Busting Brackets
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Big Ten Basketball: 3 biggest breakout candidates for 2020-21 season

By Carter Landis

COLLEGE PARK, MD - MARCH 08: Aaron Wiggins #2 of the Maryland Terrapins dribbles the ball during a college basketball game against the Michigan Wolverines at the Xfinity Center on March 8, 2020 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD - MARCH 08: Aaron Wiggins #2 of the Maryland Terrapins dribbles the ball during a college basketball game against the Michigan Wolverines at the Xfinity Center on March 8, 2020 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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Ohio State basketball
COLUMBUS, OHIO – NOVEMBER 22: E.J. Liddell #32 of the Ohio State Buckeyes (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

2. EJ Liddell – Ohio State Buckeyes

E.J. Liddell was a surprising contributor for the Buckeyes last season as a freshman. Although he didn’t receive the recognition he should have on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team, Liddell should make a bigger impact in his sophomore season.

Standing at 6-foot-7 and weighing in at 240 pounds, Liddell looks like a physically dominant forward. He played that way last season for Chris Holtmann as well. While his numbers didn’t jump off the page, he showed flashes of being a solid player going forward. While he did make mistakes, as most freshmen do, Liddell showed that he has a high ceiling and can be a consistent contributor in the future.

He lacked consistency and struggled to crack the rotation at times, but he played well down the stretch of Ohio State’s final few games, including a 17-point, 11-rebound game in a crucial win against Illinois. He also lacks a 3-point shot, but if he can develop at least an average one, Liddell should be one of the more threatening underclassmen in the conference.

If Ohio State wants to remain in contention to win the Big Ten, they’ll need Liddell to make that jump with consistent production, and he’s shown that he has the potential to do just that.

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