If proof was needed that Ohio State is embracing its new “winning over everything” mantra, all one had to do was look at the shirts Bruce Thornton, John Mobley Jr. and Devin Royal were wearing Monday.
The three met with the media, all wearing the same tee, which featured the word "winning" above a line. Below the line was written "everything." Each fielded a question about it, and it's clear there's a focus on eliminating distractions within the program.
Thornton, the Buckeyes' best player the last two seasons, passed on opportunities to play elsewhere in the transfer portal and stick out the last year of his career at Ohio State. Driven by loyalty, he's hungry to make the first NCAA Tournament of his career and propel the program forward.
Mobley was thrown into the fire as a freshman last season after Meechie Johnson Jr. played only 10 games, but now that he has starting experience, he's trying to step up as a leader in year two. Royal was the last of the three to meet with the media as he makes the transition from power to small forward in the Buckeyes' starting lineup.
Here are their interviews as summer preparations chug along:
