-
New here? Register here now for access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Plus, stay connected and follow BP on Instagram @buckeyeplanet and Facebook.
LGHL You’re Nuts: Which Buckeye men’s basketball player will take the biggest jump next season?
- News
- 0 Replies
You’re Nuts: Which Buckeye men’s basketball player will take the biggest jump next season?
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Jake Diebler retained a good chunk of last year’s team, but he needs those players to continue to improve.
Well, one month down, five to go. Roster and coaching staff turnover continues as we roll into May, as Ohio State is still looking for one more player and one more coach to top off the 2025-2026 roster. The team will return to campus next month for summer classes, which means these things should all pretty much be wrapped up in the next four weeks or so.
Last week, Connor and Justin debated what the biggest “What if” of Ohio State’s season was. Connor went with “What if Bruce Thornton didn’t airball that shot against Michigan?” and Justin said “What if Pitt didn’t hit that buzzer-beater in November?”
It was another close one, but Connor’s choice of Thornton airballing against the skunk badgers earned 47% of the votes from the readers, while Justin’s Pitt buzzer-beater earned 42% of the vote. The remaining 11% of the readers thought it was something other than those two tragic moments.
Connor- 91
This week, we’re debating which player will take the biggest jump from last season to this season. It doesn’t necessarily have to be someone who was on the team last season, but it does have to be someone playing for Ohio State this year.
Interpret “biggest jump” any way you want — whether that’s statistically or otherwise.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25911263/usa_today_22556735.jpg "Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch")
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
As good as Devin Royal has been, he actually wasn’t the highest-rated recruit in Ohio State’s 2023 recruiting class. That honor goes to Chatman, who was No. 39 in the 247Sports composite rankings in that class.
He only played in 17 games two years ago as a freshman, but what I remember being impressed by in his limited minutes is that fact that he never looked rushed. He settled way too often, taking 15 of his 18 shots that year from three-point range, but I the shots usually came in a rhythm and Chatman took them confidently. He was 6-of-18 shooting over 17 games during the 2023-2024 season, and was 4-for-15 from three-point range.
Like it or not, Chatman is going to play a crucial role on this year’s team. Thornton and Mobley will start, but right now it is looking like Chatman and Gabe Cupps could be the other guards in the rotation, as well as incoming freshman Dorian Jones.
In a recent interview with the Columbus Dispatch, Jake Diebler said that Chatman has been shooting the ball well this summer.
“He’s shot the ball really well this spring in his workouts,” Diebler said of the 6-foot-4, 175-pound Chatman. “He has positional size for a guard. He’s a bigger guard, and he again is a guy who has a high basketball IQ.”
Assuming there are no drastic injuries in the starting lineup, Chatman could play anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes per game this season off the bench. He can play on or off the ball, and his jump shot looks confident and smooth (I wouldn’t put too much stock into the small sample size of his freshman season).
Chatman was ranked a one of the highest four-star recruits in the 2023 class for a reason, and this season will be his first real opportunity to get some consistent minutes. As long as his knee is 100%, I think Chatman will end up scoring 6-10 points per game for Ohio State off the bench this season.
As big of a jump Devin Royal took from his freshman to sophomore season, I expect the same from John Mobley Jr.
This is not necessarily true regarding statistics, since Royal had a much smaller role in his freshman season than Mobley did, so it was easier for all of his stats to go up. I expect him to take a large leap in college basketball acumen and maturity.
A large part of playing college basketball is learning how to play college basketball, and the offseason from freshman to sophomore season is a pivotal time for that development. As a freshman, you are still dealing with the transition to college life, and now as a sophomore, you can focus more on the actual basketball since you have adjusted.
Mobley was put into a tough spot last season as a true freshman, as he was thrust into a starting role and one of the top minutes played for the Buckeyes after Meechie Johnson left the team. He went through some growing pains, but ultimately played very well for a freshman, even briefly popping up on NBA Draft boards.
Now, he will head into his second season with all that experience.
A primary focus for Mobley will be improving his efficiency inside the three-point line, as he only shot 39 percent from the field and 38 percent from three. If he can improve that, he can be one of the best scorers in the conference.
Continue reading...
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Jake Diebler retained a good chunk of last year’s team, but he needs those players to continue to improve.
Well, one month down, five to go. Roster and coaching staff turnover continues as we roll into May, as Ohio State is still looking for one more player and one more coach to top off the 2025-2026 roster. The team will return to campus next month for summer classes, which means these things should all pretty much be wrapped up in the next four weeks or so.
Last week, Connor and Justin debated what the biggest “What if” of Ohio State’s season was. Connor went with “What if Bruce Thornton didn’t airball that shot against Michigan?” and Justin said “What if Pitt didn’t hit that buzzer-beater in November?”
It was another close one, but Connor’s choice of Thornton airballing against the skunk badgers earned 47% of the votes from the readers, while Justin’s Pitt buzzer-beater earned 42% of the vote. The remaining 11% of the readers thought it was something other than those two tragic moments.
After 203 weeks:
Connor- 91
Justin- 86
Other- 20
(There have been six ties)
This week, we’re debating which player will take the biggest jump from last season to this season. It doesn’t necessarily have to be someone who was on the team last season, but it does have to be someone playing for Ohio State this year.
Interpret “biggest jump” any way you want — whether that’s statistically or otherwise.
This week’s question: Which Buckeye basketball player will take the biggest jump next season?
Connor: Taison Chatman
As good as Devin Royal has been, he actually wasn’t the highest-rated recruit in Ohio State’s 2023 recruiting class. That honor goes to Chatman, who was No. 39 in the 247Sports composite rankings in that class.
He only played in 17 games two years ago as a freshman, but what I remember being impressed by in his limited minutes is that fact that he never looked rushed. He settled way too often, taking 15 of his 18 shots that year from three-point range, but I the shots usually came in a rhythm and Chatman took them confidently. He was 6-of-18 shooting over 17 games during the 2023-2024 season, and was 4-for-15 from three-point range.
Like it or not, Chatman is going to play a crucial role on this year’s team. Thornton and Mobley will start, but right now it is looking like Chatman and Gabe Cupps could be the other guards in the rotation, as well as incoming freshman Dorian Jones.
In a recent interview with the Columbus Dispatch, Jake Diebler said that Chatman has been shooting the ball well this summer.
“He’s shot the ball really well this spring in his workouts,” Diebler said of the 6-foot-4, 175-pound Chatman. “He has positional size for a guard. He’s a bigger guard, and he again is a guy who has a high basketball IQ.”
Assuming there are no drastic injuries in the starting lineup, Chatman could play anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes per game this season off the bench. He can play on or off the ball, and his jump shot looks confident and smooth (I wouldn’t put too much stock into the small sample size of his freshman season).
Chatman was ranked a one of the highest four-star recruits in the 2023 class for a reason, and this season will be his first real opportunity to get some consistent minutes. As long as his knee is 100%, I think Chatman will end up scoring 6-10 points per game for Ohio State off the bench this season.
Justin: John Mobley Jr.
As big of a jump Devin Royal took from his freshman to sophomore season, I expect the same from John Mobley Jr.
This is not necessarily true regarding statistics, since Royal had a much smaller role in his freshman season than Mobley did, so it was easier for all of his stats to go up. I expect him to take a large leap in college basketball acumen and maturity.
A large part of playing college basketball is learning how to play college basketball, and the offseason from freshman to sophomore season is a pivotal time for that development. As a freshman, you are still dealing with the transition to college life, and now as a sophomore, you can focus more on the actual basketball since you have adjusted.
Mobley was put into a tough spot last season as a true freshman, as he was thrust into a starting role and one of the top minutes played for the Buckeyes after Meechie Johnson left the team. He went through some growing pains, but ultimately played very well for a freshman, even briefly popping up on NBA Draft boards.
Now, he will head into his second season with all that experience.
A primary focus for Mobley will be improving his efficiency inside the three-point line, as he only shot 39 percent from the field and 38 percent from three. If he can improve that, he can be one of the best scorers in the conference.
Continue reading...
Brian Walsh (Assistant Basketball Coach)
- By ScriptOhio
- Buckeye Basketball
- 0 Replies
Ohio State Hires Former Indiana Assistant Brian Walsh As Assistant Coach
Jake Diebler fills the open spot on his coaching staff by hiring former Indiana assistant Brian Walsh.
Ohio State Hires Former Indiana Assistant Brian Walsh As Assistant Coach
Login to view embedded media“I’m excited for Brian and his family to join our Ohio State Hoops family,” Diebler said in Ohio State’s announcement. “Brian is a proven recruiter with deep Midwest ties who has excelled at connecting with and developing players. His Big Ten scouting experience and analytics expertise are going to be a valuable asset to our program.”
Diebler joins a staff of assistant coaches that also includes Joel Justus, Dave Dickerson, Jamall Walker and Luke Simons. All of them are back for their second season at Ohio State, with Dickerson in his second stint as an assistant coach with the Buckeyes, after joining the program last offseason as members of Diebler’s inaugural staff as Ohio State’s head coach.
Brian Walsh joins Ohio State men’s basketball as assistant coach
After eight seasons on staff at Indiana, Brian Walsh is joining the Buckeyes as an assistant coach.
“I’m excited for Brian and his family to join our Ohio State Hoops family,” head coach Jake Diebler said. “Brian is a proven recruiter with deep Midwest ties who has excelled at connecting with and developing players. His Big Ten scouting experience and analytics expertise are going to be a valuable asset to our program.”
Walsh served as an assistant coach, a recruiting coordinator and director of operations during his time with the Hoosiers, playing a role in 149 wins and two NCAA tournament appearances.
His hiring at Ohio State marks a return to the Buckeye state after spending time at Dayton and Akron, including one season as the Flyers’ assistant director of operations.
Walsh played collegiately at Xavier and Akron, helping the Musketeers earn back-to-back Atlantic 10 regular season championships and a pair of Sweet Sixteen appearances in 2009 and 2010. He also played a role in a pair of Zips’ MAC regular season titles and a tournament tile in 2013.
LGHL You’re Nuts: Which 2025 Ohio State football game are you most hyped for?
- News
- 0 Replies
You’re Nuts: Which 2025 Ohio State football game are you most hyped for?
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about hype. What are you most hyped about heading into the 2025-26 season? You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Hype Week” articles here.
Since it is “Hype Week” here at LGHL, today we figured we would take a look at the most anticipated games of the 2025 regular season for Ohio State football. The Buckeyes kick off the season at home with the biggest opener in school history when they welcome the Texas Longhorns to Columbus in a game that could feature the top two teams in the country, as well as a rematch of the Cotton Bowl semifinal in the College Football Playoff.
While the game against Texas is the most notable non-conference game this year, there are a number of other intriguing games on this year’s schedule. Even though the result is likely to be lopsided, some might be looking forward to when Ohio State hosts Ohio just because there are so many Ohio graduates in the area. Others could be taking the trip out to Seattle to see the Buckeyes take on Washington since Husky Stadium is one of the most scenic venues in college football. Then there are high-profile matchups with Penn State and Michigan later in the year.
Today, we want to know which game on Ohio State football’s 2025 schedule you are most hyped for. The only wrong answer to this question is the Purdue gam,e since nobody should be excited for the Buckeyes to go to West Lafayette to take on the Boilermaker,s since their football program is a dumpster fire right now. There is even reason to be excited about the UCLA game since Ohio State fans can see Nico Iamaleava shut down by the Buckeye defense twice in less than a year at Ohio Stadium.
Over the last decade, Penn State has been the team to consistently push Ohio State to the limit. Each of the last nine meetings has been decided by 13 points or less, with six of those matchups decided by nine points or less. The Buckeyes have earned victory in the last eight meetings thanks to Penn State head coach James Franklin continuously failing to win the most important games on their schedule. More often than not, when football schedules are realized, the Penn State game is usually the one I’m most nervous about heading into the season.
That definitely rings true in 2025. I know the Texas game will be tough, but since it’s the first game of the season, a loss by Ohio State wouldn’t be the end of the world. A fifth straight loss to Michigan would certainly hurt, but after last year, I know the Buckeyes can go on to win it all after suffering a loss to the Wolverines. Honestly, while winning a Big Ten title is a goal for Ryan Day, maybe the playoff run for the Buckeyes doesn’t shake out quite the same way if they had to go to Indianapolis to take on Oregon just a week after losing to Michigan.
Some are ranking Penn State number one heading into the 2025 season. The Nittany Lions are returning quarterback Drew Allar, as well as running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen. The matchup added even more spice when Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles decided to return to his home state of Pennsylvania to take the same position with Penn State shortly after leading the Buckeye defense in their title run. I’m hoping that Ryan Day and Brian Hartline make Knowles miserable when the teams square off on the first day of November in Columbus.
For as nervous as this game has me, I’m hyped for the fact that Penn State will likely come into this game undefeated. Not that the Nittany Lions don’t have a couple of tough games prior to taking on the Buckeyes, as they’ll host Oregon in late September, followed by traveling to Iowa in mid-October before a bye week prior to the Ohio State game. The recipe is ripe for disappointment for Penn State fans. Will a loss to the Buckeyes cost the Nittany Lions a spot in the playoff? As long as they don’t stumble a couple of other times during the regular season, Penn State will likely be a part of the 12-team field. I just want Ohio State to beat a top-ranked Penn State squad to put even more doubt in the heads of Nittany Lions fans that James Franklin can’t win when the lights are the brightest.
Penn State is a great option for all of the on and off-field reasons that Brett mentioned. However, I have a difficult time worrying too much about the Nits while Franklin is still the coach. Of course, my anxiousness for that game will clearly increase as November approaches, but sitting here in early May, I feel confident that Ryan Day and company will be able to out-scheme and play PSU, even with Knowles now on their staff. And, if worse comes to worse, we can always count on James Franklin to James Franklin all over himself down the stretch.
The other obvious late-season option is The Game at the end of the regular season. But, given what we have been forced to witness over the last four seasons, my level of hype is at subteranean depths, despite the fact that I am still confident in OSU’s ability to beat Michigan. However, until we see the Buckeye get back into the win column against their rivals, that game will bring nothing but anxiety for me, and I assume many of you.
So, what game left on the schedule provides an equal balance of on-field intrigue and a healthy level of nervousness? Of course, the season opener against the Texas Longhorns.
Obviously, the first game of any season brings an incredible amount of hype for everyone across Buckeye Nation, so I feel like the Aug. 30 matchup already gets extra bonus points for that. But then, when you factor the 28-14 College Football Playoff Semifinal victory (which wasn’t even really that close) into the mix, that adds extra layers of intrigue.
But when it comes to the athletes that will be playing the game, this will be the first time that we get to see the new-look Buckeyes after the departure of so many veteran stars to the NFL. What will Julian Sayin look like leading the offense? How will the defensive line hold up after losing all four starters? Will Jeremiah Smith take another step forward in his second season in Columbus? Will Caleb Downs solidify himself as the best defensive player in the country? The game against the Longhorns will be our first opportunity to find out.
On the other sideline, it will also be the first true game of the Arch Manning Era in Texas. Will the quarterback live up to the lofty expectations that accompany his last name and pedigree? Or, like Quinn Ewers before him, will he underachieve against elite Scarlet and Gray competition?
For all of those reasons and many more, I am incredibly hyped to get the 2025-26 college football season underway when the defending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes host the Texas Longhorns on Saturday, Aug. 30.
Continue reading...
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about hype. What are you most hyped about heading into the 2025-26 season? You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Hype Week” articles here.
Since it is “Hype Week” here at LGHL, today we figured we would take a look at the most anticipated games of the 2025 regular season for Ohio State football. The Buckeyes kick off the season at home with the biggest opener in school history when they welcome the Texas Longhorns to Columbus in a game that could feature the top two teams in the country, as well as a rematch of the Cotton Bowl semifinal in the College Football Playoff.
While the game against Texas is the most notable non-conference game this year, there are a number of other intriguing games on this year’s schedule. Even though the result is likely to be lopsided, some might be looking forward to when Ohio State hosts Ohio just because there are so many Ohio graduates in the area. Others could be taking the trip out to Seattle to see the Buckeyes take on Washington since Husky Stadium is one of the most scenic venues in college football. Then there are high-profile matchups with Penn State and Michigan later in the year.
Today, we want to know which game on Ohio State football’s 2025 schedule you are most hyped for. The only wrong answer to this question is the Purdue gam,e since nobody should be excited for the Buckeyes to go to West Lafayette to take on the Boilermaker,s since their football program is a dumpster fire right now. There is even reason to be excited about the UCLA game since Ohio State fans can see Nico Iamaleava shut down by the Buckeye defense twice in less than a year at Ohio Stadium.
Today’s question: Which 2025 Ohio State football game are you most hyped for?
We’d love to hear your choices. Either respond to us on Twitter at @Landgrant33 or leave your choice in the comments.
Brett’s answer: Penn State
Over the last decade, Penn State has been the team to consistently push Ohio State to the limit. Each of the last nine meetings has been decided by 13 points or less, with six of those matchups decided by nine points or less. The Buckeyes have earned victory in the last eight meetings thanks to Penn State head coach James Franklin continuously failing to win the most important games on their schedule. More often than not, when football schedules are realized, the Penn State game is usually the one I’m most nervous about heading into the season.
That definitely rings true in 2025. I know the Texas game will be tough, but since it’s the first game of the season, a loss by Ohio State wouldn’t be the end of the world. A fifth straight loss to Michigan would certainly hurt, but after last year, I know the Buckeyes can go on to win it all after suffering a loss to the Wolverines. Honestly, while winning a Big Ten title is a goal for Ryan Day, maybe the playoff run for the Buckeyes doesn’t shake out quite the same way if they had to go to Indianapolis to take on Oregon just a week after losing to Michigan.
Some are ranking Penn State number one heading into the 2025 season. The Nittany Lions are returning quarterback Drew Allar, as well as running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen. The matchup added even more spice when Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles decided to return to his home state of Pennsylvania to take the same position with Penn State shortly after leading the Buckeye defense in their title run. I’m hoping that Ryan Day and Brian Hartline make Knowles miserable when the teams square off on the first day of November in Columbus.
For as nervous as this game has me, I’m hyped for the fact that Penn State will likely come into this game undefeated. Not that the Nittany Lions don’t have a couple of tough games prior to taking on the Buckeyes, as they’ll host Oregon in late September, followed by traveling to Iowa in mid-October before a bye week prior to the Ohio State game. The recipe is ripe for disappointment for Penn State fans. Will a loss to the Buckeyes cost the Nittany Lions a spot in the playoff? As long as they don’t stumble a couple of other times during the regular season, Penn State will likely be a part of the 12-team field. I just want Ohio State to beat a top-ranked Penn State squad to put even more doubt in the heads of Nittany Lions fans that James Franklin can’t win when the lights are the brightest.
Matt’s answer: Texas
Penn State is a great option for all of the on and off-field reasons that Brett mentioned. However, I have a difficult time worrying too much about the Nits while Franklin is still the coach. Of course, my anxiousness for that game will clearly increase as November approaches, but sitting here in early May, I feel confident that Ryan Day and company will be able to out-scheme and play PSU, even with Knowles now on their staff. And, if worse comes to worse, we can always count on James Franklin to James Franklin all over himself down the stretch.
The other obvious late-season option is The Game at the end of the regular season. But, given what we have been forced to witness over the last four seasons, my level of hype is at subteranean depths, despite the fact that I am still confident in OSU’s ability to beat Michigan. However, until we see the Buckeye get back into the win column against their rivals, that game will bring nothing but anxiety for me, and I assume many of you.
So, what game left on the schedule provides an equal balance of on-field intrigue and a healthy level of nervousness? Of course, the season opener against the Texas Longhorns.
Obviously, the first game of any season brings an incredible amount of hype for everyone across Buckeye Nation, so I feel like the Aug. 30 matchup already gets extra bonus points for that. But then, when you factor the 28-14 College Football Playoff Semifinal victory (which wasn’t even really that close) into the mix, that adds extra layers of intrigue.
But when it comes to the athletes that will be playing the game, this will be the first time that we get to see the new-look Buckeyes after the departure of so many veteran stars to the NFL. What will Julian Sayin look like leading the offense? How will the defensive line hold up after losing all four starters? Will Jeremiah Smith take another step forward in his second season in Columbus? Will Caleb Downs solidify himself as the best defensive player in the country? The game against the Longhorns will be our first opportunity to find out.
On the other sideline, it will also be the first true game of the Arch Manning Era in Texas. Will the quarterback live up to the lofty expectations that accompany his last name and pedigree? Or, like Quinn Ewers before him, will he underachieve against elite Scarlet and Gray competition?
For all of those reasons and many more, I am incredibly hyped to get the 2025-26 college football season underway when the defending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes host the Texas Longhorns on Saturday, Aug. 30.
Continue reading...
LGHL Health of newest Buckeye Josh Ojianwuna a big asterisk heading into 2025-2026 season
- News
- 0 Replies
Health of newest Buckeye Josh Ojianwuna a big asterisk heading into 2025-2026 season
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The former Baylor center may or may not play this season for Ohio State.
Ohio State made a big splash on Wednesday afternoon, in both a literal and metaphorical sense. In picking up 6-foot-10, 230-pound Josh Ojianwuna, Jake Diebler and his staff added an intense, physical big man to the team that raises the floor of the team. Pound-for-pound, there aren’t many tougher players in the nation.
A starter at Baylor last season, Ojianwuna (pronounced oh-john-woo-nuh) is not expected to start for the Buckeyes, but could if needed. He averaged 7.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game a season ago while playing 24.6 minutes per game for the Bears. He also shot 77.4% from the floor on just under four shot attempts per game.
Translation: he does not take a ton of shots, but when Baylor got him the ball close to the basket, he did not miss.
The only concern with Ojianwuna is his health. He tore his ACL against UCF in February, and had surgery to repair it weeks later. Now off of crutches, Ojianwuna is doing well in his recovery, but rehabbing a serious knee injury takes time. Because of how late in the season the injury occured, his status for the beginning of next season is foggy.
“When I had my surgery, the doctor told me it’s going to probably take nine months,” Ojianwuna told the Columbus Dispatch this week. “They said 9-12 months, but most of the time ACL injuries take nine months is what he told me.”
Nine months would bring him back sometime in November — a very minimal absence in terms of games played, but his pre-season practices would probably look different from that of his teammates.
A full 12-month recovery would mean mid-to-late February, or the majority of this upcoming season. If that were the case, Ohio State would be open to redshirting Ojianwuna to preserve his eligibility for the 2026-2027 season.
Neither Diebler nor the Ohio State medical staff are going to put out any kind of goal or targeted date for their newest player’s return. The season is still six months away, and every person recovers differently from ACL injuries. If Ojianwuna recovers quickly and is ready to play by November, he will play. If it takes closer to the full 12 months, the team will not rush him back.
A source close to the Ohio State men’s basketball program did indicate earlier this week that the team is not overly confident that Ojianwuna will be ready to play in the first game of the season, which will likely take place the first week of November. If that’s the case, Ivan Njegovan will be the main backup center to Christoph Tilly, with Brandon Noel or even Amare Bynum sliding over to play a “small ball” center at times.
The outlook of Ohio State’s roster — and season — will look different based on how much of the season Ojianwuna is available.
If the best case scenario plays out, Ohio State will have one of the best backup centers in the Big Ten on their team — a guy who grabbed 17 rebounds in one game last season and is more than capable of starting if needed.
If the worst case scenario plays out, Ohio State may have just used an available roster spot on a player who won’t even contribute this upcoming season. In what could very well be a make-or-break year for Diebler at Ohio State, can the program really afford to invest in players who won’t see the floor? Will redshirting the talented big man pay dividends for the following season if this year does not go well?
For now, the focus is on rehabbing the knee and being healthy enough to raise Ohio State’s level this upcoming season. If the Buckeyes don’t make a serious jump this season, it will be fair to look back and question if this move was worth the risk.
Continue reading...
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The former Baylor center may or may not play this season for Ohio State.
Ohio State made a big splash on Wednesday afternoon, in both a literal and metaphorical sense. In picking up 6-foot-10, 230-pound Josh Ojianwuna, Jake Diebler and his staff added an intense, physical big man to the team that raises the floor of the team. Pound-for-pound, there aren’t many tougher players in the nation.
A starter at Baylor last season, Ojianwuna (pronounced oh-john-woo-nuh) is not expected to start for the Buckeyes, but could if needed. He averaged 7.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game a season ago while playing 24.6 minutes per game for the Bears. He also shot 77.4% from the floor on just under four shot attempts per game.
Translation: he does not take a ton of shots, but when Baylor got him the ball close to the basket, he did not miss.
The only concern with Ojianwuna is his health. He tore his ACL against UCF in February, and had surgery to repair it weeks later. Now off of crutches, Ojianwuna is doing well in his recovery, but rehabbing a serious knee injury takes time. Because of how late in the season the injury occured, his status for the beginning of next season is foggy.
“When I had my surgery, the doctor told me it’s going to probably take nine months,” Ojianwuna told the Columbus Dispatch this week. “They said 9-12 months, but most of the time ACL injuries take nine months is what he told me.”
Nine months would bring him back sometime in November — a very minimal absence in terms of games played, but his pre-season practices would probably look different from that of his teammates.
A full 12-month recovery would mean mid-to-late February, or the majority of this upcoming season. If that were the case, Ohio State would be open to redshirting Ojianwuna to preserve his eligibility for the 2026-2027 season.
Neither Diebler nor the Ohio State medical staff are going to put out any kind of goal or targeted date for their newest player’s return. The season is still six months away, and every person recovers differently from ACL injuries. If Ojianwuna recovers quickly and is ready to play by November, he will play. If it takes closer to the full 12 months, the team will not rush him back.
Josh Ojianwuna threw it DOWN@BaylorMBB pic.twitter.com/54EBwM44Uy
— ESPN+ (@ESPNPlus) November 7, 2022
A source close to the Ohio State men’s basketball program did indicate earlier this week that the team is not overly confident that Ojianwuna will be ready to play in the first game of the season, which will likely take place the first week of November. If that’s the case, Ivan Njegovan will be the main backup center to Christoph Tilly, with Brandon Noel or even Amare Bynum sliding over to play a “small ball” center at times.
The outlook of Ohio State’s roster — and season — will look different based on how much of the season Ojianwuna is available.
If the best case scenario plays out, Ohio State will have one of the best backup centers in the Big Ten on their team — a guy who grabbed 17 rebounds in one game last season and is more than capable of starting if needed.
If the worst case scenario plays out, Ohio State may have just used an available roster spot on a player who won’t even contribute this upcoming season. In what could very well be a make-or-break year for Diebler at Ohio State, can the program really afford to invest in players who won’t see the floor? Will redshirting the talented big man pay dividends for the following season if this year does not go well?
For now, the focus is on rehabbing the knee and being healthy enough to raise Ohio State’s level this upcoming season. If the Buckeyes don’t make a serious jump this season, it will be fair to look back and question if this move was worth the risk.
Continue reading...