College basketball countdown: No. 22 Ohio State
THE FIRST WORD: Ohio State had a decorated veteran lineup last season led by Aaron Craft, LaQuinton Ross and Lenzelle Smith Jr. It also had Division I's 213th-best offense.
The Buckeyes were 14-0 at the start of 2014. By the end of March, Ohio State had lost 10 games, the last coming in an NCAA tournament upset against in-state foe Dayton.
Though the loss of a four-year starting point guard hurts, the reinforcements are coming in the form of Temple transfer Anthony Lee and a heralded recruiting class headlined by McDonald's All-American guard D'Angelo Russell.
"Last year we had spells where we struggled to score," Buckeyes coach Thad Matta said. "Now we have guys who can help us in that department. We'll have more guys who can make plays and I think we'll have a strength in our offensive execution. We're going to have great size, length and athleticism."
After failing to advance in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2009, the Buckeyes have a reshaped roster made up of veterans and impact freshmen that should make Ohio State a top challenger to favorite Wisconsin in the Big Ten.
"It's way easier to get to the top than it is to stay on top," Matta said. "Now we've gotta work our way back up.
"We have all these pieces we want to bring together into a puzzle and integrate them into what we're trying to build. We're trying to win championships," he added. "With the new guys, I don't have a drill that can provide experience. You have to earn it. I'll know how good of a player they'll be when I look in their eyes and we're down on the road in front of 15,000 people. There's gotta be a mental toughness to persevere."
2013-14 IN REVIEW: 25-10 overall, 10-8 (fifth in Big Ten), lost in second round of NCAA tournament to Dayton.
PATH TO THE DANCE: Big Ten at-large bid.
PROJECTED TOURNEY SEED: No. 6 seed.
NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE GRADE: B-. See full schedule here.
Ohio State's toughest game in November is against Marquette at home. It gets harder in December with a Big Ten/ACC Challenge clash at Louisville. A real telling test will come December 20 against North Carolina on a neutral court. Home games against Morehead State and Wright State will be decent for RPI, but they're virtually cakewalk games.
TEAM BREAKDOWN: See full roster here.
STAR WATCH: D'Angelo Russell is the 11th McDonald's All-American in the Matta era, and he'll be a front-runner to win Big Ten player of the year. The 6-5 lefty guard is extremely versatile, and his three-point jumper will be the biggest boost for an offensively stale OSU squad. Last season Ohio State ranked 221st in made three-point field goals (5.7 per game). Russell is a surefire double-digit scorer who will likely be a go-to player as soon as he laces up for this team.
Lee led the AAC in rebounding last season at Temple, averaging 13.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. He'll be immediately eligible and start at the power forward position, giving the Buckeyes a much-needed veteran post presence as a senior. Ohio State struggled rebounding last season (ranking 216th nationally in defensive rebounds with 34.1 per game), so his tenacity on the glass will be a huge addition.
X-FACTOR: Scott (7.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.4 apg, 2.0 spg) lived in the shadows of Craft for three seasons. Now he'll get to take controls at the point. Matta expects the senior to have a breakout season with way more opportunity to score and create for his teammates. Scott's defensive aptitude, particularly as an on-the-ball defender, will keep him on the floor for 30-plus minutes per game after playing sixth man duties late last season.
KEY NEWCOMERS: Aside from Russell, small forwards Keita Bates-Diop (ESPN No. 22 recruit) and Jae'sean Tate (ESPN No. 28 recruit) will likely find their way into the rotation early. Their development will be vital for Ohio State to have depth in Big Ten action. And redshirt freshman Kam Williams will add scoring after sitting out last season to treat a case of mononucleosis. "Each guy can bring something different to the table," Matta said of his freshmen.
TEAM STRENGTH/WEAKNESS: Growth is key for determining how good this Ohio State team can be. How fast will the talented freshmen class grow? And how much will the returnees grow into their larger roles? Players such as forward Sam Thompson (7.9 ppg) and center Amir Williams (7.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg) will have to progress as seniors. And role players such as sophomore Marc Loving (4.4 ppg) will have to establish consistency. On paper, the offensive woes that plagued the Buckeyes last season should vanish. But the newcomers and veterans will need to jell for this Ohio State team to make a deep NCAA tournament run.
FUN FACT: As a player, Matta was a standout for the Hoopeston (Ill.) Cornjerkers. The town has long been known as the "Sweetcorn Capital of the World," and a cornjerker is someone who, in the days when harvesting was still done by hand, walked the fields helping remove (or jerk) the ears of corn from the stalks.
BASICS: Ohio State University is in Columbus, Ohio, and the Buckeyes play their home games at Value City Arena, which opened in 1998 and seats 18,809.
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About this post: Every week day for the next three months, one of the 68 teams in USA TODAY Sports' projected field will be dissected. In November, the final bracket will be revealed.