Ohio State Basketball: Factors That Will Make or Break Buckeyes in 2014-15

The Ohio State basketball program has been far too impressive over the years under Thad Matta to lose a round of 64 game to Dayton in the NCAA tournament. That means the 2014-15 season is something of a bounce-back campaign.

The only way the Buckeyes will contend for a Big Ten crown and deep postseason run in March is if they take care of a few things that didn’t necessarily go their way last year. 

With that in mind, here is a look at three factors in particular that could make or break Ohio State’s 2014-15 season.

Willingness to Run

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Ohio State’s willingness to get out in transition this year will be critical based on the roster personnel alone.

Shannon Scott is a speedster at the point, and Kam Williams, Sam Thompson, D’Angelo Russell, Keita Bates-Diop, Jae’Sean Tate, Marc Loving and even Anthony Lee are all capable of running the floor. That is some serious depth for Matta to work with (whether he actually does remains to be seen), which means Ohio State can wear some opponents out by instituting more of a fast-break approach.

While there is certainly plenty of talent in place, especially if the freshmen deliver on their potential, this is not exactly a roster built to pound the ball in half-court sets.

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Scott still isn’t a great perimeter shooter on the outside, Thompson is better suited to slash to the basket in transition and Lee is not exactly a traditional post-up center. Loving and Williams can also maximize their production by spotting up as trailers on the fast break.

What’s more, the pressure defense may take a small step back without Aaron Craft, but Scott, Russell and Thompson will create a number of turnovers. The Buckeyes have to convert them into easy opportunities on the other end, which will improve their No. 128 ranking in Ken Pomeroy’s pace-adjusted offense efficiency ratings from last year by default. 

As Ari Wasserman of Cleveland.com pointed out last season, the Buckeyes just didn’t get out in transition enough:

More fast breaks will lead to more easy baskets and a much better offensive squad. It could even lead to a chance at the Big Ten title.

Amir Williams’ Continued Development

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Complaining about Amir Williams is almost as much of a favored pastime in Buckeye Nation as singing "Hang On Sloopy" or laughing at what a disaster the Michigan football program has become. However, fans need to come to reality a bit here when it comes to Williams.

He is never going to be Jared Sullinger or Greg Oden, and that’s perfectly fine.

Williams has improved every season since he arrived in Columbus, as the numbers below indicate.

	Freshman Year	Sophomore Year	Junior Year
Points per game	1.7	3.5	7.8
Rebounds per game	2.1	3.9	5.8
Blocks per game	0.8	1.4	1.8
Field-goal percentage	52.8	55.6	59.8
Free-throw percentage	35.7	55.7	65.1

While those are still not incredible statistics for a starting center, the improvement is certainly encouraging. Matta recognized that the Buckeyes are going to need more of that from Williams this year, 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.

"

Ohio State is a guard- and small forward-oriented team, even with Lee in the fold, so Williams must control the boards and protect the rim.

A productive Williams gives Matta much more flexibility with his lineup as well because it will allow him to play Lee at the power forward spot at times, which will prove critical in Big Ten play when rebounding is the lifeblood to victories. Matta can also go small at times with four guards and forwards around either Williams or Lee when the team needs a boost, but only if he trusts that the middle is not going to get exposed. 

Williams needs to be a viable member of the rotation this year. If he continues to improve, he will be just that.

Rebounding

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This goes hand in hand with Williams’ continued improvement, but you just can’t survive in the physically demanding Big Ten and rebound like Ohio State did last year.

The Buckeyes finished a lowly 216th in the nation in total rebounding per game and need to be much more effective on the glass this season.

The defense, which is how the program has won games the past few years, will be even better with improved rebounding because the easy second-chance opportunities won’t be there anymore. The offense would also improve if it was the Buckeyes and not the opposition converting those same second chances.

It is reasonable to expect better numbers in 2014-15 now that Temple-transfer Lee joins Williams down low.

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We touched on Williams’ projected improvement, but Lee was a double-double machine for the Owls who averaged 8.6 boards a night last year. When he and Williams play together, Ohio State should be able to control the glass. 

Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports certainly thinks Lee will help in the rebounding department:

That is a lot of height on the floor, and Lee is versatile and athletic enough to chase rebounds down all year. A major weakness from a season ago could be a strength for the Buckeyes in 2014-15.

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