On Saturday afternoon, Marc Loving is set to make a return in a pivotal bout against Michigan State after a three-game suspension rendered Ohio State's best 3-point shooter useless in a pivotal stretch of games that has bolstered its postseason hopes.
That the Buckeyes, which have won five of their last six games, seemed to turn a corner without Loving, the lanky and skillful sophomore forward, they say they have also discovered a newfound depth.
"With his absence," coach Thad Matta said, "I’ve seen this team get better."
"With his absence, I’ve seen this team get better."
In part, that is why Matta, who has not offered a reason for Loving's suspension, said he hasn't dwelled over where Loving fits it on a surging team fresh off back-to-back blowout wins of middling competition in Rutgers and, most recently, Rutgers.
"The only thing I’ve thought about in my mind, I haven’t thought about where I’m going to use Marc or when we’re going to put in the game or anything like that," Matta said.
"I just like that we’ve added depth … I’m just kind of excited that we’ve got more bodies here in February playing our third game in six days."
Indeed, without Loving, Ohio State has called upon a cast of helpers to play sidekick to D'Angelo Rusell, the star freshman and team's leading scorer.
At first it was Loving, whose smooth stroke from deep gives the Buckeyes a potent weapon from the outside. Jae'Sean Tate, a freshman forward and jitterbug inserted into the starting lineup three weeks ago, has also added a spark. On Wednesday against the Nittany Lions, Sam Thompson, the senior forward and glue of sorts for Ohio State, scored a career-high 22 points.
Of course, Loving's return to the floor offers Ohio State much to like.
"I like the strides that everybody on this team has made in his absence," Matta said, "but we also know this, for however many games, Marc definitely makes us a better team when he’s out there playing."
Keita Bates-Diop, the freshman forward who was called upon to help fill the void left by Loving, said, "having Marc back just makes us a better team, just makes us a deeper team."
Before his suspension, Loving had begun to emerge as Russell's primary sidekick. In his last outing, a clobbering of Maryland two weeks ago, Loving buried 5-of-5 3-pointers and poured in 19 points.
"Where does he come back and fit in?" Matta said of his player's role.
"Hopefully like he did in the Maryland game."
