(#24 Brian Brown- May 2010 - Swiss Playoffs)-The Year of the Guard: The 2009-2010 season is over for a majority of professional ballers around the world. Every club has a certain set of goals they would like to accomplish throughout the season. But when it comes down to it, you want to be in a situation where the organization, coaches & fans judge your squad on how well you do in 'post-season play' or the cup/tournament that you value the most. High standards (competing for championships) is a familiar concept for any former Ohio State athlete. Nine former Buckeyes saw on court action in their respective 2010 Playoff Tournaments.
Center - Byron Mullens - 1st in Career (Oklahoma City Thunder/ Starter - Tulsa 66ers - United States)
Center/Power Foward - Kosta Koufos - 1st in Career (Utah Jazz -United States)
Guard - Tony Stockman (Starter - Vivo/Franca - Brazil)
Guard - Je'Kel Foster (Starter - EWE Baskets Oldenburg - Germany)
Guard - Ron Lewis (Starter - CEZ Nymburk - Czech Republic - Championship)
Guard - Scoonie Penn (Starter - Olympiacos - Greece - 2nd place)
Guard - Brian Brown (Starter - Lugano Tigers - Switzerland - Championship)
Guard - Jamar Butler 1st in Career (KK Igokea - Bosnia - 2nd place)
Forward - George Reese (Starter - AZS Koszalin - Poland)
It was yet another exciting season of playoff basketball. But as OSU fans we have to lament the notable absences of prolific scorer Michael Redd, Greg Oden, Ken Johnson, Terence Dials, & Ivan Harris (pictured to the left - December 2009)..(Not even mentioning Conley, whose club made a push for the playoffs before falling short). Redd & Oden would have certainly had good opportunities to possibly help their teams advance. Last season veteran Center Ken Johnson participated with Baskets Bonn in the German Bundesliga Finals against Je'Kel Foster & Oldenburg. Terence Dials was playing at a high level as well in the 2008-2009 season, he played in the French finals with a club called Orleans.
The D-League's Erie Bayhawks & Ivan Harris enjoyed a nice run in 2008-2009 which included a birth, but the second year club could not accomplish that goal for 2010. Hopefully everyone cab rebound with good health and find winning environments for the 2010-2011 season (which should make for an epic playoffs)
On the positive front, three Buckeyes took part in first career playoff games this year. Guard Jamar Butler (pictured to the left - October 2009) had brief stints in Turkey & Italy during his rookie pro campaign (2008-2009). He then played a majority of this past season in the Greek league with GS Larissa before moving to Igokea in the country of Bosnia & Herzegovina. Butler saw limited action in the Semi-finals & Finals of the Bosnian League (Igokea was swept in the finals).
In the States, injuries forced Kosta Koufos into action for the Utah Jazz. The young Center out of Canton received backup minutes in both the Denver & L.A series. His biggest moment attention wise had to have been the heavily circulated viral video of him letting out a "boom bi-----s" after a key layup vs Denver.
And in an unlikely thought before the season, then Rookie Byron Mullens ended up logging the most playoffs minutes of the OSU big men. Mullens played in four NBA D-League playoff games with the Tulsa 66ers before being called back up to the Oklahoma City Thunder in mid April. The Columbus big man provided solid contributions for Tulsa before the call up. He scored 18 points in his first career post season contest...(Gm One vs Sioux Falls...followed that up with a double/double in game two..the Tulsa 66ers ended up winning the 2009/2010 D-League Championship) Back in Oklahoma City, Mullens was actually able to experience his first minutes in an NBA playoff game during the April 24th rout of the L.A Lakers.
-brief clips of B.J on the road vs Sioux Falls 4.9.2010 (D-League Playoffs - Round One - Game Two
Center - Byron Mullens - 1st in Career (Oklahoma City Thunder/ Starter - Tulsa 66ers - United States)
Center/Power Foward - Kosta Koufos - 1st in Career (Utah Jazz -United States)
Guard - Tony Stockman (Starter - Vivo/Franca - Brazil)
Guard - Je'Kel Foster (Starter - EWE Baskets Oldenburg - Germany)
Guard - Ron Lewis (Starter - CEZ Nymburk - Czech Republic - Championship)
Guard - Scoonie Penn (Starter - Olympiacos - Greece - 2nd place)
Guard - Brian Brown (Starter - Lugano Tigers - Switzerland - Championship)
Guard - Jamar Butler 1st in Career (KK Igokea - Bosnia - 2nd place)
Forward - George Reese (Starter - AZS Koszalin - Poland)
It was yet another exciting season of playoff basketball. But as OSU fans we have to lament the notable absences of prolific scorer Michael Redd, Greg Oden, Ken Johnson, Terence Dials, & Ivan Harris (pictured to the left - December 2009)..(Not even mentioning Conley, whose club made a push for the playoffs before falling short). Redd & Oden would have certainly had good opportunities to possibly help their teams advance. Last season veteran Center Ken Johnson participated with Baskets Bonn in the German Bundesliga Finals against Je'Kel Foster & Oldenburg. Terence Dials was playing at a high level as well in the 2008-2009 season, he played in the French finals with a club called Orleans.The D-League's Erie Bayhawks & Ivan Harris enjoyed a nice run in 2008-2009 which included a birth, but the second year club could not accomplish that goal for 2010. Hopefully everyone cab rebound with good health and find winning environments for the 2010-2011 season (which should make for an epic playoffs)
On the positive front, three Buckeyes took part in first career playoff games this year. Guard Jamar Butler (pictured to the left - October 2009) had brief stints in Turkey & Italy during his rookie pro campaign (2008-2009). He then played a majority of this past season in the Greek league with GS Larissa before moving to Igokea in the country of Bosnia & Herzegovina. Butler saw limited action in the Semi-finals & Finals of the Bosnian League (Igokea was swept in the finals).In the States, injuries forced Kosta Koufos into action for the Utah Jazz. The young Center out of Canton received backup minutes in both the Denver & L.A series. His biggest moment attention wise had to have been the heavily circulated viral video of him letting out a "boom bi-----s" after a key layup vs Denver.
And in an unlikely thought before the season, then Rookie Byron Mullens ended up logging the most playoffs minutes of the OSU big men. Mullens played in four NBA D-League playoff games with the Tulsa 66ers before being called back up to the Oklahoma City Thunder in mid April. The Columbus big man provided solid contributions for Tulsa before the call up. He scored 18 points in his first career post season contest...(Gm One vs Sioux Falls...followed that up with a double/double in game two..the Tulsa 66ers ended up winning the 2009/2010 D-League Championship) Back in Oklahoma City, Mullens was actually able to experience his first minutes in an NBA playoff game during the April 24th rout of the L.A Lakers.-brief clips of B.J on the road vs Sioux Falls 4.9.2010 (D-League Playoffs - Round One - Game Two
Biggest Blowout Victory - CEZ Nymburk 105 BC Kolin 61 - 4.24.2010 - opening game of the Czech playoffs
Top Scorers - Ron Lewis played the most games (12) and held a 12 point scoring average. George Reese averaged 16 points & 7 rebounds in his playoff run, but only played six games. Je'Kel Foster averaged 13 points in 4 games, and Brian Brown averaged 9 points in 11 games.
Top Assist Men - Brian Brown, 4 assist playoff average. Brown had a playoff high 7 assists in Game 3 of the finals vs Fribourg. Ron Lewis had 6 assists in Game 3 of his final series vs Prostejov. And Jamar Butler also had 6 assists in game one of the Bosnian finals.
Wildest Tournament - The German League Playoffs, throughout the season we have believed the Bundesliga was a little underrated in the European Basketball fan community. Although top seeds Oldenburg (Je'Kel Foster) & Alba Berlin ruled the regular season from wire to wire, you could just tell that there were 3 or 4 other teams capable of testing and or defeating the powers. The first round unfolded accordingly with the 2nd seed Alba Berlin getting bounced along with top seed & defending champion EWE Baskets Oldenburg. Once again we were reminded that a squad just has to be clicking at the right time in the playoffs...that was how Oldenburg won the title last season. Brose Baskets Bamberg ended up taking the German Championship. Ron Lewis & Nymburk split with this same team in the Eurocup Competition.
Coolest Result - Has to be Brian Brown (pictured above to the far right celebrating with his teammates) winning his first league championship with the Lugano Tigers in Switzerland. Nymburk was given as the favorite in the Czech Republic all year. So it was really cool to see a Buckeye vet grab a title. The 31 years old guard from New York saved perhaps his best scoring performance in the title clinching game with 18 points & 7 rebounds in Game 5.
Coolest Story - In our opinions the best story throughout the 2010 Playoffs was seeing Scoonie Penn on the big stage for perhaps the last time. The point guard helped Greek club Olympiacos advance to the Euroleague & Greek League finals. If you want to talk about Buckeye greats overseas, it starts with James 'Scoonie' Penn.
-couple baskets vs Polish team Prokom in the Euroleague Playoffs. The guy clapping after Scoonie hits the 3 is the rich & powerful Olympiacos owner.
-Scoonie & Olympiacos in Paris for the Euroleague Finals
Best Individual PerformancesRon Lewis (pictured left with teammate Arthur Lee following the Championship victory) versus BK Pardubucie - Game One of the semi-finals on May 12, 2010. Lewis set the tone for the game & series with a 29 point explosion (Nymburk won 99-76) George Reese scored 23 points in his opening playoff game in Poland vs Stal SW.
(we posted the 1st quarter of the Pardubicie game, and still intend on editing that full game to bring the rest of the highlights)
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