Ohio State plays its last nonconference game Sunday against Indiana State. Head coach Jake Diebler says the tough losses and tough opponents so far have grown his team and prepared it for Big Ten play.
Jake Diebler embraced the challenges and growth opportunities that awaited his Ohio State men’s basketball team this season. He relished games against Texas, Texas A&M, Pitt, Auburn and Kentucky.
“We needed to play against some other really good teams,” he said. “And I’m a big believer in that’s how you grow.”
The Minster Bank proudly sponsors your favorite sports stories on Press Pros Magazine.
He wanted fewer growing pains and to be better than 2-3 against high-major foes heading into Sunday’s final non-conference game against Indiana State. But the Buckeyes grew even when it looked like they were shrinking.
Veteran columnist Jeff Gilbert writes Ohio State basketball and OHSAA sports for Press Pros Magazine.com.
They got everyone’s attention when they beat then-No. 19 Texas in Las Vegas on opening night. They lost by 14 at then-No. 23 Texas A&M. They lost on a last-second 3-pointer at home to Pitt after blowing late leads in regulation and overtime. That’s a game they know they should’ve won.
Then with center Aaron Bradshaw and guard Ques Glover still out of the lineup, the Buckeyes air-balled two games to create major doubt that they could compete in the Big Ten in Diebler’s first full season as head coach. They lost their Big Ten opener 83-59 at Maryland. After bouncing back to beat Rutgers at home, the Buckeyes went to Atlanta and got run out of town by No. 2 Auburn 91-53.
“We didn’t put the schedule together thinking, ‘Oh, man, let’s go take some lumps, and then we’ll turn it on later,’” Diebler said. “We put the schedule together with the intent of of winning a lot of non-conference games.”
The Buckeyes (8-4) had no problem winning against Youngstown State, Evansville, Campbell, Green Bay and Valparaiso. But, based on recent performances against high-major teams, not much was expected out of a trip to Madison Square Garden to face No. 4 Kentucky last Saturday.
But much was accomplished.
Known for his perimeter shooting, John Mobley, Jr. has been a welcome addition in the absence at guard in the Meechie Johnson’s absence.
The Buckeyes put their poor performances behind them, welcomed back Bradshaw and Glover, played their best game to date by setting the tone early as the aggressor, and dominated Kentucky from start to finish 85-65.
“It was a big win, and there’s no denying it,” Diebler said. “But our whole non-conference has been about growing. We didn’t play a perfect game against Kentucky. There were several possessions we could have been better. I thought we took a step forward, certainly, but we know what’s coming up here.”
What the Buckeyes showed against Kentucky is a return to the depth Diebler built when he assembled this team. Bruce Thornton scored 30 points, John Mobley Jr. 15 and Bradshaw 11. Most notably the Buckeyes had a great offensive day with 56.5% shooting while Devin Royal scored only seven points.
Royal entered the game having scored in double figures in eight straight games. He was coming off a 31-point night against Valparaiso. A low-scoring night from Royal didn’t hurt the Buckeyes, and Diebler said it was a reminder of what the Buckeyes can be with a full complement of depth.
“To still have the efficient offensive output that we were able to have, it’s a great sign for things to come,” Diebler said. “It will make us tougher to guard.”
Want a greener, healthier lawn? We can help. contact Weedman USA at 614-733-3747 or go online to Weedman.com.
Glover’s return could not have been more timely with nine points in 16 minutes. Meechie Johnson is still out on personal leave with no timetable for a return, and starter Micah Parrish left the game injured early in the second half. The trio of Thornton, Mobley and Glover finished the game.
“There’s not a burden on necessarily one or two guys,” Diebler said. “Really, all three of them played well.”
Mobley is known for his long-range 3-point shooting, but he’s becoming more of a complete player now that he’s starting in place of Johnson, especially on defense. He played 35 minutes against Kentucky, second only to Thornton’s 38. Mobley had three assists, two steals and no turnovers.
Thornton, Mobley and Glover combined for 54 points to make up for the attention paid to Royal that limited him to five shots.
Sophomore Devin Royal was held to seven points by Kentucky after a string of games with double-digit points.
“Certainly, Devin’s a really important part of what we’re doing from a production standpoint and will continue to be that,” Diebler said. “I don’t anticipate him getting held down like that for multiple games in a row.”
Bradshaw’s 7-foot-1 frame was a welcome sight on defense for a team that had been playing smaller than the top teams they’ve been playing.
“Aaron plays with an intensity and a passion – we missed that,” Diebler said. “And certainly his size, his rebounding ability, his ability to protect the rim, all of those things were certainly missed.”
The Big Ten schedule gets serious in a hurry at home against Michigan State (10-2, 2-0) on Friday and at Minnesota (7-5, 0-2) on January 6. While Diebler wanted his team to play consistently well in November and December, he is glad in retrospect for the adversity that has kept them out of the Top 25.
“Anytime you go through adversity like we’ve seen, it forces you to come together, or it completely divides you, and everything goes bad,” he said. “We’ve shown that we’ve come together. We’ve grown through some really tough games and tough opponents.”
Without the chance to play Kentucky, the Buckeyes would be starting conference play less confident. That win guarantees nothing, but that game on top of the other big games is a scheduling philosophy Diebler wants to continue.
“Our program belongs on the biggest stage, and we got to continue to work and fight to get it back there,” he said. “Playing a tough non-conference schedule is part of that and it’s part of us getting ready for Big 10 play.
“We went into in with every intent of playing well and winning those games. Part of it is you’re working to build the on-court chemistry that’s required to beat really good teams who have maybe an experience advantage or a chemistry advantage. But I’m OK with that because it forces you to grow and be better.”
Precision Strip, in Minster, is a proud sponsor of the best area sports stories on Press Pros.