Crater gone, embarrassing Saturday
Right: Anthony Crater (right) is no longer is a Buckeye. (Jim Davidson/The O-Zone.net Photo)
Earlier today, backup point guard Anthony Crater requested and was given a release from his scholarship at Ohio State and plans to transfer, according to Doug Lesmerises of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Crater, a freshman from Flint, Michigan, is one of seven players on the Buckeye roster who has played in all 10 games, and was averaging 1.2 points, 0.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 0.9 turnovers while playing 13.1 minutes per game.
It seems that Crater was upset with playing time. In Bob Baptist’s article from the Columbus Dispatch, it appears that during the recruiting process, Ohio State head coach Thad Matta made some sort of promise or guarantee that Crater was going to be the starting point guard when he arrived on campus.
Even after Matta signed junior college transfer Jeremie Simmons, Crater was told his status and playing time would not change, though Simmons won the starting job in preseason camp.
Neither Simmons or Crater are great point guards. Simmons is more of a shoot first, pass second type. Crater, on the other hand, is not much of a shooter. In 10 games, Crater has made just three field goals in 15 attempts, while knocking down only 2 of his 14 three-point tries.
Clearly at this point, Simmons is the better player. It’s a shame that Crater didn’t gut this out. But once against it’s just another example of a prima donna player taking his ball and going home when he doesn’t get his way.
On Saturday, Ohio State was thoroughly embarrassed on national TV by West Virginia, losing to the Mountaineers 76-48 at Value City Arena.
It looked like the Buckeyes mailed it in, playing without any heart, passion, or intensity.
Simmons and William Buford each scored 11 points, while Evan Turner had 10 and 11 rebounds for Ohio State.
