Tag: Greg Oden

Ohio State basketball’s Bruce Thornton gets conference tournament recognition

Bruuuuuuuce!!! #GoBucks

The [autotag]Ohio State[/autotag] basketball team had run not many expected in the [autotag]Big Ten Tournament[/autotag]. They became the lowest seed, No. 13, to ever make it to the conference semifinals.

On the way to the fourth day of the tournament, Buckeye guard [autotag]Bruce Thornton[/autotag] was phenomenal. He averaged 15.5 points, with 4.25 assists and 2.75 rebounds over the course of four games, and turned the ball over just four total times, none over the final three games. The freshman was the best player on the court for Ohio State and the Big Ten noticed.

The conference named Thornton to their all-tournament team, making him just the 10th freshman ever to be named to the team. The distinction makes it four for Ohio State, as Thornton joins [autotag]Greg Oden[/autotag], [autotag]Mike Conley[/autotag] and [autotag]Jared Sullinger[/autotag]. That’s quite an impressive list of Buckeyes.

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The Georgia native really came on late in the season, being named a captain, upping his offensive game and this was the cherry on top. Expectations for Thornton rose significantly as the year went on and he is expected to lead the squad next year in what should be a much more prosperous season.

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Tyler Lockett shares kind words for Greg Oden

Without a doubt the worst aspect of sports of any kind are injuries.

Without a doubt the worst aspect of sports of any kind are injuries. There is nothing more heartbreaking than seeing a player be carted off the field, court or ice. Injuries are a regrettable reality every player must deal with, but unfortunately, they can be more common – and devastating – to some more than others.

Perhaps one of the more drastic examples of his is former Portland Trail Blazer Greg Oden. Drafted No. 1 overall by the Blazers in 2007, Oden’s tenure in the Rose City was defined by an inability to stay healthy. Injuries completely derailed a promising career, and now Oden has been speaking out about the struggles he felt during this time.

Seahawks star wide receiver Tyler Lockett took notice, and shared kind words for Oden online.

It can be easy to forget sometimes these players are human, too. Humans with insecurities, anxiety and struggles with mental health. Constantly rehabbing injuries is such a grueling ordeal and can begin to weigh heavily on those experiencing this.

Here’s hoping Oden can find the peace and resolution to situations completely out of his control during his time in the NBA.

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On this date 16 years ago, No. 1 Ohio State basketball gave us a game for the ages

Does this make you feel old Buckeye fans? #GoBucks

Since the Ohio State basketball season has been over for some time for all intents and purposes, let’s take a look back on some better days. Back to a time when the shorts were much longer and the Buckeyes were on top of the basketball world and the polls with the “Thad 5.”

On Feb. 25, 16 years ago to the day, Thad Matta’s No. 1 Ohio State squad took on No. 2 Wisconsin at Value City Arena. It was a back-and-forth affair seeing OSU in unfamiliar territory, down a point with just 16 seconds left on the clock.

The ball ended up in eventual first-round pick Mike Conley Jr’s. hands. Conley split a pair of Badgers to put a running floater in the air that rattled home to give the Buckeyes the win.

With not much in the way of highlights this year, you can relive the exciting moment below.

Ivan Harris led the young Buckeyes that day with 13 points, while Conley and fellow freshman phenom, Greg Oden, each added 11 points.

It’s hard to believe this game was played almost two decades ago. Here’s hoping Ohio State can get back to dominating on the hardwood sooner rather than later. Until then, we can reminisce about the good ol’ days.

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What we learned about Ohio State’s rout of Alabama A&M

It was a true tale of two halves for Ohio State but they pulled out the victory and finished off the year with a 9-3 record after defeating Alabama A&M 90-59. In this game we saw the return of two Buckeyes ahead of a stretch of conference play. …

It was a true tale of two halves for Ohio State but they pulled out the victory and finished off the year with a 9-3 record after defeating Alabama A&M 90-59. In this game we saw the return of two Buckeyes ahead of a stretch of conference play.

There were plenty of good things that came with this win for Chris Holtmann and this ever improving group. The freshman continue to impress and the depth obviously increased with two Bucks competing back after time off. Here is what we learned from Ohio State’s solid win against an overmatched Alabama A&M team before the New Year’s Eve and the big game.

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Thad Matta reportedly set to hire two former Ohio State greats at Butler

How do you feel about these two Buckeye greats headed to Butler to assist Thad Matta?

Former Ohio State basketball head coach Thad Matta is already pulling guys from his time on the banks of the Olentangy. As first reported by David Woods of the Indy Star, Matta is all set to add Buckeye greats Greg Oden and Jon Diebler to his staff.

The two need no introduction for OSU fans. Oden burst onto the scene as a freshman as the most coveted big-man coming out of high school and quickly made good on that promise, nearly helping lead Ohio State to a national title during the 2006-2007 season. Injuries derailed his NBA aspirations, but he eventually found his way back to Ohio State on Chris Holtmann’s staff as a graduate assistant last season.

Diebler is still the program’s all-time leader when it comes to three-point baskets made and left as the best all-time in the Big Ten (since surpassed by Jordan Bohannon of Iowa). He too competed on some of the best teams Matta ever ran out on the court from 2007 to 2011. He was a late NBA draft pick but never elbowed his way in the league, instead enjoying a long career overseas. This will be his first foray into the official coaching ranks.

There has been no formal announcement on what roles the two will have on Matta’s staff, but it will more than likely be in a support role since his three full-time assistant positions have already been filled by Mike Pegues, Kevin Kuwik, and David Ragland.

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Greg Oden to return to Ohio State basketball coaching staff

Former Ohio State star, Greg Oden joins the Buckeye Basketball coaching staff.

On a day when all Buckeye fans are thinking about football, we bring you some basketball news. Greg Oden, who led Ohio State to a national championship appearance in 2006 and former No. 1 NBA draft pick, has accepted a position on the Buckeye basketball coaching staff.

Oden will come on in the capacity of a graduate assistant, his second stint with the OSU basketball coaching ranks. The seven-footer helped Thad Matta and Chris Holtmann from 2016-2019 as a student assistant while working on completing his undergraduate degree.

Oden will be much more involved this go around and has plenty of basketball experience to help some of the young post players on Holtmans’s squad. It’s an opportunity Oden seems excited to be a part of.

“I’m thankful, honestly, for coach Holt and his staff who have welcomed me in and given me this opportunity because that’s literally what I want to do is get into coaching,” Oden said. “One of the toughest things to do is get your foot in the door, so for them to give me this opportunity while I’m able to actually get a Master’s degree in sports coaching from The Ohio State University, which I would love, is something that’s just amazing. I couldn’t ask for anything better. I’m just so thankful and ready to take advantage of this opportunity.”

After being drafted by the Portland Trailblazers with the No. 1 overall pick in 2006, Oden’s body just wouldn’t cooperate. Injuries limited the big man to only 105 games over seven seasons. Fortunately, coaching won’t take quite a toll on the body and maybe this will be an avenue that allows Oden to stay in the game.

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Former Ohio State center Greg Oden on BIG3 roster again

Former Ohio State basketball center Greg Oden is once again taking his talents to a roster of a BIG3 team.

Former Ohio State basketball big man Greg Oden might be 33 years old, but he’s still got a lot of talent oozing out of that 7-foot frame of his. So much so that it looks like he’s going to take part on the roster of a BIG3 team again this coming season.

According to a roster announcement on Twitter by the official BIG3 account, Oden is listed as a captain on the Aliens and will be playing with Shannon Brown, Brandon Rush, Andre Owens, and Renaldo Balkman. The team will be coached by Rick Mahorn.

Oden showed the ability to clog up and score in the middle of the paint last season, and was a defensive presence, even as he approaches his early to mid-thirties.

Count me in the camp that can’t wait to see what the big fella has in the tank. The BIG3 begins play on July 10 in Las Vegas. You can watch all the action on CBS.

If you haven’t gotten on board with watching any of the BIG3 action, believe me when I say it’s worth your time, especially with someone like Oden to cheer on.

David Lighty picks ultimate starting five and sixth man from his time at Ohio State

Former Ohio State guard David Lighty was asked to pick an ultimate Buckeye starting five and 6th man from his playing days. Who’d he choose?

There are a lot of lists out there that pick an ultimate starting basketball squad from various eras, but it just means a little bit more when a player from those playing days has a hand in picking the lineup.

That’s exactly what happened when former Ohio State basketball player David Lighty was asked to pick a starting five and sixth-man from his run in Columbus. Remember, his time spanned five years from 2006-2007 through the 2010-2011 seasons. There were two Final Four appearances during that time so there was plenty of talent to choose from.

You could make the argument that Lighty should be on this team with his steady defensive presence and all-around floor game but he didn’t pick himself, so let’s get that out of the way now. Lighty clearly didn’t get where he is today by not being humble.

But who did Lighty pick ultimately? We’ll tip things off with the point guard position. Also, if you can get a look at the video portion of these selections thanks to the Twitter account of Ohio State on BTN.

NEXT … the point guard

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Ohio State basketball’s ‘Thad-Five’ ranked one of top 25 recruiting classes of the one-and-done era

ESPN ranked the 25-best one-and-done era recruiting classes in college basketball, and the Thad Five class of 2006 made the cut.

It’s hard to believe it’s been that long ago, but Ohio State’s “Thad-Five” recruiting class was all the way back in 2006 — now fourteen years ago. It was new head coach Thad Matta’s first real recruiting class, and it helped set the bar going forward.

The cornerstone commit of that class was Greg Oden, but you also had current NBA star Mike Conley, Jr., Daequon Cook, David Lighty, and JUCO Othello Hunter. That class would make an immediate splash by helping win Big Ten regular-season and conference tournament titles, and an eventual journey to the Final Four and national championship game appearance.

Shortly after that, both Oden and Conely were off to the NBA as one-and-dones, but the program continued to excel. Getting the premier player — if even for just a year — became a Matta principle in recruiting until his departure from the program just three years ago.

And while Ohio State isn’t the king of the one-and-done athlete, that class does rank among one of the best during the era of one-year players heading off to the NBA.

ESPN took a look at 25 of the best one-and-done era college basketball recruiting classes and included that 2006 squad along with a slew of Duke, Kentucky, and North Carolina teams. You can get a look (subscription required) at all the classes the worldwide leader in sports programming ranked, but it’s worth noting that the 2013 Kentucky class with Julius Randle and the Harrison twins came in as No. 1.

But back to that unbelievable OSU recruiting class. Here’s what Jeff Borzello and John Gasaway say about one of the best hauls the Buckeye program has ever brought into the program, and where they rank it.

Next … The narrative on the 2006 Ohio State class

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Ohio State basketball’s five recent postseason moments to remember

The postseason is dead as Coronavirus measures go into motion. To fill the void, here are five of Ohio State’s best moments to re-live.

The sporting world — okay the entire world — has been rocked by countless measures to try and curb the spread of the novel Coronavirus. Almost every single sporting event has either been canceled or postponed until further notice. That includes the end to any postseason run the Ohio State basketball team was going to embark upon

March madness has turned into March emptiness, but for good reason while the world gets this outbreak under control.

To fill the void left by no postseason tournaments, we’re throwing out a few pieces to take a few trips down memory lane and remember some of the most iconic moments in both the NCAA and Big Ten men’s basketball tournaments.

Here are five of the most memorable postseason moments in recent Ohio State basketball history.

Next … The big man saves the game with defense

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