad Matta, John Wooden and Peter Pan so be it........... All I'm saying is that I'm not hating or doubting some kid that lives 25 miles away from me..... Some people do that very thing. In fact they do it so much it becomes the expected in many cases. And to me it says volumes about that person speaking on the other end........................ And by the way, yes Matta will make a mistake or two now and then, heck even the great Bobby Knight recruited Steve Eyl (read the book "Season On The Brink") but ripping a kid before he even sees some action seems like a jealousy thing to me. Or maybe it's just that wholesome negative attitude that some love to show off from time to time. Which makes me wonder, oh well, doesn't matter what I wonder cause it's never going to end.

I read season on the brink by Feinstein i think!!LOL I*m not sure I ever said he wasn*t a D1 player and lord knows I*m wrong often(just check out my eating crow posts). I do know a few things about this sport and feel that I am being very neutral in my statements about AC. Of course I cheer for any kid to make it and especially LOCAL boys but does that mean I have to rubber stamp them and not give an opinion?Shoot ,TWalt is my boy and I thought he would need time to ADJUST!Would you even have this well-paying gig as a moderator if no opinions were expressed?LOL I will say again,I wish AC well and weather the storm bro!!The John Wododen reference made my day cuz I LOVE THE BRUINS!!!!U-C-L-A!!!! Also,I wasn*t rippin Thad.I like him and think he has been a breath of fresh air for OSU hoops!!You didn*t answer my question tho...simmons,offut and hill my man.

[Bandido]

No problem here with opinions............... Fact is that I've been reading enough of this stuff over the years to know that some of the same people always like to travel south of the border when they post........... That's fine if the self proclaimed basketball experts of the world want to take a shot at this kid........... All I know is this, if he makes it those that said he wouldn't will either change names or hope people just forget while they takes shots at his game over the years. You WON`T hear them admit they were off on that one. It just doesn't work that way.

As for the OSU players you mentioned, correct they didn't pan out ..............

In my opinion Craft will worker harder, play smarter and wll not end up being anything close to those guys.......................................................


Speaking of guys that never quite got it done does LaRue Martin ring a bell? ................. Maybe a little before your time so how bout Greg Oden getting picked over Kevin Durrant? No NBA GM would have taken Durrant ahead of Oden right? ........... The point is that this game isn't really all that simple at times ................ So maybe that`s why they play the games. To see who's better and who can and who can`t get it done.

Now`ll just step out of this conversation and let it carry on. Obviously if I keep talking I`ll be expected to explain my every word. And by the way, when I post, I post as a poster giving my opinion not as a moderator expecting people to fall in line. Just don`t understand the reasoning of why this kid can`t get it done before he`s even given the chance.

[a flock of tbirds]

No problem here with opinions............... Fact is that I've been reading enough of this stuff over the years to know that some of the same people always like to travel south of the border when they post........... That's fine if the self proclaimed basketball experts of the world want to take a shot at this kid........... All I know is this, if he makes it those that said he wouldn't will either change names or hope people just forget while they takes shots at his game over the years. You WON`T hear them admit they were off on that one. It just doesn't work that way.

As for the OSU players you mentioned, correct they didn't pan out ..............

In my opinion Craft will worker harder, play smarter and wll not end up being anything close to those guys.......................................................


Speaking of guys that never quite got it done does LaRue Martin ring a bell? ................. Maybe a little before your time so how bout Greg Oden getting picked over Kevin Durrant? No NBA GM would have taken Durrant ahead of Oden right? ........... The point is that this game isn't really all that simple at times ................ So maybe that`s why they play the games. To see who's better and who can and who can`t get it done.

Now`ll just step out of this conversation and let it carry on. Obviously if I keep talking I`ll be expected to explain my every word. And by the way, when I post, I post as a poster giving my opinion not as a moderator expecting people to fall in line. Just don`t understand the reasoning of why this kid can`t get it done before he`s even given the chance.

UM,I have NO problem admitting when I*m wrong(multiple backtracking posts)and assure you I will run to this site if need be to declare I was wrong.No shame in being wrong.Larue Martin.1st round pick of the Trailblazers in the 70*s maybe ir was it the Rockets? a little before me but I read my hoops history.That is why I am like the only UCLA fan in this area code!!LOL I have stated my opinion and while I may be wrong I think most FROSH guards have many things to learn to be a HIT at the D1 level.Who knows if AC can or cannot get r done but rest assured I hope he DOES!!!!I thought Oden was the right pick...you start inside and work out but look how that turned out so far.I hope Oden gets healthy cuz I still think he can change a game defensively.IMO

[Corleone]

Here is another (and even more positive) take on AC's play from the OZone:

http://www.the-ozone.net/hoops/10-11Mens/W...servations.html

[LBHS79]

was able to go to game yesterday and Aaron did a great job....Eagle counrty is very PROUD!!!!!


http://www.the-ozone.net/hoops/10-11Mens/W...servations.html

[#Sand]

replay is at 5pm today on Big Ten Network.

[missy55]

replay is at 5pm today on Big Ten Network.

Thanks for the post. I tuned into the game and even though it was against Walsh, Aaron sure didn't look like a freshman. I think those 2 announcers spent the majority of the game talking about and praising Craft.

[Bandido]

Here's a question for you:
In what order would you rank these players from the past in this area?
Brandon Pardon, Rob Welch, Joe Gardner, Doug Etzler, Aaron Craft
[/quote]


Just my opinion and based on their high school accomplishments only.

Pardon
Craft
Etzler
Welch
Gardner

Interesting that you grouped those 5 guys together even though only one of them played in the Big Ten and only Etzler and Pardon played D-1.


You could have grouped Greg Simpson, Jamar Butler, Travis Walton and Aaron Hutchins with Craft. At least with that group they were all in the Big Ten except for Hutch who had more than respectable career at Marquette.
Now if I were rating those players above coming out of high school I would have had Simpson #1, Butler #2 with Craft, Walton and Hutchins flip flopping for those final 3 spots............ 4 of those players careers are done and if you ask me today to rate their college careers I'd have Hutchins #1, closely followed by Walton with Butler and Simpson taking those final 2 spots. Just this guys opinion, but as you can see my ratings of those players coming out of high school changed after watching their college careers.

Now I have no dog in this fight and everybody has their own opinions. I made my points as others have theirs............... The final chapter has yet to begin but it`s just around the corner................. I for one wish Aaron Craft the best of luck and hopefully 4 years from now he can bring some special memories back to northwest Ohio.

[gamekeeper]

Well since the post was Aaron Craft, I will stay on topic with Aaron Craft, and because your list was basing how they did in HS. Which has nothing to do how Craft will do, or how they played in College, Because Well Simpson was a Bust in College.

He Clearly looked like he belonged on the floor against Walsh. Next Tuesday they play Florida in Florida, so we shall see how much time he gets in against Florida. But i think he showed his shot has improved and zero turnovers after two games, no matter who they played that shows some composer. I am sure Florida will be a far stronger test.

Edited by gamekeeper, 09 November 2010 - 10:58 AM.

[caldwell]

His defense effort was much higher than a freshman level. I expect him to be in the rotation this year. Thad might have the ability to go 8 or 9 deep.

[Corleone]

His defense effort was much higher than a freshman level.

Yes it was, not only individually but also within the context of team defense. Its obvious he "gets it". I thought he did a great job getting them into an offense as well.

Still, its Walsh, and you have to temper what you take away from a game like that. Can't wait until the Florida game, where we'll have a much better idea not only where Aaron but also the other freshmen really stack up.

[a flock of tbirds]

Yes it was, not only individually but also within the context of team defense. Its obvious he "gets it". I thought he did a great job getting them into an offense as well.

Still, its Walsh, and you have to temper what you take away from a game like that. Can't wait until the Florida game, where we'll have a much better idea not only where Aaron but also the other freshmen really stack up.

I venture a guess that kenny Boynton will be more comparable to Big Ten guards than Walsh!! Cannot wait to see this one and since I HATE Florida...give *em hell AC!!LOL

[Northwestsports]

Looked like Craft had 8 points and 8 assists tonight

[GreenMachine]

Looked like Craft had 8 points and 8 assists tonight

ESPN acutally had 8 point and 9 assists.

[dhsdawg06]

Great debut. Don't need him to be a big scorer with the talent around him, just distribute the ball and don't turn it over.

I'd call a 9-0 A/TO ratio pretty good. We'll see what he can do against better competition, but if this is a sign of things to come he'll do just fine.

[Maltese Falcon]

Aaron Craft of Liberty Benton may get about the most minutes this season for OSU , along with Sullinger.
OSU looked much better with him on the floor facilitating the offense. Point Guard by Committee doesn't work.

Jared Sullinger lost his baby fat in less than 6 months. He is listed at 6-9,280
and may lead the Big Ten in rebounding this season. Enjoy him while you can. I
was concerned about his leaping ability last yr, because was carrying a few extra
pounds, not much fat left...

The deaper we got into our bench, the better we get. Deshaun Thomas had 24 pts off
the bench and played about 1/2 the game. He is listed at 6-6, 230, but makes
lighty, diebler and bufford look like little kids. He can play the 2,3,4 or
whatever he wants.

Tuesday against Florida in Gainesville we will find out how good the buckeyes are.