OHIO STATE

Basketball Buckeyes begin answering questions

The Ohio State men's basketball team will feature a revamped roster this season with seven newcomers.

Rob McCurdy
Reporter

COLUMBUS — Instead of a Block O at center court of the Schottenstein Center, Ohio State should paint a giant question mark.

Instead of the Buckeyes, the nickname should be the "Don't Knows."

In coach Thad Matta's 11 years at the school, this men's basketball team might be the hardest to figure in the preseason.

There are no seniors on scholarship and just one junior — the enigmatic Marc Loving. Of the four returnees, only Loving and sophomore Jae'Sean Tate saw big minutes last year.

“I honestly believe it’s wide open," Matta said during Tuesday evening's preseason media day. "I think a lot of positions are wide open. I think we have a lot of guys who can play different positions. You’re going to need the ability to learn different positions in terms of the more you knowm the more you know, and the more you know, the more you’re going to play."

If Matta was a painter, he'd be staring at a blank canvas. If he was a writer, there wouldn't be a pixel on the screen. As a basketball coach, he doesn't know what he's got other than what his imagination gives him.

The Ohio State men's basketball freshman class of, from left, Austin Grandstaff, Mickey Mitchell, Daniel Giddens, JaQuan Lyle and A.J. Harris pose for pictures during media day Tuesday

“We have to keep it simple because of the learning curve of being so youthful," he said. "Each day we go into practice we need a great plan of what we’re going to add, how we’re going to add it, and why we’re adding it. To say I’ve got this grand vision of how we’re going to play — I’ve got one how I wish we’re going to play — but I can’t say exactly how we’re going to play on offense.”

The Buckeyes have two freshman point guards in 5-foot-9 Dayton Dunbar grad A.J. Harris and highly regarded 6-5 JaQuan Lyle. At shooting guard redshirt sophomore Kam Williams returns, while 6-4 Austin Grandstaff comes with a reputation as a knock-down shooter. The wings are loaded with long, lanky bodies with Loving at 6-7, sophomore Keita Bates-Diop at 6-7 with a 7-4 wingspan, 6-7 freshman Mickey Mitchell and the 6-4 Tate. Not a position of strength since the departure of Jared Sullinger, there are three players 6-10 or taller at center with Virginia Tech transfer sophomore Trevor Thompson, redshirt freshman David Bell and true freshman Daniel Giddens.

“Each guy brings something different to the table," Loving said.

Others tried different ways of defining what this team could be.

“I think it will be an energy-filled team," Bates-Diop said.

Added Tate: “Everybody on the team is long, lanky, athletic. We’re looking to push the tempo this year.”

Williams expanded on those ideas.

Ohio State men's basketball coach Thad Matta address the media Tuesday evening in the practice gym of the Schottenstein Center.

“We can be extremely athletic and I think the world is going to see that at the defensive end," Williams said. "We’re going to compete defensively. Coach Matta has made it clear. We’re athletic. If you’re not competing defensively, that’s a lack of effort. If you show a lack of effort, you’re obviously not going to play. We’re going to use our athleticism and our energy to our advantage on both sides of the ball. We have great runners, great sprinters, great athletes, great leapers. We’re going to put it all on display.”

And that's what excites Matta about the 2015-16 season that starts next month.

“That’s the fun part of coaching, going home at night (and saying) let’s add this," Matta said.

But he and his staff also know they need to show some early restraint. With seven of the 11 being newbies and with the four veterans playing with expanded roles, it will be baby steps for the basketball Buckeyes.

“We start with the fundamentals both offensively and defensively — the very, very basics — and we build on from there,” Matta said.

Then he can start answering those question marks surrounding the "Don't Knows."

Rob McCurdy covers Ohio State men's basketball for the Media Network of Central Ohio and can be reached at rmccurdy@gannett.com or 419-521-7241. On Twitter follow @McMotorsport.