Snyder | Recruit provides Ohio State's Matta lifeline

Kaleb Wesson will spend the next month attempting to lead Westerville South to a repeat of the Division I state title.

Given the firepower his team graduated and the presence of Newark and Pickerington Central among others just in central Ohio, it is a daunting task. It might be nothing, however, compared to the pressure Wesson will feel next season.

Wesson will step into the lineup at Ohio State next fall with the burden of having to save coach Thad Matta's job. Wesson is not the prospect Jared Sullinger was, but Matta needs Wesson to make a similar impact, vaulting the Buckeyes back into Big Ten title contention and the top 25.

It is fair to argue Matta has been a victim of his own success. Matta had the Buckeyes annually in contention until the past couple seasons and led them to five Sweet 16 appearances, including two Final Fours.

It also is fair to question Matta's ability to lead the program into the future given it will be just one NCAA tournament victory in four years when the curtain closes on this season. This past Thursday's upset of Wisconsin far too little and far too late.

So why does it fall on Wesson's broad shoulders? Upper Arlington sharpshooter Dane Goodwin is among those who will come to Columbus two years from now, Matta needs something big next season.

It certainly will not happen with the current crop of Buckeyes. Injuries to Keita Bates-Diop and incoming freshman Derek Funderburk eliminated the depth of this team, but Matta is increasingly exasperated with each passing interview.

When Matta has won big with the Buckeyes, it has been through his recruiting. He took an overachieving team to the Big Ten title his second season, but the "Thad Five" put the Buckeyes back on the map the following season.

Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr. were only on campus one season, but then came Evan Turner and later Sullinger. The 2014-15 season with D'Angelo Russell, however, just slowed the beginning of the slide to mediocrity.

One man can pull the Buckeyes out of it. It is too much to ask of Kaleb Wesson, but here the Buckeyes are.

Kurt Snyder is a sports writer for The Advocate. Tell him what you think at ksnyder@newarkadvocate.com.