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Ohio Basketball

Topic: X Factor

Topic: X Factor

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Voice of Reason
General User

Member Since: 7/28/2010
Post Count: 249

Status: Offline

X Factor

Posted: 12/1/2011 11:23:04 AM

I have watched a majority of the games this season and I truly believe that Walter Offutt's presence has changed this team. His energy and leadership has rubbed off on the court. When I look back at the 2009-2010 squad, KVK was very much that guy. I think that was absent from last year's team and is a big part of the reason they didn't perform the way a lot of people thought they should.

I was at the Louisville game and while some people on this board were disappointed that Offutt didn't step up the scoring for the game and felt he was a bit of a non-factor, I felt the complete opposite. First of all, he stepped up with some big buckets and boards late in that game when we needed it most. Second, you could just sense, even without him taking over, that if we didn't have him on the floor we would have been blown out! Even if he doesn't make a bucket the entire game, I think he is needed on that court and his presence alone is worth 3 to 5 wins.

I am truly excited about this team and where it is going, more so than last year, because the presence of Offutt!

UpSan Bobcat
General User

Member Since: 8/30/2005
Location: Upper Sandusky, OH
Post Count: 3,817

Status: Offline

RE: X Factor

Posted: 12/1/2011 11:39:48 AM

I agree. Offutt does everything well. He's a good defender and a good rebounder, too. I thought him playing the three a 6-3 could be a problem a times, but it's not. He is strong enough to body up against bigger guys and grab boards.

Offutt and Keely have been the keys to a good start this season. If Baltic and Smith can get going, while the young guards continue to improve, I'll really like this team's chances in the MAC.

OUVan
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Bethesda, MD
Post Count: 5,580

Status: Offline

RE: X Factor

Posted: 12/1/2011 11:41:03 AM

He sort of reminds me of Mychal Green although a little more athletic. He's definitely a huge get after so many transfer disappointments. He's had a couple plays this year that got us out of our offensive funk that we have been so prone to. I don't remember the exact circumstances but both times he took the ball strong to the hoop and either got a bucket or a foul and it seemed to spark the team.

That being said, we are much deeper this year than we have been. Taylor and Goard give us one extra body that we can rely on in the front court and back court. That can't be understated.

PutnamField
General User

Member Since: 9/20/2007
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 303

Status: Offline

RE: X Factor

Posted: 12/1/2011 12:10:21 PM

I remember posting something about how I was skeptical of Offutt being highly successful here due to his being a double transfer and Ohio being his third school.

Now it's looking more and more like it's time to eat those words, and I couldn't be any happier about that.

bn9
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Post Count: 422

Status: Offline

RE: X Factor

Posted: 12/1/2011 12:18:01 PM

PutnamField wrote:

Due to the history of transfers in our program, I took a public stance of wait and see. I waited and really like what I have seen and read of Mr. Offut. Congrats and keep up the good work.

bornacatfan
General User

Member Since: 8/3/2006
Post Count: 5,727

Status: Offline

RE: X Factor

Posted: 12/1/2011 3:21:07 PM

PutnamField wrote:

Exactly why you are one of the guys I love to read. It is a rare occurrence when someone here owns their words. Congrats. Kudos and much ongoing respect Mr Put.

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bigtillyoopsupsideurhead
General User

Member Since: 12/1/2006
Location: Cincinnati
Post Count: 1,926

Status: Offline

RE: X Factor

Posted: 12/1/2011 4:01:30 PM

PutnamField wrote:

Bassett was on his third school by the time he got here, and that turned out pretty well for us.

OUVan
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Bethesda, MD
Post Count: 5,580

Status: Offline

RE: X Factor

Posted: 12/1/2011 4:33:48 PM

bigtillyoopsupsideurhead wrote:

Bassett was on his third school by the time he got here, and that turned out pretty well for us.

The difference is that we had seen what Bassett could do before he started transferring. Offut didn't get enough time to make a real impression unless you were paying close attention. Luckily Groce knew him because he recruited him and we are reaping the benefits. But the cautiousness around here was understandable. It was good reading borna's writeup because he's got a good track record but even after reading his spot on writeup I confess that he's been better than I expected. He's taken up a lot of the void that was left with Tommy leaving in doing the little things. They are obviously completely different players in many ways but they do a lot the same.

Jeff McKinney
Moderator

Member Since: 11/12/2004
Post Count: 6,161

Status: Offline

RE: X Factor

Posted: 12/1/2011 5:15:29 PM

Walt came up with a big time play during the second half last night vs. Marshall. Marshall had begun a little mini run and was possibly in a position to get back in the game. Walt took over. He got the ball on the wing, dribbled strongly into the paint, and made the bucket plus one and drained the free throw. That held off Marshall until they made their final run in the last four minutes.

Wilson Hall Record Holder
General User

Member Since: 11/13/2010
Post Count: 154

Status: Offline

RE: X Factor

Posted: 12/1/2011 5:23:19 PM

bornacatfan wrote:

PutnamField wrote:

Exactly why you are one of the guys I love to read. It is a rare occurrence when someone here owns their words. Congrats. Kudos and much ongoing respect Mr Put.

This team seems to be having a few people eat their words.

I had to make room on Friday after my Thanksgiving meal to eat my words on both the Bobcats team as well as Keeley personally.

No indigestion here either.

Last Edited: 12/1/2011 5:23:46 PM by Wilson Hall Record Holder

Monroe Slavin
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Oxnard, CA
Post Count: 9,121

Status: Offline

RE: X Factor

Posted: 12/1/2011 10:22:18 PM

Wasn't Bassett kinda up and down until about the last nine games of the year?

Offutt better. Definitely.

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OUVan
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Bethesda, MD
Post Count: 5,580

Status: Offline

RE: X Factor

Posted: 12/2/2011 12:56:38 PM

Monroe Slavin wrote:

Wasn't Bassett kinda up and down until about the last nine games of the year?

Offutt better. Definitely.

I sure hope your right but Bassett was pretty darn good the last third of the season.

bornacatfan
General User

Member Since: 8/3/2006
Post Count: 5,727

Status: Offline

RE: X Factor

Posted: 12/4/2011 5:19:09 PM

OUVan wrote:

Monroe Slavin wrote:

Wasn't Bassett kinda up and down until about the last nine games of the year?

Offutt better. Definitely.

I sure hope your right but Bassett was pretty darn good the last third of the season.

\\

The difference was that Walt is finding ways to put the team on his back within the system. It took the NCAA bound team the better part of the season to adapt to Basset's play. There was no give in what was happening, only that they were going to learn to play with him or fall apart trying to run the system they had been taught and implemented prior to him coming off suspension. If you recall they came out of the baox pretty hot and scoring scads with Kinney and the frosh contributing while running at a high speed then all at once the ball stopped and the extra pass became a dribble drive from the Marshall game at Charleston on....withthe debut of wasted possessions (00 Bassett, Armon...... 0-9 fr 2 0-6 fr 3 4-4 FT 4pts 3 4TO's 28mins) ....It took the better part of the season for that team to learn to accept what was essentially was force fed them and to their credit they all adapted to the new dynamic and their new roles. Not to be lost is the fact that that team would not even make the MAC tourney under the rules those coaches who got beat by Ohio on the way to defeating G'town got put in place in order to prevent the same from happening again.

Walt is an addition within the system and gladly runs in and out without pouting and takes a blow and returns readily and ready to go. His BBIQ is only surpassed by his willingness to be part of the team and lead by example.

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