3 pressing questions as Ohio State men's basketball starts practice
From a stable of post players to the chance for a faster tempo, here are three big questions for the Ohio State men's basketball team as practice starts.
As Ohio State men's basketball starts practice, several key questions arise for the program. First, can the team increase the tempo under new head coach Jake Diebler? Diebler's enthusiasm is evident, as he sought out each player individually during the first official day of preseason practice. However, the Buckeyes have historically played a slower, deliberate style centered around the steady Bruce Thornton, who led the league in scoring for the past four years.
Thornton's departure to the NBA opens up opportunities for a more up-tempo style, with Diebler emphasizing the importance of advancing the ball quickly and passing rather than dribbling. The second question concerns the center position. While traditional basketball is becoming more positionless, Ohio State has four interchangeable players who can occupy the center spot, with specific roles regardless of teammates' positions.
Josh Ojianwuna, Ivan Njegovan, Andrija Jelavic, and Vuk Lazarevic are among the options, each bringing different strengths and attributes to the table. The final question addresses the timeline for Lee Aaliya's impact. Despite arriving late to the program, Aaliya's professional international experience and age may give him an edge in contributing to the team's success from the start.
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