Busting Brackets
Fansided

Big Ten Basketball: Badgers to turn NCAA Tournament momentum into Big Ten title

By Bryce Bennett

Dec 28, 2014; Madison, WI, USA; The Big Ten Conference logo on the Kohl Center Court during pre-game warm-ups before the Wisconsin Badgers take to the floor to play the Buffalo Bulls at the Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 28, 2014; Madison, WI, USA; The Big Ten Conference logo on the Kohl Center Court during pre-game warm-ups before the Wisconsin Badgers take to the floor to play the Buffalo Bulls at the Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
12 of 16
Next
Mar 15, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Ohio State head coach Thad Matta talks to his team moments before the start of their game against the Michigan Wlverines in the semifinals of the Big Ten college basketball tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 15, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Ohio State head coach Thad Matta talks to his team moments before the start of their game against the Michigan Wlverines in the semifinals of the Big Ten college basketball tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports /

5.  Ohio State Buckeyes

2015-16 record: 21-14 overall, 11-7 in Big Ten

Head coach: Thad Matta

Notable departures: Austin Grandstaff (transferred to DePaul), Daniel Giddens (transferred to Alabama), Mickey Mitchell (transferred to UC Santa Barbara), A.J. Harris (transferred to New Mexico State)

Notable returnees: Marc Loving, Keita Bates-Diop, Jae’Sean Tate, JaQuan Lyle, Kam Williams, Trevor Thompson

Notable newcomers: Three-star F Andre Wesson, four-star C Micah Potter, four-star PF Derek Funderburk, JUCO transfer PG C.J. Jackson

Ohio State is a trendy surprise bounce back pick by many and I am partially buying into the hype. I don’t think they can crack the top four in the conference, but 5th-to-7th seems attainable.

The case for the Buckeyes is that they have a nice core of players, including wing Keita Bates-Diop, forward Marc Loving, point guard JaQuan Lyle and forward Jae’Sean Tate. They won 11 conference games last season and Thad Matta is a great coach.

The arguments against the Buckeyes is that their core group needs more consistency and their front court has been a weakness for several years.

My thoughts fall in the middle. I think they will win 9-11 conference games again this season, their core group of players will be more consistent (but still go through struggles on the road), and the front court will improve (but not be one of the best in the Big Ten). This feels like a bubble team that could easily play their way into the tournament or into the NIT.

Home/Big Ten