Ohio State Basketball Has An Uphill Climb

After a disappointing loss to Wisconsin, the Ohio State men’s basketball team has an uphill climb ahead if they want to make the NCAA tournament

Introduction

Since the Ohio State men’s basketball team’s disappointing loss to Oral Roberts in the first round of the NCAA Tournament there has been a lot of discussion about the future of the program. Head Coach Chris Holtmann is entering his fourth season at the helm, and while he has had some success, the Buckeyes have yet to reach their full potential.

The biggest issue facing Ohio State is its lack of nt play The Buckeyes are often good for a few weeks or even a few months, but they always seem to find a way to lose when it matters most. This past season was a perfect example. After beginning the year with 12 wins in their first 13 games, Ohio State then proceeded to lose eight of its next 12 contests.

Holtmann has done a nice job of recruiting, but he has yet to sign a truly impactful player. The Buckeyes currently have four-star recruits Dwayne Cohill and Alonzo Gaffney in their 2019 class, but neither is expected to be a one-and-done type of player. In order for Ohio State to take the next step, it needs to start landing some five-star recruits.

There is no doubt that Holtmann has put Ohio State in a better position than it was in when he took over four years ago. However, if the Buckeyes want to take that next step and become a true national contender, they have an uphill climb ahead of them.

The Team

Fresh off a disappointing loss to Penn State the Ohio State Basketball team has their work cut out for them if they want to make the NCAA tournament With a record of 12-7, the team is currently sitting on the outside looking in at the tournament picture. And with a tough schedule remaining, it will be an uphill climb for the Buckeyes to get their season back on track.

The team has shown some bright spots this season, with wins over then-ranked No. 10 Villanova and No. 18 Purdue. But those wins have been offset by losses to unranked teams like Penn State and Iowa. The Buckeyes will need to find some consistency if they want to make a run at the tournament.

Ohio State has some talented players, led by junior guard C.J. Jackson. But the team has struggled to find an identity this season. They will need to figure things out quickly if they want to turn their season around and make a run at the NCAA tournament

The Schedule

The Ohio State men’s basketball team has a lot of work to do if it wants to make the NCAA tournament The Buckeyes have an uphill battle, as they face some of the best teams in the country. They will need to win some big games to improve their chances of making the tournament.

The Fans

The fans are the lifeblood of any team. They show up to the games, buy the merch, and support their team through thick and thin. And oh boy, do they have their work cut out for them this season. The Ohio State Basketball team is coming off of a disappointing season in which they failed to make the NCAA Tournament and they currently sit at 0-3 in the conference. But the fans are undeterred. They still believe in their team and they still show up to every game, cheering their hearts out in hopes of a turnaround.

The players can feel the support of the fans, and they appreciate it more than anything. “It means a lot,” said senior guard C.J. Jackson. “We don’t take it for granted, we know how hard our fans work to come out and support us.”

The support of the fans will be crucial if Ohio State is going to turn things around this season. They might be down right now, but with the help of their fan base, they’ll be back on top in no time.

The Coaches

The Ohio State University men’s basketball team is in the midst of a tough season. The Buckeyes are 12-12 overall and 4-9 in Big Ten play. They’ve lost seven straight games and are in danger of missing the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2015. The team has struggled mightily on both ends of the court, but the biggest problem has been on offense. The Buckeyes are averaging just 67.5 points per game which ranks dead last in the Big Ten and 333rd out of 351 teams in Division I.

Head coach Chris Holtmann is in his second season at Ohio State and he’s faced with the daunting task of turning around a program that has underachieved for much of the last decade. He’s done a solid job so far, but he knows that he needs to do more if he wants to keep his job for much longer. In order to do that, he’ll need to get more out of his players, specifically his two best players: junior guard C.J. Jackson and sophomore forward Kaleb Wesson.

Jackson is the Buckeyes’ leading scorer at 15 points per game but he’s been inconsistent at times and has struggled with his shot lately. He’s shooting just 38 percent from the field and 32 percent from three-point range this season. Wesson, on the other hand, has been very good lately. He’s averaging 13 points and nine rebounds per game while shooting 49 percent from the field and 80 percent from the Free Throw Line over the last five games. If Ohio State is going to turn things around, it needs more production from Jackson and continued excellence from Wesson.

The Media

In today’s society, the media has a significant impact on the way individuals view the world. The media can be defined as “the main means of mass communication (broadcasting, publishing, and the Internet) regarded collectively” In other words, the media shapes people’s perspectives by dictating what information is presented to the masses. In terms of college basketball ESPN is one of the most well-known and respected sources for news and information. Consequently, when ESPN releases their weekly rankings for college basketball teams, those rankings often have a profound effect on how people view those teams.

This year, Ohio State is ranked #11 in ESPN’s weekly rankings. Even though Ohio State is currently 13-4 overall and 4-2 in conference play (tied for 3rd place in the conference), many people believe that they are not one of the best teams in the country because they are not ranked higher in ESPN’s weekly rankings. It is important to understand that these rankings are not always accurate or fair, but they often dictate how people view teams. As a result, Ohio State has an uphill climb this season because they will not only have to play well on the court, but they will also have to convince people that they are one of the best teams in the country even though they are not currently being given that respect by ESPN.

The Rivals

No matter how the Ohio State Buckeyes fared in their regular season games, they always have their rivals to contend with come tournament time. The University of Michigan Wolverines and the University of Kentucky Wildcats are always tough opponents, and the Buckeyes will have to be at their best if they want to advance to the Final Four.

The Wolverines are a perennial power in College Basketball and they always seem to find a way to win when it matters most. The Wildcats are no pushovers either, as they have one of the most talented rosters in the country. It will be a tough road for the Buckeyes, but if they can get past their rivals, they’ll have a chance to win it all.

The Legacy

The Ohio State Buckeyes have a rich Basketball History having won the NCAA tournament twice and made it to the Final Four six times. They have also produced many Great players including two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash and current NBA Star Lebron James However, the Buckeyes have struggled in recent years and they will have an uphill climb if they want to return to their former glory.

The Future

It is no secret that the Ohio State Buckeyes have been in a bit of a rebuilding phase the last few years. After making the Final Four in 2012, the team has not made it back to that level of prominence. In order to take that next step and return to being one of the best teams in the country, they will need to do a few things.

First, they need to continue to develop their young talent. They have some very good players like Kaleb Wesson, E.J. Liddell, and Duane Washington Jr. That being said, they are still young and need time to grow into their roles. The hope is that they will make strides in their development this season and be ready to take on bigger roles next year.

Second, they need to find a way to replace the production of Andre Wesson and CJ Jackson. These were two Key Players for them last year and their scoring and leadership will be sorely missed. They will need someone to step up and fill those voids if they want to have any hope of competing for a title.

Lastly, they need to improve their defense. They were middle of the pack in terms of defensive efficiency last season and that is simply not good enough if you want to be a championship caliber team. They have the talent on that end of the floor, but they need to find a way to put it all together and become a more cohesive unit.

These are just some of the things that Ohio State needs to do in order to return to being one of the best teams in the country. It is going to be an uphill battle, but if they can manage to do these things then they should find themselves back near the top in no time.

Conclusion

The Ohio State basketball team has had an up and down season. They started the season ranked number two in the nation, but losses to Duke, Florida, and Butler have dropped them out of the top 25. They have struggled against ranked opponents and have been unable to string together consecutive wins. The good news is that they are still in contention for an NCAA Tournament berth and have a chance to redeem themselves in the Big Ten Tournament

Despite their struggles, the Ohio State basketball team is still a talented group of players. They have size, athleticism, and shooting ability. If they can put it all together, they could make a run in the NCAA Tournament