From: doel@bae.bellcore.com (Michael Doel)
Subject: Re: Ohio State score request - again
Organization: Bell Communications Research
	<1992Dec30.175956.8719@cbnews.cb.att.com>
Distribution: na
Date: 30 Dec 92 13:53:14


In article <1992Dec30.175956.8719@cbnews.cb.att.com> ns@cbnews.cb.att.com (naresh.shah) writes:


> randy stayed with the 3-guard starting line-up of etzler, davis and skelton
> (with funderburke and dudley). but he didn't play either of his two point
> guards (etzler or greg simpson) for much of the 2nd half, especially at the
> end. anderson played point guard much  of the 2nd half. it appeared that
> randy was most comfortable with floor line-up of funderburke, dudley,
> anderson, skelton and davis. since this was a close game, these five played
> more than their usual minutes.

This looks like a good lineup for the Buckeyes.  One of the things that's
important to get down early in the season is the rotation of players you'll
see.  Going with a three guard set is probably to Ohio State's best
advantage.  Something like this

                         Starters       Subs
	point guard    - Anderson       Simpson, Etzler
	shooting guard - Skelton
	shooting guard - Davis
	forward        - Dudley         Macon, Ratliff
	forward        - Funderburke    Bradewie, Watson, Wilbourne

Anderson and Simpson are versatile enough to play either type of guard
position while Skelton, Davis, and Etzler are more limited.  I haven't
actually seen Anderson play yet, so I won't say he should be the rock solid
starter.  Still, all five guards should see plenty of action and probably
get a pretty even distribution of minutes.

Going into the season, I thought OSU would be much more of a frontcourt team
this year.  Of course, this assumed that Ratliff was for real this summer
and Macon was ready to step in right away.  Alas, it looks like I may be
wrong.  Ratliff hasn't shown any of the promised offense and Macon is still
adjusting to the college game (though I thought he looked pretty good
against UNC).

Randy Ayers decided to go with senior leadership and start Brandewie over
Dudley.  It looks like he may be changing his mind & I'd have to agree.  The
fact is, Ohio State is not looking for either of these players to score
much.  Their whole purpose is to rebound and play good defense.  From what
I've seen, Dudley is the more physical player and can rebound with the best
of them.  Brandewie probably has more offensive skills, but since that's not
really his role, he suffers.  With the lineup above, we already have four
scorers on the court.  Rebounding is more important and Dudley wins.

The "forgotten" players this year will probably be Antonio Watson and Nate
Wilbourne.  Since each is in his first year, that's not too surprising. 


> all in all, a good win for the young buckeyes on the road. the nuetral court
> (portland) was almost a home court for both of its opponents, oregon state
> and oregon. 

Yep.  Ohio State SHOULD finish 7-2 out of conference now.  With that record,
a 9-9 record (maybe even 8-10) in the tough Big10 would probably land them
in the NCAAs.  It's still going to be a big accomplishment if they do it
though.


--
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Mike Doel				<doel@bae.bellcore.com>
444 Hoes Lane RRC 1B-209
Piscataway, NJ 08854

"For every complex problem, there is a solution that is simple, neat
 and wrong." - H.L. Mencken
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Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.college