6 OHIO STATE Buckeyes
One starter exited. The four who are back will have help getting over that
ON THE afternoon of April 7, while all eyes in Columbus were focused on junior Evan Turner as he declared for the NBA draft—"This is the toughest thing I had to do," the National Player of the Year proclaimed behind a microphone at Ohio State's practice facility, voice quavering—his fellow starters were making a choice of their own. William Buford, Dave Lighty, Jon Diebler and Dallas Lauderdale supported their friend by attending his press conference, but once Turner announced his choice to leave Ohio State, the quartet decided that there was only one place for them to turn: the gym. "We clapped for him, talked to him a little bit," Lauderdale, a senior, says, "and then we went to work." Adds classmate Lighty, "It was our own little session. We figured, we might as well get used to life without Evan Turner."
Accepting the departure of a player like Turner is never easy—"You think, Gosh, what if Evan would've stayed and we had all five starters back?" coach Thad Matta admits to wondering—but these Buckeyes are primed to handle such a loss.
OSU has the aforementioned foursome back, in particular the explosive Buford, and will introduce a freshman class that is regarded as one of the best in the country. The biggest boost comes from Jared Sullinger of Northland High in Columbus, a two-time Ohio Mr. Basketball who is said to have a more polished offensive game than Matta's last dominant big man, Greg Oden, the NBA's No. 1 pick in '07.
"Jared's a great player who can take you outside and inside. I'm just trying to get him ready for the physicality of college," says Lauderdale, who will round out the frontcourt with yet another top 25 recruit, 6'6" freshman Deshaun Thomas.
Says Matta, "Jared has a very college-ready body." If not quite NBA-ready—or so he hopes. Recalling Turner's early exit, the coach says, "I told Jared, 'I'm not going to get you into pro shape till your junior year.'"
PROJECTED STARTING FIVE
Coach Thad Matta (7th season)
2009--10 record 29--8
Big Ten 14--4
NCAA tournament Sweet 16
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Returning starters
*High school stats
SCHEDULE
Nov. 12 North Carolina A&T
Nov. 16 at Florida
Nov. 20 UNC Wilmington
Nov. 23 Morehead State
Nov. 26 Miami (Ohio)
Nov. 30 at Florida State
Dec. 9 IUPUI
Dec. 12 Western Carolina
Dec. 15 Florida Gulf Coast
Dec. 18 South Carolina
Dec. 21 UNC Asheville
Dec. 23 Oakland
Dec. 27 Tennessee-Martin
Dec. 31 at Indiana
Jan. 4 at Iowa
Jan. 9 Minnesota
Jan. 12 at Michigan
Jan. 15 Penn State
Jan. 19 Iowa
Jan. 22 at Illinois
Jan. 25 Purdue
Jan. 29 at Northwestern
Feb. 3 Michigan
Feb. 6 at Minnesota
Feb. 12 at Wisconsin
Feb. 15 Michigan State
Feb. 19 at Purdue
Feb. 22 Illinois
Feb. 26 Indiana
March 1 at Penn State
March 6 Wisconsin
KEY GAME
Standing in the way of Ohio State and the Big Ten title is Michigan State, and don't be surprised if their lone regular-season duel is decided in the paint. The Buckeyes' Sullinger, Thomas and Lauderdale will get a stiff challenge from the big, bruising trio of 6'8" Delvon Roe, 6'6" Draymond Green and 6'9" Derrick Nix.
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PHOTO
JONATHAN DANIEL/GETTY IMAGES
DALLAS LAUDERDALE The 255-pound center must muscle his way to more rebounds for the Buckeyes to hold sway in the Big Ten.