Juni Mobley Is Heating Up - And Ohio State’s Backcourt Is Becoming a March Problem
Back in October, when Ohio State opened its doors for fans to get a glimpse of the 127th team in program history, there was already buzz behind the scenes. One person close to the team made a bold claim: “I think Juni Mobley is going to be our best player.”
At the time, that sounded like a stretch. After all, Bruce Thornton - a four-year captain and one of the most productive players in Buckeye history - was still very much the face of the program. Suggesting Mobley would surpass him meant either Thornton was about to hit a wall, or Mobley was about to take a major leap.
It took 16 games, but Mobley is starting to make that conversation a real one.
Let’s be clear: January has been Mobley’s month. The sophomore guard has turned up the heat in a big way, averaging 18.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.3 steals over eight games.
He’s logging nearly 35 minutes a night and shooting the lights out - 52.3% from the field, 45.7% from deep, and a scorching 95.2% from the line. And that includes a rough night in Seattle against Washington, where he hit just one shot and didn’t even get to the stripe.
But zoom in a little closer, and the last four games have been something else entirely. Mobley’s averaged 25.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.5 steals while playing nearly the whole game - 38.5 minutes per contest.
He’s been ruthlessly efficient: 51.5% shooting overall, 46.5% from three, and a perfect 15-for-15 at the free throw line. He’s scored at least 22 points in each of those four games, including a career-high 28 against UCLA on January 17.
At this point, calling Mobley “hot” doesn’t quite do it justice. He’s been volcanic.
And defenses are starting to treat him like it. Teams are throwing double teams at him on the perimeter, switching longer defenders onto him, and trying just about anything to slow him down - often to no avail. There have been multiple possessions this month where everyone in the building knows Mobley’s taking the shot… and he still gets it off clean.
Take the Minnesota game. Ohio State’s first possession saw Mobley guarded by 6-foot-7 Cade Tyson.
After a quick handoff and a subtle screen at the top of the arc, Mobley had just enough daylight to pull from the wing - and he buried it. Nineteen seconds in, Buckeyes up 3-0.
Minnesota had the scout. They knew what was coming. It didn’t matter.
“We had the game plan on Mobley,” said Gophers head coach Niko Medved. “But obviously we just couldn’t get to him quick enough. He sees two go in early and you’ve got a problem on your hands.”
That’s been the story lately. Mobley’s not just scoring - he’s setting the tone.
Against Penn State, it was more of the same. First possession, same result.
This time it was Kayden Mingo, the Big Ten’s steals leader, trying to stay in front of him. Mobley got the edge, drew a double from 7-footer Ivan Juric, then spun back into a fadeaway jumper from 12 feet.
Buckeyes up 2-0, just 16 seconds in.
He finished with 25 points and five assists that night, going 5-for-11 from deep. Afterward, Penn State head coach Mike Rhoades summed it up: “The thing about Mobley is he can shoot it from all over the floor. And when you’ve got someone who can also go create his own shot - ‘get in his bag,’ as they say - that’s a problem.”
And it’s not just Mobley. Thornton might be taking a backseat in the headlines right now, but he’s still doing captain things.
Sure, his scoring has dipped a bit over the last couple games - just 19 points combined - but let’s not forget, he’s already got nine 20-point games this season. In January, he’s averaging 17.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.4 steals per game, shooting 51% from the field. The three-point shot has cooled off a bit (34.2%), but he’s still logging heavy minutes (37 per game) and playing with the same steady, physical style that’s made him a nightmare matchup for years.
Put the two together, and Ohio State has one of the most dangerous backcourts in the country right now.
Here’s a side-by-side look at their season averages:
Bruce Thornton: 19.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 55.4% FG, 40.4% 3PT (36.6 minutes)
Juni Mobley: 16.1 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 44.1% FG, 41.9% 3PT (31.0 minutes)
That’s elite production from both spots. And as we know, guard play wins in March.
Right now, the Buckeyes are projected as an 11-seed in the NCAA Tournament. But if Mobley keeps playing anywhere near this level - even 75% of it - and Thornton continues doing what he’s done all season, this team becomes a serious problem for a higher seed.
You can try to scheme for one of them. Maybe even slow one down.
But trying to contain both? That’s where the math doesn’t work.
Mobley is ascending. Thornton is steady. And together, they’re giving Ohio State a backcourt that can go toe-to-toe with just about anyone in the country.