Around The Oval: Women's Basketball Preview

Last season

Before the 2014-15 season even started, Ohio State was in trouble. Freshmen Kianna Holland, Chelsea Mitchell, and Makayla Waterman all went down preseason with ACL injuries, leaving the Buckeyes with just seven players. This lack of depth led fifth-year senior Amy Scullion, who had previously decided to forgo her senior season to focus on medical school, to rejoin the team as a bench player to help provide the depth it so desperately needed.

The season had its ups and downs. The team looked average at best throughout most of the season, but towards the end they looked like world beaters. They finished the season winning seven of nine games losing just to Maryland (a Final Four team) in the Big Ten Championship game, and to North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament on a buzzer beater after mounting a 23-point comeback. They lost those two games by a combined five points.

Realistically, the Buckeyes should not have had much success last season, but they did. They made their first NCAA Tournament since 2012, where they were a buzzer beating shot away from advancing to the sweet sixteen. They finished the season ranked 20th in the country with a 24-11 record.

The success this young team had despite four players missing significant time leaves fans salivating at the thought of virtually the entire team returning with added depth and even more talent.

Graduating Seniors

• Amy Scullion (Guard): Scullion was never supposed to play this season. After her junior year of eligibility (fourth year total), she decided to forgo her senior season to focus on medical school. But when the Buckeyes lost three players to injury before the season even began, it became obvious that they desperately needed depth. She returned to the team in mid-November to come off the bench and fill that void. Scullion was never the best player on the court, and didn't put up stat-sheet stuffing numbers, but her willingness to return to the team mid-season just to come off the bench speaks volumes of her role as a leader and a teammate. With their ridiculously talented roster, the Buckeyes may not miss Scullion on the court, but they will sure miss her leadership and dedication to her teammates off of it.

2015-16 season

Incoming Freshmen

• Kaylan Pugh (Guard): Pugh is a 4-star guard out of Collierville, Tenn. She's the 26th-ranked prospect in the class, according to Prospect Nation, and is a McDonald's All-American. She's a deadly and efficient scorer, shooting over 70% from the field her senior season. Unlike Buckeye star Kelsey Mitchell however, Pugh does most of her damage from the inside. She's a strong guard who loves to attack the rim off the dribble and is adept at finishing with contact.
•  Theresa Ekhelar (Center): Ekhelar is a 4-star center out of Woodbridge, N. J. At 6-6, she is the biggest player on the roster. She's raw in talent and technique, but has the size and frame that can't be taught. If the coaching staff can develop her the next few years, she could be a sleeper in this class.

Season Outlook

A month ago, Ohio State revealed what looks to be one of the most difficult schedules in the country. They will face 12 of last year's NCAA Tournament teams, including all four of last year's Final Four teams. In an Ohio State release, head coach Kevin McGuff had this to say about the brutal schedule:

"Our goal is to challenge our team early and often and I think we put together one of the most difficult non-conference schedules in the country," said Ohio State head coach Kevin McGuff. "Playing all four of the final four teams from last year should give us a tremendous test and allow our team to be pushed and challenged and grow in a manner that will put us in a position to compete with the best teams in the country."

The Buckeyes will have quite the task this season, but they are more than equipped. Ohio State is unmistakably one of the top teams in the country. They return every starter, and lost only one senior in Amy Scullion, who was not even expected to be on the team last year.

The key difference for this year's squad is the Buckeyes will now have six more players to bolster the bench and add depth. Kianna Holland, Chelsea Mitchell, and Makayla Waterman all return from injuries that held them out the entire 2014-15 season, Kalpana Beach returns after playing just seven games due to injury last season, and the team adds freshmen Kaylan Pugh and Theresa Ekhelar.

Ohio State is a legitimate national title contender. The combination of veteran leadership, young talent, and depth (finally) gives the team everything they need to make a deep run come tournament time. But last season, there were no expectations and pressure was low. How will the team and their star Kelsey Mitchell respond to being in the spotlight? Time will tell, but if the end of last season is any indication, Buckeye fans should be very excited. 

Key Players

• Kelsey Mitchell (Guard): Kelsey Mitchell goes into 2015 as one of the top, if not the top player in the nation. Last season, she became the first freshman ever to lead the nation in scoring, made an NCAA record 127 three-pointers, scored a three pointer in an NCAA record 35 consecutive games, and broke a total of 29 different single-season or single-game records. She was just a freshman, and she's not getting any worse. With more weapons around her, expect Kelsey Mitchell to be a front-runner for almost every player-of-the-year award. 
• Ameryst Alston (Guard): One of two seniors on the team, Ameryst Alston is crucial to the team's success this season. Outside of Kelsey Mitchell, Alston is the Buckeyes' best offensive weapon. She averaged 19.8 points per game last season, which was good for 26th in the country and third in the B1G. She's been a focal point of the offense since her freshman season and now is a veteran who the team will look to for leadership on and off the court. With such a young team facing real pressure and expectations for the first time, Alston will be needed to lead the team as a veteran.
• Alexa Hart (Forward): Alexa Hart emerged as one of the top post players in the country towards the end of the season. Heading into her sophomore year, her rebounding and post play will be crucial to the Buckeyes' success. The team is absolutely loaded in the backcourt, but the same cannot always be said about the frontcourt. If the Buckeyes are going to make a run at a national title this season, Alexa Hart is going to have to continue at the level of play she finished with last season.
• Kaylan Pugh (Guard): Kaylan Pugh was a highly touted recruit coming out of high school, and for good reason. She is an incredible offensive weapon, especially when she drives the lane. With the number of deadly three point shooters on the Buckeye roster, it will be fun to see the drive-and-kick game employed by Pugh. Her penetrating and scoring ability will open up space for the shooters, and the shooters will open up space for her to score inside. She will be a great asset to the Buckeye offense this year and in the years to come. 

The Buckeyes open their season with back-to-back games against Final Four teams — at South Carolina Nov. 13, and against two-time defending champs Connecticut Nov. 16 in Columbus.

We will have weekly updates throughout the season here, but for the most up to date news follow the team's official Twitter account @OhioState_WBB and the Block "O" student section @Block_O_WBB. Also follow @marcushartman for excellent coverage of the team.