From: atchison@kingkong.cis.ohio-state.edu (Mark Atchison)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.college
Subject: Ohio State Preview (LONG)
Date: 18 Nov 92 15:58:34 GMT
Article-I.D.: cis.1992Nov18.155834.16529
Organization: The Ohio State University Dept. of Computer and Info. Science


Impressions on the "game" versus the Lafayette Hustlers AAU last night:

Ohio State led most of the game by 8-12 points.  Randy Ayers used the final
minutes to get a little bit of crunch time action for the new faces.  He 
pulled Alex Davis for Derek Anderson with about 3:00 to go, and called time-out
with 1:00 to get Greg Simpson in the game.  It was a good opportunity to let
the new faces play in front of 13,000 folks, but not much else.  Lafayette 
didn't run much of an offense, shooting three-pointers often, and getting it
inside rather easily when they tried.  Ohio State ran even less of an offense.
The three pointer, unfortunately, looked like it was the first option on
offense.  I'm not ready to become an NCAA side show like Pitino's Wildcats. :(
Only on *one* occasion in the entire game did they hold the ball patiently on
offense and get an easy inside bucket - to Rickey Dudley early in the 2nd half.
The defense wasn't spectacular either, although they didn't show much besides
straight man-to-man.  Numerous failures to defense the baseline stick out, as
well as a little bit of trouble on the glass -- and this was not Webber and
Howard they were up against.

However, lest I paint too gloomy a picture, the amount of potential immediately
visible in some of these guys in incredible, and exciting.  They are extremely
raw, but also extremely talented.  One of three scenarios will likely pan out:

a) Randy Ayers is a good coach.  Ohio State consistantly improves throughout
   the Big 10 season, and next year has a great shot at again competing for the
   conference crown.

b) Randy Ayers is a great coach.  Ohio State uses the cupcakes plus USC and
   North Carolina, along with a grueling Big 10 schedule -- including 5 or 6
   Top 25 teams -- to prepare for the tournament.  They end up around a 10 or
   11 seed come NCAA time, but because of last year get bumped up to 7 or 8.
   They win a tournament game or two, and maybe even make the Sweet Sixteen.

c) Randy Ayers is superhuman.  Ohio State jells in a hurry, and competes for
   the crown in a brutal Big 10 race that sees a champ with 6 conference L's.

Personally, I think (b) is a reasonable goal, and probable outcome.

Individual Evaluations:

Lawrence Funderburke (6'9" 225# jr): Seems to be eager to take on the role of 
 mentor.  I hope this is a role that he fits, and that fits him.  It doesn't 
 work for everybody.  He looks like he's put on a little more upper body 
 weight, which could be good, beacuse we are without a banger over 6'7".  He 
 also showed a longer range last night than we were accustomed to last season.
 This could be by necessity, because they need to replace a lot of scoring 
 power.
 Lafayette Line:  7-13 	1-2  	15pts  	5reb  	3blk

Alex Davis (6'1" 175# sr):  Wants to step up and lead as well.  I hope it 
 doesn't push him into doing too much.  He is a terrific offensive player (as
 anyone who remembers his sophomore year NCAA game versus Providence could tell
 you), but has been streaky in the past.  He did look to have his sweet stroke
 back from long range last night.  Also has very quick hands on defense, but he
 is very small compared most 2-guards he'll be up against.  A-D! A-D!
 Lafayette Line:  5-11 	0-0  	14pts  	4 3's

Tom Brandewie (6'9" 220# sr): It's now or never for Brandewie to step up and be
 a Big 10  player.  Personally, I think he has the ability, but time will tell.
 Did not score last night, but my paper lists him as "did-not-shoot" as well.
 This would be partly the fault of our offense, which was not patient, and did
 not feed the inside guys.  He has good shooting range -- always has.  I 
 remember watching him rain 3 pointers in as a sophomore in a high school 
 championship game (of course, they didn't have a 3-pt line in high school 
 then).  I wish he'd get more a chance to use that.
 Lafayette Line:  0-0	0-0	0pts	???

Jimmy Ratliff (6'9" 211# jr): Well, the summer league rumors are true. Jimmy 
 has gained a lot of confidence, and probably will remain a starter.  Didn't 
 hesitate or look bad taking the three, but didn't make any, either.  He is 
 very agile for a 6-9 lanky kid, but not Magic Johnson-agile.  He is still 
 doomed to being a tweener.  Not quite agile enough to be a ball-handler, but 
 not strong enough to bang inside.  I hope he gets some big games for us -- 
 Middletown has sent OSU some great ones in the past (hint, hint: Trivia 
 Question: Who? ).
 Lafayette Line:  3-6 	4-6	10pts	5ast

Jamie Skelton (6'2" 180# jr): Skeeter! Well, he led the team in scoring last 
 night -- mainly on the strength of second half three point shooting.  Also hit
 a 3 late in the contest with Ohio State up by one (remember Indiana '91?).  
 Looks as quick as ever on defense, but he may have to lay off the hand checks
 a little bit in the Big 10.  We could need him to spread his 4 fouls out over
 25 minutes instead of 10 this year.  Seems to be the calmest influence on the
 floor right now, although that's not saying a lot with all the young-un's.
 Lafayette Line:  6-11 	1-1	16pts	3 3's

Rickey Dudley (6'7" 240# so):Still the biggest stud on the team. Unfortunately,
 it doesn't look like he made any great leaps and bounds over the off-season.
 That's not necessarily a knock, but we can probably expect much the same kind
 of output from him this year as last.  As a physical specimen, he is awesome.
 Woody was always known for trying to edge the stud basketball playes into pads
 come fall.  I think it's safe to say Dudley would have been a hellacious end.
 Lafayette Line:  1-1 	1-5	3pts	7reb

Doug Etzler (6'0" 170# so): Well, the good news is Etzler can really contribute
 at this level.  The bad news is that he may have to for a while (see Simpson,
 below). We all saw his flashy ability to see to the floor last year, and his 
 quickness on offense is pretty good.  A pleasant surprise was his ability to 
 bury the jumper if left open, including the three.  I didn't know he had that
 kind of ability.  His big liability is on defense.  He had a lot of trouble 
 guarding the Hustler guards, and we are going to ask him to go up against 
 Jalen Rose, Greg Graham, Chris Reynolds, Rennie Clemmons, Tracy Webster... 
 the list goes on and on.  But the job of the point guard is to run the team,
 not score (scoring's a nice bonus, though ;^]), and at this point Etzler far
 exceeds Simpson in that regard.
 Lafayette Line:  4-6	0-0	10pts	5ast

Now for the new faces:

Antonio Watson (6'9" 215# so): A pleasant surprise, but in very limited action
 for some reason.  I watched Watson in high school two years ago, and he looked
 like he had two big problems -- skinny and weak.  The prop 48 year appears to
 have taken a big bite out of the weak part.  He has a much more defined upper
 body now -- a must to compete inside in the Bang 10.  He was aggressive, 
 fluid, and quick in his time at the end of the first half, but only saw about
 3 minutes.
 Lafayette Line:  0-0	1-2	1pt

Greg Simpson (6'1" 170# fr): Both a pleasant surprise, and a disappointment. As
 most everybody has heard, he has a lot of ability, but needs to be bridled by
 Ayers. Even bigger on both counts.  His potential is tremendous, but the 
 playgrounds are littered with potential.  One bright spot was the fact that he
 didn't even hit net on his 3 stop-and-pops in the lane.  Swish! is a welcome 
 sound to fans who suffered along with Mark Baker in his often successful, but
 never pretty, short jumper.  The maturing part will be big.  One game is an 
 afwully unfair way to judge a kid, so take this with a grain of salt, but...
 Randy called time-out with 1:00 left. Ohio State up 4, and with the ball. He
 stuck Simpson in, presumably with the intention of seeing how he behaved in
 a careful shot situation.  Simpson airballed a three pointer with 30 seconds
 on the shot clock.  Patience will be a virtue, for him and for us...
 Lafayette Line:  5-8 	0-0	10pts	7to

Derek Anderson (6'6" 185# fr): What is it with Buckeyes named Anderson numbered
 #23? (Anyone else remember Scott "Scooter" Anderson, a hold-over from the 
 Eldon era?)  One obvious impression of him -- what an athlete!  6'6" with the
 quickness of Alex Davis and the leaping ability of Mark Baker.  He had a 
 baseline move in the first half that was awesome for a freshman.  Also got the
 final rebound and put the game away with two free throws, in the pseudo-
 pressure situation.  I like this kid.
 Lafayette Line:  1-2	3-5	5pts

Charles Macon (6'6" 232# fr): Killer never got on a good roll. He does look big
 enough to exist in the paint, and agile enough to handle the ball (both the 
 things that Ratliff barely lacks).  He looked pretty tentative last night 
 though -- a lot of trying not to do bad, rather than just playing --  
 hopefully just a case of jitters.  Definitely earns his nickname with that 
 mug of his!  If a fight breaks out, I'll pick Dudley and Killer first.
 Lafayette Line:  0-2	0-0	0pts

Nate Wilbourne (6'11" 250# fr): Another pleasant surprise, but also in limited
 action.  Very agile for a big kid (6'10", 250#) -- not another Bill Robinson 
 (no offense intended to our favorite pear!).  Looks very strong, and should 
 develop well.  He may have to be the designated banger this year.  Nice touch
 from the free throw line, too -- nice to see in a freshman big man.
 Lafayette Line:  0-1	2-2	2pts

Otis Winston (6'5" 180# fr): Did not play. He's just a walk-on, but rumors were
 saying that he could contribute valuable minutes.  I hear he averaged 30 ppg 
 in high school.  We'll see if he's a Freddie Hunter (a la Michigan) or just 
 another walk-on practice player.

Gerald Eaker (6'11" 220 fr): The current plan is to redshirt Gerald this year.
 Probably a good idea with 2 young centers already vying for time (Wilbourne 
 and Watson).

Team Impressions:

Strengths:  They do have a lot of talent.  They showed pretty good three point
 ability last night, although they only ended up 9/23 and we all know how
 streaky those 3 pointers can be.  Depth should help them -- both to keep
 fresh legs in the game, and to develop the young kids -- they ought to go
 about 11 deep on most nights.  Ayers is a teriffic coach (IMAMOHO - mine and
 many others').  The time when we have six seniors who have all been under
 Ayers's tutelage for 4 years is coming, and it will be sweet.

Weaknesses:  As predicted, the inside game will probably range from spotty to
 non-existent.  Non-existent last night, and against a team that didn't play
 the best defense, but again... half the team has been here only two weeks.
 Height could be a problem, especially if Wilbourne and Walker do not develop.
 At one point last night, the Buckeyes offered a squad of Davis (6'1"), 
 Skelton (6'2"), Anderson (6'6"), Macon (6'6"), and Dudley (6'7").

My fingers are tired.  Sorry for the folks who didn't give a damn what I 
thought (probably most of you ;^]), but I wanted to get this out of the way...
finals are coming up!


GO BUCKS!!!  TWO-TIME DEFENDING BIG 10 CHAMPIONS!!!  WE MISS YOU J.J.
-- 
_______________________________________________________________________________
 Mark Atchison, a.k.a. <atchison@cis.ohio-state.edu>; Graduate Student in the
Computer Science Dept, THE Ohio State University (NOT an Ohio State University)
		Any plagiarisms seen above are not my own...
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.college