Men's Basketball
The-Ozone Hoops Note and Quotebook
By John Porentas

Something to Chew On: Thad Matta had a "chewing gum mishap" during OSU's game with Wisconsin when his chewing gum flew out of his mouth and onto the Value City Arena floor. Unfortunately for Matta, the ESPN cameras were on him when it happened, and when he picked it up off the floor and put it back into his mouth. Matta said he has suffered the consequences since.

Thad Matta
Photo by Jim Davidson

"Driving home after the game I called my mom and I had forgotten all about it. She was like 'Oh my God, you spit your gum out!" I told her when I go go court for littering, I'm going to claim insanity, and I'll get off on that one, I guarantee you that," said Matta.

As to picking it up and chewing it again, Matta invoked the five-second rule which any kid knows. Any food on the floor less-than five seconds can be picked up and eaten.

"I've got two kids at home, they taught me that rule plenty of times," Matta laughed.

Matta says he has heard about the episode from plenty of people, including his players.

"It was funny, that night I'd say eight of the 12 guys text messaged me about it and I've received more gum than I could chew in a lifetime at the office. I've taken a little bit of abuse for it," Matta said.

Not a Fan of the Andrews Sisters: OSU center Greg Oden is improving steadily on the court, and according to Oden, he's also doing well enough in the class room too.

"I'm doing pretty decent. I don't have any failing grades, I know that," said Oden.

Most athletes go to school year-round, making it possible for them to take a light course-load while their particular sport is "in season". Basketball players in particular miss a lot of classes during their season due to the midweek games, particularly when they are road games. Oden says he is taking a light load this quarter.

"Right now I'm in sociology and history of rock and roll. I only have two classes," he said.

Oden, who is a movie buff, is enjoying his music course.

Greg Oden says music by the Andrews Sisters, above, is not exactly his cup of tea.

"We went from blues and now we're at nouveau. We really went through them all. The crazy thing is, because I got to the movies a lot, and now that I have that class, every movie has an old song. I'm sitting there watching the movie, and I'm thinking 'That's the Andrews Sisters from 1956,'"

The Andrews Sisters? Yes, the Andrews Sisters, who brought us big hits like "Beer Barrel Polka” (Roll out the Barrel), “Bei Mir Bist Du Schon” (means that you’re grand), “Don’t Fence Me In” and “Winter Wonderland”. Oden says he knows who they are, and recognizes their music, but isn't particularly fond of the genre.

"Not really. I just had to study one (of their songs) for a quiz," he said.

Tournament Tingle: The Buckeyes say they are focused on the game with the Wolverines this weekend, but admit that the excitement of tournament season is beginning to set it.

"That's a lifetime's worth of work to get to that tournament and have the opportunity to play against the best teams in the nation. That's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to try and be a part of something special, and that's what we're trying to do this year," said OSU freshman point guard Mike Conley.

Greg Oden
Photo by Jim Davidson

Center Greg Oden is an NCAA tournament junkie.

"I actually have the One Shining Moment tapes from North Carolina's championship," said Oden.

"You just watch that and you want to go out and play basketball no matter what time it is. It could be three in the morning and you just want to go out and start working on your game."

Oden says watching past champions in victory makes him want to have that same experience.

"That's how everybody wants to feel at the end of the season. They want that tape to be about them," he said, but also added that an NCAA championship may not be the ultimate goal.

"Yeah, but if you win an NBA championship, you're world champs...and you get a bonus," said Oden.

One thing that Oden doesn't get involved with at tournament time is filling out an NCAA bracket

"The first time I did it I just sucked, so I gave up," he said.

The Fun is Back: OSU Head Coach Thad Matta remarked recently that he sensed his team was not having as much fun as he would have liked as the season wore on, something that he took steps to change.

"Just looking in our guys' eyes earlier in the year, I wanted to make sure they had great focus on what we were trying to do. I've always wanted our guys to enjoy practice, enjoy the games and enjoy each other. At that particular time I wasn't sold and I just wanted to talk to them about it, get it on the table," Matta said.

"College basketball is a long season and it's funny, I had a couple people call me after I said that and said 'You're right, January and February are the hardest months. March takes care of itself.' It's like a rejuvenation when you get into March and conference tournament play and all of that stuff. I want these guys to be in great spirits. I think we get the most out of them when they're enjoying what they're doing," said Matta.

Mike Conley
Photo by Jim Davidson

Mike Conley said his coach was on the money, but even if the Buckeyes did "hit the wall" a bit, the collision was worth it, because they are now a better team that is, above all, winning.

"I think a little bit of it did, we got a little consumed with just working and trying to get better. During that point in time we really did get better as a team, the way we can handle situations down the road forty minutes out of a game," said Conley

"I guess if you take the fun out of the game a little bit, the winning definitely takes care of all that, but definitely a lot of us are having fun (now). As long as we get a 'W' in the end, it's all worth it," Conley said.

Fashion and Function: The Buckeyes will sport new uniforms in the tournament season that will have a Lebron James logo on them and will have a new look. The shorts will be long, very long, but the jersey's will be tight, very tight.

Greg Oden
Photo by Jim Davidson

"Actually, I tried on the shorts," said Greg Oden.

"The shorts I have literally go to the coaches ankles. They're nice. Haven't seen the tops, I've only seen the shorts, but it looks nice," said Oden.

No one on the OSU squad has yet seen the shirts, but both Oden and Matta are hopeful that the tight jerseys will cut down on the amount of grabbing that Oden is subjected to on the court.

"I haven't seen the new jerseys on them, but I think it definitely could help," said Matta.

"If I get grabbed in those uniforms and that's not a foul, there's something wrong," said Oden, "but in the Big Ten they're going to let you play physical. I hope I can get a couple of fouls going my way.

"It's an average of one or two turnovers a game, with me getting fouled and not called and I get a travel or a foul on me. That's not helping my team," Oden said.

Michigan Preview

Return to the-Ozone Columns and Features

Return to the-OZone Front Page