Ohio State basketball: The ultimate preview for the 2021-22 season

In late February 2021, Ohio State looked like a team about to have its breakthrough season. Under 3rd-year head coach Chris Holtmann, the Buckeyes got out to an 18-4 start to their season, were ranked No. 4 in the nation, and seemed equipped for a Final Four season, if not more.

The Buckeyes then lost the last 4 games of the regular season, rallied to face Illinois in the Big Ten title game, and then were knocked out by a No. 15 seed in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

In 2021-22, the Buckeyes will look to return to that mid-season form, once again demonstrating that they are among the class of the Big Ten and perhaps a top 10 team in the nation. But this season, they plan to finish strong. The return of future NBA lottery pick EJ Liddell to Columbus took Ohio State from a decent team to a very, very good one — potentially a great one. And in Holtmann’s 4th season, he’s more than ready to get out of the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament.

Best player

EJ Liddell. A 4-star recruit in the 2019 recruiting class, Liddell was a competent reserve as a freshman (6.7 points, 3.8 rebounds per game). But then he exploded in his sophomore season, jumping to 16.2 points and 6.7 rebounds. Liddell can be rugged inside, and he added the 3-point shot to his arsenal last year, connecting on 34% of his attempts. A unanimous preseason All-Big Ten pick, Liddell figures to be among the best power forwards in the league and the nation.

If an alternative is needed, consider senior forward Justice Sueing, who transferred from Cal and sat out the 2019-20 season. Sueing dealt with some rust last season, but still managed to become the third-leading scorer for the Buckeyes. Between his two schools, Sueing has over 1,200 career points, and he’s another versatile scorer who can work inside or outside. He’ll need to improve his defense, but if opponents lock in too hard on Liddell, Sueing will flourish from that under-the-radar status.

Biggest strength

The Buckeyes have as many skilled big men as any team in the nation. Start with Liddell, because nearly everything said or written about OSU will. But add in rugged sophomore Zed Key, who is a true blue-collar worker under the basket. Throw in Indiana transfer Joey Brunk, who is the tallest of the group. Work in 5th-year senior Kyle Young, whose loss to concussion in the NCAA Tournament left the Buckeyes scrambling.

Ohio State has been a strong offensive team, and much of this starts with having such a multitude of inside players who rarely take bad shots and do yeoman’s work on the offensive boards. Ohio State lost talented guard Duane Washington, but don’t be surprised if the physical talent down low makes his loss barely noticeable.

Biggest weakness

The Buckeyes have to settle on the replacement for not only Washington, but also point guard CJ Walker. Given the chemistry issues inherent in the choice of point guard, it’s a pivotal decision. Penn State transfer Jamari Wheeler is a top-notch defender, but might not have the offensive punch for the position. Returnees Jimmy Sotos and Meechie Johnson Jr. will get shots as well. Johnson might have the highest upside, but as a kid who missed his high school junior season due to injury and reclassified to OSU mid-season last year, he hasn’t seen real playing time in a while.

Ohio State’s defense took a step back last season. Usually a point of pride for Holtmann, the Buckeyes relied on a strong offense, and weren’t especially stout in slowing down the opponent during the latter parts of 2020-21. The Buckeyes gave up 70+ points in 9 of their final 10 games, including allowing more than 80 points 3 times, and allowing more than 90 points twice. That’s a substantial part of why OSU struggled late.

Key to the season

Figuring out the backcourt is the key to Ohio State’s success. Holtmann has to decide whether to prioritize defense, with a bigger role for Wheeler, or outside shooting, which might favor Justin Ahrens or Louisiana transfer Cedric Russell. Or Holtmann could look to athleticism, in which case Meechie Johnson or freshman Malachi Branham might see more minutes.

With all of the talent OSU has down low, it’s still hard to get around the fact that guards are ultimately responsible for a team’s identity. Making the combination of transfers, freshmen, and somewhat untested talent into a cohesive backcourt will ultimately give the Buckeyes their identity.

Scouting the backcourt

As noted, this is the big question. Wheeler was a standout defender at Penn State, but he never averaged even 7 points per game as a Nittany Lion. He’s not a great outside shooter, and has really struggled at the foul line. On the other hand, Russell was an offensive star at Louisiana, scoring over 17 points per game last year, and he’s solid from three (40% last year) and at the foul line (77%). Can he compete at this higher level of athleticism?

Branham was a 4-star recruit from St. Vincent’s High, most famous for producing none other than LeBron James. Johnson is athletic, but again, hasn’t played meaningful minutes since his sophomore year of high school. Second-year player Eugene Brown played well in Ohio State’s exhibition, and he could figure into the equation. But it’s all kind of a mystery right now.

Scouting the frontcourt

Liddell is where it starts and ends. He’s the alpha dog, and his decision to return to Columbus was gigantic for his team. Key is limited as a scorer, but he’s a physical presence, and his 62% shooting percentage bespeaks a young player who knows his role. Brunk is a role player who played at Butler for 3 years before playing at Indiana last year. Continuing his tour of basketball schools of the Midwest, he’ll bring his 5-7 points and 4-5 rebounds per game of production.

Young is oft-injured, but plays with a tremendous amount of physicality and heart. He averaged 8.6 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, but has also battled injuries throughout his career, and begins the season out with yet another injury. Similarly, Harvard transfer Seth Towns is out after back surgery, and it’s unclear whether he’ll contribute this season.

Sueing was a 10-points-per-game scorer, who could easily score 15 per game this year at the small forward spot. He’s another dependable part of this group.

Predicting how far they’ll go in March

Ohio State opens the season as the 4th ranked team in the Big Ten, behind Michigan, Purdue and Illinois. That feels about right, at least to open the season. OSU’s backcourt will determine whether the team can win the league, but even if the backcourt questions linger, Ohio State is solidly in the upper echelon of the league, and will play accordingly.

OSU has an outside chance at winning the Big Ten, but staying in the top handful of teams will be sufficient. What really matters is March, and that’s where Holtmann needs to show improvement. This Ohio State team will be too rugged to get knocked out by a high seed early. This year, Ohio State makes the Sweet Sixteen, and with the right matchups, could even win another game or 2. But for now, we’ll settle on a 25-win season, a Sweet Sixteen berth … and the possibility that figuring out the backcourt could lead even further.

Joe Cox

Veteran college writer Joe Cox covers Ohio State and college basketball for Saturday Tradition.