Ohio State Basketball: 3 reasons why the Buckeyes can win the Big Ten

NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 23: Head coach Chris Holtmann of the Ohio State Buckeyes reacts during the first half of the CBS Sports Classic against the North Carolina Tar Heels at the Smoothie King Center on December 23, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

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NEW ORLEANS, LA – DECEMBER 23: Keita Bates-Diop /

2. Keita Bates-Diop is unstoppable

Raise your hand if you heard of Keita Bates-Diop before this season and don’t consider yourself a Big Ten fan. (Three hands? Two hands?) Keep your hand up if you thought he would be one of the best players in college basketball this season. (Crickets.)

The junior from a town named ‘Normal’ is anything but, averaging 19.7 points and 8.9 rebounds per game this season. After playing in just nine games last season (stress fracture), he’s reminding people why he was honorable All-Big Ten player during his sophomore season.

Bates-Diop saved his best performance for the season’s biggest game. In a tilt with then top-ranked Michigan State, Bates-Diop dropped a season-high 32 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and vastly outplayed Miles Bridges.

In the next game, he hit six three-pointers, despite being a .376 shooter from distance.

Bates-Diop has won the Big Ten Player of the Week award three times this season, inserting himself into the conversation for Big Ten Player of the Year. He’s also creeping up on Wooden Award watch lists as one of the best players in college basketball.

His dominance allows other members of the Buckeyes to thrive, including C.J. Jackson and Jae’Sean Tate, who have been taking advantage all season.

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