In case you missed it, we want to remind you that the colors scarlet and gray go on a basketball court as well. While the Ohio State football team is continuing on its journey to try and win a Big Ten title and perhaps make it into the College Football Playoff, Chris Holtmann’s crew took the court for the first time on Monday.
You never know what you’re going to get in game one, especially with a team with so many new faces and unknown parts. However, in this one at least, it was a resounding success with a 91-53 runaway win over Robert Morris.
With it being the first real time we’ve seen this team in action when it counts, there’s plenty to peel back and examine. And since we get paid to do that sort of thing, well — we’re all over it.
Here are three main things we think we learned in watching the Ohio State basketball team in its first game of the 2022-2023 season.
There appear to be plenty of pieces to play with
Justice Sueing, on the #Buckeyes roster this year: "We mesh well together for a reason. When you’re a part of an Ohio State basketball team, it’s not by mistake. You’re a special kind of guy and a special type of player." https://t.co/Xi68tlmn88
— Adam Jardy (@AdamJardy) November 8, 2022
It can be hard to judge in game one against an opponent that is considered to be inferior, but you can also tell for the most part who has the ability to contribute. There will be further development and things may tighten up when the conference season begins, but it sure looks like the Buckeyes can go at least nine deep.
When you have a lot of transfers that have some experience, key returners like Zed Key and Justice Sueing, as well as a very good recruiting class, there are a lot of players that can match and mingle depending on what’s needed. While a superstar may not be there on the team this year, the number of players that can make things happen looks to be pretty good.
This group seems to be one that will share the basketball
Ohio State's 11 first-half assists are more than totals in 11 of its games last season.
Isaac Likekele leads with three. Three #Buckeyes have two apiece.@LanternSports
— Jacob Benge (@JacobBenge) November 8, 2022
As a former basketball player and coach, nothing drives me crazier than a team that doesn’t pass the ball well. The best teams tend to share for the greater good of the team to get the best shot possible, but in today’s game, sharing is not always seen as caring.
Yes, the game has a lot to do with matchups, but you can get into matchups by moving the ball around to a better one — you know, like wide open. After all, a matchup against air is better than a matchup against a warm body.
Ohio State had 18 assists on Monday night and it was more refreshing than a sorbet to watch. Even more encouraging is that 11 of those assists came from freshman point guard Bruce Thorton. I’ll tell you this, if OSU can get that kind of production passing the ball, it is going to surprise some people this season.
Unofficially, it’ll also result in me throwing fewer things at my television.
There are a lot of shooters on this year's team
How many was that? Oh yeah, THREE.
Buckeyes shooting 8/14 from behind the arc so far tonight 💯
OSU: 5⃣1⃣
RMU: 3⃣1⃣ pic.twitter.com/bYjcTsyR5d— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) November 8, 2022
Of course, it’s just one game and Ohio State isn’t going to shoot lights out every game, but the Buckeyes seem to have a lot of guys that can fill it up from outside. The Buckeyes shot 61.9% from the floor overall, and that included 10-of-21 (47.6%) from 3-point range.
Almost all the guards seem to be able to go on a hot streak, and even Zed Key got in on the act, hitting 2-of-3, including the first points of the contest. There are other deficiencies this team will have to deal with, but if Ohio State can consistently shoot anywhere near what we saw on Monday, we’ll see a lot of good things as the season goes on.
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