By: Jason Lloyd (Journal Register News) —
It has been almost two years since Mike Conley played his final game at Ohio State. Neither has been as successful without the other as they were together.

Conley is now in his second year with the Grizzlies, who have played 138 games since his arrival. They have won just 37 of them — or two more than Conley won during his one season with the Buckeyes.

It’s no wonder, then, that both he and Ohio State coach Thad Matta admit they’ve caught themselves thinking about what could’ve been.

“You don’t realize it until you’re playing against all the ex-Buckeyes in Miami, Portland and Utah,” Conley said Tuesday night as the Grizzlies suffered their 101st loss since his arrival. “Man, we could’ve had a crazy good team if we all stayed. So yeah, it crosses your mind.”

Matta was chatting with college basketball analyst Bill Raftery last week about the lineup he could be starting. As Raftery ticked off the list of names like Conley, Greg Oden and Kosta Koufos, Matta just laughed. It beats the alternative, which is weep uncontrollably.

“You could conceivably be starting Michael, Daequan Cook, Evan Turner, Kosta Koufos and Greg Oden,” Matta said, “and you’re still not starting a senior.”

You want to talk about dynasties? About the great UCLA teams of the 1970s? The UNLV team with Larry Johnson, Greg Anthony and Stacey Augmon? The powerful Duke teams under Mike Krzyzewski?

If the Buckeyes could have corralled that starting five this year, they wouldn’t lose a game. Not a single game. And they could make an argument as one of the best teams in the history of college basketball.

Sound crazy? Nope. Conley’s right. Just crazy good.

Instead, four of those five will make a combined $11 million this season, while Turner, the only player Matta mentioned who is still at Ohio State, may not be far behind. Turner, a sophomore, is a candidate for Big Ten player of the year, and an even stronger candidate to leave after this season for the NBA.

He isn’t ready. His turnovers are as plentiful as his assists. His game is still raw. But in the NBA, that’s perfectly acceptable.

College basketball fans should be irate. They should be assembling their pitchforks and torches, gathering for a march to David Stern’s doorstep. Stern is the most responsible for destroying college basketball, while simultaneously watering down his own league.

Caught in this mess is Matta, who continues to battle massive ………

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