Ohio State Basketball: Veterans held team together during 2019-20 season

The Ohio State basketball season was an interesting one but during good and bad stretches veteran players could be counted on.

This past season the Ohio State basketball team was thought of as one of the best in the country after winning 11 of the first 12 games. Even the loss to the West Virginia Mountaineers the final game of the non-conference schedule wasn’t a big concern.

Then the Buckeyes resumed the Big Ten schedule.

Ohio State lost 5 of the next 6 games before turning things around to finish 11-9 in the conference and 21-10 overall. One constant during the season was the play of three veterans, and another came on strong at the end.

First a look at the team’s leading scorer.

Kaleb Wesson averaged 14 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. He also became a three-point threat hitting 42.5 percent from behind the arc and was a better all-around player on both ends of the court.

Junior Kyle Young was outstanding when healthy. His 7.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game might not blow you away, but he is as good a defender as you will find in college basketball. He also developed into a low post option when Wesson was on the bench.

Next a look at the older Wesson brother.

Andre Wesson’s stats 9.2 points (while shooting 42 percent behind the arc), 3.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists only tell part of the story. Andre was willing to do whatever Chris Holtmann needed on a given night.

The senior was the ultimate team player who set an example for others. Next a look at a fourth year junior transfer.

C.J. Walker performed well all season averaging 8.7 points, 3.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game. But when point guard D.J. Carton left the team late in the season it was obvious Walker would have to assume a bigger role, and he stepped up to the challenge.

Walker did a great job of running the offense, distributed the ball well and looked to get his own shot more often. His play down the stretch was a big reason why the Buckeyes finished strong.

Coach Holtmann had a great group of veterans to lead the team this past season. Andre Wesson will be graduating and younger brother Kaleb more than likely will enter the NBA Draft.

However, younger players may be ready to join Kyle Young and C.J. Walker in leadership roles next season with the way they played down the stretch. I’ll look at those players soon.