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January 20, 2012
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To tell you the truth, if I could go back, I would’ve transfered out of Ohio State and went to Ohio [University]. The coach that I committed to [John Groce] left OSU and became head coach at OU. I truly believe, had I done that, I wou’dlve stayed in school for another year or so, but that’s not what happened. I don’t regret my decision. I’m a strong believer in ‘everything happens for a reason.’ God has put me where he wants me.
– Charlotte Bobcats center Byron (“BJ”) Mullens on his one-year stint with The Ohio State Buckeyes and head coach Thad Matta. After being acquired for a second-round draft pick, Mullens — drafted in the first round of the 2009 NBA Draft — is in the midst of his best season as a professional, averaging 12.4 points and 5.4 rebounds in 23 minutes per game.
[Related: Ohio State, Basketball School?]
(Source: Trade Street Presents via Chris Littmann)
8 Comments
I assume he decided to start going by “Byron” because he was tired of the BJ jokes. I can’t blame him… I would have done the same thing.
Groce is building a pretty strong program down in Athens. If the Cats would have had Mullens during their tourny run a couple of years ago, they might have made it past Tennessee.
Bobcat love!
He couldn’t rebound and chose not to play defense at Ohio State. He was mad because he wasn’t showcased. But fact is he played weak and heartless basketball. In the tournament, he got outrebound by a George Mason player who was about 6’8″ and 120 pounds. Mullens was pathetic at OSU.
Here’s to hoping you have a grand celebration and brag how you anonymously took that kid down a peg. I mean sure they played Sienna in the tourney that year not George Mason, and he was a frosh playing limited minutes off of Matta’s notoriously short bench, but hey why let facts cloud memory. That kid dared to say that he would have liked to play for the coach that recruited him and for that he deserves all the bile a person can summon, well all the bile one can summon from the safety of a computer. Good job by you buddy.
Are you serious? Are you worried about BJ, a grown man, getting his feelings hurt? Puhlease…Mullens got limited minutes for a reason. I trust that Thad (consistent 20+ game winning coach season after season) saw BJ in practice and made the decision to limit his minutes so OSu could win games. Isn’t that what it’s all about? If he wanted to be a more developed player, he should have stuck around, but nooooooo, he had to go pro early. I couldn’t care less about what BJ should’ve done. Cardiacshoot is right on….
a. cardiac didn’t even get the team OSU played in the tourney right therefore I doubt he actually knows what hes talking about.
b. I have problems when anyone uses “weak” or “heartless” from the safety of their computer, especially when talking about a (then) 18 year old kid.. I’m sure that cardiac is a true warrior with the heart of lion and he could teach a kid like Byron Mullens all about courage and dedication.
c. Considering Mullens is has been making a few mil a year for 3 years now while learning on the job and he has turned into an effective role player I have no idea how you can say he would be better off staying school. This would be his rookie year, I doubt he’d be putting up better numbers than he is if this was a rookie campaign even with 4 years of school. Instead of lining Matta/OSU’s pockets he lined his own.
d. the whole point of this blurb was that Mullens felt he would have stayed if he got to play for the coach that recruited him. Why is that a reason to trash the kid’s work ethic and heart?
He wasn’t very good or Thad Matta would’ve played him. Besides, he was a FRESHMAN and giving Thad another year or two to “develop” him, he may have been a top 5 pick and making MORE money than he is now. Why are you so concerned about him getting criticized a little? Are you related to him?
Geeze. Some people are just hard-headed. Probably an “everybody gets a trophy” liberal…