College basketball, meet Greg Oden.
Oden, the most anticipated arrival to the college game in years, finally made his debut on Saturday when Ohio State faced off against Valparaiso. The freshman received a raucous 30-second standing ovation upon entering the game and his presence was felt frequently throughout his 23 minutes on the court. He recorded 14 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks while playing with a cast on his right wrist, which has yet to heal completely.
The star prospect tore a ligament in his wrist last June, requiring surgery to insert a pin to immobilize the ligament. The injury forced him to miss tryouts with the U.S. national team in addition to remaining on the bench for Ohio State's first seven games, including 98-89 loss at North Carolina last Wednesday.
While Oden had been practicing for several weeks with the injury, he was originally not slated to return until Jan. 2, when the Buckeyes begin conference play against Indiana. However, it was announced late last week that he would see action against Valpo, and it was certainly worth the wait.
Although Valparaiso is 2-4 and far from top-tier competition, Oden demonstrated all the skills that many believe have him destined for great things at Ohio State and beyond. He was an absolute force on the defensive end, affecting the trajectory of numerous shots in addition to his five rejections. His size, length and quickness allowed him to dominate the boards as well, as he pulled down 10 rebounds.
On offense, he was unable to dunk, and his shot arsenal was limited because of the lack of mobility of his right hand. He was somewhat cautious with the injury and showed a little rust as well, getting called for a couple of traveling violations around the hoop. However, he still managed to make a few lay-ups and showcase his newfound use of his left hand around the basket.
In addition to a left-handed baby hook, the freshman knocked down free throws left-handed as well, shooting an impressive 8-for-15 from the line. Perhaps Oden's only discernable weakness coming to the college ranks was his inability to go to the left around the basket. His wrist injury, in a way, might have been a blessing in disguise. His injury has forced him to use his left hand for every task during practice. He showed glimpses of how he will reap the benefits of this development in the coming weeks as he gets healthier.
The team, led by its exceptional guard play, performed admirably in his absence, winning six of the seven games that Oden missed. While it is impossible to speculate about whether the Buckeyes would have defeated the Tar Heels with Oden in uniform, there is no doubt that they are better with him under the basket and will continue to improve as he heals. This is not only coach Thad Motta's best recruiting class but is easily among the best in the nation, paralleling this year's stellar groups at North Carolina and Kansas.
Furthermore, despite a virtual guarantee that he'll be the top pick in next year's NBA Draft, Oden insists he hasn't made up his mind on whether he will leave Columbus yet. An honors student in high school, he is focused on excelling academically as well as on the court. Matta, the team and the Buckeye faithful would be thrilled to see Oden stay at Ohio State for more than a year.
Led by Matta, Oden headlines a talented mix of freshmen and veterans that are capable of making a Final Four run and even winning the national championship. Their next test comes in Gainesville against the defending-champion Florida Gators Dec. 23. Both Oden and the Buckeyes will certainly be up to the challenge.
