Ohio State Basketball: Is D'Angelo Russell Ready to Be OSU's Top Scoring Option?

With 15 minutes remaining in Ohio State’s game against early-season cupcake Sacred Heart, freshman D’Angelo Russell had 30 points. Sacred Heart had 33. 

It’s safe to say that the high-volume scorer was on his game Sunday. He finished with 32 points on 12-of-21 shooting from the field, nine rebounds and five assists in the 106-48 win and was clearly the best scorer on the floor.

The question now is whether the freshman star can carry the load as the Buckeyes’ top scoring option all season.

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His pure talent would suggest that he can. It was not just the number of points he scored that really stood out to those watching on Sunday, but the number of ways in which he did it.

For starters, Russell drilled four three-pointers and demonstrated supreme confidence from deep. There was one play in particular when he held the ball in a triple-threat stance, sized up the defender for a few seconds and then simply let it launch over the outstretched hand. As if there was any doubt, it hit nothing but net.

Russell also slashed into the lane off the dribble and mixed in a combination of mid-range floaters and layups where he had to twist his way through multiple defenders in the air.

Jay LaPrete/Associated Press

He doesn’t force the issue either and scores within the flow of the offense. He reached the 30-point mark with 15 minutes remaining in the game, and some freshmen would have tried to force shots and go for some scoring records, especially in a blowout. Instead, Russell continued to play within the game and only scored two more points the rest of the way.

Ben Axelrod of Bleacher Report certainly had some high praise for the guard, while Jeff Rabjohns of Yahoo! Sports believes the rest of the Big Ten should be on notice:

Before getting too excited about the performance against Sacred Heart, it is important to point out that Russell did have an off game against Marquette when he finished with six points on 2-of-5 shooting from the field and seven turnovers.

A glass-half-empty approach would suggest that this was the one power-conference opponent the Buckeyes have played this season, and Russell struggled. A glass-half-full approach would say that he still hit 2-of-3 from three-point range, which helped stretch the defense for Shannon Scott to penetrate and find open teammates.

More importantly, though, it was a learning opportunity for the freshman that will pay dividends once the schedule heats up. Thad Matta suggested as much, via Bill Landis of Cleveland.com, "He's a heck of a basketball player. I think the biggest thing for him, sometimes a freshman may need a game like that." 

It’s better that Russell got the nerves that come with the first marquee game out of the way in November than in Big Ten play, as Brandon Castel of The-Ozone.net implied:

We know Russell is supremely talented and that he already took advantage of a learning opportunity. However, one important factor in his quest to succeed as Ohio State’s top scoring option is the presence of Shannon Scott.

Scott dished out a school-record 16 assists on Sunday and is averaging an astounding 13.7 dimes a game, which is tops in the nation. He posted 14 in that win over Marquette and is the general of the well-oiled machine that is the Ohio State offense.

There are three-point shooters all over the floor, athletes to get out in transition and some depth down low for the first time in years that can finish around the basket, and Scott is finding everyone. From Russell’s perspective, Scott’s passing ability and overall control of the offense allows him to play off the ball and work off screens and back-cuts to get open for shots.

It is a scoring guard’s dream to play with a point guard who is always looking to set up his teammates, and Russell has that opportunity this season.

It will also help Russell as a freshman who is still adopting to the college game that the Buckeyes have some impressive depth this season. Matta could go 10-deep if he wants, and with so many guys who can score (you don’t reach 106 points in a game, regardless of the opponent, if this isn’t the case), Russell won’t have overwhelming pressure on a nightly basis.

Mike Munden/Associated Press

While he may be the de facto No. 1 option, there isn’t the type of produce-or-we-lose expectations that someone like Deshaun Thomas faced a couple of years ago in a stagnant offense.

The Buckeyes are first in the nation in field-goal percentage at 60.8 and have nine guys averaging at least six points a game, with four in double-figures. The bottom line is that they can afford an off game from Russell in the scoring department (like the Marquette one) and still win, sometimes even by a big margin.

However, there will be tight, season-defining contests in the Big Ten and in March where the Buckeyes will need a basket on a late possession. Even though he struggled with his perimeter jumper, Aaron Craft was the guy they would turn to in the waning moments last season, and it will be Russell this year. 

With his pure talent, the vast array of ways he can score that he demonstrated on Sunday and Scott setting the table with timely passes, Russell has all the tools to deliver. He certainly looks ready for that responsibility.

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