Three days before Ohio State tips off its season against No. 25 BYU in Salt Lake City, the Buckeyes are staring at a game that has all the feel of a road test, even if it lands on the schedule as a neutral-site matchup. The Cougars are only 40 miles away, so the Delta Center figure to lean heavily their way Monday night.
That opener also comes with real weight for Ohio State’s March hopes. Beating a ranked team right out of the gate would give the Buckeyes an early boost on the resume, and this week’s question is a simple one: who ends up leading Ohio State in scoring?
The answer isn’t as obvious as it looked a few weeks ago. Ohio State’s preseason discussion has centered around Anthony Thompson and John Mobley Jr., but the player who has flashed the most consistently through the fall and in the three preseason games has been sophomore big man Amare Bynum. Connor sees him as the safest bet to pace the Buckeyes in their first real game.
That comes with a matchup that should suit Bynum’s game. BYU has not been strong defensively in recent seasons, finishing 59th in defensive efficiency last year after ranking 82nd the year before.
The Cougars also finished 109th nationally in average two-point field goal distance last season, which says opposing teams were getting too comfortable near the rim. In the Big 12, that ranked ninth out of 16 teams.
Bynum’s biggest value is exactly there. He has worked on his perimeter shot, but his real damage comes when he gets downhill, especially on cuts and in transition.
Against Butler last weekend, he showed it again, scoring 23 points in 31 minutes on 7-for-10 shooting. He hit all seven free throws, added six rebounds, blocked a shot and picked off a steal.
A few of those points came on transition dunks after Butler misses, and once Bynum got rolling toward the basket, Butler had no answer.
Jackson Payne of the Deseret News said on Thursday’s Land-Grant Podcast Network’s Bucketheads Podcast that BYU’s rim protection could be a problem.
“It’s going to be tough, because if you can put pressure on the rim against BYU, good things are going to happen because as good as Jaxon Kohler is, he’s not a great rim protector, and BYU doesn’t have a true rim protector who can kind of keep the lid on the basket around the rim. So if you can get into the paint against BYU, good things could happen.”
Ohio State may also be a little short-handed in its backcourt. Mobley has not practiced since twisting his ankle over the weekend against Butler.
Thompson combined for just seven points in the preseason games against Cincinnati and Butler and has not looked especially comfortable yet. Justin Pippen shot 1-for-7 against Butler, while Bynum went 7-for-10.
Connor’s pick is Bynum for a reason.
Justin sees it differently and is betting on Thompson to announce himself when the games start counting. He pointed out that Thompson is the highest-ranked recruit Ohio State has landed since Jared Sullinger and the fourth highest-ranked since 2000, behind Sullinger, BJ Mullins and Thompson. The exhibitions haven’t been flashy, but Justin shrugged that off, noting one game was outdoors and neither one mattered for the record books.
He also said Thompson scored more than 15 points against Louisville in the secret scrimmage, a top-ten team, and should be measured more by that kind of performance than by the preseason box scores. Thompson will be matched up with Bruce Branch III, which gives him another chance to prove himself against one of the top freshmen in the country.
Justin expects Thompson’s scoring all over the floor to show up right away, and he predicted a 22-point debut. He also forecast 20 for Bynum, 19 for Mobley and 14 for Pippen.
In Other News...
Ohio State's Latest Recruiting Push Centers On Two Elite Visitors
Ohio States recruiting momentum is already stretching well beyond the current cycle, with the Buckeyes making another early move on one of the nations most intriguing young prospects. The staff recently extended an offer to Kuika Moaalii, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound athlete from St. John Bosco who is drawing interest from multiple major programs, a sign the Buckeyes are continuing to cast a wide net as they build for the future.
The attention does not stop there. Ohio State also remains in the mix for 2028 offensive lineman RMonie Edwards and linebacker Tahj Gray, two highly ranked prospects with long offer sheets of their own, and the coaching staff is pushing to get each of them on campus as it works to turn early relationships into real traction. For a program that lives on elite recruiting, the next step will be seeing which of these visitors eventually becomes more than just a name on the board. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State's USC Test May Come Down To Jim Patricia
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Jim Patricias unit now gets one of its toughest road assignments yet at Memorial Coliseum, where the atmosphere and the opponent create a different kind of stress test. USC quarterback Jayden Maiava brings a challenge that can force a defense to cover for longer stretches and stay sharp against mistakes, and Ohio States key defenders will be counted on to help Patricia keep the game from opening up. The Buckeyes have survived on defensive consistency so far, and this one could hinge on whether Patricia can keep his group organized when the stage gets louder. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State's USC Trip Now Rides On Ryan Day's Toughest Call
Ryan Day is staring at the kind of quarterback decision that can tilt a big game before it even kicks off. With Julian Sayin dealing with an injury, Ohio State has to choose between freshman Luke Fahey and sophomore Tavien St. Clair for the USC trip, and each option changes the feel of the offense in a different way. Fahey has flashed quick processing and mobility, while St. Clair brings the kind of size and arm strength that can stretch a defense.
The tradeoff is real, and it goes beyond simple experience. Faheys profile suggests a quarterback who can get the ball out and keep plays on schedule, even if he does not fit the usual mold, while St. Clair gives the Buckeyes more of a downfield profile but has been less steady with his accuracy. However Day leans, the choice will shape how Ohio State tries to attack USC and how much pressure falls on the rest of the offense to carry the load. [Read more 🡒]