After transforming his body in the offseason, shedding more than 30 pounds, Kaleb Wesson transformed his game as well.
The result was a regular season that saw him lead the Buckeyes in both points and rebounds per game for a second-straight season while improving his All-Big Ten status from honorable mention last year to second-team this year.
Wesson averaged 14.0 points to rank ninth in the league while shooting 43% from beyond the arc. He also pulled down a career-high 9.3 rebounds to place fifth in a conference loaded with big men. That's 2.4 more rips than last year while playing just 3.6 more minutes per game.
The junior from Westerville also tallied 11 double-doubles in 31 regular season compared to five in 32 total games a year ago.
One of the most telling stats when it comes to his value: Ohio State is just 2-7 against Big Ten opponents over the last two seasons when Wesson fails to reach double digits in points. That includes an 0-3 mark this season including last Sunday's regular season finale loss to Michigan State, 80-69, as Wesson was held to eight points on 1-of-8 shooting. (The Buckeyes are 11-6 in Big Ten games this year when he scores at least 10 points.)
Last year's Big Ten tournament summed up this reality quite succinctly.
Fresh off a three-game suspension for violating an athletic department policy (Ohio State lost all three), Wesson flat out dominated Indiana, posting 17 points, 13 rebounds, three blocks and three steals in a 75-70 win that locked up an at-large NCAA tournament bid.
The next night against Michigan State, Wesson registered just seven points and three rebounds before fouling out with 9:42 left in the second half in what became a 77-70 loss.
Turn the page to now and Wesson has an opportunity to lead Ohio State on a conference tournament run that could also help its seeding in the upcoming NCAA tournament.
Ohio State's draw begins with No. 10 seed Purdue, a team the Buckeyes beat handily, 68-52, in the Schott back on February 15. Wesson did a little bit of everything in the win posting 13 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals (while tying a career-high with six turnovers).
A win over the Boilers would give the Buckeyes a rematch with a Michigan State program that not only beat them last Sunday but also knocked them out of the Big Ten tournament a season ago.
Wesson and the Buckeyes are just 1-4 against the Spartans over the last three years. Kaleb is averaging 15 points in those five contests including a 25-point night in one but was held to eight points or less in three others. He's also fouled out twice, both occurring last season but there's no doubt he's a much smarter player this year, augmented by improved conditioning, thus largely alleviating foul troubles.
For the Buckeyes to make a run in Indianapolis, there's little doubt they'll need consistent production from Wesson at both ends of the floor.
Ohio State's flow on offense is greatly enhanced when Wesson stretches opponents with his three-point shot and puts pressure on the opponent's on-ball defense via an effective two-man game off high ball screens, opening up driving lanes for guys like CJ Walker to finish or drive and dish.
Defensively, beyond his noted rebounding prowess, Wesson is a force in hedging on perimeter ball screens. His effectiveness in this particular skill-set can be a bit tough to quantify but the eye-test says he's one of the nation's best hedgers – maybe Ohio State's best ever – and the stats say the Buckeyes are a top-10 defense at defending two-point field goal attempts.
If Chris Holtmann's squad can ride Wesson's still-broad shoulders in Indianapolis they just might make some major noise, improve their NCAA tournament seeding, and enter the Dance with a shot of momentum.
