NCAA Basketball: Strengths and weaknesses of each top-25 team for 2022-23 season

We’re fewer than 100 days from the start of the 2022-23 NCAA Basketball season and ending an offseason that has felt like forever. At Busting Brackets, we’ll be going full-steam ahead in January, with rankings and previews. For now, we’ll be taking one look at our latest updated preseason top-25 power ranking from the offseason (before we update it), and looking at the potential of the rosters, both good and bad.

Here are some strengths and weaknesses of each team for the upcoming season.

25. Ohio State Buckeyes

Strength: Loads of backcourt depth

Between the transfers (Isaac Likelele, Sean McNeil, Tanner Holden) and a trio of four-star guards (Bowen Hardman, Roddy Gayle, Jr., Bruce Thornton Jr.), there’s a lot of depth to work with at Ohio State. And everyone does something different, whether it’s McNeil being a shooter, Likelele being an all-around playmaker and Gayle and Thornton being scorers, there are several lineups that can be used next season.

Last season, Malaki Branham took over the backcourt and separated himself. Without All-American big man E.J. Liddell, the Buckeyes would’ve struggled and while they’ll take a step back in the frontcourt next season, collectively, the backcourt can be a strength.

Weakness: Lack of go-to scorer

On paper, Tanner Holden, who averaged 20 ppg from Wright State last season, would be the best option. But the return of Justice Sueing, a double-digit scorer and combo forward, could also be that lead offensive player for the Buckeyes. The question will be whether or not Sueing can be a leading scorer on a top-25 caliber team, or Holden for that matter.

It’ll likely be a collective effort on the scoring end for Ohio State and how the point guard works out will be just as important. But with lots of capable pieces to work with, the odds of one of them breaking out is pretty solid.