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NCAA Basketball: Updated WTE 2022-23 power rankings after transfer deadline

By Tristan Freeman

CHAPEL HILL, NC - JANUARY 29: Caleb Love #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts following a basket against the NC State Wolfpack in the first half at Dean E. Smith Center on January 29, 2022 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC - JANUARY 29: Caleb Love #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts following a basket against the NC State Wolfpack in the first half at Dean E. Smith Center on January 29, 2022 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /
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NCAA Basketball Ohio State Buckeyes Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports /

23. Ohio State Buckeyes

2021-22 record: 20-12 (12-8 in Big Ten)

The Buckeyes’ roster lost a ton of talent and experience, as stars E.J. Liddell and Malaki Branham went off to the NBA. And several seniors exhausted their eligibility, as Jamari Wheeler, Kyle Young, and Cedric Russell also are gone. Plus, guards Meechie Johnson and Kyle Ahrens entered the transfer portal, leaving seven of the team’s top eight scorers gone.

Zed Key is the best returning player and is joined by Justice Sueing, who averaged double figures in the 2020-21 season but missed all of 2021-22 after suffering an injury. He’s set to return, along with Seth Towns, who has dealt with injuries the past few years but was a former star in the Ivy League before.

The Buckeyes landed a pair of shooters from the transfer portal in Sean McNeil (12.2 ppg on 37% three-point shooting) and 6’6 wing Tanner Holden (20.1 ppg and 7.1 rpg), two likely starters on the perimeter. The starting point guard likely comes from one of the top-5 incoming recruiting class of freshmen, including top-50 prospects, Roddy Gayle Jr. and Bruce Thornton.

There’s a chance that Ohio State adds either a veteran ball-handler and/or backup center to Key next month but this is a team with sneaky depth. If Key has a breakout season inside with Liddell not around, this team could be the one to win the Big Ten.

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