Ohio State Basketball: Kaleb Wesson must find a way to stay on the floor

If the Ohio State basketball team is to have a chance to make waves in the NCAA Tournament Kaleb Wesson has to make better decisions.

It’s obvious to anyone who follows the Ohio State Buckeyes knows they are simply a different basketball team with Kaleb Wesson on the floor. Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the situation often enough this season.

In 19 Big Ten games, including the 2 in the tournament, the big center has picked up at least four personals 10 times and fouled out 6 times. After watching the vast majority of those games, I would say close to half of the fouls he has committed could have been avoided if his head was in the game and he kept his emotions in check.

At least two of his five fouls in yesterday’s Michigan State game were unnecessary and a third was questionable, but he shouldn’t have put himself in position to get the call. The latter was on a screen and the referee said he wasn’t set.

The moving screen call was early in the game when refs tend to have quick whistles so I guess that could be excused, but after two seasons of college basketball Wesson should be more aware of that situation by now. There was absolutely no reason for the other two.

The first was when the Buckeyes had fought back from a six point halftime deficit to tie the game at 40 and had the ball. Wesson received a pass down low, and when he made a spin move he threw an elbow to the face of Matt McQuaid who was bodying him up. It was probably out of frustration, but with the big center in foul trouble the complexion of the game changed and Michigan State went on a big run.

Chris Holtmann put Wesson back in around the 10 minute mark and he quickly picked up his fifth personal, for no reason. A Spartan got a rebound and the Buckeye center just hit him as though he was content to sit on the bench the rest of the game. That foul was a head scratcher to say the least.

The ill-advised fouls Wesson has committed this season, and the fact he was suspended for three games down the stretch, is surprising because he comes across as a fine, intelligent young man.

If he finally realizes how much he means to the team and starts making better decisions, Wesson could become one of the best players in college basketball. Just look at what he could accomplish if he were able to stay on the floor like one of the best big men in the conference does.

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Wisconsin center Ethan Happ averages 32 minutes a game in large part due to the fact he has only picked up four personals five times and fouled out twice in 21 Big Ten Games. He is averaging 17.4 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists for a 32.3 PAR.

If you project Wesson’s stats out to 32 minutes of playing time they would be 18 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists and a 28.7 PAR. Those would be excellent stats, but even more importantly it would open up more opportunities for the other players with the offense running through him.

You only have to look at the two Big Ten Tournament games to realize Wesson’s importance to the team. He played 34 minutes in the win over Indiana and scored 17 points, pulled down 13 rebounds and had 3 assists. In the loss to Michigan State he only played 16 minutes, scored 7 points, had 3 rebounds and only 1 assist.

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The Buckeyes need Wesson to stay out of foul trouble like he did against the Hoosiers if they are going to make any noise in the NCAA Tournament. The big center is simply going to have to make better decisions when he’s on the floor, and find a way to keep his emotions in check.

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