Ohio State Basketball: 2019-20 season preview for the Buckeyes

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 15: Head coach Chris Holtmann of the Ohio State Buckeyes talks to his team during a timeout in the second half against the Michigan State Spartans during the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 15, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 15: Head coach Chris Holtmann of the Ohio State Buckeyes talks to his team during a timeout in the second half against the Michigan State Spartans during the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 15, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
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TULSA, OKLAHOMA – MARCH 22: The Ohio State Buckeyes band performs. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
TULSA, OKLAHOMA – MARCH 22: The Ohio State Buckeyes band performs. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Ohio State basketball looks poised to take the next step under Coach Holtmann this season. How is the roster shaping up for the campaign?

Chris Holtmann has been absolutely incredible since taking over as the head coach of Ohio State basketball. The Buckeyes have quickly made back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances under his leadership and they are also continuously adding elite-level talent via the recruiting trail. It is no secret that the Ohio State is returning to prominence and it is possible that the 2019-20 team competes for the national championship this season. That’s right, I said it.

Ohio State took a minor step back last season in the absence of Keita Bates-Diop but they should respond in a big way in 2019-20. The Buckeyes will feature an elite head coach, some strong returning talent, and an incredible influx of freshmen stars. While it might take some time for the roster to completely gel together, the ceiling is extremely high.

Michigan State projects as the Big Ten favorite this season but Ohio State might not be too far behind. Many outlets have pegged the Buckeyes as a preseason top-15 team in the country and they could exceed those expectations.

With the season approaching in a hurry, it is time to take a deeper look into the team. This article will analyze Ohio State’s potential starters, key reserves, storylines to watch, non-conference schedule, and overall season outlook. The Buckeyes have high hopes for this campaign and it will be intriguing to see how they respond on the court. Let’s dive in.