Probably a pretty fair assessment. There's so much talent, how can they not at least make the NIT? Too bad Trevor Thompson is out this year or hopes would be even higher!
22. OHIO STATE
Last year's record: 25-10, 10-8
Key returners: G Shannon Scott, F Marc Loving, F Sam Thompson, C Amir Williams, G Kam Williams
Notable newcomers: F Anthony Lee, G D'Angelo Russell, F Keita Bates-Diop, F Jae'Sean TateBest-case scenario: Can Ohio State really improve its inconsistent offense despite losing its three leading scorers? Thanks to the arrival of a deep, talented crop of newcomers, the answer is yes. Russell, a slender but highly touted 6-foot-5 guard, starts from day one, scores in bunches and provides badly needed perimeter shooting. He and fellow freshmen Bates-Diop and Tate are an ideal complement to Scott and Thompson, the former a distributing and defensive dynamo at point guard and the latter a high-flying slasher more comfortable scoring near the rim. The Buckeyes also generate more offense in the paint because of Lee, a former Temple standout who was one of the most coveted one-year transfers on the market last spring. Lee also bolsters the Buckeyes rebounding, a major issue all of last season. Fueled by better rebounding and perimeter shooting and an always-stingy defense, Ohio State improves as the freshmen develop and emerges as Wisconsin's top challenger in the Big Ten. The momentum carries into the NCAA tournament, where the Buckeyes avenge last year's loss to Dayton with a cathartic round of 32 victory and advance all the way to the Elite Eight. Meanwhile in Ann Arbor, Michigan endures a down season. Buckeyes fans who spent all winter poking fun at the Wolverines' once-proud football program now have something else to joke about.
Worst-case scenario: The downside of counting heavily on freshmen is it can sometimes backfire, and that's exactly what befalls Ohio State. Russell contributes from day one, but he's not the go-to threat the Buckeyes desperately need. Bates-Diop and Tate come along more slowly and fall out of Matta's notoriously tight rotation by the start of Big Ten play. The Buckeyes are a better rebounding team because of the addition to Lee, but their outside shooting remains a weakness and their typically strong perimeter defense takes a small step backward without Aaron Craft and Lenzelle Smith Jr. The result is that Ohio State lacks the consistency to compete for the Big Ten title and struggles to even match last year's modest success. The Buckeyes don't have to worry about crashing out of the NCAA tournament in the opening round again this season because they settle for an NIT bid. Meanwhile in Ann Arbor, Michigan exceeds expectations yet again and reaches the Elite Eight. Buckeyes fans who spent all winter poking fun at the Wolverines' once-proud football program have the tables turned on them in March.
