From: ddn@cbnews.cb.att.com (david.d.nason)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.college
Subject: Re: Ohio State preview (LONG)
Date: 7 Oct 92 18:27:59 GMT
Article-I.D.: cbnews.1992Oct7.182759.3970
Distribution: usa
Organization: AT&T

In article <DOEL.92Oct7094429@bbq.bae.bellcore.com> doel@bae.bellcore.com (Michael Doel) writes:
>
>be old news to some.  Also, I'm assuming that Joe Reid will not be with the
>team this year.  Someone posted that he had transferred.  Can anyone
>confirm that?

The only official word that has come out is that Reid is academically
ineligible.  There is much speculation about him transferring and the like, but
it's just speculation at this point.

>Guards
>------
>Davis and Skelton have the potential to be team leaders.  Both have shown
>tremendous shooting ability and defensive quickness.  Unfortunately, neither
>is a point guard.  Etzler and Simpson are both point guards, but neither
>has the experience that Skelton and Davis do.
>
>Thus, Randy Ayers has an interesting dillema right from the start.  Does
>he go with Davis and Skelton in the backcourt trying to make one or the
>other into a point guard, or does he start Simpson (or Etzler) at point
>while rotating Skelton and Davis at shooting guard?  It's a tough call
>either way, but I'm guessing we'll see Simpson and Skelton as the starters
>with Davis getting just as much playing time as the other two.  Derek Anderson
>(at 6'4" or 6'6" depending on whom you talk to) is one of those 'tweeners
>who may see time at guard from time to time.

I agree Simpson and Skelton will be the starters, although Etzler
may initially start at the point.  And I don't think we'll see either Davis
or Skelton running the point ... god I hope not.  Those guys are good
2-men, but neither one of them is a great ball-handler.  Skelton should
be a lock for the 2-position, with Davis backing him up.  Simpson
is the Buckeye's point guard of the future ... he may get baptism by fire.
As you say, neither Simpson or Etzler has any real experience.  And
given Simpson's propensity to play like a wild-man and the fact that he
never met a shot he didn't like, this is the position that most concerns
me on the team.

>
>Center
>------
>After having been a team dominated by guard play last year, OSU will probably
>be much more physical inside this year.  Funderburke was a great addition
>to the team last year (no matter what Vitale says) as the center.  Also,
>he was the star player in the Worthington summer league which included all
>Buckeye players as well as former Buckeyes Perry Carter, Tony White,
>Jerry Francis, Ronnie Stokes, Brad Sellers, etc.  He's got big-time offensive
>moves and as you'll recall he is a tremendous shot blocker.  Unfortunately,
>he's a bit thin compared to most Big10 centers.  No worry, OSU has a few
>recruits to provide backup support.  Nat Wilbourne and Gerald Eaker will
>both see duty at center from time to time.  Wilbourne has apparently been
>a bit stiff in the Worthington league and I've seen Eaker labeled as a bit
>of a project.  Thus, I expect Funderburke to spend most of his time at
>center.

I agree.  It's unfortinate that Funderburke has to play center, because he's
more natural at power-forward, but what you say about Wilborne and Eaker
is true.  There's no doubt one or both will have to play, but they're
going to need some development.  That Worthington league included quite
a few pros and other college players (Cincinnati and other Ohio schools)
in it as well.  Funderburke was as dominant in it as any player I've seen 
playing in that league, including Jackson.

>
>Forwards
>--------
>The power forward will most likely be manned by Rick Dudley.  This guy
>showed he could bang with the best of them last year and will probably
>move into the starting power forward spot this year.  He'll be pushed by
>Antonio Watson.

Yep ... although Watson is going to have to add some bulk to his frame
if he intends on playing the 4-man in the Big-10.  Dudley is a great
defensive player, but need to add some more offense to his game.
I'd also classify Brandewie as a 4-man.  Although he's a bit thin for
the position, that's what he has always played, and he's shown he
can pull down the boards.  But I agree Dudley's the man here.


>
>The small forward spot is less clear.  Tom Brandewie has the most experience,
>but isn't as athletically gifted as Derek Anderson.  Jimmy Ratliff has spent
>the last two years playing Jim Jackson in practice and has apparently grown
>into a pretty good defender and has improved his offense (he was one of the
>leading scorers in the Worthington summer league after five games).  Charles
>Macon has the body of a power forward, but the range and desire to play small
>forward.  Who starts?  It probably doesn't matter, since all will probably
>get lots of time under Ayers' system.  I'll guess that Ratliff will start
>since Randy places such a premium on defense.

Ratliff ended up 2nd in the Worthington league in scoring, I believe, with
about 26-28 points per game.  This shocked me, but Ayers was quoted as saying
that he knew Jimmy could play offense.  He hasn't played as much because
his D needed work and, of course, he was behind Jackson.  Ratliff could
be a pleasant surprise.  Macon can handle the ball, although he's definately
built like a 4-man, so I think he'll fit nice here.  I think only one of he
and Anderson is going to get much time this year though.  I don't
know much about Anderson ... he didn't play in the summer league that I saw.

>
>Keys
>----
>I beleve there are several key things which will determine Ohio State's level
>of success this year.  These are:
>
>   1) Lawrence Funderburke: as the only returning starter, Lawrence has
>      to provide leadership on and off the court.  Last year, all we asked
>      of him was to not cause problems.  This year, he'll have to take
>      another step and be a positive influence on the new guys.  Has he
>      matured enough to provide that leadership or will the old Lawrence
>      come back under all the pressure?

Well, I think you're right in that leadership is a big key for this team.
But I'm not so sure I'd be expecting to get it all from Funderburke.
He's always impressed me as a very quiet and reserved individual.  
If he can provide team leadership by his play, that's great.  But I think
others, perhaps some of the young guys, are going to have to step up and
provide some leadership.  Definately a big concern.

>   2) Point guard:  For the Buckeyes to be really successful, I think
>      Greg Simpson must be the point guard.  He's one of the most talented
>      players on the team.  Unfortunately, he knows it.  From the little
>      I've seen and heard of him, Simpson likes to be flashy.  Randy will
>      have to tone him down early if Simpson is to succeed this year.

You're right, and Ayers has been quoted as saying that he's going to have
to get Simpson under control.

>   3) Fan support: This hasn't been a problem with the basketball team
>      lately, but in Columbus you always have to worry about the fans turning
>      their backs on you.  This team is young and will make plenty of
>      mistakes.  If they get booed for not duplicating Michigan's
>      success of last year, it could really damage the team psyche.

Yep.

>
>   4) Early season success: Many have compared this team to the one Randy
>      inherited when he first assumed the head coaching position.  Well,
>      one thing which is definately better this year is the early season
>      schedule.  If you'll recall, that year there were early season games
>      on the road against Depaul, NC State, and Oklahoma State.  That's a
>      pretty tough group to build confidence against.  This year's early
>      season schedule is much easier.  The team should be able to go 4-1
>      or even 5-0 before the meeting with the Tarheels.  Those games will
>      be critical to building confidence and working with new teammates.

Agreed.

>
>   5) Early conference play: The beginning of the conference schedule is
>      very difficult this year.  The first six games include road games
>      against Penn State, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan and home games
>      against Iowa and Michigan State.  Ohio State will do well to manage
>      2 or 3 wins during that stretch.  Hopefully, any confidence built
>      up during non-conference play won't be destroyed by these grueling
>      tests.

The Big-10 is going to be better this year.  I guess this sort of makes
up for the down football year.

>If all of these things go exceedingly well, Ohio State can be one of the
>top three or four teams in the conference.  If not, Ohio State can fall
>all the way to eighth or so.  I'll guess that things will be somewhere
>in the middle.  I'll predict a final record of 16-11 overall with a 10-8
>record in the Big10.  That type of record was good enough for an NCAA bid
>three years ago.  This year, I'm not so sure.

Sounds about right, but I think they'll be playing in the Big dance.

david
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.college