The Ohio State basketball team has really had two seasons in one. Prior to Chris Holtmann getting fired, this team was down in the dumps and not fun to watch. Since he’s been gone, the Buckeyes are 5-1 and one of the hottest teams in the Big Ten. Jake Diebler deserves a lot of credit for what he’s done for this program in such a short time.
His influence has helped a couple of Ohio State players get recognized with Big Ten awards. Prior to Holtmann getting fired, I didn’t think that anyone was going to make an All-Big Ten team. Now, the Buckeyes have two players who were recognized by the media and the coaches.
Two Ohio State basketball players make All-Big Ten teams
Bruce Thornton was the first guy to get honored. Thornton was a Third-team All-Big Ten selection by the media and All-Big Ten Honorable Mention. Thornton averages 16 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.5 rebounds a game. His shooting percentages are down from last year because Holtmann didn’t run any offense and he was the only one who could score, so he took some bad shots because he had to.
Thornton is still the best player on this team. He’s the one that steadies the offense when things break down. He can create his own shot when the shot clock gets low. As the point guard, he does a good job of distributing to others too. He has 23 assists in the five games he’s played since Holtmann was fired.
Jamison Battle was also named All-Big Ten Honorable Mention by both the coaches and the media. His shooting over the last few games has really raised the floor of Ohio State’s offense. When his shot is on, the Buckeyes are a much more dangerous team. He’s shooting 44% from deep and 95% from the free-throw line.
Both Buckeyes deserve these honors. They are a big reason why the Buckeyes can play themselves into the NCAA Tournament with a couple of wins in the Big Ten Tournament.
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