SB Nation User Blog: WorstFan

Kickoff times, TV coverage set for Buckeyes' first four

WorstFan — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:58:00 -0000

Kickoff times, TV coverage set for Buckeyes' first four

While it's been known for sometime that everyone's game of 2008 against the Trojans of USC would be an 8 pm EST affair carried nationally on ABC, the kickoff times and applicable TV viewing stations for three of the Buckeyes' other first four contests have now been revealed.

The Buckeyes will kickoff 2008 for the second straight season against Youngstown State with kick off taking place at noon EST and coverage again being found on the Big Ten Network (Channels 87/219(HD) for WOW, 26/920(HD) for Insight, 650/650(HD) for ATT U-Verse, 220 for regular and HD for DIrectTV, 439/9500 (HD) for Dish Network, and G.F.Y./G.F.Y.(HD) for Time Warner subscribers in the Columbus area). The September 20th game against Troy can also be found on the Big Ten Network kicking off at noon. Finally, the September 6th tune up game against Ohio University will be carried on either ESPN2 or ESPN and also take place at noon Eastern.

Koufos taken 23rd overall by the Utah Jazz

WorstFan — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 07:08:21 -0000

Koufos taken 23rd overall by the Utah Jazz

Kosta Koufos lands with a team that fits his style of play to a T. In Utah he'll have the opportunity to serve as the understudy to Mehmet Okur, whose game is all but a near mirror image of Koufos', while learning from one of the great teachers in the game in Jerry Sloan. No word on whether Kosta will purchase the DVDs of HBO's Big Love to speed up the acclimation process to his new home state or be able to land a (quasi-)monogomous woman with as lenient of a cheating policy as Andrei Kirelenko's wife.

Koufos rising, Thad Five'ers could be swapped for one another

WorstFan — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 04:42:50 -0000

ESPN's Chad Ford reports that former Buckeye Kosta Koufos's ability to post up prospects initially perceived by many as surer bets could result in Koufos sky rocketing up towards the late lottery or just outside that range:

Ohio State's Kosta Koufos continues to earn praise from his workouts. He has outplayed several more heralded prospects (like Kevin Love, DeAndre Jordan and JaVale McGee) in workouts. And he has measured a legit 7-foot-1 in shoes, with a 7-foot-4 wingspan and 36-inch vertical jump.

In Ford's latest mock draft (which at the rate he's been pumping them out is all but sure to be obsolete by the time I get to click to the publish button), Ford has the Golden States Warriors selecting the GlenOak High product with the 14th overall selection. While Koufos meteroic rise may be an absolute head scratcher to those amongst us who perceived Koufos' inability to guard so much as a chair throughout most of the season as a huge, glarring red flag and likely also scoffed at his inconsistent efforts attempting to be physical under the glass, apparently, we're not the ones thinking along these lines:

"He's a good-shooting big man who doesn't rebound and struggled against athletic players in college. Rip on Chris Mullin or Larry Bird. But don't tie me to Koufos,"

Ford commented in his now annual back and forth friendly mock draft between he and love-him-or-hate-him Bill "The Sports Guy" Simmons. I'll go on record as a completely selfish homer who thinks Koufos had zero business leaving Ohio State after his freshman campaign, but if Koufos can land with a team such as Golden State who doesn't put a premium on physicality and defense, perhaps his growth and development at the processional level will be excellerated.

For the sabrmetricians amongst us, Ford colleague John Hollinger's regression analysis based 3-Year PER (Player Efficiency Rating) projections for the '08 Draft Class is also less favorable of Koufos' potential. Hollinger does rate the 7-foot inside-out big man as the 7th best big available, but Koufos checks in as just a 13.32, which compares not particularly favorably to previous projections for Ryan Humphries, Lawrence Roberts, Patrick O'Bryant, and former Sparty Paul Davis.

Finally, with news trickling out of Miami that the Heat conducted ultra private not-so-secret workouts with Arizona guard Jerryd Bayless and USC swingman O.J. Mayo, per the aforementioned Chad Ford, Miami may be in talks with the Memphis Grizzlies about a trade that should be particularly intriguing to Buckeye enthusiasts:

One source told Insider that the Heat are revisiting trade talks with the Grizzlies. Insider reported several weeks ago that there was talk that Memphis would give up Mike Miller, Kyle Lowry and the No. 5 pick as part of a package for the No. 2 pick. The same source said the Heat are asking the Grizzlies to sweeten the deal by substituting Mike Conley for Lowry. The deal would be Conley and the No. 5 pick to Miami for the No. 2 pick and Daequan Cook.

While Conley, not unlike the mohawked one, battled through injury problems for much of his rookie season, Cook thrived early for Miami and exceeded many cynics' expectations who felt his departure from Columbus was premature. A swap would all but give Conley the starting point guard role for the Heat, where he'd be in position to thrive dishing outlets to and setting up the likes of Dwyane Wade, Shawn Marion, and possibly UCLA's Kevin Love, whom the Heat could be interested in at the #5 spot. Cook, on the other hand, would remain relegated to a supporting role, landing behind Rudy Gay on the Grizzlies' depth chart. Picking my brain I can't recall a trade in any of the 4 major sports which prominently featured 2 such high profile Buckeyes being traded for one another.

Olivea's wild life style leads to suspension, ouster from NFL

WorstFan — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 18:12:41 -0000

Olivea's wild life style leads to suspension, ouster from NFL

Former Buckeye Shane Olivea's partying ways has led to the San Diego Chargers parting ways with him, as well as the NFL suspending him for failing a drug test for illicit drugs. The Cedarhurst, New York product is still young enough (and by all accounts more than talented enough) to turn his professional career around, but let's hope he's able to get the help he needs in his personal life first.

Former Buckeye Redd to play in Beijing for Coach K, Team USA

WorstFan — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 20:42:01 -0000

Former Buckeye Redd to play in Beijing for Coach K, Team USA

Former Buckeye off guard Michael Redd will be named as one of 12 members of the 2008 U.S. Olympics Men's Basketball Team looking to return the United States to the pantheon of international hoops. Redd's 3-point marksmanship unquestionably played a critical role in his choice as Uncle Sam's boys struggled to find consistency from the arc in both '00 and '04, even with the shorter international mark of 20 feet, 6.25 inches. Redd becomes only the third Buckeye men's basketball player ever to represent his country at an Olympiad and the first since F/C Bill Hosket Jr. helped the U.S. bring home gold in 1968 in Mexico City.

For anyone still having any lingering doubts as to the 234098234 rumors surrounding #7's departur...

WorstFan — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 07:49:21 -0000

For anyone still having any lingering doubts as to the 234098234 rumors surrounding #7's departure (hey, atleast this free's up #7; Flash Thomas, I'm looking in your direction), here, from the horse's mouth (digitally, anyways), is a pretty telling indication of Henton's future plans.

In other fun news, the ever trusty newsfeed informs me "Chris Wells and Antonio Henton are now friends. Antonio found Chris through the People You May Know tool."

The People You May Know tool, bringing (ex-)teammates together since 2008.

Henton eyeing transfer to Georgia Southern

WorstFan — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 16:37:16 -0000

Henton eyeing transfer to Georgia Southern

As if multiple media reports rumor mongering as much weren't enough, Henton's Facebook seems to confirm a move is indeed in the works with his status stating "Antonio Henton
is SAYING THINGS IN LIFE DONT WORK OUT HOW YOU PLAN THEM.." With Terrelle Pryor arriving on campus just in time to be fitted with electro light-emitting diodes and lay claim to the #2 quarterback position, as well as Joe Bauserman according to many having passed Henton this spring, a move such as this seemed rather inevitable. I, for one, wish Henton the absolute best as he returns home and is reunited with his former High School head coach, now GSU's offensive coordinator.

Hoops: Huggins, West Virginia to meet Ohio State next 2 seasons

WorstFan — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 16:30:09 -0000

Hoops: Huggins, West Virginia to meet Ohio State next 2 seasons

After avoiding Huggins' Cincinnati bunch like the plague for the better part of 2 decades, Ohio State will finally face off with a Huggins lead squad in a home-home series. Although perhaps with former Huggins crash landing the 747 that is Cincy hoops belly up, perhaps now wouldn't be such a bad time to schedule a series without having to worry about it impacting recruiting.

Pryor joins the Buckeyes looking ripped and ready

WorstFan — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 18:48:48 -0000

Pryor joins the Buckeyes looking ripped and ready

TP2, moving into the dorms, getting poked and prodded like cattle. If ogling 18-year old young men('s potential, we mean, of course) is your thing, this article is for you.

Former Buckeye Reynolds long, sad road ends in exile, retirement

WorstFan — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 23:44:34 -0000

Former Buckeye Reynolds long, sad road ends in exile, retirement

Known more for his infamous choking of Jim Sorgi during an equally disgusting Ohio State-Wisconsin game in 2003 than his play at the next level, ex-Buckeye and Tennessee Titan Robert Reynolds was suspended by the NFL for a year Wednesday for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

This comes in the wake of an arrest during the Titans bye week last season for domestic assault charges, which were ultimately later dropped. With Reynold's agent indicating the wayward linebacker plans to retire, we can only wish his post-football future finds him some inner peace his life up to this point have been unable to provide.