The marathon man
In high school, Diebler ran cross country to get in shape for basketball. It was time well spent, as it turned out.
A few weeks ago, he said, his grandmother told him, "I would love to have something on your shoe to see how many miles you run in a game."
The kid who scored more points in high school than any other Ohio player, who has made more three-pointers than anyone else in Big Ten history, also has logged more minutes than any other Ohio State player - including Lighty, who has played in more games.
"I don't really get tired that much during games," said Diebler, who has averaged 36.3 minutes the past three seasons. "It goes back to how well we've prepared ourselves in the offseason" with coach Dave Richardson's strength and conditioning regimen.
Days after games are a different story.
"We're feeling it a little bit in practice," Diebler said. "People give us a rough time. They call Dave and I the old men. They're like, 'Get loose, old man,' because it will take us about half an hour to get loose."
By the next game, though, Diebler is raring to go again. Tired legs are the first thing to betray a shooter, but Diebler's field-goal percentage has risen each season.
This season, he has made 50 percent of his attempts, the best of any guard in the Big Ten, and a league-high 49.4 percent of his three-pointers.
"Watching him evolve as a player from four years ago has been amazing," Matta said.
