Ohio State drops to No. 16 in latest AP Poll after 0-2 week
February 20, 2018A Road Map for Indians World Series Contention in 2019, 2020
February 20, 2018This college basketball season has been filled with plenty of events that many didn’t think the Ohio State Buckeyes could even accomplish during head coach Chris Holtmann’s first season in Columbus. Whether it’s being ranked, one of the best teams in the Big Ten, or a handful of other things, the scarlet and gray have been one of the most surprising teams in the country this season.
One of the main reasons for the Buckeyes playing so well this year has been due to forward Keita Bates-Diop. For his efforts so far this season, the forward has been given the sixth-best odds (18-to-1) to win the Associated Press Player of the Year award at season’s end, per Bovada. He trails Oklahoma’s Trae Young (even), Villanova’s Jalen Brunson (7-to-4), Arizona’s DeAndre Ayton (6-to-1), Xavier’s Trevon Bluiett (9-to-1) and Duke’s Marvin Bagley III (9-to-1) are the only other players to receive odds.
Although players such as Jae’Sean Tate and C.J. Jackson have been largely important to the team’s success, Bates-Diop’s overall game has been something that Ohio State needed this season on both sides of the court. Whether it’s his length and versatility defensively or ability to knock down an open three, take his man to the basket, or post up against a smaller opponent, the redshirt junior seems to have all the tools to be Ohio State’s best player. The 6-foot-7, 235-pounder has been nothing short of impressive so far this season.
Through 29 games, Bates-Diop is averaging 19.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.6 blocks in 32.2 minutes per game. He is shooting 50 percent from the field and 38 percent from beyond the arc, both of which are one of the five best percentages on the team. Although he has made quite a name for himself so far this season, the forward has struggled offensively the last two games, which has led to two straight losses for the Buckeyes. Whether it’s defenses focusing more on him and doubling him or being more aggressive against him, Bates-Diop has made just 9-of-28 shots from the floor (32 percent) while scoring 27 points in the two losses. Even with his struggles, he’s still in the driver’s seat to be named the Big Ten Player of the Year,
After being left off the midseason Wooden Award Top 25 watch list in January, Bates-Diop was added to the Wooden Award Late Season Top 20 list the first week of February. He’s also been named Big Ten Player of the Week four times this season.1 It’s about time he is (finally) getting noticed. Some believe Bates-Diop could be a first-round pick in this June’s NBA Draft as well. Although he still has a year of eligibility left, the redshirt junior will take part in Tuesday night’s Senior Night festivities for Ohio State, all but assuring that he won’t be returning to Columbus for his fourth and final year of eligibility next season.
- The first Buckeye since Jared Sullinger (2011) to be named Big Ten Player of the Week four times in the same season. [↩]