One more easier opponent remains for Ohio State before a five-game stretch of high-majors that should provide early intel about where the Buckeyes stand.
Jake Diebler's squad plays 1-5 Mount Saint Mary's on Tuesday, though that record isn't making the coach approach the game any lighter. Especially after the Mountaineers nearly upset Maryland last Wednesday. But following that contest, Ohio State's next five fixtures are at Pitt, at Northwestern, No. 13 Illinois at home and neutral site games with West Virginia and No. 16 North Carolina.
Diebler is currently loving the approach of a group he feels has more experience and chemistry than his bunch last year. That was the pervading feeling from the press conference.
"We haven't practiced perfect by any means, but this team has yet to have a complete bad day," Diebler said. "They've had some bad moments at times, but those are few and far between. But we don't have bad days."
"I think he's doing well. He was able to get a double-double last game in what was a handful of less minutes. ... Seeing him active on the glass was really important. ... The big thing I've challenged him on is being a good cutter. He just doesn't have experience in that part, and that's the last part of this transition for him moving to the perimeter."– Jake Diebler on Devin Royal's progress at small forward
Devin Royal picked up his first double-double of the season against Western Michigan last game with 10 points and 10 rebounds, the latter piece Diebler felt was key. Part of the move to take Royal from power forward to small forward was to add size to Ohio State's lineup and give them a bigger rebounding edge, Diebler said. But off-ball movement seems to be the last piece of the puzzle for Royal on the wing.
"They were up at Cincinnati. They played West Virginia tough. So, they've been in all their games, really, except the last one. So, coming off that game we anticipate to see their very best stuff tomorrow night. They do a great job of scoring from the 3-point line."– Jake Diebler on Mount Saint Mary's
The Mountaineers lost 83-60 to the Western Michigan squad that Ohio State demolished on Thursday, but brought Maryland to the brink in a 95-90 overtime game. They went 17-of-36 from 3-point range vs. the Terrapins, so it could be a test for the Buckeyes' perimeter defense, which has looked much improved their past few games.
Diebler dove into these topics and myriad others during his 20-minute press conference Tuesday, which you can view at the top of the page.
