Ohio State Basketball: Time for the the Duane Washington Jr. show

With the Ohio State basketball team’s freshman guard D.J. Carton taking time away from the program, it is time for Duane Washington Jr. to step up.

As freshman guard for the Ohio State basketball team D.J. Carton temporarily takes time away from the team for his mental health, it should now become the Duane Washington Jr. show.

Carton has come up big this season in his first year as a Buckeye, averaging 10.4 points per game, 2.8 rebounds, and three assists. In my opinion, whenever he is a main part of the offense the Buckeyes are a better basketball team as he scored 17 points and 13 points in the team’s most recent wins, compared to eight points and nine points in their last two losses.

With Carton temporarily gone though, the offense should go through Washington more. Washington has had some huge games this year, scoring 18 in a win over North Carolina, and 20 against Penn State as he is currently the team’s second-leading scorer, averaging 11.2 points per game.

The area Washington really needs to improve in Carton’s absence though, is in his playmaking abilities as Carton is second on the team in assists, averaging three per game compared to Washington’s 1.2. Losing those playmaking abilities will be tough. Washington will have to add that to his game for the Buckeyes to succeed.

I think he can certainly take on Carton’s scoring load though. It seems like it has been either one or the other this year, Carton either scores a lot or Washington scores a lot – it doesn’t seem to happen in the same game. For example, against Northwestern, Washington only scored eight compared to Carton’s 17, but Carton only scored nine against Penn State while Washington scored 20.

If Washington can take on that extra scoring load but do so efficiently then I think the Buckeyes could be fine. It could then potentially open things up inside more for big man Kaleb Wesson if teams are forced to focus on Washington along the perimeter as he is second on the team in three-point shooting percentage, and leads the team in three-point attempts and three-point makes per game.

Replacing Carton during this crucial stretch will be a challenge but it is time for it to become the Duane Washington Jr. show. If that’s indeed what Chris Holtmann and the Buckeyes decide to do, then get your popcorn ready.