With the 2017-18 season fast approaching, it’s time to rank every Ohio State basketball coach and assess which players, teams, and schemes can help the Buckeyes win basketball games.
The first piece of this ranking is the coaches’ defensive philosophies.
It’s no surprise that the Buckeye defense is a must-watch.
They play fast and strong and often have the best player in the country in James Blackmon.
Blackmon has been a dominant presence on both ends of the floor, and his defense is what makes him a dangerous offensive weapon.
The Buckeyes are one of the best in the nation when he is in the game.
But it’s not just the big men that Blackmon brings to the table.
It includes guards and wing players.
The Ohio State secondary is among the best.
They are stout defensively, which helps with the Buckeres ability to score inside.
They have two of the nation’s top defensive scorers in J.T. Barrett and Ethan Happ.
This secondary will make it hard for opposing teams to score.
The offensive side of the ball has to improve, too.
The offense is loaded with talented athletes and they will need to be consistent in scoring.
The big man duo of J.B. Holmes and De’Anthony Thomas are among the top offensive threats in the Big Ten.
Holmes has been playing at an elite level all season and will continue to develop into a top-10 scorer in the conference.
He will need more time to become a dominant threat in the NCAA Tournament.
Thomas is the biggest question mark in the Buckees frontcourt.
He is a fantastic defender who can score on any player in college basketball.
He could also become a big part of the offense in the future.
The defensive line could also be a key piece to the Buckese team’s success.
If any Buckeye player struggles, it will be Holmes, who has struggled defensively.
This group can help Ohio State reach the NCAA Championship Game.
The rest of the Buckes defensive frontcourt will also need to improve.
The team will need a lot of help from the wings.
They can be an extremely good defensive team if they can stay healthy and stay on the same page.
The secondary is one of Ohio State’s biggest weaknesses, and it could be one of its biggest reasons for missing the NCAA tournament.
But if the Buckeys defense improves and they are able to keep their star players healthy, this team could make it.
