Men's Basketball
Basketball Celebration Centers on NBA Intentions
By John PorentasAn appreciation day for the 2006-2007 OSU basketball team was held on a rainy, stormy night but around 4,000 fans still showed up at the Jerome Schottenstein Center to honor the Big Ten regular-season champs, Big Ten tournament champs, NCAA regional champs, and NCAA runners-up.
While the celebration was called to focus on the team's achievements that included a school-record 35 wins, a tone of anticipation also existed. Most of the crowd was hoping to hear that freshmen Greg Oden, Mike Conley and Daequan Cook had decided not to declare for the NBA draft. One of those with that wish was Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman.
"A message to Conley, Oden and Cook. You three have the great distinction of having the letter 'O' in your names," said Coleman.
"It stands for two things. The first thing the letter 'O' stands for is The Ohio State University. The second thing the 'O' stands for is One more year," Coleman said igniting a chant of "One More Year" from the crowd.
Try as they might, the crowd did not get its wish for a commitment. Master of ceremonies Bill Hosket teased them when interviewing Oden and Conley by saying. "It's pretty obvious that there has been a lot of media surrounding these two guys and tonight is a very special night for this team, but I get to ask the question that I think all of you want to hear the answer to," a statement that hushed the crowd until Hosket delivered the question " What did you guys have for lunch today?" The question brought a laugh, and let Oden and Conley off the hook. Oden, who was amused by the question, offered a one-word answer. "Chicken".
The crowd got another laugh when former manager and now walk-on player Mark Titus deadpanned that after discussing it with his parents, he would return to the Buckeyes next season rather than enter the NBA draft, a comment which also cracked up Oden.
OSU Head Coach Thad Matta has steadfastly insisted that he does not know the intentions of his prize freshmen. He also maintains that he wants whatever is best for them, even if it is not in the best interest of the OSU basketball program.
"I know I'm crazy in saying this, but I've always wanted what's best for the kid," said Matta.
"Now, I understand with saying that is what's best for me, what's best for our program, is if they came back for another year. I would love that, but if guys go, I'm going to be happy for them. I feel that way. If I'm going to go out and recruit great players, it could happen," Matta said.
Matta remains resolute in that stand, but couldn't help remarking in front of the crowd what everyone there was thinking.
"If things go the way that I hope they go, you're going to have on helluva basketball team next year," Matta said to the crowd.
OSU players Jamar Butler and Matt Terwilliger both expressed support for whatever decision is made by Oden, Conley and Cook, but both admitted they are hoping to see them all in OSU uniforms next season.
"I already told Mike I was going to break his legs if he leaves," joked Butler.
"I know it has to be a tough decision for them, to be in the national championship game that way and know that you can come back to college, and with the team that we could have next year, win it. I think that makes the decision even tougher," Butler said.
"It's hard to try and tell somebody (what to do)," said Terwilliger.
"Obviously they know we want them to stay and they'd greatly help the makeup of our team next year, but it's hard to tell somebody to walk away from that much money. They're just going to have to do what's best for their families.
"I think with Greg it would almost seem like a no-brainer with his situation, but I think he really enjoys college. I think there's a shot he could come back possibly," Terwilliger said.
The group has until April 29 to declare their intentions. Terwilliger got a laugh out of reporters when he suggested they keep that date out of the papers and off the airwaves in the hopes that Oden would forget the deadline.
"You guys, if he doesn't know about that deadline, don't tell him. He may just miss it," said Terwilliger.
The common thought is that Oden simply cannot turn down the money he would earn as the probable first pick in the NBA draft. Matta, however, thinks there are reasons why Oden may think otherwise, and thinks there is at least a possibility that one, two or all three of his players could stay. He also thinks that one, two, or all three of them could go,and that the decision really has not yet been made. OSU will file papers with the NBA requesting an evaluation on the trio, and when that data is available, Matta will sit down with them to discuss their options, probably some time next week. What Matta does believe is that he knows how the three will operate in making the decision.
"I think this is very similar to their recruiting process where everybody says they know where they're going, they know where they're going, and they don't," said Matta.
"As I look back on their recruitment, they were very analytical, they were very thorough, they were very in-depth to exactly what they were looking for. I think it's kind of the same technique that they'll use in this regard," Matta said.
While the obvious reason to go is money, Matta believes there are other considerations, specifically for Oden.
"He can continue to grow as a person, he can get better as a player, he can develop his body, he can develop his mind, his soul, he can just continue to grow into what it is he aspires to be," said Matta.
"Money is one thing, memories are another. A lot of people would rather have great memories. Those are the things that would go through my mind in that situation," Matta said.
One of those memories is that of a national championship, something Oden has said publicly he wants to achieve. He has also said publicly that he wants to be able to dominate when he goes to the NBA, not just go there to develop. Those are all reasons to stay, but there is still the issue of the money. Matta tried to downplay that fact.
"The thing that I find funny is that people, you hear, a million, a million, a million! Is that the American way today? People look cross-eyed at Tyler Hansborough for coming back. How could he come back? Maybe he enjoys college. Maybe he enjoys putting on the Carolina Blue and being with his teammates. He knows he's going to have that (money) eventually.
"I think a guy like Tim Duncan has done pretty well for himself by playing four years in college and now I don't know how many world championships he's won, but I think he's not eating off coupons I would imagine," Matta said.
"It's amazing how money, it's like the Flintstones episode when Fred had the betting problem. His eyes turned to dollar signs. That's kind of what you see on the outside world of people talking about millions (for players)," said Matta.
Matta, who is generally easy-going with the press, did express some ire over speculation in the national media.
"The one thing that I find astonishing, and it's nobody in this room, but people write things that have no idea who the person is, his upbringing, his family," Matta said.
"He has to go, he has to go? Have you ever played for a national championship? Have you ever gone through the selection-Sunday show and the rush when Ohio State comes up and building with the team. Some kids, that's important to. To say he has to (go) is really up to the kid," Matta said.
So is there any chance Oden will stay? Matta said there is at least a chance.
"I will say this. Nothing would surprise me that Greg would do to make himself better. If he went, he would be better. If he stayed, he would be better. Greg is a very analytical kid. He's very driven. He's a goal oriented person. There are some things that I think that he has said that he wants to be able to do (and hasn't done). I don't think he would be shocked either way."
(c) 2007 The O-Zone, O-Zone
Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, rebroadcast,rewritten, or redistributed.