COLUMBUS, Ohio — Thad Matta opened his final news conference at Ohio State men’s basketball coach in an unexpected place. It wasn’t the place, as in the practice gym with the prominent wall featuring all those reminders of when the Buckeyes were “B1G Conference Champions” under the longtime coach. No, he started with lyrics. Grateful Dead. “Truckin’.” You know the verse. MORE: Top seven replacements for Matta at Ohio State “Sometimes the lights all shining on me,” Matta said. “Others time I can barely see. Lately it occurs to me, what a long strange trip it’s been.” He put an emphasis on long before fighting back tears shortly afterward. It’s fitting: Matta put the spotlight on the Ohio State program with a 13-year run that produced five regular-season Big Ten championships, four conference tournament titles and two Final Four appearances. He did that with while dealing with the chronic pain from four back…
Continue Reading: Thad Matta's firing makes it clear recruiting top priority for next hire at Ohio State
