Ohio State left its 84-74 win over Marshall with a 2-1 record and a reminder that the next step is going to be a lot tougher.
The Buckeyes opened fast and looked in control with a 45-27 halftime lead, but Marshall ripped into that cushion early in the second half, trimming the margin to five within the first five minutes. That surge forced Jake Diebler to burn two timeouts, a sign that Ohio State’s grip on the game had loosened in a hurry.
That kind of stretch is exactly what the Buckeyes can’t afford on Friday against No. 4 UConn.
There were bright spots, though, and one of the biggest came from freshman Anthony Thompson. The five-star recruit posted 11 points and six rebounds, and he finally knocked down his first two three-pointers of the season after opening the year cold from deep.
Diebler had already been confident Thompson would get there, comparing the early shooting struggles to those of his brother, Jon Diebler, who became one of Ohio State’s best three-point shooters. The coach also made clear that Thompson’s value goes beyond the jumper, calling him a tremendous scorer overall.
Thompson said he’s starting to settle in more by moving without the ball, finding his spots and creating chances to score.
Ohio State also got a major lift from Jimmie Williams, who came off the bench for a season-high 16 points, five rebounds, an assist and a steal in 21 minutes. Diebler pointed to Williams’ ability to attack the paint and make defenses react.
“I think as he continues to read that paint better and better, it opens things up for all of us, and he can create with his ability to touch the paint and shoot, create some open looks for some other people when he puts the defense in rotation,” Diebler said.
Williams made it clear after the game that he wants that kind of role to stick.
The scoring was spread around in a way Ohio State will want to keep seeing. John Mobley Jr. led the Buckeyes with 19 points, while Andrija Jelavic added 11 and Amare Bynum chipped in 10. In all, five Buckeyes finished in double figures, and Ohio State scored 36 points in the paint.
That balance matters for a team trying to avoid leaning too heavily on one scorer. Mobley said the production from his teammates was a welcome sign.
“Guys stepped up today. But we knew they were gonna step up,” Mobley said. “Some guys were just having a rough patch early in the season, but, you know, they stayed the course, stayed in the gym, they showed up today.”
Diebler liked the offensive variety, too, saying, “That's the beauty of this team,” and adding, “And I think as we continue to trust each other more and more, right, it's just going to continue to open up a floor for us.”
But the second-half defense is still the issue hanging over this group. Diebler said Ohio State’s problems against Marshall came from a lack of ball pressure, poor positioning and missed defensive adjustments. The Buckeyes have not yet shown they can keep that edge for a full 40 minutes, and that’s the kind of flaw UConn can expose quickly.
The Huskies already have multiple threats, including Braylon Mullins, who scored 23 points in UConn’s win over Michigan.
In Other News...
Ohio State Finally Made A Change Fans Saw Coming
Ohio State made the kind of midseason move fans had been expecting after a string of special teams breakdowns kept showing up at the worst possible moments. Robby Discher was fired after nine games, with the Buckeyes issues on that phase of the game becoming harder to ignore as penalties and momentum-swinging mistakes piled up in recent losses.
Ryan Day said there had simply been too many detrimental plays to keep things as they were, and the staff is now reshuffling responsibilities to finish the season. Senior analyst Rob Keys will oversee special teams the rest of the way, with other coaches taking on specific units, a sign that Ohio State is trying to steady one of the most frustrating parts of its operation before it costs them again. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio States Backup Quarterback Problem Just Got More Complicated
Justyn Martins role at Ohio State has become one of those quiet depth-chart stories that can suddenly matter a lot more than anyone expected. The fifth-year senior has not played this season, but with Julian Sayin sidelined, Martin is now listed as the third-string quarterback, and Ryan Day has already made it clear he likes what he has seen from him in practice. For a team that always has to be ready at quarterback, that kind of behind-the-scenes trust can carry real weight.
Martin has kept working alongside Luke Fahey and Tavien St. Clair, staying in the mix while the Buckeyes sort through their options. He has spoken confidently about the group and noted that Sayin remains supportive during his recovery, which only adds another layer to a situation that is still unfolding. For now, Martin is waiting for a chance that has not come yet, but the fact that Day is even floating game usage suggests Ohio States backup picture is far from settled. [Read more 🡒]
Chip Kelly Is Suddenly Back In Ohio State's Offensive Picture
Chip Kellys name is back in the mix around Ohio State, and not just as a nostalgic footnote. The former Buckeyes assistant, now at Northwestern, has surfaced in conversations about offensive play-caller openings, with his past tie to the program giving the idea immediate credibility. For a staff that is always under the microscope, any movement on the offensive side tends to draw attention quickly, especially when it involves a coach with Kellys rsum and familiarity with the Ohio State environment.
The broader picture is still fluid, though, because Nebraska is also being linked to Kelly and may try to sell him on the stature of the job rather than a simple financial pitch. For Ohio State, the possibility seems tied to whether current staff changes open a path, which is why the chatter feels more like a developing subplot than a settled pursuit. Even so, the fact that Kelly is being discussed in that context says plenty about how quickly the Buckeyes offensive landscape can shift. [Read more 🡒]