NCAA Basketball: Top 25 team frontcourts heading into 2021-22 season

Ohio State may not have leading scorer Duane Washington anymore, the team’s other star is back in E.J. Liddell, who averaged 16.2 ppg and 6.7 rpg. The 6’7 forward had a breakout campaign, scoring in double figures in 25 of 29 games, including a career-high 26 points against Illinois.

Liddell isn’t the biggest player but pound-for-pound is one of the strongest players in NCAA Basketball and uses his skillset to score in all kinds of ways. He’s a Big Ten Player of the Year contender and likely leading scorer for this upcoming campaign.

There’s plenty of depth for the Buckeyes as well behind Liddell. Starting center Kyle Young elected to take a 5th year, while the team also brought in Indiana grad transfer Joey Brunk. Sophomore big man Zed Key is back as well.

There is a trio of small forwards back as well for Ohio State, including double-digit scorer Justice Sueing and Seth Towns, who battled injuries last season but still managed to get a spot in the rotation. Sueing is a quality combo forward that was the third option offensively last season that can create his own offense, although he isn’t a great shooter from deep.

The Buckeyes frontcourt depth should be more than able to make up for Washington’s absence and remain a contender for the Big Ten regular-season title. The combo of Young and Brunk at the center position to compliment Liddell on both ends will have the most importance, considering the depth at center in the conference.