Ohio State Basketball: What We Have Learned Through 10 Games
A look at the Ohio State basketball team through the first 10 games.
With the 64-60 win over Connecticut Saturday, Ohio State improved to 8-2 on the season. With only four non-conference games remaining before the Big Ten season begins, let’s take a look and see what we have learned about the Buckeyes so far.
At this point in the schedule, Thad Matta is usually beginning to set up his rotation for the Big Ten schedule and this season appears to be more of the same. There will be a change though once Keita Bates-Diop fully heals from an ankle injury.
Kam Williams will return to his role as a shooter coming off the bench as Bates-Diop rejoins the starting lineup along with Jaquan Lyle, Jae’Sean Tate, Marc Loving And Micah Potter. The 6’9 Potter (16 mpg) and 7’ Trevor Thompson (20 mpg) are sharing the center duties.
The freshman Potter is more of a perimeter player and Thompson’s inside game is his strength. The junior is averaging 11points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game.
One thing that is very encouraging for Ohio State is their balanced scoring so far. In addition to Thompson, Tate, Loving, Lyle and Williams are averaging double figures. Bates-Diop is averaging 9.8 ppg in limited playing time as well.
The Buckeyes also are shooting 48 percent from the field and that certainly is a good sign. 34 percent from the three-point line is fine but Ohio State has been in a slump lately.
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Some of the stats are not very encouraging. Rebounds, turnovers and free throw shooting could be better.
40 rebounds and 13 turnovers a game wouldn’t be anything to worry about if that was the Big Ten Conference average. But those are the numbers against mostly inferior competition. 65 percent free throw shooting is unacceptable in your own backyard.
There are encouraging things to take away from the first 10 games. The Buckeyes appear to be more on the same page than they were last season at this time. But that’s to be expected because most of the key players have been playing together for a year now.
The freshman Potter playing significant minutes is a good sign. Sophomore point guard C.J. Jackson has played well off the bench and the Buckeyes will need him to provide solid minutes as the season progresses.
There are some things to clean up, but just getting Bates-Diop healthy and in the mix on a regular basis may solve most of Ohio State’s issues. There are only four games to go before the Big Ten season starts so let’s hope that’s the case.
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