To rejoice SLAM’s thirtieth anniversary, we’re spotlighting the 30 most influential males’s faculty groups from our previous 30 years. Stats, data and chips aren’t the principle issue right here, it’s all about their contribution to the sport’s cultural cloth.
For the subsequent 30 days—Monday by Friday— we’ll be unveiling the full listing right here. We’ve additionally obtained an unique retro collegiate assortment, out now, that pays homage to every squad’s threads. Store right here.
Within the heartland of basketball, the place scarlet and grey reign supreme, the ‘06-’07 Ohio State Buckeyes emerged as sport icons, stealing the nation’s hearts with their mix of youth, expertise and tenacity.
Underneath the steerage of Coach Thad Matta, the Buckeyes performed basketball prefer it was an artwork kind. They zapped the ball round effortlessly in the hunt for an open man, giving up beauty for higher seems. The ball moved seamlessly from one set of fingers to a different till it will definitely discovered its method down the web.
That isn’t to say that the Buckeyes didn’t let the person prowess of their gamers shine. Greg Oden, Mike Conley Jr. and Daequan Prepare dinner made up the core of this Buckeyes squad. Freshman phenoms with the composure of seasoned vets, these Buckeyes had been able to make a reputation for themselves from the very first sport.
Oden was a towering drive hailing from Lawrence North Excessive Faculty, the place he developed shut on-court chemistry with fellow freshman guard Mike Conley. Oden’s sheer drive within the paint was unmatched, whereas his gentle contact across the rim solidified him as a sure-fire top-two choose within the NBA Draft. In the meantime, Conley’s crossovers would go away defenders frozen, whereas his acrobatic finishes surprised 1000’s of followers.
Their dominance and chemistry could be the motor on which the Buckeyes operated. Conley would blow by defenders and discover Oden within the paint, who mercilessly punished anybody who dared to leap with him. In an announcement win towards Iowa within the common season, Oden exploded for 29 factors and 10 rebounds, with Conley working the present with 10 dimes.
The scariest factor about this Ohio State staff was that the offense didn’t simply finish with Oden and Conley. Senior guard Ron Lewis might catch fireplace shortly, whereas Daequan Prepare dinner would put the staff on his again along with his momentum-swinging photographs. And there was Jamar Butler, a rim-punishing presence within the paint.
The Buckeyes staff was dynamite with sufficient firepower to blow up at any on the spot and ignite the gang with their exhilarating play.
And explode they did within the Large Ten, cruising previous groups on the way in which to a league-best 15 wins, solely shedding one alongside the way in which. The Large Ten wasn’t simply their playground; it was their empire, they usually dominated it with an iron fist.
But it surely was within the insanity of March that the Buckeyes actually shined. With the eyes of the nation upon them, Ohio State launched into a postseason journey that might showcase the expertise and grit of the staff. Victories over powerhouses like Georgetown and Memphis showcased their expertise and resilience, exhibiting the world that this staff had what it took to hoist the nationwide championship trophy.
For all Buckeyes followers, these had been heart-crushing moments that also hang-out them to this present day. However so long as the scarlet and grey flies excessive, the legend of the ’07 Buckeyes—for the celebrities it produced, the historic comebacks and dominance—will dwell on.
Pictures through Getty Photographs.
