NCAA Basketball: Way-too-early top-25 power rankings for 2021-22 season

No matter how disappointing the Round of 64 upset loss to Oral Roberts was, that doesn’t take away how impressive Ohio State’s season was. And as long as both star players return, they’ll be in the same or even better position for 2021-22.

After multiple guards left last offseason, Duane Washington Jr. elevated his game as the lead guard, averaging 16.4 ppg and 2.9 apg. In the frontcourt, sophomore forward EJ Liddell upped his scoring average by nearly 10 ppg to 16.2 ppg this past season, along with 6.7 rpg. Each is testing the NBA Draft waters after a breakout campaign but fans are hoping they do what Illinois stars Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn did… come back for another year to end up as a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

There’s plenty of depth among the supporting cast, including double-digit wing Justice Sueing, as well as Justin Ahrens, Zed Key, and Seth Towns. Towns is a key player to watch, as the former Ivy League Player of the Year wasn’t healthy to start last season. An offseason without limitations for him could have Towns become a great contributor. There’s also top-30 incoming guard Malaki Branham to provide backup depth too.

To replace the outgoing CJ Walker at the point guard position, Ohio State recently landed Penn State transfer Jamari Wheeler. He’s not much of a scorer (6.8 ppg last season) but was an All-Big Ten Defensive player. And if both Washington and Liddell return, there won’t be a real need for a scoring point guard anyways.

If big man Kyle Young is gone, Key will likely start at center but look for the Buckeyes to try and land another center this offseason. If they land five-star recruit Efton Reid a week from now, there’s a chance that Ohio State may have the No. 1 overall roster for next year.