Ohio State's roster has gone through a serious revamping in only a few short weeks. That's a good thing for the Buckeyes. Watch video
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Things should be settling down now for the Ohio State basketball team. Right? No more changes?
Should be.
After a couple of tumultuous weeks in which the Buckeyes lost three players to transfer (bringing the season total to four) and two members of the coaching staff, things are finally pointing toward next season.
After all of it, the Buckeyes are in a better place.
Before I say why, I should say this is not a defense of anything that's happened in the last few weeks. I've received some comments that I'm making excuses for the team. I'm not. You lose four players to transfer within one year, and basically miss on two large recruiting classes in the five years, then you have to change things.
Thad Matta and his staff aren't off the hook for anything. They made mistakes building this roster and now they're trying to fix it. I think they're close to fixing it.
Here's a look at what should be Ohio State's roster for the 2016-17 season:
Point guards: JaQuan Lyle, Soph.; C.J. Jackson, Soph.
Shooting guards: Kam Williams, R-Jr.
Small forwards: Marc Loving, Sr.; Keita Bate-Siop, Jr.; Andre Wesson, Fr.
Power forwards: Jae'Sean Tate, Jr.; Derek Funderburk, Fr.
Centers: Trevor Thompson, R-Jr.; Dave Bell, R-Soph.; Micah Potter, Fr.
Here are some thoughts on why I think the roster is better now than it was at the beginning of last year:
Starters
I don't expect anything to change. Lyle, Loving, Bates-Diop, Tate and Thompson should again be the starting lineup in 2016-17. Matta has always favored his older players, and has never been one to make drastic lineup changes unless forced to.
I like this starting lineup as long as Lyle progresses to the point where he's truly running the team. A large part of Ohio State's struggles, particularly early on last year, stemmed from poor point guard play. Lyle needs to take the next step, and if he does he'll lead a starting lineup that returns four double-digit scorers.
Recruiting profiles for Funderburk, Potter and Wesson
The balance
The Buckeyes roster was heading in the direction of being a mess. Think about a scenario in which there were no transfers. The Buckeyes would've had four centers. If nobody left, the 2017 roster would've had five centers. That's some serious roster imbalance.
You now have Thompson as the clear-cut starting center, backed up by Potter and Bell (in that order most likely). Thompson has to get better defensively now that Daniel Giddens is gone, but that gives the Buckeyes some offensive versatility at the big man spot. Potter can stretch the floor to the 3-point line. Thompson has a developing mid-range jumper that can be a weapon if he polishes it enough.
The Buckeyes needed a guard, and added one in Jackson. After a year of prep school and junior college, he's more experienced than A.J. Harris would have been. He's also able to play on the ball or off. Those two and Kam Williams make Ohio State's guard play a little stronger than it was last year.
Adding Andre Wesson on Wednesday gives the Buckeyes a versatile player who can play the two, three or four in Matta's system. He's immediately a three-and-D guy who gives the Buckeyes a perimeter defensive presence they were lacking. He and Tate should be a nice defensive pairing. Wesson and Funderburk, who the Buckeyes hope can be a stretch four or wing player, provide better versatility at wing/forward.
Fewer developmental players
Some of this is obvious, because the core is a year older. That always helps. But look at the players coming in and they could be a little further along than the freshmen who came in last year.
Jackson, as stated, has played a lot of basketball. Wesson isn't a complete product, but has two traits (shooting and defense) that should make him an impact player right away. Potter might already have the best offensive game of any big man on the roster. Funderburk is probably the most developmental player because he doesn't have set position yet, but he has raw athleticism and superior length.
Last year Harris clearly had to slow things down to play in the Big Ten. Austin Grandstaff could shoot, but played few minutes because the rest of his game needed to catch up. Mitchell looked out of place all season backing up and then starting at the four position. His offensive game was limited. Giddens looked like he was going to be a real force defensively, but his offensive game was nowhere near that.
Operating at peak performance and full potential, the 2015 class had more overall talent than this 2016 class. But this 2016 class feels like it's more ready to contribute right away.
More recruiting spots
Ohio State has Kaleb Wesson committed for 2017, and for the longest time it looked like that's all the Buckeyes would be doing in that recruiting class. Now, because it seems like Ohio State is done in 2016 once Jackson signs, they can add two more players in 2017.
They could four or more players in 2018. That gives Matta more options over the last two years to get the roster where he wants it, but he has to get it right.