Post by huisrealgood on Jan 7, 2013 16:58:06 GMT -5
I will be surprised if the Buckeyes finish in the top half of the Big 10 this year. They have no consistent scoring option after Thomas.
I agree that they don't have a 2nd consistent scorer, but they do have plenty of guys who have stepped up on a given night like Scott, Smith, Ross, Thompson, and maybe Craft. All of those guys are capable of dropping 20 (with the exception of Craft). They have solid bigs in Williams and Ravinel. That alone should be enough to be a top half of the B1G this year. It is a tough league, but not nearly as tough as it was predicted to be at the beginning of the year. All of these teams have holes, some are just more pronounced than others. Here's how I look at it...
Stacked teams that will probably have 3 or fewer losses:
Michigan (OK most of these teams have holes...)
Indiana (Defense is atrocious at times, but they are so incredibly deep and score incredibly well)
Very good teams that will be over .500 in the league and probably knock off the top two but lose to a few bottom-feeders:
Minnesota (incosistent guard play)
Illinois (terrible defensive rebounding & weak interior scoring)
Ohio State (lack scoring outside of Thomas)
Michigan State (inexperience, still finding a go-to scorer although Harris could be that)
Solid, maybe tourney bound, but not top 25:
Wisconsin (Lack scoring and a ball-handler with Gasser sidelined for the season)
Iowa (Lack a go-to scorer, inexperienced, but looking better each time out)
Good enough to beat a few 2nd tier teams, but not going dancing:
Purdue (No go-to scorer, inexperienced)
Awful due to injuries, or simple lack of talent:
Northwestern (Crawford injury was a killer)
Penn State (Frazier injury was devastating)
Nebraska (still don't have the talent)
With all of the holes the rest of the B1G Ten has, I find it hard not to put the Buckeyes in the top half of the league.