Right: Kosta Koufos was the 23rd overall selection by the Utah Jazz. AP Photo/Terry Gilliam

On Thursday night, National Basketball Association commissioner David Stern announced that 7-foot center, Kosta Koufos, was the 23rd pick in the NBA draft, though I am sure Koufos himself thought his name was going to be called a lot sooner.

It clearly appears that Koufos would of benefited from staying at least one more year at Ohio State.

On Friday, according to local sports mastermind Bruce Hooley during his afternoon talk show on WBNS-AM 1460 the Fan in Columbus, had he stayed one more year and was a 10th pick overall, he would of received roughly 3.2 million dollars per year over four years. And if he was a top-five selection, he would of garnered a four-year, 7.2 million dollar contract.

As it stands based on the NBA rookie salary scale, Koufos is guaranteed $941,100 this season and $1,011,700 next year.

That’s a good chunk of change that Koufos will miss out on by leaving early and not staying for at least one more year.

Now if and butts were candy and nuts plus he stayed healthy during the 2008-09 season while getting bigger and stronger to go along improving his game, then Koufos did make a mistake. Of course publicly he’s not going to say that.

Koufos made this comment to Bill Rabinowitz of The Columbus Dispatch:

I have no regrets. I’m very happy with my situation.”

Hmmm, are you sure?

Koufos averaged 14.4 points and 6.7 rebounds for the Buckeyes this past season while playing some really good basketball down the stretch, particularly in the National Invitational Tournament, as he earned the Most Outstanding Player award, though it was against lesser talent and smaller centers.

But how did Koufos fare against the big boys?

Against 6-foot-9 Tyler Hansbrough and the North Carolina Tar Heels, Koufos scored a mere four points with three rebounds in a 66-55 loss.

Going toe-to-toe with Texas A&M’s 7-foot center DeAndre Jordan, Koufos had 10 points and five rebounds as the Buckeyes lost big to the Aggies, 70-47.

In two games playing against 6-foot-11 center Shaun Pruitt from Illinois, Koufos averaged 10 points and 4.5 rebounds.

Meanwhile, it’s a foregone conclusion that incoming freshman B.J. Mullens, a 7-foot center who was ranked higher than Koufos coming out of high school by various sources including Rivals.com and Scout.com, will be the Buckeyes’ next one-and done player.

In other news on Friday, the Ohio Bobcats named former assistant to Thad Matta, John Groce, as their new head basketball coach replacing Tim O’Shea. With that, I am sure that OU will be a regular part of OSU’s schedule for the next several years.

Tags: Men's Basketball by Matt Barker, Publisher & Editor of BuckeyeBanter.com
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Right: Former OSU star Michael Redd was named to the U.S. Olympic basketball team. File Photo

Redd, white & blue

On Monday, former OSU star and current Milwaukee Bucks shooting guard Michael Redd was named to the 2008 U.S. Men’s Olympic basketball team.

Redd averaged 22.7 points last year, his lowest average since 2002-03 when he took over as a full-time starter after the Bucks traded Ray Allen to Seattle.

Redd was selected primarily to give Team USA something they have sorely missed in previous international competitions, and that’s having someone who can consistently knock down three-pointers.

During his eight years so far in the NBA, Redd has rattled in 38.8 percent of his shots from downtown.

Team USA’s expected starters are Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Jason Kidd, Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard. Reserves include Redd, Carlos Boozer, Chris Bosh, Chris Paul, Tayshaun Prince, Dwyane Wade and Deron Williams.

The team is coached by Mike Krzyzewski, and will conduct a minicamp this weekend and a training camp from July 20-25, both in Las Vegas, to prepare for the Olympics as USA opens play against China on Aug. 10.

More commits for OSU football

On Monday, two soon-to-be high school seniors pledged their allegiance to Senator Sweater Vest as 6-foot, 181-pound safety Bradley McDougald from Scioto High School in Dublin, and 6-foot-1, 180-pound athlete Corey Brown from Gateway High School in Monroeville, Penn., made their intentions known.

On Tuesday, 6-foot-2, 221-pound defensive end Jonathan Newsome from Cleveland’s Glenville High School also issued his verbal commitment to attend and play football at Ohio State next year.

Brown was the more sought after recruit, receiving offers from 12 other schools including Michigan and Notre Dame. He ranks 73rd best player in the country on the Rivals100 by Rivals.com.

Ohio state now has 23 players who have issued their verbal commitments for the class of 2009.

Tags: Football, Men's Basketball by Matt Barker, Publisher & Editor of BuckeyeBanter.com
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Right: Senator Sweater Vest is on the hot seat? File Photo

Ronnie went to his first Ohio State football game in 1955 with his father and meet none other than head coach Woody Hayes. Ronnie has not only played the game, but has coached it on the high school level as well. He also has been at several national championship bowl games, and his passion is college sports, especially Ohio State football and basketball. A professional writer, Ronnie is BuckeyeBanter.com’s newest contributor. Here’s his first installment:

I have been reading the 2008 college football addition of Phil Steele’s extensive coverage of all college teams. For 11 straight years, his magazine has been far more accurate in picking bowl game matchups, winners, champs, Heisman’s, and All-American’s than any other publication.

He picks Florida No. 1 – though he admits they have the least experience of any top team.

Ohio State comes in at No. 2 – and he rates them as the most experienced team.

Since he picks Florida to beat Ohio State for the national championship, it is obvious that he feels that Ohio State’s Jim Tressel is good, but not a great coach. And yes, he picks OSU to beat USC and to go into that BCS Championship game undefeated.

I agree with everything he says including his take on Tressel EXCEPT I do not think Florida has the offense to score enough points on this Buckeye defense to beat them. That will be everyone’s problem this year including USC.

I actually believe this team is the year that Ohio State recovers from its two straight humiliations and upsets Florida (and if not Florida then Georgia, I think) and Tressel gets his second national title for several reasons. Too much experience. Too much depth. Too many team leaders. And a squad that obviously is on a mission. The extra work done by the team on its own without coaches is impressive.

I predict a smothering defense that may lead the nation in every key stat. I predict amazing running stats with Wells just being obviously the dominant back in college football. And, watch out. The Ohio State QB is laughed at nation wide. A lot of people are going to be flabbergasted by the poise and execution of team leadership that this 2008 OSU team has. Troy Smith is gone thank God. OSU’s QB will not report for a national title game this season 35 pounds over weight and full of himself.

Now what about Tressel. Is he good or great? We all are going to find out. If he goes for the third straight time into the national title game and gets terribly out coached and loses once again, I predict he will be fired. HUH??? Tressel fired??? I believe he knows that. Tressel had better learn that the old adage, “you win with what got your here” is BUNK!!!

You win national games with four things. Your players are inspired to play the greatest game of their lives. You figure out the other teams worst players and you attack them. You figure out the other teams best players and you adapt to take away some element of their success. And you have 2 – 3 wrinkles, tricks up your sleeve to keep drives alive in 3rd and 8 situations, and in 3rd and goal situations. You must have a few surprises that the other team never anticipates. You catch them in the wrong defense to exploit them with what your about to run at them.

There is a fifth thing actually. Tressel showed it against Miami. He did not the last two years. Your coach must be a dominant presence on the sidelines. His players must believe that he has an answer for anything. This is a great OSU squad of players. One of the best collection of athletes Ohio State has ever had. Ohio State must go undefeated. They must win. This is a slightly down year for everybody else nationally. If Tressel can’t win this year he will never win another title at Ohio State.

Ohio State has an athletic director who knows this. Tressel’s job is on the line.

Here is Steele’s Top Team List in order.

1. Florida
2. Ohio St.
3. USC
4. Oklahoma
5. Georgia
6. Missouri
7. Clemson
8. Auburn
9. LSU
10. Texas
11. Texas Tech
12. West Virginia
13. South Florida
14. Penn State
15. South Carolina
16. Tennessee
17. Oregon
18. BYU
19. Wisconsin
20. Virginia Tech
21. Florida State
22. Kansas
23. Utah
24. Notre Dame
25. Alabama

Tags: Football by Matt Barker, Publisher & Editor of BuckeyeBanter.com
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Right: Wide receiver Duron Carter is the son of former OSU star and NFL great, Cris Carter. Rivals.com Photo

Last time we checked in on how the Ohio State was doing on gathering recruits for the class of 2009, the Buckeyes had 14 commitments. That was just over a month ago. Now that total stands at 20 after three more said they will play their college football for head coach Jim Tressel over the weekend.

On Sunday, 5-foot-11, 178-pound cornerback Justin Green from Male High School in Louisville, Kentucky, offer his verbal pledge to play at OSU, while 6-foot-1, 230-pound fullback Carlos Hyde from Naples High School in Florida did the same.

Green, a four-star recruit by Rivals.com is also ranked as the sixth-best cornerback prospect in the nation, one notch below another Ohio State commit, C.J. Barnett.

Hyde is also a four-star prospect and is ranked the second-best fullback among the high school seniors-to-be who can run the 40-yard dash in 4.55 seconds.

On Friday, the son of former Ohio State standout and future NFL Hall of Famer Cris Carter, issued his verball commitment to play at Ohio State, just like his Dad.

Duron Carter, a 6-foot-3, 183-pound wide receiver from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, chose the Buckeyes over South Florida, West Virginia, Auburn, and LSU.

Back on June 10, Adam Bellamy, a 6-foot-4, 270-pound defensive tackle from Aurora High School also stated he plans to attend and play for Ohio State in 2009.

Bellamy is a three-star recruit and is ranked the 37th-best defensive tackle in the country.

On June 8, 5-foot-10, 183-pound cornerback Dominic Clarke from Tuscarora High School in Frederick, Maryland, pledged his allegiance to Senator Sweater Vest.

Clarke is rated four-stars and is the 24th-best cornerback prospect in the nation, who can cover 40 yards in 4.41 seconds.

Last month, the Buckeyes snatched up 6-foot-8, 251-pound tight end Reid Fragel from South High School in Grosse Pointe, Michigan.

Fragel garnered four-stars and is ranked No. 14 among the taller pass receivers in the land.

Tags: Football by Matt Barker, Publisher & Editor of BuckeyeBanter.com
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Right: First-Team All-American and Nagurski Award recipient, James Laurinaitis, returns for his senior year. AP Photo

Two weeks ago, close to 7,900 degrees and certificates were handed out during Spring Commencement at Ohio Stadium, so let’s review the five major sports at The Ohio State University
and recap how the Buckeyes fared on the playing fields and courts.

Through the course of the 2007-08 sports calendar, there have been some highs and some lows, peaks and valleys, and a few titles along the way.

The football team captured their third straight Big Ten Conference crown before Thad Matta’s basketball team claimed the NIT Championship.

Baseball

Bob Todd’s baseball Buckeyes finished the year with an overall record of 30-26 and finsihed fifth in the Big Ten Conference splitting half their game going 15-15 during the league portion of the schedule.

Ohio State advanced to the Big Ten tournament, losing to sixth-seeded Indiana 10-8 in the in a Big Ten tournament elimination game that featured six ties and lead changes. The day before, the Buckeyes dropped a 3-2 decision to fourth-seeded Illinois in game one of the tourney.

The Buckeyes hit .318 as a team and the pitching staff finished with a 4.99 ERA. Junior Justin Miller led the team in batting average (.395), hits (79), doubles (16), home runs (4) and RBI (61).

Men’s Hockey

One wonders how head coach John Markell still has a job at Ohio State.

His men’s hockey team finished the season with a recrd of 12-25-4. The Buckeyes were an 11th-seed in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association tournament, losing to sixth-seeded Northern Michigan in the best-of-three series two games to one.

Last season, the Buckeyes compiled a 15-17-5 overall mark and finished seventh in the CCHA with a record of 12-12-4.

Senior Tommy Goebel led the Buckeyes in goals (21), points (36), and shots on goal (121), and freshman top the OSU roster with 17 assists.

Sophomore goaltender Joseph Palmer started 33 of Ohio State’s 41 games and had a 3.12 goals against average and an .888 save percentage while going 10-19-4 between the pipes.

Women’s Basketball

Jim Foster’s women’s hoops squad ended the 2007-08 campaign with a 22-9 record. The senior class of Tamarah Riley, Marscilla Packer and Alice Jamen ended their careers as the winningest class in Ohio State history with 109 victories.

The Buckeyes made their sixth-consecutive trip to the NCAA tournament and its 17th overall, but lost 60-49 to Florida State in the first round.

In Big Ten play, the Buckeyes finished tied for first with Iowa, notching a 13-5 mark in league play and claiming the top-seed, but lost to ninth-seeded Illinois in the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals 64-58 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

OSU’s Jantel Lavender became the first freshman to be named Big Ten Player of the Year, splitting the honor with Wisconsin senior Jolene Anderson.

Lavender led the Buckeyes in scoring (17.6 ppg), and rebounding (9.9 rpg).

Men’s Basketball

Thad Matta’s basketball squad got a little redemption by winning the National Invitational Tournament championship after being snubbed by the NCAA selection committee and one year removed from advancing to the NCAA championship game.

Ohio State won five straight contests to earn the program’s second NIT crown after the Buckeyes defeated Massachusetts, 92-85, in the title game.

After downing in-state rival Dayton in the quarterfinals, the Buckeyes earned their fourth berth in the NIT round of four in school history and first since 1988. Ohio State opened with UNC-Asheville in the first-round and continued to post double-digit victories against California, Dayton and Mississippi.

The Buckeyes finished the campaign with a record of 24-13 after playing one of the more tougher schedules among the Division I participants.

In Big Ten play, Ohio State went 10-8 and placed fifth in the conference. The Buckeyes lost to Michigan State in the quarterfinals of the league’s tournament.

Senior Jamar Butler led the Buckeyes in scoring, averaging 15.0 points per game, while leading the Big Ten in assists (5.9 apg).

Football

In the past two seasons, Jim Tressel’s gridiron warriors have posted a record of 23-1 in the months of September, October, and November, only to go 0-2 in the month of January.

For the second straight year, the Buckeyes made it to the BCS title game only to be humiliated on the biggest stage.

But Ohio State was supposedly a year away from contending for a national championship last season, and the Buckeyes return 18 starters plus both their specialists for 2008.

Ohio State finished the season with a record of 11-2, 7-1 in Big Ten play after losing to Illinois 28-21 at home, and to LSU in the BCS national championship game 38-24. The Buckeyes also claimed their third straight Big Ten title and second straight outright conference crown.

Junior quarterback Todd Boeckman passed for 2,372 yards with 25 tocuhdowns and 14 interceptions, while Beanie Wells rushed for 1,609 yards and 14 more scores.

Junior linebacker James Laurinaitis recorded 121 total tackles with five sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss.

Tags: Football, Men's Basketball by Matt Barker, Publisher & Editor of BuckeyeBanter.com
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