Ohio State's higher usage of depth late in the season should pay dividends in the Big Ten Tournament, but Jake Diebler is looking for better ball security and rebounding from his bunch.
Multiple wins over tough opponents are required to give the Buckeyes a realistic shot at the NCAA Tournament. Interim head coach Jake Diebler could be vying for a bid for the full-time head coaching position, even if it’s not at the front of his mind.
“The depth of this team is a real strength,” Diebler said. “Whether that is brief segments or guys stepping up in a bigger way than they had anticipated going into a particular game. Our team has embraced that depth is a strength for us, but you’re also seeing that guys are playing so hard that they’re asking for breaks at times, and that’s a great place to be at as a team.”
With their increased use, the Buckeyes’ bench players have seen a jump in production. Royal is perhaps the biggest example of that, going from 3.2 points and 1.9 rebounds per game to 7.8 points and 2.7 boards per contest. Most of the players key to Ohio State’s jaunt from the first round to the semifinals of last season's Big Ten Tournament – the first team in the conference ever to do so since it expanded to 14 teams – are back for this go-round. Star Brice Sensabaugh was out for the last two games of that tourney last year, giving others a chance to step into bigger roles.Bruce Thornton is back at point guard for the Buckeyes after racking up 15.5 points and 4.
“They’re experiencing momentum, too,” Diebler said. “They didn’t win their last one but they’ve been playing well. Sandfort, he’s been really, really good. I think they have depth on the perimeter and in the interior, which gives them some versatility.
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