Ohio State Basketball: Preseason Expectations

Recap:

The Ohio State Buckeyes are ranked #4 going into the season and have high hopes for their play this year. The Buckeyes made it to the Final Four last season before losing to Kansas, 64-62. This season they will be returning three starters: Aaron Craft, Lenzelle Smith Jr. and Deshaun Thomas. They will be without William Buford, who graduated from Ohio State, and Jared Sullinger, who decided to forego his junior and senior years to go to the NBA.

What looks good:

Aaron Craft. Last year, Craft was the Big Ten defensive player of the year and was able to step into the driver’s seat on offense when it was necessary. Craft only averages 8.8 points per game, but he put up 15 points or more against Duke, Indiana, Michigan State and Gonzaga last year. Needless to say, he became a well-rounded player for the Buckeyes during their 2011-2012 campaign. Craft is back this season, with another years worth of wisdom and skill under his belt. With Jared Sullinger in the NBA, Craft will be responsible for leading the Buckeyes. Given his calm demeanor under pressure in the past, this added responsibility will be undertaken by a composed and experienced Craft.

Age. The last seconds of the Buckeyes’ final game against Kansas seemed to tick away with confusion, as one last desperate shot was not taken and it appeared as if some players were not paying attention. This was a product of not only an exhausted Ohio State team, but also a young Ohio State team. The Buckeyes were starting four sophomores and a senior, none of whom had ever gotten past the sweet sixteen in the past. Thad Matta’s coaching style permits the players to roll with the punches giving less guidance than some coaches. To play in this manner a team needs experience and leadership on the court. This year, Ohio State will have both. With stars Aaron Craft and Deshaun Thomas sticking around for another season with the Buckeyes, it’s exciting to imagine them in clutch situations. Both players were so close to a championship they could taste it, and both decided to return this season for more.

Depth. Last year, Ohio State had much more of a bench than in the past. During their last game, their bench played almost 30 minutes, in comparison to the final game of their 2010-2011 season where they racked up a total of eight minutes. This depth will be present again this year. They are returning four non-starters who got to play in at least the sweet sixteen last year: senior Evan Ravenel, sophomore Shannon Scott, sophomore Sam Thompson, and sophomore Amir Williams. On top of this they are bringing in rookie shooting guard Amedeo Della Valle, who is thought by some to be wrongfully overlooked by other programs. This bench looks promising for the Buckeyes not only this year, but in the future as well.

What looks questionable:

Offense. The Buckeyes will be putting a lot of pressure on Deshaun Thomas to maintain the offense. Last year, Jared Sullinger and William Buford played hot potato with the Buckeyes’ offensive responsibility, something that caused unnecessary close games. During those games when neither player could catch rhythm, another player on the Buckeyes would either pick up the slack, or they would lose. Without Buford and Sullinger this season, Thomas will be receiving the majority of the pressure and will look to push some off onto Lenzelle Smith Jr.. Smith did have a few breakout games last season, but he will have to show real consistency this year if he wants to help create a more diverse offense that isn’t centered on one player. Another factor is while Thomas was successful on offense for the Buckeyes last year, he never experienced the focus of a team’s top defender because he was not the top offensive threat. While he does have the advantage of practicing against Craft every day, Thomas is really going to have to step it up this season. If he cannot, the fate of the Buckeyes gets much more blurry. After Smith, the Buckeyes have no clear offensive outlets. If the Buckeye stars play as inconsistent as last season, they could be in trouble.

Overview:

Ohio State looks to be a defensive power house this season but could struggle on offense when searching for an offensive identity. While conference play does not begin until January, the Buckeyes will have their identity tested along the way with games against Marquette, Duke and Kansas. The Big Ten also appears to be very strong this year; Ohio State will play one third of their games against a preseason top 15 opponent. The Buckeyes seem to have the talent and they also have a good schedule to prepare them for tournament play. They are ranked preseason #4 for a reason: They are going to be one of the teams to watch this entire season.