PORTLAND, Ore. — There was a point in Ohio State’s 75-72 overtime win over VCU on Thursday night when D’Angelo Russell fanned himself after scoring a basket. When asked about it the following day, Russell said it was because he was “heating up.”
On Saturday, in the Buckeyes’ 73-58 third-round loss to Arizona in the NCAA tournament, there was no such moment.
That’s because Russell had his worst shooting performance of the season against the Wildcats. He made just 3 of his 19 attempts from the floor as Arizona rotated Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and T.J. McConnell on the Buckeyes’ star freshman guard.
“They played great D on a few of them, but a lot of them were great shots and I just missed,” Russell said following the game. “But I credit their defense, too.”
It certainly wasn’t the ending Russell or the Buckeyes had hoped for after such a scintillating freshman season. Ohio State gave a valiant effort against Arizona, but it sure would have liked Russell to play one of his better games.
“I know what my job is on the team so if I’m missing shots I always have to be in a position where I have to shoot more, I can’t pass up open looks,” Russell said. “When I’m making them it’s good, but when I’m missing them it looks bad.”
Every great player has bad nights. Saturday was one of those for Russell, but the Wildcats had a lot to do with that.
It’s important to keep things in perspective, though. Russell had single-handedly carried the Buckeyes numerous times this season. It’s too much to ask him to do that night in and night out. Ohio State just wished his off night didn’t come against one of the best teams in the country.
“I feel like we had it in our hands," Russell said.
But now that Russell’s season is officially over, he has a decision to make. He can return to the Buckeyes for his sophomore season or he can opt to enter the upcoming NBA Draft, where he’s projected by many to be a top-five selection.
All signs point toward the latter. Russell, however, didn’t offer any insight into his decision following the loss to Arizona. “No comment,” he said.
“Obviously, if he’d like to come back we’ve got a scholarship for him,” Ohio State head coach Thad Matta joked.
Either way, Russell’s freshman year at Ohio State was one for the books. He set the single-season scoring record for a first-year guy, was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and has already been named to numerous first-team All-American teams. He just couldn’t get the Buckeyes to the Sweet 16.
“We’ll just sit down with him and get as much information as we possibly can and make the right decision for him,” Matta said. “The thing I love about that kid is if he leaves, he’s had both feet in all the way and that just speaks to the type of person he is.”
