The Ohio State basketball team cruised to victory in the opener against Robert Morris, 91-53. The second game of their season is tonight at 6:30 on BTN against Charleston Southern.

Buckeye Preview:

The Buckeyes’ play was a little sluggish and inconsistent early in the first half on Tuesday, as could be expected for a group with so many fresh faces. However, things began clicking in the final minutes and the Bucks entered the half with a 14-point lead. The Buckeyes came out firing in the 2nd half, expanding the lead to 20 by the under-16-minute time-out. From there they never looked back, steadily growing towards their 38-point win.

After a disappointing season in 2021-22, due to injuries, Justice Sueing proved he’s back and healthy. The senior and former UCLA transfer totaled 20 points, knocking down 2 of 3 attempts from distance and adding 3 steals. Transfer Isaac Likekele also came to play, showing his value in every aspect of the game. He ended the night with 9 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists, however his defensive performance should also be noted. Freshmen Brice Sensabaugh also flashed his potential, adding 17 points and 9 rebounds, nearly tallying a double-double in his college debut.

Performances from these three notable players combined with the success of the rest of the roster led to a victory. Buckeye fans got a taste of the potential of this deep Holtmann roster, and it is clear that there are many guys capable of scoring the ball. It will be interesting to see how Holtmann utilizes all the available resources, while trying to avoid too many young guys on the floor at one time.

A Look at the Buccaneers:

Like Robert Morris, Charleston Southern was horrendous in 2021-22 posting a 6-25 record. They likely stand about the same chance to win, although they may be more talented than the Colonials were.

The projected lineup:

Tahlik Chavez (G)

R.J. Johnson (G)

Tyeree Bryan (G)

Cheikh Faye (F)

Taje’ Kelly F)

Chavez was the leading scorer for the Bucs last season at just over 11 points per game. Although he did have a rough opener only tallying 5 points. Claudell Harris Jr. is also extremely noteworthy for the Buckeyes defense. He lit up the scoreboard with 26 in the Bucs opener. Clearly he is hungry for a breakout season after earning Big South All-Freshmen team honors following last year’s campaign. Faye and Kelly also pose a bit of a challenge on their interior, their size and scoring ability will be interesting to watch. Buckeyes may have to rotate their size well as Zed Key has shown the ability to get early, quick fouls.

Expectations:

The Buckeyes starting lineup should be the same:

Isaac Likekele (G)

Sean McNeil (G)

Bruce Thornton (G)

Justice Sueing (G)

Zed Key (F)

Gene Smith will again miss an outing due to concussion protocols. While Chris Holtmann stated Bowen Hardman will remain eligible and not red shirt. Even with a slight increase in perimeter threats and more presence inside, Charleston Southern should be handled easily.

The Buckeyes should play with increased confidence, following their win, likely leading to a more well-rounded game start to finish. I anticipate the final score being slightly closer, but Ohio State should still cover the 26-point spread.

Final: 84-57, Ohio State