Ohio State walked out of its opening night in better shape than the scoreboard alone might suggest.
The Buckeyes went on the road to face BYU in their first game of the season, and the choice to open against a Top-25 opponent paid off in a game that gave Ohio State plenty to build on before it returns to Columbus to host Youngstown State at Value City Arena.
One of the biggest reasons for optimism was Amara Bynum. The Buckeye forward looks like he has the kind of tools that can turn him into one of the country’s most dangerous scorers.
At 6-foot-8, he brings speed, explosiveness and real finishing ability around the basket. He also showed progress from deep, knocking down 3 of 6 shots from beyond the arc on his way to 20 points.
If that outside touch keeps coming along, he becomes a much tougher cover.
The backcourt gave Ohio State another strong sign. John Mobley Jr. and Justin Pippen looked like a legitimate one-two punch, combining for 26 points while shooting 8-for-16 from the field.
Each guard hit two 3-pointers, and both played like central pieces rather than newcomers trying to find their way. For a pair that wasn’t expected to be part of this program this year, that kind of production matters.
Not everything went smoothly, though. Anthony Thompson had a rough debut, finishing with just 2 points on 0-for-5 shooting and going 0-for-5 from three. His only points came at the free-throw line, and he never found a rhythm offensively.
LJ Smith also had a difficult night. The five-star recruit scored 3 points on one 3-pointer and finished with a minus-16 plus/minus, making his impact a negative one for Ohio State in the opener.
Still, it’s only one game, and that’s the part the Buckeyes can lean on. There’s a long season ahead, and this group has time to keep growing. The task now is simple: keep improving every day and start turning that promise into consistent basketball.
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Jeremiah Smith Can Add Another Big Ten Milestone Against Oregon
Jeremiah Smith keeps turning milestone games into routine business, and the next one on the schedule gives him another chance to add to a record book he already owns in just about every meaningful way at Ohio State. The Buckeyes star receiver has become the standard for production in Columbus, and his latest stretch has him positioned to keep climbing the Big Ten lists while the spotlight only gets brighter.
Oregon is the next opponent, and with it comes another opportunity for Smith to keep stacking history against a high-profile defense. The yards record is still within reach, and with every big catch he makes, the conversation around him shifts a little more from what he has done to what he might finish with before this run is over. [Read more 🡒]
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Oregon Heads Into Ohio State With Key Offensive Questions
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The rest of the availability picture is still fluid, with other players carrying out or probable designations as Oregon prepares for one of its biggest tests of the season. For Ohio State, that means the focus is not just on who the Ducks will have, but on how much of their offense can be pieced together in time for a game where every healthy option matters. [Read more 🡒]