In 2015-16, for the first time in eight years, Ohio State basketball made it through an entire season without appearing in the AP Top 25 at any point. The Buckeyes missed the NCAA Tournament (and lost in the NIT), and suddenly it’s been three years since the once ascendant program reached the Sweet 16.
Now the team is enduring an onslaught of transfers, and Ohio State fans have reason to worry that the program is trending firmly in the wrong direction.
First, in December, freshman guard Austin Grandstaff transferred to Oklahoma. Then, this week, three more freshman, forward Mickey Mitchell, center Daniel Giddens and guard A.J. Harris announced their departures, gutting a recruiting class that 24/7 Sports ranked No. 5 in the nation.
Former Buckeyes players don’t seem outwardly worried, but you sense an undercurrent of panic in these tweets.
If you don't want to be here, BYE!!!!!!!!! Don't let the door hit you!!! This place is too damn sacred for posers!!!!!
— JJ Sullinger (@JJSullinger) March 29, 2016
@MrOH1O preach sully!!!! I agree man
— Jon Diebler (@J_Diebler) March 29, 2016
Mediocre frosh realized they won't start until they're seniors, if ever. Panic if core guys leave. I'm not worried. https://t.co/P7uGX1BawR
— Mark Titus (@clubtrillion) March 29, 2016
And the best player from this freshman class, JaQuan Lyle, has said he’s not going anywhere.
Not going anywhere lol…Imma buckeye 😛 https://t.co/DUXwyyAwx1
— JaQuan Lyle (@_jlyle13) March 28, 2016
Thing is, these recent transfers aren’t the only evidence that players are scrambling to get out of Columbus as quickly as possible. Three years ago, leading scorer Deshaun Thomas left school a year early, despite no guarantee he’d be drafted (he went 58th and landed in Europe). A year later leading scorer LaQuinton Ross went undrafted after skipping town following his junior year and also found his way to Europe rather than finishing out his senior year in Columbus.
Those departures help explain an ugly trend. After four straight top-2 finishes in the Big Ten, and Sweet 16 appearances to go with each of them, Thad Matta’s Buckeyes have now finished no better than fifth in the conference in three straight seasons. In 2015-16, Ohio State’s 21 wins were the program’s fewest since Matta’s first season, and the 7th-place conference finish was its worst of the Matta era. Here’s a handy chart, via Eleven Warriors…
Ohio State will probably be fine. The Buckeyes will return their top six scorers next season (should Trevor Thompson come back which is likely despite him testing the NBA waters) and will be expected to return to the NCAA Tournament. Plus, they have a coach with a great track record backed by an athletic department perpetually committed to winning.
Still, the past few days and even the past few years have created, for the first time since Matta got to Columbus, a hint of doubt about the direction of Ohio State basketball.
