Buckeyes legend likes what he sees in young star
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The past met the present Tuesday night when Ohio State legend Jerry Lucas got his first close-up look at Buckeyes freshman Greg Oden.
Oden scored 18 points and had nine rebounds, one assist and one block in 35 minutes Tuesday night as No. 3 Ohio State beat Iowa State 75-56.
"I've seen him on TV a couple of times," said Lucas, who sat directly behind the Ohio State bench. "I think he's going to be phenomenal."
Lucas led the Buckeyes to the national championship in 1960, and to the title game in each of his three seasons on the team. He went on to a long and successful NBA career.
He was invited to Value City Arena on Tuesday night to help introduce Terence Dials, who was the Big Ten Player of the Year last season.
Lucas, whose No. 11 jersey is hanging from the rafters, and Dials received a long standing ovation when they stepped on the floor during a timeout late in the first half.
Oden wore a plastic cast to protect his right hand and wrist. He had surgery on that wrist in June to repair ligament damage and did not play in the Buckeyes' first seven games. Oden also had his left hand wrapped in white tape because of a jammed thumb he said he'd had for weeks.
"It ought to be interesting to see him when he's a full player," Lucas said. "Tonight he's playing with about a half a hand. The one hand's got a cast and the other hand's got tape on it. He's going to be super. There's no doubt about that."
Oden is a member of the acclaimed "Thad Five" recruiting class of coach Thad Matta.
Mike Conley Jr., Oden's teammate at Indianapolis' Lawrence North High School, had 15 points and six assists and keyed Ohio State's defensive attack that turned the game around down the stretch.
Daequan Cook scored 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting to lead the Buckeyes (10-1), while David Lighty and junior-college transfer Othello Hunter also played well.
Lucas was joined by John Havlicek, Mel Nowell and Bob Knight in the 1959 recruiting class that was the heart of the national championship team.
Lucas said a comparison can be drawn with this year's incoming class.
"They're probably similar," he said. "That was a great class. But I think they have the potential to be very good."
Copyright 2012 by STATS LLC and The Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and The Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
