Marc Loving admitted he wasn’t sure what to expect Saturday during his Senior Day ceremony prior to Ohio State’s game against Indiana.
He does know one thing for sure, however.
“I’m not the most emotional person so I know I won’t be crying or anything like that,” Loving said Friday. “My mom might be pretty emotional, but we’ve still got a game to play and I want to win.”
Saturday is potentially the final game at Value City Arena in what’s been quite the up-and-down career for Loving. And it’s probably not a coincidence he’s the lone senior on this year’s team, which has gone through quite a few ups and downs of its own.
A former Ohio Mr. Basketball award winner from Toledo, Loving was one of two Ohio State signees in Thad Matta’s 2013 recruiting class. He was rated as a top-60 prospect nationally and many believed he could be the player who helped spearhead the next wave of success for the Buckeyes’ program.
It didn’t exactly work out that way.
Loving’s career was filled with some highs — like the Elite Eight appearance his freshman year and a handful of 20-point performances — as well as some lows — including a suspension as a sophomore and missed NCAA tournaments as a junior and potentially a senior.
“He’s had some ups and downs throughout his career,” Matta said of Loving.
Loving has been a popular target for a large portion of Ohio State fans throughout his career, too. He was a productive player, but never really blossomed into the star that perhaps a few thought he would. And he also didn’t exactly showcase a ton of fire out on the court. After all, Loving himself admitted he’s “not the most emotional person.”
Matta said he’s seen growth throughout the course of Loving’s four-year career at Ohio State, however.
“Marc had a tendency to hold on to the last play and it was a very, very bad habit,” Matta said. “I think he’s done a nice job of breaking that and learning to sort of get on with the next play which is a great trait for him."
“He was a little bit emotional and the negativity would get him early in his career, but like I said, I’ve seen that disappear and that’s why I think he’s playing so well right now.”
Entering Saturday’s game against the Hoosiers, Loving ranks 28th on Ohio State’s all-time scoring list with 1,321 career points. He’s second on the Buckeyes in scoring this season, averaging 12.5 points per game while shooting 38 percent from behind the 3-point line.
So, no, Loving never blossomed into an All-American or even an All-Big Ten performer for that matter. But he did have an under-the-radar productive career that could see him finish in the top-25 all-time in scoring when it’s all said and done.
Loving admitted Friday he didn’t really know what to expect when he got to Columbus to begin his college career. Now, after four years filled with ups and downs, his Senior Day has finally come.
Time kind of flies.
“Coming into Ohio State, I really didn’t have any expectations,” Loving said. “I didn’t know how much playing time I was going to get and I wasn’t promised anything. You had to earn your spot. There were seniors and juniors on the team that were fantastic players."
“I envisioned my career as something that I’ve worked hard for so I felt like if I gave it my all, I’m content with the results.”
