A lot of sky is falling on this board over the past 24 hrs, understandably so.
But overall I am optimistic at the trajectory of this basketball program. We have a lot of areas to improve, but I think they are all correctable with a focused & intentional off-season.
Most importantly: Develop EJ away from the basket. Liddell needs to play forward for us next year... not center. This is critical. If this doesn’t happen: scrap everything else, we will again be fundamentally flawed, severely limited & ultimately exposed.
Tentatively, here is the 2021-22 lineup I’d like to see:
Duane Washington
Justin Ahrens
Justice Sueing
EJ Liddell
Zed Key
This lineup would present problems for anyone we play. Although not “tall” we certainly wouldn’t be “small”. This lineup would be considered relatively big against almost anyone.
This next part is sad & I’ll preface it by saying Kyle Young is one of my favorite Buckeyes of all-time, but he needs to move on for this program to move forward (or EJ needs to move on because both can’t stay as our starting post players)... If Young & Liddell are back at 4 & 5, we will remain stunted. Because once again we’ll play all yr with no true center & Liddell’s game will never expand away from the basket.
EJ Liddell has to be moved out to forward. Has to. And the only way that happens is if Zed Key or a true center (Diallo, I really don’t care who it is) just a designated Center that plays 5 and guards the opponents biggest player, so EJ can be moved out to play 4.
If Liddell can’t play forward in the Big10, then he has no legitimate future playing basketball, and Ohio State has no legitimate chance at making a title run.
I think Holtmann knows this, and I think EJ’s People know this as well. No way Liddell’s Camp can want him coming back to college to play as an undersized Center against Cockburn/Dickinson/etc all year again.
Long story short: Develop EJ as a Power Forward, Develop Zed Key (or Diallo) or anybody else as a Center, and this instantly makes Ohio State a legitimate team who can body up against anyone in the country. Making is a threat to win the B1G/NCAA... I really believe sky is the limit!
We just need adequate post-play, from an actual Center, someone who can be paired with EJ and move him out from under the basket.
