Former Buckeyes: In Over Their Heads

When you think of Daquan Cook, Mike Conley Jr., and Greg Oden, what comes to mind? I think of the 2007 Ohio State Buckeyes that went to the National Title game. I think how great those players were just in their freshman year. I also think they all should have stayed longer in Columbus.

If you look at these players now in the NBA, one thing sticks out.

All of them average about nine points a game. Every player except Cook is averaging less than they did in college, and that’s with the extra eight minutes of play.

Greg Oden was the best center to go to Ohio State in the last decade. He averaged close to 16 points a game, over three blocks, and very close to 10 rebounds.

Oden was the first pick in the NBA draft that year. He’s probably the only one that should have left.

Oden suffered a knee injury his rookie year and was out for the season. This year he’s still battling the knee injury again, but that’s not the problem.  He averages nine points, seven rebounds, and about one block a game. His numbers are down, and for someone with so much potential that’s not a good thing.

Mike Conley, Jr. was becoming one of the best point guards in the nation in March of 2007. He led and anchored the team when Oden was in foul trouble for most of the games. He would have been the greatest Ohio State point guard ever in assists and steals.

Like Oden, Conley left for the NBA, and was the fourth overall pick by the Memphis Grizzlies. Also like Oden, his numbers are down since he reached the NBA.

Daquan Cook was just a sixth man. He didn’t start for the Buckeyes while he was at Ohio State. He was the sixth man of the year for the Big Ten conference, but at the end of the year his numbers and his shot went flat.

It was a surprise that he left Columbus, even more so that the Miami Heat picked him 21st overall.

He is the only one that has had some production. His averages are up, and he just won the three-point competition at the All-Star Game. He could be better, though.

The last player that left Ohio State early was seven-foot center/forward Kosta Koufos. He played consistent the whole season, and finished very well in the NIT, earning player of the game honors in the tournament's championship game.

He was decent, but not as good as Oden. He left to go to the NBA and was picked by the Utah Jazz.

All these players were good in college. They had good numbers and were great players for their team. Their problem was getting ahead of themselves.

The only player who had a case for leaving was Greg Oden. The others were picked in the first round, but could be better if they stayed in school and learned even more from a great coach.

All young players need to take some time before making the decision to go to the NBA.

I would have loved to see all these players play some more at Ohio State.

Imagine a team with Oden, Koufos, and BJ Mullens guarding the rim. A team with big time scorers like Evan Turner, Conley, and Cook all on the same team. Ohio State would be winning constantly and would probably be like Florida a couple years ago.

Thad Matta gets some of the best, but they have a tendency of being in over their heads. Hopefully, he can keep his young and talented team he has right now.