Lets find out what the BBC writers want to see out of the basketball team this week.
Mali
Healthy Sully. Whatever’s going on with his back, make it all better in time for conference play.
The New Kid. I want to hear how Ross is getting involved in the team’s preparations… will he be up to speed?
Defend The Line. Ohio State has the ability to play with anyone in the country unless they struggle to defend the deep bombs- they stifled the Blue Devils, will they do the same to the Jayhawks?
Courage Under Fire. I’ve been to a game in the Phog Alllen Fieldhouse, and it’s not an easy place for visiting teams. Can the Buckeyes win their first true road test?
Jim
A healthy Jared Sullinger. the nature of college basketball and the nature of back spasms create a situation where there is absolutely no need to rush Sullinger back on the court before he is ready, potentially re-aggrevating and prolonging the injury. Losses in college basketball don’t matter, especially against quality opponents so, as much as we’d like to see him play against Kansas, only if he is truly 100% healthy por favor.
DeShaun Thomas continuing to roll. He showed what he can do on the biggest stage against the Dukies, let’s see him continue to build on that performance and become a more consistent scoring force down the stretch.
Aaron Craft. It’s just fun watching him play.
Joe L
A healthy Sullinger. If he is still injured I don’t think it is worth him to risk playing this early in the season.
LaQuinton Ross. I want to see him getting some time and being ready to go without much in terms of practice time.
3 pt % and FT % continue to rise. We have struggled from both areas in the early season. Would be nice to see them continually get better as the season goes on.
Jordan Sibert playing more within himself. Let the game slow down for him and he will be a force, the ability is there for sure.
Eric
A win in “The Phog”. With or without Sullinger, I would like to see us manage to put together enough of a game to beat the Jayhawks. Especially if it comes without Sullinger, as it will indicate that this team is more than just a couple of guys around one star.
William Buford and/or Aaron Craft taking a leadership role. In the game against UTPA, the Buckeyes came out looking lethargic and uninterested. That shouldn’t be a problem today, but the best way to solve that is for someone to take an active leadership role on the court. One of those two would be the most natural for that kind of job.
Take Tyshawn Taylor and Thomas Robinson out of the equation. Robinson will not be easy to stop without Sullinger, but Taylor will have to face the Craft and Smith show. Both of those defensive wonders should be able to give Taylor everything he can handle and then some.
Focus and effort against smaller opponents. Looking ahead to the game with South Carolina Upstate on Wednesday, the team needs to come out focused and determined from the start to just crush the opposition rather than allowing them to hang around early. Put them out of their misery early and coast to the victory.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
