In the end, will it be a story of an Achilles Heal that brought Ohio State to it's knees? No, Thad Matta was better than any Greek Tragedy. True, in 2007 Matta was the victim of botched back surgery that left him in chronic pain and seemingly aged the still young man three years for every one. People look at him today and it is hard to believe he is just 49. He looks over sixty!
But it would be disingenuous to pretend that those ten years Matta fought like a wounded warrior were the end of the Ohio State coach. If he were the Black Night of Monte Python's "Holy Grail" fame, the bridge keeper who never quit, I would believe Thad Matta when he said, "It's only a flesh wound." The guy had guts!
And he could coach basketball. His first nine years at Ohio State? Five Big Ten championships, outright or shared. A record in the league of 111-43. That's 72%!!!
Sure, he only made it to the Sweet Sixteen twice...and stopped. He also took his teams to an Elite Eight, Final Four, and an NCAA runner up! In nine years.
If we're looking for what happened before the 2013/14 season, which marked the downfall that was a 39-35 Big Ten record the last four seasons? I don't think it is the surgery in 2007.
I'd say it's the loss of three key lieutenants which could not be replaced. In 2008 John Groce left to be Head Coach at Ohio University. In 2009 after two seasons with Matta, Archie Miller took off to become Head Coach at Dayton. In 2010 Alan Major, who had been with Matta for nine years, even before the Ohio State gig, left. (I might have the exact departure years a bit wrong here.)
Back to the Black Knight reference, that's two arms and a leg off a great coaching staff and it seems to have left Matta bouncing on his one limping leg trying to headbutt his way to wins. Until the last four years, Matta was better than Bo Ryan and Tom Izzo.
It's the loss of top assistants that did him in.
And that is why no hire is a sure thing. Especially this time of year. Staffs all over the country are gearing up for the most important time in recruiting, and not long after 2017/18 awaits. The best available head coaches, and assistants, have been hired.
Ohio State is in trouble. Even if they do, and they could, find a capable replacement for Matta. And even if he does bring in some fantastic assistants, they then have to duplicate what Matta and his men did. Because clearly, after a four year struggle that still resulted in a winning Big Ten record, anything less than remarkable is viewed as failure.
The bar Matta set those first nine years was the very measure that led to him being replaced.
And I wonder if it wouldn't have been better to keep the coach and replace some assistants? I mean, compare his history to that of some of the mentioned candidates...and I think Matta gets the job.
But it would be disingenuous to pretend that those ten years Matta fought like a wounded warrior were the end of the Ohio State coach. If he were the Black Night of Monte Python's "Holy Grail" fame, the bridge keeper who never quit, I would believe Thad Matta when he said, "It's only a flesh wound." The guy had guts!
And he could coach basketball. His first nine years at Ohio State? Five Big Ten championships, outright or shared. A record in the league of 111-43. That's 72%!!!
Sure, he only made it to the Sweet Sixteen twice...and stopped. He also took his teams to an Elite Eight, Final Four, and an NCAA runner up! In nine years.
If we're looking for what happened before the 2013/14 season, which marked the downfall that was a 39-35 Big Ten record the last four seasons? I don't think it is the surgery in 2007.
I'd say it's the loss of three key lieutenants which could not be replaced. In 2008 John Groce left to be Head Coach at Ohio University. In 2009 after two seasons with Matta, Archie Miller took off to become Head Coach at Dayton. In 2010 Alan Major, who had been with Matta for nine years, even before the Ohio State gig, left. (I might have the exact departure years a bit wrong here.)
Back to the Black Knight reference, that's two arms and a leg off a great coaching staff and it seems to have left Matta bouncing on his one limping leg trying to headbutt his way to wins. Until the last four years, Matta was better than Bo Ryan and Tom Izzo.
It's the loss of top assistants that did him in.
And that is why no hire is a sure thing. Especially this time of year. Staffs all over the country are gearing up for the most important time in recruiting, and not long after 2017/18 awaits. The best available head coaches, and assistants, have been hired.
Ohio State is in trouble. Even if they do, and they could, find a capable replacement for Matta. And even if he does bring in some fantastic assistants, they then have to duplicate what Matta and his men did. Because clearly, after a four year struggle that still resulted in a winning Big Ten record, anything less than remarkable is viewed as failure.
The bar Matta set those first nine years was the very measure that led to him being replaced.
And I wonder if it wouldn't have been better to keep the coach and replace some assistants? I mean, compare his history to that of some of the mentioned candidates...and I think Matta gets the job.
