Ohio State basketball is better with C.J. Walker coming off the bench

The Ohio State basketball team had to change their starting lineup a few weeks back due to injuries. They are a better team with that new lineup.

C.J. Walker is a leader of this Ohio State basketball team. He is a senior guard who has NCAA Tournament experience and is a great leader for this team. Walker tore some ligaments in his non-shooting hand earlier in the season and had to miss a few games and that forced Chris Holtmann to change his starting lineup.

With Walker hurt, Holtmann had to insert Justin Ahrens into the starting lineup. Ahrens’ three-point shooting has given the Buckeyes a new dimension to their starting lineup. The threat of his shooting has opened up Ohio State’s offense, even with Walker’s return.

Walker has been coming off the bench since he has come back from that injury. The Buckeyes have been rolling with him in that role, having won six straight games. Ohio State just looks like a more dangerous team offensively. It makes sense to keep Walker in that role.

Why it makes sense to keep Walker in that role is simple. Walker gives the bench a steady ball-handler who can create his own shot and not turn the ball over. He still plays big minutes, averaging 29.5 minutes a game this season. He still is on the court at the end during crunch time too.

Walker has also been struggling with his shot this season. He only has been shooting it at 32.5% from the field this year. Keeping him on the bench allows him to be more of a distributor to players like Zed Key and E.J. Liddell. Walker doesn’t have the pressure of being a scorer if he’s on the bench.

Walker will likely start on senior day, which makes sense to honor him in that way. For the Big Ten Tournament and NCAA Tournament though, he needs to come off the bench. He, and the rest of the Ohio State basketball team, is thriving that way.