2008 Ohio State Buckeyes Hoops Preview

Ohio State managed to salvage a disappointing season by winning the 2008 NIT in convincing fashion and finishing with a mark of 24–13. That postseason burst left at least a palatable taste after the Buckeyes advanced all the way to the NCAA championship game the previous year.

“The fact that it gave us a chance to win five games on national television on what would maybe be considered an off-year was tremendous,” coach Thad Matta says. “And I think the fact that we were able to get three extra weeks of practice and play into April for the second straight year, I looked at that as a tremendous advantage, especially for the youthfulness of this team.”

True enough. But clearly Matta is still smarting after falling off the fence and failing to make the NCAA Tournament for only the second time in his eight years as a head coach. The only other shortcoming came in 2005, when he inherited an OSU program recovering from scandal and the school’s self-imposed postseason ban. And even those Buckeyes managed 20 wins by the end of the Big Ten Tournament.

Now Ohio State will trudge onward without its three leading scorers — Jamar Butler, Kosta Koufos and Othello Hunter.

“It’s going to be weird without them, but they taught us well,” says sophomore guard Evan Turner, who broke into the starting lineup last season. “It’s time for us to grow up and move on. We just have to keep getting better.”

Frontcourt

For the third straight year, the focal point inside is a 7-foot freshman with McDonald’s All-America credentials. This season’s star-in-waiting is B.J. Mullens, a local product who was ranked atop the 2008 class nationally by Rivals.com. Like predecessors Greg Oden and Koufos, Mullens is a good bet to continue the program’s one-and-done run of big men.

Whether Mullens makes the desired splash or not, the Buckeyes also could use a season of major growth from youngster Dallas Lauderdale, who is a limited but promising power player.

The power forward spot is suspicious. Matta welcomed in 3-point specialist Nikola Kecman, but the Serbian was still awaiting clearance from the NCAA in August. Junior David Lighty, the most experienced member of the team, figures to slide over to the 4 at times, especially since reserve Kyle Madsen has managed only occasional minutes so far.

Lauderdale will play next to Mullens at times, but the staff hopes to be more versatile on offense and wants to get back to playing a disruptive man-to-man after relying on a match-up zone last season.

Backcourt

No Butler means the loss of the team’s toughest player and top outside shooter as well as the Big Ten’s best assist-maker. True freshman Noopy Crater, an outstanding open-court performer and willing passer, will get the first crack to take the point. OSU also snagged junior college star Jeremie Simmons in the late signing period. P.J. Hill should remain in a backup role.

At off-guard, Turner is coming off an eye-opening debut season and impressive display of all-around skill in the NIT. He’s the team’s second-leading returning scorer (8.5 ppg) and a top option in clear-out situations.

Classmate Jon Diebler, who struggled mightily with his shot last season, will continue to battle Turner for floor time. Freshman Walter Offutt can provide more help if his surgically repaired knees — he tore each ACL in high school — hold up.

Lighty is the team’s top defender and a natural wing who averaged 9.0 points last season and developed into a much-needed leader. Also on the wing is multi-talented, sinewy freshman William Buford, who reminds many of Daequan Cook. He could be an instant hit in a sixth-man role.

Final Analysis

The Buckeyes are deeper and more athletic, but the team will be very young again and has holes to fill at point guard and power forward. Also, the staff is in transition without associate head coach John Groce, the new boss at Ohio University. Still, Lighty is ready to emerge, Mullens is going to be a headache for opponents and Matta is a proven commodity. Purdue, Michigan State and Wisconsin appear to be the Big Ten’s best, but OSU has a great chance to settle into the fourth spot — which would almost guarantee a return to the NCAA Tournament.