Ohio State Basketball: How Will the Buckeyes Fare in 2011-12 Season?

Since the NBA and NFL seasons are up in the air, we have no choice but to tune in to NCAA athletics with a vengeance. Not saying that most people would not already, with certain prospects returning and some fresh faces hitting courts near you.

Austin Rivers, James McAdoo and Michael Gilchrist are only a few of the incoming freshman that look to make an instant impact on their basketball programs. But, no one is talking about Amir Williams, Sam Thompson and LaQuinton Ross who are all a part of the ESPNU’s Top 100 recruiting class.

David Lighty, Dallas Lauderdale and Jon Diebler may have left the campus, but the teammates remaining should assure that there will not be a collapse of triumph within the team’s ranks. Jared Sullinger, Aaron Craft and William Buford are the remaining three players that will be looked upon to take on leadership roles.

This feat will be no stranger to Buford, because during a majority of last season he and David Lighty were the biggest offensive threats next to Diebler’s perimeter sharpshooting.

Jared Sullinger took it upon himself to dominate any court’s painted area with the body manipulation of a professional. Until he met up with Josh Harrelson in the Elite Eight, there was no one successful at breaking his temperament or stopping him without picking up a foul in the moment.

Aaron Craft started of slower than the aforementioned two, but when he picked up the pace his defensive mentality and efforts in the half court forced turnovers that sometimes shifted the direction of the game. A point guard is supposed to be the quarterback of their teams.

This position is among the most important because this player is primarily responsible for sighting open lanes, creating offensive plays and pushing the ball at a speed desirable for their teammates.

Stop me when you enter an area that Craft has not excelled in. He is like that bug in your ear that will not fly away, which makes his opponents play more aggressively or dumb. Either way the Buckeyes receive the benefits of his labor.

The newly recruited Amir Williams, Sam Thompson, LaQuinton Ross and Shannon Scott all have skill sets that will attempt to replace what Ohio lost in its senior class. Ross has a beautiful stroke and can score over a majority of his defenders because of his length.

He still needs to become a force without the ball in his hands, but that can be taught. Amir Williams can give a body presence in the low post with Jared Sullinger, or when Sullinger needs to get a minute’s rest. He is a great shot blocker and is quicker than most young men his size.

Ohio State basketball has never fallen in equity and refuse to do so next season. I assume that this tandem will maintain the number one rank as the season closes next year and will be the number one overall seed in the tournament once again