Ohio State basketball team expects to be a contender in the Big Ten

ROSEMONT, Ill. - A friend texted Ohio State coach Thad Matta before he spoke at the Big Ten’s media days at the Crowne Plaza last month and noted that the Buckeyes are playing five of college basketball’s Top 11 teams this year.

Matta’s response was essentially, ‘Yeah, I’m aware.’

Ohio State's Evan Turner scores against Alcorn State on Monday. Turner had 14 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists in Ohio State's 100-60 win against Alcorn State. (Photo: Associated Press)

Ohio State scheduled aggressively this season in addition to a tough Big Ten schedule featuring two of the Top 10 - No. 2 Michigan State and No. 7 Purdue.

There’s also No. 6 North Carolina, No. 8 West Virginia and No. 11 Butler.

While Butler isn’t quite Top 10 - the Bulldogs are in the ESPN/USA Today coaches’ poll - the point is made. Ohio State isn’t slacking.

“I didn’t feel that we had to - I think we’ve always played a pretty competitive schedule,” Matta said. “And this just is one of those years where everybody’s going to be really good on our schedule.”

Last year, Ohio State looked to play a competitive schedule, playing Top 25 teams Miami (Fla.) and Notre Dame. Neither reached the NCAA tournament.

While the schedule is improved from last year’s 22-11 campaign, when it comes to recruiting talent it’s hard to say many have done it in the Big Ten - or nationally - better than Matta.

Every year it seems like he has one high-profile freshman who is considering making the leap from being a college rookie to one in the NBA - from the trio of Greg Oden, Michael Conley and Daequan Cook in 2007 to Kosta Koufos in 2008 and then B.J. Mullens in 2009.

While Matta may have players leave for the NBA after this year, the one thing he won’t worry about is having a one-year wonder since, well, he has no high-powered freshmen.

What he does have is a core of experienced players led by junior guard Evan Turner.

Turner opened the season Monday night with a triple double - 14 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists for the second triple-double in Buckeyes’ history - among a starting lineup featuring a senior, three juniors and a sophomore.

“What he is in my mind is a playmaker,” Matta said. “Would I call him the perfect point guard, I don’t think that, but I don’t want him to be that. I think the way that we’re trying to play is maybe a little different, where it’s not like a few years ago where you’ve got a true great point guard and you put the ball in his hands and let him go from a certain spot on the floor.”

Instead, Ohio State would likely want Turner to go a little bit from everywhere.

He’s part of a four-guard lineup around fifth-year senior Kyle Madsen. While Ohio State’s lineup will likely shift when Dallas Lauderdale returns from injury, the Buckeyes (1-0) have an impressive core to work with.

It’s part of the reason they were picked to finish third in the Big Ten.

“We think with our personnel we can play with anyone in the country,” junior guard Jon Diebler told reporters after Monday’s 100-60 win over Alcorn State. “…We have a lot of weapons on this team. Guys can come into the game like Jeremie (Simmons) and Walter (Offutt) and make big shots.

“When we can spread the floor with shooters and have Turner hit the paint, we can play extremely well.”

Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by e-mail at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein.

Tags: Ohio State basketball