Thad Matta, Befuddled.

The spin proffered through the Columbus media had surface appeal: Georgetown was just too good and too big; there was nothing Ohio State could've done to stop the Hoya juggernaut; the Bucks lost, but golly, what a great season. Here's a novel theory: Ohio State was outcoached.

Against Georgetown and throughout the season, when confronted with a tough defense, Ohio State struggled to find a decent shot. The culprit of this difficulty rests with Thad Matta's poor half-court offense and its inane reliance on quick 24 foot shots. As this past season progressed, as the sloppy three pointers turned into bricks, Ohio State was exposed by well-coached teams as an outfit baffled in the half-court. Out of time outs, they opted for impatient long distance shots, which more often than not missed their mark. When confronted with solid defense, inept and empty possessions became the norm.

So let's cut the sugarcoating. Ohio State didn't lose to Georgetown because they were outclassed by a more talented team. Ohio State lost to Georgetown because they were outcoached. As to Ohio State's future, it isn't as bright as everyone imagines. As long as Matta teaches his teams impatience, Ohio State will have a difficult time becoming a consistent contender. As the NCAA Tourney routinely demonstrates, if a team can't execute an offense, if a team can't get a good look when it needs a bucket...when it really needs a bucket...they'll have a rough time winning the big games.