So how's this thing going to shake out? Conventional wisdom and hype suggest that Oden is the superior player. In 2010, he probably will be ... but for 2007, I am unconvinced.We'll start with defense. Oden's got the better reputation, and his shot-blocking ability is (rightfully) talked about all the time, but ... let's not sleep on Roy Hibbert in the defensive department. Hibbert doesn't have the blocked shot numbers, but he wouldn't. Georgetown prefers to play at a more deliberate tempo, and since he has fewer opportunities to block shots, he gets fewer blocks. I don't know what the exact numbers are here, but if you project Hibbert's blocks per game to blocks per possession, I bet they're pretty close to Oden.
Like Oden with the Buckeyes, Georgetown's defense absolutely leans on Hibbert. When he's in the game, it's like a giant oak tree sprouted up from the floor right in the middle of the paint. Ask UNC how much easier it gets when Hibbert sits. He alters a ton of shots when he can hang out around the basket. And since Ohio State never really moves Oden away from the basket, Hibbert will always be around it.
And defensively, in this game, Oden could struggle. John Thompson III, with elements of that Pete Carril offense, is going to make Oden guard all over the floor. He can't do it. He's a great shot blocker, amazing defensive rebounder, and in the paint, he's a beast. But he's not that good of a defender near the perimeter. When Georgetown's running their sets, they make everyone on the floor guard. They could get Oden into foul trouble like this.
Offensively, both players could stand to be a little more assertive and demand the ball. Oden more than Hibbert, really, since Georgetown runs so many structured things that don't leave a lot of room for ball-demanding. Ohio State is more free-flowing, letting Mike Conley call the shots, but did show get the ball more in the post and showed more moves against Memphis than he had all-season long.
I think Ohio State made it a point to hammer it in the Oden in the regional final against Memphis for two reasons: 1) It would be fun to mess with Joey Dorsey, and 2) it would be easy to mess with Joey Dorsey (and I don't want to leave out Dorsey's backup, Kareem Cooper, who might as well have been a student manager standing there holding one of those big padded things).
Neither of those things would be true against Roy Hibbert, and I think Ohio State would be wise to stay out of the paint. It's not that I think Oden can't handle Hibbert ... he'd get his points. But Hibbert is the strongest point of a strong defense, and Ohio State doesn't need to go inside. Why mess with it if they don't have to? They can just as easily score on the perimeter, and I think that's what you'll end up seeing.
Hibbert vs. Oden: The Hype
Hibbert vs. Oden: The Breakdown, Part I
Hibbert vs. Oden: The Breakdown, Part II
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
No offense, but your breakdown is a little offbase.
1st off, look for OSU to go 2-3 zone after deadballs or made baskets. This will help negate the back doors that Georgetown ran so well against UNC. The pass might be there, but so will Greg Oden in the 2-3. It will force Georgetown to fire from the outside, not one of their strengths.
2. Give the ball to Oden. Give the ball to Oden. Give the ball to Oden. Give the ball to Oden. Give the ball to Oden. Give the ball to Oden. Give the ball to Oden. Give the ball to Oden. Give the ball to Oden. Give the ball to Oden.
You get the point. OSU has shown they can compete with Oden on the bench(Xavier OT, UNC). Can Georgetown compete without Roy Hibbert. I think Hibbert is more polished, but Oden is quicker. If Oden can reverse the ref curse put on him during the tournament and get a quick two on Hibbert, then OSU will win this game easily. You even point that out using the UNC game as an example.
Of course, if Georgetown shoots 3's like Memphis, UT, and Xavier did, then all of this analysis is for naught.
Steve eats CACA!!!
I would have to agree that OSU will go for the
two-three zone, why well it's simple. They don't want the swat king to be watching the game, but rather in the game. True they can play better as a team without Olden, but if Georgetown actually runs the two-three zone right back at them, the guards will get tired pulling up from 20 feet all game (just ask Tenessee). As far as the match up between Hibbert and Olden, it is pretty evenly matched all the way around. So, the rest of the teams will make the difference in this game. The guards will shine, and the forwards better actually play this game-that's where the game will be won, by the forwards-not the centers!!
If Georgetown goes, I think Mike Conley will be penetrating all game long. He is so quick that someone on the frontline will have to help. If the 3 or the floor sag in, they will leave Lewis, Butler, Cook, or Lighty wide open for a 3. OSU is streaky from behind the arc, so this might not be such a bad thing.
However, if the 5(Hibbert) needs to help he will leave Oden open(either for a pass or an offensive rebound) and will risk picking up a foul against a player(Conley) who is very adept at getting to the line.
I think Oden should be DQ'd!
I mean how old is this kid - he's not 19
He looks like he's 30?
A lot of famous father / sons in the tourney.
Are we sure OTIS NIXON former Braves CF is not his dad?
WAR HOYAS
ohio state rocks!!!!!
johnmichael & Steve eat CACA together naked.
Thanks you Chris for being such an amazing retard and at the same time, proving you know nothing about basketball... I went to high school with Oden and he, sir, is most definitely a college freshman, but thanks for your insight on "looks alone" is was very ummm enlightening.... Secondly, the Bucks are peaking at this point of the season, running on all four cylinders... Without a doubt, the game plan is to get the ball to Greg. Let's face it, the game gets interesting when he has the ball. Is he going to the rack, drawing the defenders for the kick out three-ball, or giving them the literally unstoppable jump hook? Nobody knows, that's why it's so effective... Ron Lewis has been spectacular throughout the tournament averaging over 20 ppg, and Conley's been clutch... Georgetown is a good basketball team, but their complacent style of play won't be able to match Ohio State's physical, quick-paced style... The Bucks, 75-68
grarrr osu is goin down yo g town is goin to da championship where they will lose to floda go gators!!!!!!!!!!!!! poor osu just cant win anything or was the football championship a fluke? don tink so g town g town g town wtf is a buckeye anyways isn it jus a big acornn ooooooh im shakin an so is g town who by da way is takin poor ol osu down yo stop tryin to make love to oden he aint supa man and hibbet 2 very big inches taller than oden will hav his way osu haz gotten lucky tawice in dis here tourney and gtown is actually good enough to knock em off not sure if yall know dis ou if you is jus talkin bball out ur a** but UNC playes the same game plan as OSU usin a more versitile but shorta hansbourough(sp) and a whole slew of other 6-8 to 6-10 ballas and gtown took em out (maybe they got a littl lucky) howeva u act like ohio state is the only team that watches film and adapt to other teams who apparently dont change their gp (ignorant buckeye fans) but gtown is just as if not more able to change their style to adapt to OSU buckeyes arent invincible so suck it up now or prepare to cry lata cuz those bucks aint goin any further so sidown an shutup