Happy for title loss?

[Third shift]

I was angrier than any other moment I can remember being in my life during the last stretch of the second half against Florida.  I really was pulling for the team to win because they worked their asses off to get where they were and because they have been a class act.  Days later, I'm still feeling the effects of te loss.  But my perception has changed.  Was the loss a good thing?  Could it be the only thing to keep this group together for one more year?

The more I think about it the more I'm leaning towards that thought.  With the win, there would have been no reason for the team to come back.  Greg would surely have been gone and so would Mike.  Daequan?  Well, he's always been a mystery.  But here's what I'm thinking:  What's better?  One year watching a less than 100 percent Greg Oden and a freshman Mike Conley, Daequan Cook and David Lighty.  One year watching a team that showed us flashes of brilliance.  One year of that and the title.  OR two years.  The first without the title, what we saw this year, and the second with a fully healthy Greg Oden, a more mature Mike Conley, a Daequan Cook in the starting lineup and improved and the addition of guys like Jon Diebler.  We'd possibly be watching one of the greatest teams, most talented team in the modern era.  

Think about it.  Two seven footers in the starting lineup.  One that's from the old breed of center--the Robinson, O'neal and Ewing breed.  The other from the new mold, the euro mold of the Nowitzki, Gasol and others.  

I swear, if you were to ask me before the game to choose between the team winning the title against florida or losing and everyone coming back for next year I would have chosen the latter.

[elcheato]

I would rather have a Championship then an extra year with Greg Oden.

[mjp28]

Oden is as good as gone.

I just hope the 2007-8 team makes the Sweet 16. Final 4?

[Third shift]

Cheato, if Greg, Mike and Daequan return next year, baring a miracle or an injury, I don't see how anyone will beat them in the tournament.  Heck, I don't even see anyone beating them in the regular season, and I'm not the only person to say this.

[Nate]

I was not and am not happy for the loss.  But I agree...the only thing that will or would have kept Oden a Buckeye is a loss and his thirst to win a college championship with his best friend Conley.

[BuckeyeDan]

I thought the deadline for underclassmen declaring for the draft had passed ??

......and either Oden declared, or didn't.....

Not that I ever knew what it was, but I seem to recall hearing someone during a TV broadcast mentioning it was the day after the NCAA Tournament ends.......or something like that.

[AutoModGod]

I thought the deadline for underclassmen declaring for the draft had passed ??

......and either Oden declared, or didn't.....

Not that I ever knew what it was, but I seem to recall hearing someone during a TV broadcast mentioning it was the day after the NCAA Tournament ends.......or something like that.

I don't know the declaration date either, but Durant declared today.

Until today, I did not think there was any chance that Greg would come back, but the more time that passes, the more I am beginning to wonder.

It is is really not fair for me to criticize his play, because he made it look so easy most of the time which made it easy for us to take his stellar play for granted.  That being said in the spirit of "critique", I think he could use to work on:

1.  his jump shot, I only recall him shooting three jump shots in the tourny and two of those were blocked,
2.  his handling of the ball near the basket, at times he would bring a rebound down to belt level and then get it swiped by one of the five little guys guarding him,  
3.  conditioning, he lagged getting down court at times and that had an impact on the rythme of the offense when the opposition cut off the fast break.

Of course, all of these could be worked on at the NBA level too.

[Nate]

I think they have until the end of the month to declare.

[Third shift]

The deadline to be able to declare for the draft is April 29th.

[elcheato]

But you guys are all wrong. Greg Oden is staying and the reason is he knows he will be the #1 pick any year he comes out, the only thing that will rush him is money but I think he knows he still needs to develop and thats what has kept him from not declaring yet.