Sez Whathisname Is "Clueless"

[Wisexuowl]

From Today's C-Bus Disgrace, eh Dispatch:

Canton (Ohio) GlenOak coach Jack Greynolds Jr. doesn't think much of the way his prize pupil, Kosta Koufos, was treated at Ohio State. He apparently buys into the rumors that Buckeyes coach Thad Matta held him back in the weeks leading up to the NBA draft to try to persuade him not to enter it as a freshman.

"Listen, if you can't get along with a kid like Kosta, then you're clueless," Greynolds told The Canton Repository. "If you're making $2 million a season and can't figure out how to use a 7-foot-1 kid, you're clueless. If you can't get along with a kid who comes early, stays late and gets good grades, you're clueless, and you've got the problem."

Greynolds seemed bothered that the Ohio State coaches were a little irritated about possibly losing a scholarship because of the way Koufos withdrew from school. He thinks they should be grateful, especially after Koufos rebuffed an offer of $6 million, a house and a car to play last season in Greece to honor his commitment to OSU.

"People forget that. He turned down all that -- tax free -- to stay at Ohio State and play," Greynolds said. "That says something to me about the kid. If he's going to bust his butt for me as a coach, I'm going to bust my butt for him. Most kids and probably every adult would take that deal.

"Kosta really kept his composure this year and with what he's said publicly. As much as he was getting screwed over, he always said the right things in the paper. He's not like some of the turds they recruit. He's a great kid. I can't tell you how much that upsets me."

[muskieman]

I am surprised that the C-dispatch picked up that story so late. It has been mentioned on here for about a week...then again you did call it is C-Bus disgrace!

[Mr. Neutral]

Disgruntled HS coach versus Coach of the Year in 3 different conferences. Hmmm, which one seems to have the better resume? Call me crazy, but I'm going with Matta.

And what a shocker! A coach tries to talk a very good big man into staying in school! Who ever heard of such a thing!

[MuskieSuperFan]

I'm going to have to agree with the High School Coach, My best friends father is a booster at Ohio State and he said that Matta did the same thing with Daequan Cook. He benched him and tried to purposely slow his development down so that he would not be drafted and would come back for another year. Of course Daequan did declare and is still playing in the NBA. Matta has a habit of doing this and I for one am glad he is at Ohio State and not at Xavier anymore.

[muskienick]

The fact is, if Thad Matta were still here we would likely be loving him almost as much as we now do Sean Miller. He would not have "jilted" us after "The Run," the cause of many of us to dislike him and call him names like "Beaknose" and "Whatshisname" and worse.

I didn't like the way he left either, but who can argue with the years he gave us as XU's head coach? And I dare say that he would have carried on just as successfully had he stayed.

Finally, just as nobody truly knows what happens behind closed doors in a marriage and who may have been at fault when there is a separation or divorce, no one really knows the reasons a player might have had his minutes cut a bit from one point in the season to another. As nice a young man as Koufas might be, we all tend to be more subjective than objective in situations similar to his.

[Muskie]

The fact is, if Thad Matta were still here we would likely be loving him almost as much as we now do Sean Miller. He would not have "jilted" us after "The Run," the cause of many of us to dislike him and call him names like "Beaknose" and "Whatshisname" and worse.

I didn't like the way he left either, but who can argue with the years he gave us as XU's head coach? And I dare say that he would have carried on just as successfully had he stayed.

Finally, just as nobody truly knows what happens behind closed doors in a marriage and who may have been at fault when there is a separation or divorce, no one really knows the reasons a player might have had his minutes cut a bit from one point in the season to another. As nice a young man as Koufas might be, we all tend to be more subjective than objective in situations similar to his.

From what i saw, KK was a Tall (bit Soft big man) who had trouble guarding and posting up against players three to four inches shorter than him. That was the rap against him in H.S. as well. If Matta thought he could have helped down the stretch, he would have played more. Don't get me wrong, I don't like Matta because of how he left... but I won't say he's not a good coach.

[Pierre Dracot]

Who are you saying is clueless?

Thad Matta
Head coaching record
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Butler (Horizon League) (2000–2001)
2000–2001 Butler 24–8 11–3 1st NCAA Second Round
Butler: 24–8 11–3
Xavier (Atlantic 10 Conference) (2001–2004)
2001–2002 Xavier 26–6 14–2 1st (West) NCAA Second Round
2002–2003 Xavier 26–6 15–1 1st (West) NCAA Second Round
2003–2004 Xavier 26–11 10–6 T-3rd (West) NCAA Elite Eight
Xavier: 78–23 39–9
Ohio State (Big Ten Conference) (2004–present)
2004–2005 Ohio State 20–12 8–8 6th Ineligible
2005–2006 Ohio State 26–6 12–4 1st NCAA Second Round
2006–2007 Ohio State 35–4 15–1 1st NCAA Championship Game
2007–2008 Ohio State 24–13 10–8 5th 2008 NIT Champions
Ohio State: 101–35 45–21
Total: 203–66

[DC Muskie]

Ten years from now wise is going to make sure we all know that he hates Thad Matta.

And ten years from now, still no one will care.

Thanks for the update. Be sure to keep that keen eye on our former coach, wise. We are counting on you.

[Mr. Neutral]

I know I'm in the pro-Matta camp, but it never ceases to amaze that, given all the shenanigans that go on in college coaching, and given all the Div. I coaching changes that take place every friggin' year, and given the the fact that Staak, Gillen and Prosser ALSO said how much they loved X and then left, Matta continues to be despised 4 years later for nothing more than handling his departure badly.

X wasn't under NCAA scrutiny during or after his time here, he doesn't have a Jerry Tarkanian-type reputation, he hasn't pulled any Quin Snyder-type gaffes, and he had the best 3-year run of any Xavier coach up to that point in our college b-ball history, and yet he might as well be Adolf Hitler for some guys.

It's way past time to get over what is a VERY minor blip in the college basketball world, fellas. This is like carrying a lifelong vendetta against a guy who dropped a beer in your basement once.

[Pierre Dracot]

I'm going to have to agree with the High School Coach, My best friends father is a booster at Ohio State and he said that Matta did the same thing with Daequan Cook. He benched him and tried to purposely slow his development down so that he would not be drafted and would come back for another year. Of course Daequan did declare and is still playing in the NBA. Matta has a habit of doing this and I for one am glad he is at Ohio State and not at Xavier anymore.

He did it with Greg Oden, too (he broke his hand). But it didn't work.