Lundardi projects Ohio State as 5 seed in 2021 NCAA Tournament
The country as a whole, and specifically the college basketball world, was robbed of the 2020 NCAA Tournament by the coronavirus pandemic that swept the nation just days before the tournament's field was to be announced. The cancelation of the NCAA Tournament was unprecedented and its effects will likely be felt beyond this year.
And while teams across the country were impacted by not taking part in the Big Dance, some were affected more than others. One of those teams that could have benefitted the most from taking part in the NCAA Tournament was Ohio State.
The Buckeyes finished the regular season winners of nine of their last 12 games, including three ranked victories -- teams that were surely going dancing -- in their last five contests. The Scarlet and Gray were also poised to get back forward Kyle Young, the all-hustle, do-everything junior, who missed the final four contests of the regular season. Had the Tournament been played, Ohio State was poised to make a run and where they ended up was anyone's guess.
Fortunately, the NCAA Tournament happens every year and we expect that at the end of next season, there will be postseason play. And while that is a year away, and there remains a full offseason and regular season to be played before we get there, it's never too early to look ahead, especially if you're ESPN's Joe Lundardi. The college basketball expert released his "Way-Too-Early March Madness bracket for 2021, Version 1" this week and you should not be surprised to find the Buckeyes back in the Big Dance.
Despite the flurry of recent turnover within the Scarlet and Gray program, Lunardi projects Ohio State to be a No. 5 seed come the 2021 NCAA Tournament, the same seeding he predicted for the 2020 Buckeyes.
There certainly is uncertainty when it comes to the 2020-21 season for the Scarlet and Gray. Junior center Kaleb Wesson, Ohio State's leading scorer and rebounder last year, declared for the 2020 NBA Draft and said he plans to hire an agent. While NCAA rules permit Wesson to return to college after working out for teams if he chooses, that does not seem like that is in the cards for the Columbus native. This means the Buckeyes must replace a 6-foot-9, 270-pound big man who could score in the paint, shoot from the outside (42.5 percent from three-point range last year) and defend.
In addition, the Scarlet and Gray's lone scholarship senior, Andre Wesson, graduated. Freshman point guard DJ Carton and sophomore guard Luther Muhammad both elected to transfer and freshman Alonzo Gaffney left the program after one year, likely to test the professional waters. In these departures, Ohio State loses a veteran leader, two very good defenders, a freshman who showed a lot of promise before missing the final 11 games of the season and another freshman who the team hoped to groom into an effective player.
But it hasn't been all losses for the Buckeyes since the season abruptly ended. The Scarlet and Gray added Harvard graduate transfer Seth Towns, who brings his size and scoring ability from the Ivy League to the Big Ten. Playing with Ohio State, Towns won't have to be the offensive force he was for two years with the Crimson, but he has the ability to put the ball in the basket when needed.
Also, the Buckeyes will add Justice Sueing to the rotation in 2020-21. The former California forward had to sit out last year but brings 14.3 points and six rebounds per game from the West Coast to the Midwest. The Scarlet and Gray will also get Young, who averaged 7.5 points and 5.8 rebounds last season, and junior guard Musa Jallow back from injuries. Both players need to continue to expand their games, but each has a role to play for Ohio State.
And it shouldn't be forgotten the players who performed well for the Buckeyes last season and will return in 2020-21. Guards CJ Walker and Duane Washington each continued to elevate their game, especially once Carton wasn't playing and roles were clearly defined. EJ Liddell emerged as a legitimate option in the paint and will continue to build on a strong end to his freshman season. If Justin Ahrens can continue to develop, the Scarlet and Gray have a ready-made catch-and-shoot player to deploy. Finally, Ohio State has four-star shooting guard Eugene Brown and three-star power forward Zed Key set to enroll this summer, two players the coaching staff is high on.
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