BuckeyeGrove.com - Kecman anxious to show what he can do

June 23, 2009

Brandon Castel
Staff Writer

COLUMBUS ? Nikola Kecman is known to most Buckeye fans in name only.

After missing the first 12 games of the 2008-09 season due to an NCAA ruling about his time in Serbia, Kecman made his Ohio State debut on Jan. 9, 2009 against non-conference opponent Houston Baptist. He had been eligible to play three days earlier in a key Big Ten game at Michigan State, but coach Thad Matta opted to hold off for less volatile entrance.

Matta may have changed his mind if he knew how briefly Kecman would be available last season. The Belgrade, Serbia native played 11 minutes against Houston Baptist that night, scoring six points while grabbing five rebounds in an 89-65 win.

"I want to thank all of the people that came out to the arena to support us tonight. It was a great feeling to play for Ohio State tonight," the 6-foot-8 forward said after the game. "I will do anything the coaches want me to do to help this team. I think I can help on defense with rebounding."

As it turns out, he would never get the chance.

Three days later, Kecman suffered a torn ACL in his left knee and just like that, his first season in Columbus was over before it ever really got started. His final stat line for the year would read: 11 minutes, six points and five rebounds. Fans who didn't happen to tune in that night against Houston Baptist may not even be aware that Kecman is on the team. Even his own teammates have only seen bits and pieces of what he is capable of.

"They only saw me in practice, so I still have to prove myself in the games," Kecman said. "Practice and games are two different things. I still have to prove myself in a game. I think the players and coaches know my qualities and what I can do, I just have to prove myself in games and show other people what I can do and what ways I can help Ohio State."

What the Buckeyes are hoping he can do next year is provide another consistent scoring option to go with Evan Turner, William Buford and Jon Diebler. As a freshman two years ago, he finished second on the team at 13.4 points per game on an Eastern Arizona team that went 30-6.

He is a true European big man, which means he probably won't be a huge factor on the boards. (He averaged 3.5 rebounds per game for Eastern Arizona). What he does do is run the floor well and put the ball in the basket. He shot 59-percent from the floor his freshman year and 46-percent from behind the arc, so he should help the Buckeyes replace the 8.8 points per game they lost when B.J. Mullens declared for the NBA Draft.

At 6-8, he also gives Matta some more length to use defensively in his zone. Taking into account the whole European big man thing, Kecman probably isn't going to dominate defensively, but he did average 1.5 blocks per game as a freshman. Having he and David Lighty back from injury should give the Buckeyes two more long, athletic players on defense, which should help bring the zone back to what it was early in the season before Lighty's injury.

"I'm doing my best to prepare myself to get back healthy and ready for the next season," Kecman said. "I'll do everything the coaches ask of me. Whatever my role will be, I'll do my best."

Now five months removed from surgery, Kecman has been back in practice for about a month now, but he is still limited in what he can do. He took part in some of Ohio State spring skill sessions, but said he is anticipating a full recovery to 100 percent strength by the end of July.

"Every day I'm working on my legs and my knee, getting it stronger and doing individual workouts, shooting and improving as much as I can," he said. "I'm just trying to get ready for the team workouts."

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