Ohio State Basketball

The Ohio State basketball schedule is officially out, and the Buckeyes will certainly have their hands full in a number of games this season.

The luxury of playing in the Big Ten is that strength of schedule is never really an issue when Selection Sunday rolls around. While the overall slate is difficult, there are a few games in particular that stand out as the most important contests. 

Factors such the conference standings, rivalries and building a strong profile were taken into account when determining the most important games. Let’s take a look at them.

North Carolina, Dec. 20 in Chicago

A home win over Marquette in November would certainly look decent on the Buckeyes’ tournament profile, and a win at Louisville would turn heads throughout the nation.

Still, the thought here is that the daunting atmosphere and the number of young freshmen head coach Thad Matta is breaking in isn’t a great formula for success on the road against Louisville early in the season. This means that the neutral-site game against North Carolina will be critical if Ohio State hopes to pick up a marquee nonconference victory for its resume.

Matta discussed this matchup and the event itself, via Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv and Zagsblog:

We are excited to be part of the CBS Sports Classic the next three seasons.The four teams competing have a tremendous history of success in college basketball. We have partnered with terrific cities and venues to make this a great experience for our program, our student-athletes and our fans.

Anytime you play against North Carolina, it is going to be circled on the calendar. We are talking about Tar Heel blue, Michael Jordan, Dean Smith and a storied history of national titles and overall dominance.

This year’s version won’t feature James Michael McAdoo, but Marcus Paige is back to wreak havoc on opponents. The athletic point guard could challenge for National Player of the Year honors and will be a significant test for young D’Angelo Russell before conference play begins.

Head coach Roy Williams also has Theo Pinson, Justin Jackson, Joel Berry, Brice Johnson, Kennedy Meeks and J.P. Tokoto at his disposal. However, the matchup to watch will be the Buckeyes guards against Paige. 

The guess here is that Matta uses Shannon Scott on Paige for most of the game. Scott will spearhead the defensive pressure this season and should make life a bit more difficult for Paige with his overall quickness and ability to stay in front of ball-handlers.

Michigan, Jan. 13 in Columbus

Ohio State versus Michigan is an important game every season, and the Buckeyes will be looking for some revenge after losing at home in the 2013-14 campaign.

This will be Ohio State’s best chance to establish its position in the Big Ten pecking order early because the conference is wide open behind Wisconsin. A victory over a relatively inexperienced Michigan squad would make a statement and let the rest of the league know the Buckeyes will at least contend for the No. 2 or 3 seed in the conference tournament.

Gone are Glenn Robinson III, Nik Stauskas and Mitch McGary, which means the Wolverines will be particularly reliant on Caris LeVert and Derrick Walton Jr.

Both shot better than 40 percent from behind the three-point line a year ago and will stretch the perimeter defense. Walton posted a double-double against Ohio State last year (13 points and 10 rebounds), so there will be even more emphasis on slowing down the point guard in this matchup.

Sophomore Zak Irvin and freshman Kameron Chatman will also play important roles in Michigan’s attack. The athletic and versatile forwards have the potential to cause matchup problems for most teams in the league, but Ohio State can counter with Sam Thompson and Keita Bates-Diop. 

This may be a game that the Buckeyes enjoy an advantage down low as well now that McGary and Jordan Morgan are no longer at Michigan. Amir Williams and Anthony Lee both have the potential to control the glass and the lane throughout this contest.

Wisconsin, March 8 in Columbus

This is Ohio State’s only game against the Big Ten’s top team this season, and there could be plenty at stake.

For one, if the Buckeyes have any hopes of winning a conference title, they will have to get past Wisconsin. Positioning in the Big Ten tournament and a chance to secure a marquee win right before Selection Sunday also make this game rather important.

Remember, the Badgers were an Aaron Harrison miracle three-pointer away from playing in the national title game last season and return the vast majority of their core. Frank Kaminsky, Sam Dekker, Traevon Jackson, Josh Gasser, Nigel Hayes and Bronson Koenig are all expected to play major roles for Bo Ryan’s squad in 2014-15.

That combination of Final Four experience and overall talent is a scary proposition for the rest of the Big Ten.

Kaminsky in particular could give Williams and Lee problems by extending his game beyond the three-point line. Lee is better suited to venture outside the paint than Williams, but stopping Kaminsky will be a team-wide effort. 

If the Buckeyes are able to do that, they may just secure a victory against a top-five team and the momentum that comes with that distinction heading into the NCAA tournament.

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The Ohio State basketball team may have disappointed last year, but one luxury of being a marquee program is the national exposure that comes every season.

The 2014-15 campaign will be no different for the Buckeyes. ESPN will feature Big Ten and SEC doubleheaders throughout the year on Super Tuesday, and head coach Thad Matta’s bunch is scheduled for two of those contests.

The full schedule can be found on ESPN MediaZone, but we are particularly interested in the games featuring Ohio State. With that in mind, let’s preview those showdowns.

Ohio State at Minnesota, Jan. 6, 9 p.m. ET

Ohio State split its two contests against Minnesota last year, with the home team winning both times.

The Buckeyes' victory over the Golden Gophers in Columbus may have been their most memorable one of the season because they overcame a double-digit deficit by winning the second half 46-18.

Minnesota turned it on down the stretch, though, and enters the 2014-15 season with plenty of momentum.

Richard Pitino’s bunch won the National Invitation Tournament by knocking off High Point, Saint Mary’s, Southern Miss, Florida State and SMU, and it returns most of the primary contributors from that squad. Anything short of a spot in the NCAA tournament this time around would be a major disappointment.

Andre Hollins is the leader, and he is looking to improve on what was a shaky finish last year. He averaged 16.2 points a night in his first 19 games but suffered a severe ankle sprain against Wisconsin and literally limped to the finish.

Assistant coach Dan McHale discussed Hollins’ season with Amelia Rayno of the Star Tribune:

I don't think people realized, I don't think we really realized -- because he's such such a good kid -- how much the injury affected him. I think it was evident a little bit with his game in the second part of the year, after the Wisconsin game. But he's the type of kid that puts the team first, guts it out.

The Golden Gophers will need more of that leadership, but Hollins won’t be alone.

DeAndre Mathieu returns after averaging 12 points and 4.2 assists a night last year behind 51 percent shooting from the field and 48.9 percent shooting from three-point range.

Mathieu’s quickness on defense helps him stay in front of ball-handlers and dart into passing lanes, which is why he averaged 1.6 steals per game last season. His perimeter defense could pose a problem for freshman D’Angelo Russell if the young Buckeye isn’t completely settled in as a ball-handler by January.

Down low, Minnesota is counting on a jump from Maurice Walker. Walker is 6’10”, shot 56.5 percent from the field a year ago and has double-double potential.

Ohio State can certainly relate to Minnesota when it comes to counting on players to fulfill their potential, especially this season. Freshmen Russell, Keita Bates-Diop and Jae’Sean Tate will all be marquee members of Matta’s team, but the battle to watch in this matchup takes place in the backcourt.

Hollins and Mathieu will test Ohio State on both ends of the floor. Shannon Scott will be tasked with containing Hollins, while the young Russell will have to keep his turnovers in check against the pesky Mathieu.

Fortunately for Scott and Russell, they will have some help on the wing and down low with Bates-Diop, Tate, Sam Thompson, Amir Williams, Marc Loving and Anthony Lee.

All that talent will be enough to overcome Minnesota and its guards on the road, but the Golden Gophers will be a serious threat to the young Buckeyes.

Prediction: Ohio State 76, Minnesota 71

Michigan at Ohio State, Jan. 13, 7 p.m. ET

A matchup between Ohio State and Michigan in Candy Land would make waves in Columbus and Ann Arbor, so a prime-time showdown on the hardwood is sure to turn heads.

Matta has dominated the Wolverines throughout his career, but Michigan won both contests last year. Revenge will certainly be on the mind of the Scarlet and Gray when their hated rivals come to town, and it will be a very different Michigan team they encounter.

Glenn Robinson III, Nik Stauskas and Mitch McGary will all be in the NBA this year, which means head coach John Beilein will count on junior Caris LeVert for leadership and offensive production.

LeVert started his career as a defensive specialist but averaged 12.9 points and 4.3 rebounds a night last year behind 40.8 percent shooting from behind the three-point line.

He earned second-team All-Big Ten honors for his efforts and has Michigan fans anticipating another monumental leap forward this season.

Brendan F. Quinn and Nick Baumgardner of MLive Media Group passed along some encouraging news on that front:

LeVert isn’t the only player Ohio State fans have to worry about.

Derrick Walton Jr. averaged 7.9 points per game and shot 41 percent from three-point range as a freshman, torching the Buckeyes for 13 points and 10 rebounds in the matchup in Columbus. Zak Irvin was an elite recruit when he arrived on campus and averaged 6.7 points per contest behind 42.5 percent shooting from long range.

With Stauskas and Robinson III out the door, both Walton and Irvin will have more responsibility and freedom on both ends of the floor. That should result in plenty of three-pointers, well-placed passes and defensive pressure.

Don’t overlook freshman Kameron Chatman either. At 6’7”, he is the perfect combination of athleticism, speed and size, and will play a number of different positions for the Wolverines.

With McGary and Jordan Morgan gone, Michigan will be very reliant on the backcourt this year. The Buckeyes’ best chance will be to unleash the defensive pressure they used so effectively in 2013-14, with Scott, Thompson and Russell leading the way.

As long as Ohio State can contain the guards and small forwards, the combination of Williams, Lee, Bates-Diop and Tate will be too much to handle on the boards for the Wolverines.

Having this game in Columbus will also help. 

Prediction: Ohio State 73, Michigan 69

 

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As far as preseason business trips go, the Ohio State basketball team couldn’t have picked a better location than the Bahamas.

The Buckeyes took advantage of an NCAA rule that allows college basketball squads to take an international trip once every four years. Along the way, Thad Matta’s bunch received 10 extra practices and dismantled the Bahamas All-Stars, 88-66, and the Providence Storm, 115-63.

They managed to have some fun also, as the OSU Basketball Twitter page pointed out:

While the most important takeaway from the trip may just be the fact that everyone escaped the snorkeling adventure without a shark encounter, there were some interesting on-court developments. They become much clearer when we look at the box scores, via Patrick Maks of Eleven Warriors:

First things first, superstar freshman D’Angelo Russell didn’t play against the Providence Storm because he wasn’t feeling well. There’s no need to panic about any potential injury when it comes to the Buckeyes' prized freshman.

Of more immediate interest is the big-man rotations and production.

Anthony Lee started the first game alongside Amir Williams, and Williams started with returning veteran Trey McDonald in the second. Lee is capable of playing either power forward or center, but he played forward more often at Temple and seems to have a preference for it if his comments were any indication, via Doug Lesmerises of Cleveland.com:

“I prefer the four, that's what I came here for, but I can play the five if I need to because I've been doing it the last three years. If I had to play the five and the five has to guard me, I'd just be a mismatch.” 

Outside of Lee, Williams and McDonald, Dave Bell was also productive, as Ohio State associate athletics director for communications Dan Wallenberg pointed out:

In all, Lee scored 12 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in the two games, Williams scored 15 points and totaled eight rebounds, McDonald scored 22 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, and Bell scored six points and grabbed nine rebounds.

What’s more, freshman Jae’Sean Tate, who is capable of filling in at power forward, tallied a double-double against the Providence Storm.

Again, the level of competition was anything but stellar, but the fact that Matta got production from a number of different options down low is encouraging. He can theoretically mix and match Williams, McDonald and Lee because of Lee’s ability to play either center or power forward, and Tate’s presence gives him another option in smaller and more athletic rotations.

The days of watching Williams struggle as the only big man may be in Ohio State’s rear-view mirror.

Another positive sign from the Bahamas trip was the production from Marc Loving.

Loving led the team with 19 points against the Storm, and he grabbed six rebounds for good measure. With the departure of LaQuinton Ross, the Buckeyes are going to need Loving to take significant steps from his freshman to sophomore season as a scorer. We saw flashes of his potential a year ago, but he needs to be much more consistent in his second season.

Matta utilizes smaller lineups with regularity, and Loving is another option as a stretch power forward because of his ability to bang around for rebounds and stretch the floor with a jumper. It was only an exhibition game in the Bahamas, but the 19-point effort should give him some confidence going forward.

Elsewhere, Shannon Scott’s stat lines were encouraging. He scored seven points and dished out seven assists against the All-Stars and scored eight points and tallied eight assists against the Storm.

With no more Aaron Craft, Ohio State and Matta will look toward Scott to provide veteran leadership in the backcourt. His assist totals are more important than his scoring numbers at this point because his main job as the point guard will be to get his talented teammates involved.

Interestingly, Matta forced the members of team to earn their scarlet and gray uniforms before the trip in practice with conditioning, weight room and shooting tests. Scott was among the first players to do so, and discussed as much, via Lesmerises:

I feel like I'm setting the tone and showing players this isn't a joke. We all want to achieve this and somebody needs to step up and make sure everyone can do it.

I kind of had to step up because a lot of these guys had some minor injuries that held guys back. I've been fresh so I've been able to do all my tests and get it over with.

But it kind of shows that we're all new players. We can't go off what we did in years past. We've got to start from the beginning and learn what we've got to do.

Everybody has to earn it the same exact way, and for all we know the freshmen could have got it first and the seniors could have got it last. But being a senior, I know I had to really push myself to set a tone for everybody else. 

If Scott continues to set the tone like he has in the preseason, there could be big things in store for the Buckeyes in 2014-15.

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If Thad Matta strikes out on every available prospect for the rest of the 2015 recruiting cycle, he will still have one of the nation’s best classes. 

Ohio State currently boasts the No. 3 class in America, per 247Sports, thanks to the commitments of shooting guard Austin Grandstaff, center Daniel Giddens, small forward Mickey Mitchell and point guard A.J. Harris. All four players are 4-star prospects, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings.

What’s more, Matta has added depth to every single position on the floor except power forward thus far in his 2015 group.

That doesn’t mean Ohio State is done yet. If the Buckeyes can land any of the three following targets, they have a legitimate chance at securing the No. 1-ranked class in the country come signing day.

Carlton Bragg

Carlton Bragg, who is a local kid from Cleveland, would immediately fill that power forward need for this class. He would also add some more Buckeye State flavor to a group that features three out-of-state prospects. 

Bragg is a 5-star game-changer who checks in at 6’8” and 205 pounds. There are some serious heavyweights that have pursued Bragg this offseason, including Kentucky, Kansas, UCLA and Arizona. Jeff Borzello of CBS Sports highlighted why some of the best programs in the country are after the power forward:

Bragg is a double-double machine who brings elite-level athleticism to the table down low. His offensive arsenal includes a strong post-up game thanks to his overall strength, but he can stretch the floor with perimeter jumpers if needed.

Outside of the rebounding and formidable scoring, Bragg swats plenty of shots on the defensive end because of his quickness and nose for the ball. 

Bragg is the entire package at power forward and the top-rated prospect in the state of Ohio for 2015. He is one of those special kids Matta needs to secure if the Buckeyes are going to be seen as the team to beat for elite Ohio prospects going forward.

Doral Moore

Doral Moore is a Georgia native and 4-star prospect who measures 7’0" and 220 pounds. Kentucky and Louisville are both going hard after him in addition to the Buckeyes, which means Matta certainly has his work cut out for him.

The Buckeyes already have Giddens as a center in the 2015 class, so landing Moore may not be quite as important as Bragg. Still, we are talking about a lengthy and athletic center who would immediately improve Ohio State’s frontcourt on both ends of the floor.

On the offensive side, Moore can stretch the defense with a mid-range jumper and mix in an array of low-post moves. He has impressive touch around the rim and even mixes in a soft hook shot when the opportunity presents itself. 

Moore will also swat plenty of shots and grab any rebound within his vicinity. The combination of Moore and Giddens would be particularly worrisome for the rest of the Big Ten.

Ivan Rabb

Matta is clearly looking to add more size in this class that currently features three perimeter players. Ivan Rabb is another power forward/center type who checks in at 6’10” and 210 pounds. Arizona, Duke and Kansas are among the other squads pursuing the 5-star prospect.

That means the Oakland native could be heading far away from home, which may not be a problem if his recent comments are any indication, via Laura Keeley of The Charlotte Observer:

“I’m not really a guy that gets homesick. I used to be, actually. I take that back. Freshman year in high school I used to get homesick, but now I’m used to being away from home.”

Rabb’s ability to finish with either hand immediately stands out on the offensive side, but his footwork should not be overlooked. He has the potential to develop into an elite post scorer because of his quickness and collection of moves down low.

His offensive skill level may already be at a college level, but his rebounding and defense should also appeal to the Buckeyes. As to be expected for a top big-man prospect, Rabb is an impressive shot-blocker and controls the boards on both sides of the floor.

Landing any of these three players would give the Scarlet and Gray a complete 2015 class. Perhaps it will be the one to finally lead Matta to that elusive national championship.

All rankings courtesy of 247Sports.

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The Ohio State basketball program is about to find out if winning a Big Ten championship without the benefit of an established superstar is a possibility. The only way to do that is with critical contributions from the bench and a scoring-by-committee approach.

With that in mind, what will the bench actually look like for the Buckeyes in the 2014-15 campaign?

We projected the starting lineup earlier this offseason, and the thought here is that Ohio State goes with Shannon Scott, D’Angelo Russell, Sam Thompson, Marc Loving and Anthony Lee.

It is certainly possible that Amir Williams cracks that group alongside Lee in the frontcourt, but the bench will be an imperative part of the attack either way.

The backcourt is not as deep as it has been in the past, which is why Russell’s commitment is so critical. He is versatile enough to play either point guard or shooting guard and gives Thad Matta an option at either position.

In terms of bench production, one person fans should not overlook is Kam Williams. Williams redshirted last year after a preseason bout with mononucleosis, so he is virtually a freshman in terms of experience. He can absolutely drain it from downtown, slash to the lane off the bounce and finish at the rim in dramatic fashion.

In fact, Williams could very well challenge Thompson for the title of best Buckeye dunker this year. He is also very quick with his hands and lateral speed, which will help him provide pressure defense next to Scott. 

Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports came away impressed:

Since there is not a ton of backcourt depth, Ohio State will utilize a number of stretch forwards in the lineup.

Keita Bates-Diop is the first name that comes to mind off the bench in this category. He can consistently hit shots from the outside, but at 6’7” with tons of athleticism, Bates-Diop will be best helping out in the rebounding department, running the floor, beating guys off the dribble and posting up smaller defenders. 

Rothstein also thinks Bates-Diop will make an impression right away:

Bates-Diop’s fellow freshman, Jae’Sean Tate, is shorter at 6’4", but he is more comfortable playing taller than he actually is down on the blocks. Tate is incredibly strong, will outmuscle people for rebounds, finish through contact at the rim and give the Buckeyes a smaller option at power forward in more athletic rotations.

Down low, Trey McDonald returns after averaging two points, 1.7 rebounds and 0.5 blocks a game last year. With the presence of Lee, it’s difficult to imagine McDonald playing more minutes than he did a season ago even with an extra year of experience under his belt. He’s not the best rebounder, nearly invisible on the offensive end and an average defender.

If nothing else, McDonald does give Matta a physical force in the paint who isn’t afraid to use his fouls.

McDonald aside, the key component on the bench in terms of big guys is Amir Williams. Matta commented as much, via Daniel Rogers of The Lantern:

We need Amir to play well. We need Amir to play consistently on both ends. We gotta get him back to tracking the ball, we gotta get him back to blocking shots more actively around the rim in terms of challenging shots … When he’s played well, we’ve played well. I know that.

Williams posted nightly averages of 7.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game last year behind 59.8 percent shooting from the field. However, he will no longer be the default big guy with Lee, so he needs to show drastic improvement if he hopes to play down the stretch of important games.

Williams is underrated as a shot-blocker and should see better rebounding numbers as a senior. Despite the criticism he so often receives, Williams has improved his scoring, rebounding, field-goal percentage and shot-blocking numbers every season since he arrived on campus and will be a solid piece in 2014-15.

Yes, Williams is frustrating to many in Buckeye Nation, but with another low-post presence in Lee to help on the boards and draw some attention away from opposing defenses, we could see Williams’ best-ever season at Ohio State.

If that is ultimately the case, then the big man may just go out as a Big Ten champion.

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The Ohio State men's basketball program is in a rare position as it enters the 2014-15 season—it is an under-the-radar threat in the Big Ten.

For years under Thad Matta, the Buckeyes have been seen as among the top one or two teams in the conference, but after losing to Dayton in the first game of the NCAA tournament and seeing Wisconsin run all the way to the Final Four, that’s not the case this year.

However, there is plenty of talent in place, and Jerry Meyer of 247Sports believes overlooking the Buckeyes could be dangerous, via Kyle Rowland of Eleven Warriors:

Ohio State is one of the top programs in the country. The stability and the consistency they have there has been impressive. Going into every year, I assume they could be a Final Four contender. Maybe they need a little bit of a punch here or a spark there as far talent infusion to be a team you think can win a national championship. 

The starting lineup will be called upon to provide that spark. Here is a look at the projected starting five that Matta will lean on the most this season.

Point Guard: Shannon Scott 

Aaron Craft was one of the best players ever to lace it up for Ohio State historically, but his absence this season will open up the floor for Shannon Scott to improve.

Scott is a natural point guard who had to play off the ball with Craft running the show. Now, he will be in charge of the Buckeyes on the offensive end and ideally unleash his game-changing speed on opponents all season. There are few players in the country as quick as Scott, and that will lead to easy opportunities off of turnovers for him and his teammates.

However, Scott’s most important role is the havoc creator on the defensive end, which is something he did so well when paired with Craft last year.

Ohio State wins with its defense under Matta, and Scott is the critical piece to its defensive-pressure blitz it utilizes every year. If he can create turnovers at a consistent clip, it will help what could be a mediocre offense again put up much better numbers.

Combo Guard: D’Angelo Russell

The one thing that could really help the Buckeyes offense avoid mediocrity is the presence of D’Angelo Russell.

The Scarlet and Gray shot an abysmal 32 percent from beyond the three-point line last year, and not a single player shot 36 percent or better. Freshman or not, Russell should drastically help those numbers, both with his own shooting and his ability to find open teammates when he forces defenders to collapse on his penetration.

Throw in his ball-handling skills and willingness to get out in transition, and Russell will make this offense look much better than last season. No longer will defenders be able to sag off the jumper like they did against Craft, which means penetration lanes will be more readily available for everyone. 

We put him as a combo guard because he is versatile enough to play point or shooting guard (another one of his invaluable traits). In reality, his position will be "offensive weapon."

Small Forward: Sam Thompson

Sam Thompson will be Mr. Reliable in the Ohio State starting lineup if everything goes according to plan.

Let’s overlook the dunking for a minute. His raw athleticism alone means he is a threat to attack the basket on any possession, and as an upperclassman this season, the senior should do more of that. Thompson improved as the season wore on last year and actually led the team in three-point percentage at 35.5.

Therefore, a perfect season from Thompson from Matta’s point of view would likely be an assumed leadership role, attacking the basket more and consistent shooting from behind the three-point line. Thompson can also use that athleticism and length to serve as a disruptor on the defensive side of the ball as well.

Oh, and the fans probably wouldn’t mind a dunk or two either.

Power Forward: Marc Loving

Marc Loving may be the biggest question mark for the whole season.

On paper, he has all the tools. He is tall enough to bang around down low for rebounds, his footwork in the post is solid and he has a smooth stroke from the perimeter. Loving is also athletic and long (6'7", 215 lbs), which is the perfect combination to be a formidable defender.

However, fans only saw flashes of Loving’s potential last season. Yes, he impressed at Illinois, but there were far too many contests in which he simply disappeared. That could have been the byproduct of being a freshman more than anything else, and the thought here is that Loving will be much more consistent his second time around. 

The Buckeyes need him to be.

Center: Anthony Lee

There is certainly a portion of Ohio State supporters who are tired of watching Amir Williams struggle to catch the ball down low, get pushed around on the block and put up pedestrian rebounding numbers from the center position.

Anthony Lee will be the best thing about this Buckeyes team for those fans.

Lee averaged 13.6 points and 8.6 rebounds a game last year for Temple and could very well put up double-doubles throughout the schedule for Matta’s bunch. His presence alone on the low blocks could open up shooters on the offensive side by forcing double-teams. It will also allow perimeter defenders to gamble on the other end because Lee is a natural shot-swatter. 

Lee is the main reason opponents shouldn’t overlook the Buckeyes. They finally have a low-post presence again to go with that suffocating perimeter defender.

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LeBron James may have bungled his “decision” four years ago when he elected to take his talents to South Beach, but the letter he dictated to Sports Illustrated describing what it would mean to return home to Ohio was very well orchestrated. 

It also struck a chord with those in the Buckeye State.

Clearly, James returning to the shores of Lake Erie will boost the Cleveland Cavaliers’ NBA title hopes (and box-office sales), but what kind of impact will it have on the sports in the rest of the state? In particular, what about the Ohio State basketball program and athletics department as a whole? 

Perhaps with that in mind, the basketball team was very quick to welcome James back to Ohio once the news of his return was official:

Mattaritaville, the official student section at homes games for the Buckeyes, also welcomed James back, and even Urban Meyer got in on the action:

Even when James was seen as public enemy No. 1 in the Ohio sports world, he was always a Buckeye. There is something to be said for that type of loyalty when the state's fans turned their backs on him. Sure, he never actually attended Ohio State, but he may as well have as far as the public perception is concerned.

James stalked the sidelines at numerous prime-time football games under the lights in the Horseshoe, spoke to the fans at a pregame pep rally last season, showed up with his buddy Dwyane Wade to cheer Ohio State on against Duke a few years back and even has a locker in the new basketball facilities.

Then there was this comment he made at that pep rally, via Zack Meisel of Cleveland.com: “I promise, I say this all the time -- if I had one year of college, I would have ended up here. No matter where I go in the world, no matter where it is, I will always rock Ohio State colors.”

Buckeye fans can dream, can’t they?

James may have never donned an Ohio State jersey as a player at Value City Arena, but his association with the program makes that notion all the more appealing to some of the nation’s best high school prospects. The reality is that recruiting is the lifeblood of success at the college level, and it’s likely no accident that basketball head coach Thad Matta just so happens to have some of those prospects in Columbus when James is there for a football game.

Matta discussed James’ impact on the state as a whole, via Doug Lesmerises of Cleveland.com:

For me, it's one of the greatest things for the state of Ohio, because you have the greatest basketball player in the world in our state. And that helps young kids and that helps middle school kids and that helps high school kids that now want to be great players. And all the people in Ohio that are going to get to watch him play more now, it's a great thing for basketball here.

You can practically hear a sales pitch in there directed toward the state's up-and-coming basketball stars.

Busting out the old jerseys from Jerry Lucas and John Havlicek is one thing, but showing 17- and 18-year-old kids James’ locker in the practice facility or giving those prospects a chance to meet the King will likely have a much bigger impact on their mindsets.

What’s more, telling those same kids that they will get the opportunity to play in front of James at the college level if they choose the scarlet and gray will also resonate.

New York is cool, Chicago is cool, Los Angeles is cool and, yes, Miami is cool. James has made a point of making sure Ohio stays cool as well. That’s important when we are talking about convincing high school students that Ohio State is the place for them.

James helped recruiting with the occasional appearance on the sidelines of football games or an offseason cameo at a practice session the past four years. Now that he is a mere two-hour drive north from Columbus instead of all the way down in South Beach, it is only natural to expect even more involvement.

Ohio State will always welcome him with open arms in the basketball and football departments. Anyone who has been to the Horseshoe for a night game knows the allure, and James will likely make the trip to see at least a couple of the football games this season. 

Chances are that Matta will make sure that the top recruits in the 2015 class and beyond see where the current king of basketball has decided to take his fandom.

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Urban Meyer isn’t the only elite recruiter working his magic on the banks of the Olentangy River in Columbus.

Ohio State’s Thad Matta recently added another impressive piece to his formidable 2015 recruiting class when Georgia native Daniel Giddens, who is a 4-star center, per 247Sports, gave the Buckeyes basketball team his verbal pledge.

Giddens checks in at 6’10” and 235 pounds and is ranked as the No. 11 center and No. 46 overall player nationally. His commitment was the result of more than a year of persistent recruiting from Matta and his staff.

Yes, Giddens provides an elite big man for Ohio State’s 2015 class, but his commitment is especially important because Matta didn’t exactly land a game-changer down low in the 2014 recruiting group either. Amir Williams and Anthony Lee can handle center duties in the immediate future, but the Buckeyes needed someone like Giddens to feel more secure about their future in the paint.

Giddens’ specialty is the defensive end of the floor.

At 235 pounds, he is as athletic as they come for centers, which helps him cover more ground down low and challenge more shots. In fact, he will swat plenty of shots into the crowd at Value City Arena once he arrives.

Giddens does more than just dart around the floor down low and block shots though. He is incredibly strong, which helps him hold his ground against the majority of other big men across the country, and his leaping ability means he swallows up almost any rebound that falls in his vicinity. Giddens will be a rim protector and overall enforcer from the moment he steps foot on campus.

Offensively, he is still developing a low-post game. He doesn’t quite have a go-to move on the block and isn’t the best back-to-the-basket scorer. Still, his athleticism means he can run the floor like a small forward and finish in transition, which will pair nicely with D’Angelo Russell, assuming the guard is still on Ohio State’s roster when Giddens arrives.

Don't overlook Giddens' impressive strength though when assessing his future as an offensive prospect. He can finish through contact at the rim and has demonstrated the ability to hit from mid-range if defenders play off him.

Buckeye fans may be clamoring for more of an impact guy down low on the offensive end after Williams, but Giddens is still very raw. There is certainly reason to expect productivity and improvement the longer he is in the Ohio State program.

The last time the Scarlet and Gray had a lockdown defender down low who was still raw offensively, they had Dallas Lauderdale swatting shots on a nightly basis. Buckeye fans would probably be on board for more of that.

Most importantly, Giddens’ presence gives what was already a loaded 2015 class an impact big man. He discussed his expectations and what he wants to do with this group, via Ari Wasserman of Cleveland.com:

We want to get Coach Matta his first ring. We believe we have the talent for it, and we're hungry. We want that national championship at Ohio State.

I am confident we'll be able to do big things at Ohio State. That's why it was so easy to see myself playing there. We have big goals, but we're ready to stay hungry and work for them.

Championship aspirations are not that far-fetched because Matta’s collection of 2015 recruits already checks in at No. 2 nationally, according to 247Sports, behind only Syracuse.

Forward Mickey Mitchell and guards A.J. Harris and Austin Grandstaff will run the floor alongside Giddens and likely continue to keep Ohio State among the best programs nationally.

What’s more, things may get even better in the upcoming weeks or months. Yes, the number of scholarships available is always subject to roster turnover, NBA decisions and more, but it would certainly be surprising if Matta didn’t bring in at least one more recruit in the class of 2015. 

The future is bright as ever for the Buckeyes.

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The Ohio State basketball program had a streak broken without even playing a game back on June 26.

The Buckeyes saw a player drafted seven consecutive years—dating back to 2007—which was the top current streak in the nation, before the teams of the NBA elected to look elsewhere this year. If nothing else, it was a nice tidbit to tell recruits.

LaQuinton Ross and Aaron Craft will both work out with NBA teams in the summer and participate in summer leagues, but neither heard their name called on draft day.

Therefore, it’s time for Thad Matta and the Ohio State program to turn their attention to the future and try to start a new streak. With that in mind, here is a look at the current Buckeyes with the brightest NBA futures.

D’Angelo Russell 

D’Angelo Russell was recently cleared to join his fellow freshmen in the class of 2014 at Ohio State, and the Buckeyes couldn’t have received much better news in the summer.

Russell will clearly help Ohio State immediately this season, but we are more interested in his professional prospects here. Fortunately for him, his skill set as a versatile guard who can play off the ball or as a point guard should translate smoothly.

He is a deadeye three-point shooter, can slice through opposing defenses or create his own shot on the outside with his ankle-turning ball-handling skills, and has the length and strength (6'5", 174 lbs) to finish through traffic at the rim. He is also a solid passer, which will come in handy when defenders collapse on his penetration.

Russell will also have a golden opportunity to showcase his skill set to NBA scouts as a freshman because Ohio State lost Craft, Lenzelle Smith Jr. and Ross. The Buckeyes were already something of a nightmare on the offensive end last year with those guys in tow, which means they need a figurative savior this season.

Enter Russell.

Don’t be surprised if the 18-year-old scores well into the double figures per game this season and impresses enough as an overall offensive superstar in the defensively brutal Big Ten to register as a potential first-round pick.

Keita Bates-Diop 

Russell may be the headline maker in Ohio State’s 2014 class, but Keita Bates-Diop, 18, is a ready-made NBA prospect at small forward.

He has incredibly soft touch on his outside jumper, and his length at 6’7” makes it hard for defenders to alter or bother it. In fact, many of the things that make Russell so enticing as a pro prospect apply to Bates-Diop, just at a different position.

He is versatile enough to play anywhere from shooting guard to power forward (he probably projects best as an athletic small forward) and can do almost anything on the offensive end.

Bates-Diop also brings an impressive wingspan and overall speed to the table, which will help him on the defensive end. Just being in Matta’s defense-oriented system will help him develop on that end of the floor, even if it’s only for one season.

For what it’s worth, Bates-Diop noted that it was his comfort level with the program in the first place that drew him to Ohio State, according to Scout.com (subscription required) (via Sporting News): “I really liked the coaching staff and the people on my visit. I was just very comfortable there. We built a real strong connection and relationship. It was just the school for me.”

Bates-Diop can score from the outside or in, is a solid rebounder, will improve in Columbus on the defensive side and is versatile enough to play multiple positions. He will certainly be an NBA player soon.

Kameron Williams

This is admittedly a significant leap, but we are working under the impression here that Kameron Williams is going to be one of the positive surprises in the entire Big Ten this season. Players like Anthony Lee, Jae’Sean Tate or Marc Loving could slide in here, but they are more tweeners, a la a Deshaun Thomas, who may not work as well in an NBA system.

The synopsis on Williams is shooting, shooting, shooting and more shooting (which will be a sight for sore eyes in Columbus).

Williams is more than just an elite three-point shooter, though. He can attack the basket off the dribble, slam it down in impressive fashion and finish through contact. He also has shifty speed that will appeal to NBA teams on both ends of the floor.

Think of how Patty Mills came in as a ball of game-changing energy during the NBA Finals for the San Antonio Spurs and wore the Miami Heat out with his ability to defend across the full court, shoot from behind the three-point line, penetrate through the defense and kick it out to teammates.

Williams can do all of this.

We are not talking about a top-five pick in the NBA draft one day. But the 6'2" Williams’ skill set as a small guard who can immediately impact the game with his scoring and serve as a tremendous perimeter defender based on speed and lateral quickness mean he will find a spot on an NBA team.

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At this point in the college basketball offseason, any news is typically bad news, and Ohio State received a serious dose of that recently.

D’Angelo Russell, who is the highest-rated of the four incoming freshmen Thad Matta landed for the 2014-15 season, did not begin the summer semester with the rest of his teammates. Bob Baptist of The Columbus Dispatch had the report.

Russell’s high school academic transcript still hasn’t been cleared by the NCAA. However, Matta seemed somewhat optimistic, via Baptist, saying, “We are hoping to have him here soon.”

Not only are the Buckeyes hoping to have Russell there soon, they absolutely need him there this season.

Last year’s offense fell somewhere between watching paint dry and watching the gory scenes in Game of Thrones on the painful-to-watch scale.

There was hardly any outside shooting (Ohio State shot 32 percent as a team from downtown and had exactly zero players shoot 36 percent or better), the ball movement was stagnant at best (227th in the nation in assists per game) and there was almost a refusal to get out in transition until it was already too late in many games. Floor spacing was a foreign concept at times as well.

It is a lot of pressure to put on a freshman’s shoulders, but Russell addresses almost all of those weaknesses right away.

He is an elite ball-handler and offensive creator who can get his own shots off the dribble with an explosive first step and an array of dazzling moves. Russell can also pull up and launch from behind the three-point line with deadly accuracy or serve as a catch-and-shoot guy when others have the ball in their hands.

Scoring is what gets talked about with Russell, especially given Ohio State’s struggles putting the ball in the basket last year, but he is an excellent passer as well who is more than willing to share the ball with open teammates.

Last year, the Buckeyes were so stagnant on offense because defenders could sag off ball-handlers Aaron Craft and Shannon Scott, which cut off penetration for the entire team. There were simply no lanes to create anything off the bounce for the guards, and the middle was too crowded for their teammates to slash into from the wings.

Opposing defenses won’t get that luxury this season with Russell on the outside. He is versatile enough to play point guard in relief of Scott or shooting guard, so expect to see him on the floor at the start and end of games.

Perhaps most enticing for Buckeyes fans is the speed and transition opportunities a threesome of Russell, Scott and Sam Thompson bring to the table.

Russell is not just an offensive specialist though (would he have even been recruited by Matta if he was?).

Thanks to his lateral quickness and length at 6’4,” he can stay in front of ball-handlers and dart into passing lanes. Russell is not quite on Craft’s level on the defensive side, but he is more than capable of teaming up with Scott and creating the type of full-court havoc defense we often saw from the Buckeyes when they were trailing late in games last season (the Notre Dame comeback and Big Ten tournament comebacks come to mind).

Ultimately, this season will be a completely new look for an Ohio State program that has been dominated by names like Craft, Deshaun Thomas, LaQuinton Ross and Jared Sullinger over the past few years.

The loaded recruiting class is the future of the team, but Russell is the centerpiece of Matta’s group. Ohio State desperately needs him to complete a projected starting lineup of Scott, Russell, Thompson, Marc Loving and Anthony Lee.

Russell would be the true three-point threat on the outside in that fivesome, and his passing and ability to get out in transition would create easy looks for teammates. 

Baptist provided some updates recently for Ohio State fans that are undoubtedly waiting on pins and needles when it comes to Russell’s status:

There is still plenty of time before the start of the season, so it’s not quite appropriate to panic just yet. However, any Big Ten title hopes and redemption plans the Buckeyes had for the 2014-15 campaign would immediately be put on hold without Russell in the backcourt. 

Ohio State better hope that transcript looks alright.

Writer's Note: Ohio State Basketball tweeted out that Russell is now enrolled on campus later in the day Tuesday.

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