By Joe Budzelek (@JBudzelek)
In a similar vein to UConn’s matchups against Purdue and Michigan to open the year, Ohio State profiles as another more offensively minded Big Ten team that sits on the borderline of the Top 25 and projects as an NCAA Tournament team in the 6-to-8-seed range.
Following the graduation of all-time program great Bruce Thornton, the Buckeyes’ offensive attack has been buoyed by returners John Mobley, Jr. and Amare Bynum, while transfers Andrija Jelavic and Justin Pippen are also averaging double-figure points per game. Retaining Mobley and Bynum has been a major boon for head coach Jake Diebler, who has otherwise completely retooled the roster around size, versatility and depth. The result is a nice mix of veteran certainty and youthful upside.
While Ohio State hasn’t quite reached its desired level of perimeter efficiency, Jelavic’s addition has allowed Diebler to incorporate more five-out looks and create adequate spacing for shot creators and athletes. With greater offensive versatility, one of Diebler’s major points of emphasis has been getting players to make quick decisions within a half-second of receiving the ball. It will be interesting to see whether UConn’s defensive pressure can disrupt that approach by creating uncomfortable catches and forcing the Buckeyes into difficult decisions later in the shot clock.
Diebler’s hope is that quicker decisions will produce a more seamless attack, generating open paint touches by forcing defenses into challenging rotations. Rather than relying on one true point guard, Ohio State consistently deploys lineups with multiple initiators, making its transition offense dangerous while also preventing defenses from cheating too aggressively in the half-court. With so many new faces, however, UConn’s ability to slow the game down could expose some of the Buckeyes’ lack of continuity, particularly given the limited interior scoring options at center.
Defensively, Ohio State has yet to establish a consistent identity under Diebler, although the additions of Pippen, Jimmie Williams and Curtis Givens are expected to improve the perimeter defense. The frontcourt remains more of a work in progress, and the Buckeyes have already struggled to contain opposing lead guards. BYU’s Rob Wright III scored 35 points in the season opener, while Marshall’s Noah Otshudi poured in 27 on Monday. Both guards were particularly effective at exploiting gaps in Ohio State’s defensive coverages and attacking downhill.
Another telling number from the BYU game: Ohio State allowed the Cougars to score or recover their own misses on 24 of 29 second-half possessions. Considering UConn’s ability to create advantages through ball screens, intricate off-ball movement, second-chance opportunities and some emerging low-post bullying from Na’jai Hines, Ohio State’s collective defensive execution will be put to the test.
A look at Ohio State’s starting lineup
John Mobley, Jr. – 6-2, 190, junior guard
Jeremy Fears, Elliot Cadeau and now Mobley represent the third marquee Big Ten point guard UConn will face this season, making Silas Demary, Jr.’s defensive assignment particularly important on Friday. Despite not carrying an elite usage rate, Mobley is an excellent all-around offensive guard who can score from all three levels, create his own shot and share point guard responsibilities with Pippen.
Defensively, Mobley is a willing, quick and agile guard with good footwork and the ability to recover effectively. However, his lack of size makes him a less-than-ideal switching option, while his biggest weakness is navigating screens and occasionally getting caught in traffic.
Justin Pippen – 6-4, 190, junior guard (transfer from Cal)
Pippen returns to the Big Ten for his third collegiate season after beginning his career at Michigan and spending last year at Cal. More of a downhill scoring combo guard, he can struggle with his jump shot but is adept at drawing fouls and getting to the free throw line. His ability to attack downhill also creates opportunities to make plays for others, as he’s an unselfish passer who can facilitate when defenses collapse.
After carrying a high usage rate last season, Pippen will serve as more of a secondary offensive weapon this year. His greatest value, however, could come on the defensive end, where he’s Ohio State’s No. 1 backcourt stopper. Blessed with quick hands like his father, Scottie, the younger Pippen is a deflection and steal specialist who has routinely drawn assignments against opponents’ best guards throughout his collegiate stops.
Anthony Thompson – 6-9, 215, five-star freshman forward
Thompson’s impact has been relatively limited to this point, but he’s also one of the youngest players in Division I, having turned 18 in August. A lefty with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, Thompson has NBA lottery potential thanks to his quick trigger and high release point, giving him the long-term upside to become one of the best shooters in his recruiting class despite some early-season struggles.
Defensively, his awareness remains a work in progress, but his elite length makes him a potentially dangerous turnover generator.
Amare Bynum – 6-8, 245, sophomore forward
With Nik Khamenia’s injury situation in mind, Bynum presents Ohio State’s biggest potential mismatch against UConn. The strong, versatile forward is an elite and crafty interior scorer who attacks mismatches with an extensive bag of tricks and excellent footwork while also providing respectable perimeter shooting.
After flashing some playmaking ability late last season, Bynum has already recorded eight assists through three games, adding another dimension to his offensive game. An athletic, true power forward, he’s also a capable rim protector with surprisingly good lateral quickness and an aggressive defensive motor, making him a versatile defender for his size.
Despite his functional three-point shot, opposing teams are still willing to dare Bynum to shoot from the perimeter in an effort to steer his offensive focus away from his preferred territory inside 15 feet.
Andrija Jelavic – 6-11, 240, junior center (transfer from Kentucky)
Speaking of functional shooting, Jelavic is arguably the most capable perimeter-shooting true center Diebler has coached, helping unlock five-out looks whenever he’s on the floor. A scoring big who can crash the offensive and defensive glass, Jelavic is less accomplished as a passer and distributor, creating a potential matchup opportunity if UConn’s bigs can pressure him into making uncomfortable decisions with the ball.
Jelavic is also a solid positional defender, although he doesn’t have an established track record as a rim protector.
Ohio State’s key bench options
Jimmie Williams – 6-4, 210, senior guard (transfer from Duquesne)
Williams’ 16-point performance against Marshall was an excellent example of the microwave scoring ability the senior guard can provide off the bench. While capable of knocking down shots from deep, Williams is more naturally a downhill attacker, with more career attempts coming from inside the arc than beyond it.
A smart, versatile defender, Williams has the length to switch across positions one through four. Overall, he’s one of the more valuable glue guys in the Big Ten, providing an experienced secondary scoring option who can create offense without needing to dominate the ball.
LJ Smith – 6-4, 180, top-50 freshman guard
Like Thompson, Smith is a particularly young freshman who reclassified to become eligible this season. He brings plenty of excitement as one of the more creative three-level scorers in his class, combining an extensive offensive toolbox with an impressive feel for change-of-pace moves in on-ball situations.
His length and quickness provide defensive upside, although he’s further behind in that area at this stage of his development.
Josh Ojianwuna – 6-10, 270, senior center
Despite his massive frame, Ojianwuna possesses elite lateral mobility, making him one of the few true five-position defensive options in the Big Ten. Combined with his physicality and willingness to play a stay-at-home role, he’s an intriguing defensive-first backup big.
Limited offensively, Ojianwuna reminds me of a poor man’s Rueben Chinyelu, offering an interior presence through his finishing, physicality and offensive rebounding.
Curtis Givens – 6-3, 190, junior guard (transfer from Memphis)
When Givens enters the game, Mobley slides into more of a scoring guard role rather than serving as a one-for-one backup point guard. After converting 37 percent of his three-point attempts at Memphis last season, Givens profiles as a connective combo guard who can keep the offense moving, although turnovers and free-throw shooting remain areas of concern.
His on-ball defensive activity allows him to fight through screens, but his broader defensive awareness and rotations can occasionally become problematic.
Final thoughts
Much like the previous Big Ten matchups, UConn is clearly the deeper and more talented team. However, Bynum presents a legitimate matchup problem, and Khamenia’s availability will be a major storyline heading into Friday. Ohio State will undoubtedly look to exploit any potential depth issues UConn has at power forward by putting its versatile sophomore in positions to attack mismatches. How UConn handles Bynum without compromising its defensive structure elsewhere could go a long way toward determining whether the Buckeyes can make this a competitive game.
Leave a Reply