Welcome back to the “bubble boys” edition of You’re Nuts, where we discuss the Ohio State men’s basketball team and their eternal residency on the NCAA Tournament bubble.
Ohio State (16-8, 8-6) eked out a win over USC (18-7, 7-7) on Wednesday night, 89-82, with Bruce Thornton scoring the Buckeyes’ final nine points. Jake Diebler’s team remains firmly entrenched on the bubble, with at least eight games remaining to improve their standing.
Last week, Connor and Justin debated what the Buckeyes will need
to improve on in the rematch with Michigan to give themselves the best chance to win.
Connor said Ohio State should refrain from talking to much smack leading into the game, because Colin White did that the first time and it didn’t help things. Justin said Ohio State needed to hit more three-pointers than they did the first time.
The Buckeyes did not do that, hitting seven in the rematch after hitting eight in the first game in Ann Arbor. The Buckeyes also did not talk any trash between the Maryland and Michigan games, but it didn’t matter.
This week, Connor and Justin are considering moving Taison Chatman into the starting lineup. We have it on good authority that Jake Diebler won’t be taking our thoughts into consideration, but we’re kicking around the idea nonetheless.
Chatman is averaging 9.6 points per game over the last five games, on 55.2% shooting overall and 58.8% from three-point range. He has also hit 6 of 7 free throws, and tied for the team lead with six rebounds against Michigan on Sunday.
Is it time for Ohio State to move Chatman into the starting lineup, starting Saturday night against Virginia?
Connor: Yes
Ohio State quickly fell behind by nine points on Wednesday night against USC, hitting just one of its first eight shots. For the final seven games of the regular season, Ohio State cannot be spending entire games catching up — they need to be the ones setting the tone and forcing their opponents to close the gap.
Chatman has his defensive limitations, but he’s also been (arguably) Ohio State’s most efficient shooter over the last five games. He’s shooting better than 50% overall and from three-point range, does not turn the ball over, and is a solid free throw shooter.
His minutes don’t need to drastically increase — 20-ish per game seems reasonable when you have Thornton and Mobley on the floor nearly all of the time — but having Chatman on the floor will help space opposing defenses out and give Ohio State more high percentage looks.
Thornton started the season scalding hot from three, but has cooled off some and now sits at 38.5%. Mobley is sitting at an even 40%, and Chatman is currently shooting 55% from beyond the arc. Having all three of those guys on the floor at the same time as threats to pull up at any moment will most likely force defenses into a tight man-to-man defense, which will either give those three guards one-on-one chances or will draw a double team and therefore open up one of the other guards for a shot.
Freshman forward A’mare Bynum brings a level of physicality and energy to the game that Chatman does not. But Chatman has been a more valuable offensive player for the past couple weeks, and Ohio State needs to make sure they’re putting points on the board early against Virginia Saturday and Wisconsin on Tuesday.
Justin: No
No, I don’t think they should make a change in the starting lineup right now.
I do think they need to play Devin Royal in the paint more, and I would like to see the three guard lineup of Bruce Thornton, John Mobley and Taison Chatman (and maybe sometimes Cupps but probably not) to put Royal in the post more, but A’mare Bynum and Royal should still start.
Bynum provides effort and athleticism that is hard to replace with him coming off the bench, and is one of the more physical defenders for the Buckeyes in the paint.
I think the most recent rotation the Buckeyes coaching staff went with against USC was my favorite so far. The starting lineup of Thornton, Mobley, Royal, Bynum and Tilly with Taison Chatman being the sixth man off the bench and playing roughly 20 minutes, while Puff Johnson is the seventh man and Ivan Njegovan and Gabe Cupps playing as needed.
When Brandon Noel comes back, we can readjust the lineup as needed. For now, I think we are on the right track with what is available.
