Lindsay's Lessons

It has been an interesting start to Ohio State's season and the Buckeyes turned heads with major wins against Miami and Notre Dame before sneaking past Butler this weekend. After a strong week on the road, our young team let their inexperience show in the near miss against Butler.

Here are a few observations thus far in the season:

1. I took a look at the season box score to try to get a little firmer grasp on player performance to see if what I am observing is matching with what's showing up on paper. One question I've been asking myself is whether Dallas Lauderdale or freshman B.J. Mullens is our best threat in the paint. The statistics would seem to point to Lauderdale, particularly when you factor in the number of blocks he has been recording. However, while Lauderdale's blocks are certainly valuable on defense, it has been clear that the presence of B.J. Mullens causes opponents to change their offensive game. Take Notre Dame, for example, who visibly avoided the middle when Mullens was in the game, versus taking their chances against Lauderdale.

Don't get me wrong, I've been a Lauderdale fan for some time (refer to my columns last year when I kept asking that Matta "let the big dog eat"), but there's something about Mullens that opponents find intimidating and I want to see us exploit that even further.

-As a side note, after the Butler game we stopped at Raisin' Canes chicken, which happens to be a favorite of the Hills (both P.J. Hill of Ohio State and myself) and lo and behold B. J. Mullens walked in the door. Well, he sort of ducked into the door. Two observations on seeing him a little more up-close: First, the kid is BIG and second, the kid is young! You almost forget these guys are in their teens and early 20's out there until you see them sitting and eating chicken fingers!

-As a second side note, Raisin' Canes super-secret, special sauce makes a great gift idea for your friendly farm broadcaster!

2. The box score is a little deceptive for Jon Diebler as it somewhat masks the inconsistencies that we're seeing in his performance. Note that it also doesn't include the exhibition game against Walsh in which he played 27 minutes and recorded only four points. I have nothing against this kid from rural Ohio, and nothing would make me happier than for him to be as successful as Matta seems to think that he is. However, watching him on offense makes me want to come out of the stands. He rarely moves from wherever he plants himself once he's down the floor, unless another player sets a screen for him in which he cuts through and stands outside the three point line on the other side. I get that his job is to score three pointers, but I'd at least like to see him contribute to the offense in some way that might lead to he or someone else getting those looks.

Case in point, watch our offense the next time Diebler is in the rotation and compare it to our offense when he's on the bench. In theory, our offense should look relatively similar regardless of which guards are in play, but notice the increase in movement, cuts and breaks when Diebler isn't on the court. We need to see more out of this guy than just the inconsistent ability to light things up from behind the arc.

3. Kudos to Thad Matta (yes - I always say I give credit where it's due) for two things. First - no one can deny his recruiting ability and this class further proves his strength in that area. Second, he finally found a scarlet and gray necktie to wear to the games, instead of his multi-color, 'I'm not sure who I'm coaching for' tie of last season. And lest you think this isn't a big deal, what would you think if Coach Tressel wore a multi-color vest to the next game? Then again, I guess it's the Fiesta Bowl so he may look kind of festive, but you get my point.

All in all, I'm excited about the remainder of the season and can't wait to get into conference play.

Yesterday, I saw an article in the Columbus Dispatch that I just had to share about a special young man who has made quite an impression. Then again, I'm sure anyone who jumps over a parked car successfully on a dare would make an impression!

It sounds like Eugene Cannaday has a bright future once he decides what path to take. Imagine to be that young and have so many options!

When Ohio State played host to Bowling Green on Monday I was given my first chance to evaluate the Buckeyes in person. After the game, I was asked what I thought the odds were on the rest of the season. My prediction is this season is going to look a lot like the rides at an amusement park with a lot of highs and lows.

I don't think our relative youth and lack of seniors is our biggest obstacle because I think it is outweighed by the amount of raw talent and depth this team has. Without a doubt, this is the most depth I can remember seeing in an OSU team for many years. That being said, there are a few things we need to fix before we get into conference play, or we are going to spend a lot of time trying to play catch up on the scoreboard.

First, I have dubbed our current offense the "Perimeter Loop." At times it looked as though we were trying to showcase our passing skills, instead of run an offense as we would simply pass the ball around the perimeter faster and faster until someone had an opening to shoot a three. I have never understood our offense under Coach Matta as it never appears to me that we are actually running one. Where are the cuts across the baseline, breaks through the middle and rolls to the backdoor? It seems the only time we set a screen is on the outside and we don't utilize those to cut to the middle or make something happen other than to set up another pass around the perimeter.

The bottom line is that unless we utilize an offense, we're going to make it way too easy for other teams to play defense. And with a couple of trees like Lauderdale and Mullens playing down low, we are shortchanging ourselves to not force the defense to better protect the inside.

Defensively, I thought our zone looked weak. I didn't sense a lot of comfort when we set up the zone and felt like there was a lot of looking around saying are you going to get that, or should I? From my viewpoint, we are quick enough that we can play man-to-man effectively and our depth should allow us to keep our legs fresh enough to execute it effectively.

In the low post, I'm looking for two major improvements. The first is rebounding, or moreover getting position to rebound. The second, particularly for Mullens, is to stop putting the ball on the floor and to go up strong. If he tries to dribble against teams we'll see down the road, he's going to lose the ball every time. Right now, he's thinking through everything and the focus in practice needs to be drills that force him to make an automatic decision.

My other concern that isn't so much about fundamentals is in David Lighty's new leadership role that he's earned by default as a junior. I think Lighty is so concerned with telling everyone else what to do that he's not worrying about himself enough. Being there in person I was really able to notice how much he was talking to the other guys telling them every move to make on offense and defense. I think right now LIghty has leadership mixed up with coaching and it will play in his favor to relax and play his game. Then again, maybe this is all my fault. Maybe with all the grief I've given Coach Matta, I've convinced Lighty that he needs to coach or no one else will. Just remember coach, I only say it all because I care so much!

My last observation on game one in the Schott is that they've got to re-evaluate the new scoreboard arrangement. There's no doubt that it is beautiful and wonderful in almost every way. However, it's driving me crazy. When you sit in the lower bowl, it's almost impossible to read the corner boards that indicate the player stats and you have to crane your neck to be able to read the score. And, since we no longer have advertiser billboards hanging around the arena, the side boards that used to highlight individual player stats after a score or promote upcoming events at the Schott have been replaced by advertiser logos. Truthfully, I miss knowing what's coming to the Schott and seeing how each player is doing.

Last but not least, we need to bring back the corner video boards which have been replaced by the retired jerseys. It's harder to see the retired jerseys in their new location because of the shadows in the dark corner, but the dark corner is the perfect place for boards that tell us player stats and offer funny cartoons.

I'm all for change and particularly for improved video quality, but the new scoreboards just aren't getting the job done. And, I'm not alone in my observation. I overheard the folks seated behind me sharing the same sentiment, and one of the commentators said they have to rely on the computer monitors in front of them because the scoreboards are too hard to read.

Remember - after you finish your Thanksgiving turkey it's time to gear up for Samford on Saturday at noon!

Back by popular demand (and I can say that because I received a reader request this morning), it's my observations about what's going right, and sometimes more often what's not, with regard to Ohio State men's basketball.

This year, we hit the floor with a very young team thanks to all the one and done freshmen we've blown through the past few years. That scenario in and of itself has been debated in the blog community with some folks feeling that Matta needs to recruit players that will be less likely to leave early so they can bond and become experienced. There is certainly something to be said for that, but the one area that I will back Matta in is recruiting. I don't know what he's promising these guys, but it seems to be working because we are bringing in top-rated talent year after year.

I believe that if you have strong enough talent and you can build on that, you don't need to have a senior-driven squad to make it to the big dance. One thing Matta is doing differently this year is requiring the team to live in the same housing quarters so they are building those relationships faster. Again, I think it's a good move.

I realize that those of you who turn to my blog on a regular basis are sitting in shock because this is not the place you turn to hear praise for Coach Matta, so I promise to keep that to a limit the rest of the season!

Speaking of my regular feature on this blog, I seem to recall writing blog after blog last year where I practically begged for Dallas Lauderdale to have more playing time, even asking for a twin tower offense with Kosta Koufas and Lauderdale. And based on what we're seeing thus far from Lauderdale, all I can say at this point is "case closed."

The key here is for Matta to recognize that this kid is hungry and to let the big dog eat. Too many times we've seen someone with potential in the post position overlooked because as the season progresses we revert to an outside offense that apparently Matta is more comfortable with. With Lauderdale coming on this strong, hailed freshman recruit B.J. Mullens in the paint with him and Kyle Madsen stepping up in the rotation, there is no reason we shouldn't be able to dominate the middle this year.

As for Mullens, it's much too early to comment, but I am pleased with hearing that he's a true back-to-the-basket center who isn't going to be popping out of the paint looking to shoot three-pointers. Then again, time will tell. If the offense fails to allow him to be productive in the middle, then maybe he'll float out to where opportunity lies. After all, we saw it with Kosta Koufos last year.

All eyes are also on freshman recruits William Buford, Anthony Crater and Walter Offutt who each have seen playing time early on. Buford certainly looks strong to this point and while I would expect that we'll see some mistakes of inexperience during the season, I think he's going to handle the transition well. The jury is still out on Crater and Offutt, but I am optimistic about their potential.

How about the performance of transfer Jeremie Simmons? I have high hopes for this young man and want to see him step up as a leader in this group. I would also be remiss if I didn't mention one of my favorite returners Evan Turner who really earned favor with me last year. Turner struggled with turnovers last year, but if he can overcome that issue, I think we're going to see a great, steady contributor.

David Lighty, as only a junior, has a great deal of weight on his shoulders this year because he's where we're going to look for leadership. At the same time, I think he's going to be pushed by these young guys coming in and I look forward to seeing him take it to the next level. In other words, I think there's more potential in Lighty than we've seen yet.

Now, my big gripe so far is that I want to see more P.J. Hill. And yes, that's partly because I want him to become a superstar so I can get an OSU basketball jersey with my last name on the back. Moreover than that, I think this did is a diamond in the rough. He's fast and you can see the determination in his eyes. With the right coaching, I think he could become a real force on defense. For his part, he's got to become an offensive threat because that is where I see him falling short right now. I fear that we're not going to see a lot of P.J. this year because there is a lot of raw talent on this team, but I won't give up on this young man.

There is another group of guys that never get mentioned and that is Mark Titus and company, who have affectionately named themselves Club Trillion. Allow me to explain - this group of gentleman consistently come off the bench with only one minute left in the ball game, and in most cases their box score reflects zeroes all the way across meaning they effectively made no contribution to the game (positive or negative) during their one minute of play, thus giving them a box score read of 1 trillion. If they have a turnover or make a basket, it ruins the perfect trillion.

Titus has started a great little blog of his own, and I as one of his loyal readers am now counted as being part of the Trillion Man March. I would encourage you to check it out as well.

All in all, I look for a roller coaster this season. Any time you have this combination of depth and inexperience it tends to point to high highs and low lows.

While our televisions have been cluttered with political ads telling us which Presidential candidate will raise our taxes and which state issues will kill jobs, on a local level many of us will be faced with a decision that will have certain impact on the future of our children and our communities. Yes, it's the dreaded school levy.

I say the dreaded levy because let's face it, no school board wants to have to come to the community to ask for money, just as no one wants to see a higher tax bill. It would certainly be nice if schools could operate with the same amount of money they were given back "when we were in school." After all, we turned out OK, didn't we?

I bring this up because last night Andy and I attended an information meeting regarding the school levy that will be decided in our district. I came away from the meeting a bit perplexed, slightly angry and not at all certain as to what I should do with my vote. My frustration stems from the fact that while attendance was strong at the community meeting, some attendees who are in favor of the levy took the opportunity to stand at the podium and berate all of us in attendance for even having the nerve to question the levy. They waged comments like, "Come on people, this is for our children," making accusations that by even considering a vote against the levy we must not care for our children or our schools. To those people, I say this. The surest way to get me to vote no is to tell me that I HAVE to vote yes. And I'm sure there were some others in attendance who felt exactly the same way.

After all, isn't taking an evening of my life to come and sit through a tedious meeting listening to the school's financial officer rattle through numbers a pretty sure sign that I'm interested in what's happening with the school and community? And by being there, were we not all demonstrating that we want what's best for the kids, even if we don't all agree on what that is? So perhaps the adage that beatings will continue until morale improves is not the best way to tackle a levy.

There is a lot more to a school levy that what will benefit the children in the classroom today. In the case of our local levy, it's a 2% continuing tax on earned income. Meaning that by voting yes to support a child's education, I am also ensuring that they will have to give 2% of every dollar they earn in the future to the school district. And, that their grandchildren will have to do the same. That's a decision that merits some consideration.

One thing that I did come to understand more after the meeting is where our school's monies are being spent. I think there's an assumption that when a school asks for money, it's simply because they are overspending and not being diligent with the resources they have. In some cases, that is probably true. I'm sure no school district is immune from some poor decision-making either among the school board or the administration. At the same time, schools are not the same institution that they were even ten years ago.

There are numerous government mandated programs that schools must provide nowadays, even though they are unfunded. It doesn't matter the size of the school, the budget of the school or whether that program makes the most sense for that particular district. The government says it must be done, and so it must be done.

Add to that the rising cost of energy and other expenses that we all face in our homes, which is only multiplied when the effect is felt over an entire school system.

And, of course, we have teachers who are now unionized and insist on receiving additional stipends of pay for every minute spent working past the bell or for every responsibility outside the classroom. Someone argued last night that if we're going to step up as a community and offer more money to the schools to help them improve and continue to offer a quality education, then the teachers need to step up as well and be more willing to work with the school administration in providing the best possible experience for our children, even if it means putting in a little extra time and effort.

The other notion that arose at the meeting was that of being a "sports" school. A number of attendees were concerned that the school board was "threatening" to cut extra-curricular activities solely for the purpose of securing votes in favor of the levy. After all, nothing persuades mom and dad to vote yes faster than little Johnny coming home from school and telling them that if they vote No he won't be able to play football.

While one attendee argued that cutting extra curricular activities would only hurt the school because students would exercise open enrollment to attend neighboring schools that offer sports, music programs, FFA and other opportunities, another argued that by saying that we were placing a higher value on sports than academics. I'm going to maintain that there was a little truth in both arguments. Yes, there are a number of folks who would allow their students to transfer schools based solely on extra curricular activities that are available to them, assuming that the academic standards would be roughly the same. And does that mean they are placing a higher value on sports, than they are on education? Perhaps it does.

However, I don't believe that it's wrong to place a very strong emphasis on sports and extra curricular activities. After all, while geometry, physics and reading will get you started in the game of life, it's the well-rounded student who has learned leadership, communication, competition and the value of hard work through involvement in extra-curricular activities who will usually finish the race at the head of the pack. And if a school can no longer offer those opportunities, then I would absolutely have reservations about continuing to send my child there.

Last but not least, there was one glaring thing that came out of last night's meeting and that was a lack of communication. The school board exercised caution in coming to the community to ask for money, first depleting their cash reserves so as not to appear as though they were asking for money when they already had money. At the same time, by doing so, the community was left asking why all of the sudden the need for money was so critical. One school board member stated that all school board meetings are open to the public and that nothing about the school's finances was kept secretive, but that no one started showing up to learn about the school's finances until the levy was here. My argument there is that we elect school board members to oversee our schools with the assumption that they can handle it without input from the community at every meeting. After all, if we should all be expected to attend every meeting, then what's the point of having a school board? That is not to say, that the school board shouldn't communicate to the community when their input is needed with the expectation that we will show up and take an active interest in the needs of our school. Clearly, communication is a two-way street.

I bring all of this up not to tell you to vote for or against any levy that may be on the ballot in your school district. Rather to encourage you to think about both sides, become educated about the levy issue that you are facing and to make sure that you are voting for the right levy at the right time to benefit your school and your children both in the short-term and down the road. There are a lot more factors that come into play when voting on a school levy than just whether or not we want our children to be successful. I think we can all agree that our schools are centerpieces of our rural communities and strong schools are built and fostered by community members taking and interest in all aspects of the school, not just showing up when it's time to vote on a levy.